Local Government Reforms: Mauritius Seeks Indian Expertise

In a momentous encounter on Monday, 24th February, Ranjiv Woochit, the Minister of Local Government, met with Anurag Srivastava, the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Port-Louis. The dialogue was prompted by the urgent need for reforms within local government structures, an issue that has risen to prominence since the new government’s formation.

Minister Woochit expressed his aspiration that India, with its profound experience in managing over 600,000 villages, could offer valuable technical support to Mauritius in this transformative journey.

While the High Commissioner acknowledged the request with keen interest, he revealed that no official decision had yet been made regarding the extent of India’s involvement.

To spearhead these pivotal reforms, an inter-ministerial committee has been established under the leadership of Minister Woochit.

At its inaugural meeting, it was decided that the public would be invited to share their suggestions until the 31st of March.

Following this period, a technical committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dhanraj Conhye, will meticulously evaluate the proposals.

The possibility of engaging consultants to assist with this process is also under consideration.

It is vital to note that these proposed reforms are separate from the municipal elections scheduled for 4th May, which will be conducted by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Local Government Act of 2011.

These elections, initially due in 2015, have faced repeated delays.

The previous government, led by the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), cited the Covid-19 pandemic as the reason for postponements in both 2021 and 2022.

In this backdrop of change and anticipation, the bilateral cooperation between Mauritius and India continues to flourish, with the memorandum of understanding signed in January 2022 now extended until January 2026.

This agreement encompasses a range of local development projects, including the construction of playgrounds.

As for the forthcoming municipal elections on 4th May, an estimated 400,504 voters are expected to cast their ballots across five major cities: Port-Louis, Vacoas-Phoenix, Beau-Bassin-Rose-Hill, Quatre-Bornes, and Curepipe. The distribution of voters and elected representatives is as follows:

• Port-Louis: 114,275 voters across 8 Wards, for 32 representatives.
• Vacoas-Phoenix: 88,519 voters across 6 Wards, for 24 representatives.
• Beau-Bassin-Rose-Hill: 77,492 voters across 6 Wards, for 24 representatives.
• Quatre-Bornes: 60,446 voters across 5 Wards, for 20 representatives.
• Curepipe: 59,862 voters across 5 Wards, for 20 representatives.

These reforms set to enhance the functionality of local councils by modernising existing structures and drawing inspiration from international best practices, paving the way for a brighter future in local governance.

Source: l’Express