U-turn as 4 Tourism Authority Members are Reinstated following a Week of Crisis

In a dramatic reversal of a decision made just days ago,the Chairman and three board members of the Tourism Authority have been reinstated to their positions, ending a governance crisis within the institution.

The four administrators—Chairman and former Tourism Minister José Arunasalom, alongside Christian Lefevre, Nagib Pancheemiah, and Serge Arlanda—resumed their duties on 5 March 2026. The move nullifies a previous order that had terminated their mandates with immediate effect.

Sudden Dismissal

The crisis began on Friday, 27 February, when the four officials received formal correspondence signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism.

The letters notified them of the Minister’s decision to end their appointments without providing any specific justification for the move.

Notably, five other board members representing various ministries remained in their posts throughout the brief period of uncertainty.

Questions Over Procedure

The original dismissal had sparked significant internal questioning, particularly as the move was conspicuously absent from the official list of decisions published by the Council of Ministers on the day it occurred.

Speculation within the sector suggests the conflict may have been triggered by the board’s refusal to ratify a specific list of pleasure boat licences.

This list was reportedly presented during a meeting that the board itself had not convened.

Ongoing Reforms

The reinstatement is seen as a move to ensure continuity in the governance of the Tourism Authority.

Since January 2025, the board has been overseeing a rigorous reform programme designed to bolster transparency and institutional integrity.

A central pillar of this reform includes the implementation of an “e-licensing” system.

This digital initiative aims to track and manage all permit applications, replacing manual processes with a traceable, digital framework.

Source: Le Mauricien