Navin Ramgoolam
Encyclopedia
Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK
, FRCP, MP
(born नवीन चन्द्र रामगुलाम on 14 July 1947)is the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs & External Communications, as well as Leader of the National Assembly
. Being the leader of the Mauritian Labour Party
, he serves as Member of parliament for constituency No. 5 Triolet & Pamplemousses
since 1991.
Ramgoolam trained as a doctor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland
and achieved full registration with the General Medical Council
of the United Kingdom
in 1977. He later converted to Law by achieving a Master of Laws
qualification at the London School of Economics
before starting a political career.
After a first candidacy for Parliament
in 1991, he returned as 1st Member elected in Constituency No 5. He stood as a prime minister candidate for the Labour Party, but the party was heavily defeated by Sir Anerood Jugnauth with his MSM
and alliance party MMM
. The Labour Party secured only 3 seats of 70 in the House of Parliament. Jugnauth won 59 seats and the rest went to Rodrigues party. Thus Paul Bérenger became Leader of the Opposition.
Ramgoolam became Prime Minister in the landslide victory of 1995 general elections where the Labour Party in alliance with the MMM
won 60 seats. He formed his cabinet and stayed as Prime Minister for a five term mandate. The government collapsed after the MMM left the coalition, but Ramgoolam continued to rule with a small majority. He lost the elections of 2000 and became leader of Opposition again until 2005.
Ramgoolam's Alliance Sociale
(a coalition including his own Mauritian Labour Party
, the Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval
, and several smaller groups) defeated the governing Mauritian Militant Movement
-Militant Socialist Movement
coalition in the 2005 general election
. Ramgoolam was re-appointed as Prime Minister.
In the 2010
elections, the Labour party made an alliance with the Militant Socialist Movement
and the Mauritian Social Democrat Party
. His alliance won him a 3rd term as Prime Minister. However, since the MSM left the government in 2011, he only has a small majority of 37 seats against 32 in opposition.
, a then practising physician, and his wife Lady Sushil Ramgoolam in Port Louis, Mauritius. He was born when his family was still poor and he grew up in the Capital City of the country. He went to study medicine in Ireland and graduated as a medical practitioner in 1973. He then converted to law in late 1980's and joined the Middle Temple Inn of Court. He worked in different private hospitals in the United Kingdom
and was on the point of immigrating to Canada
when Sir Satcam Boolell (then leader of Labour Party) and Paul Berenger
convinced him to come back to Mauritius and to fight and win the leadership of the party.
winning only 3 seats out of 60. However, Navin Ramgoolam was elected first member of Parliament for the Constituency of Pamplemousse-Triolet, the previous constituency of his late father. Since then, he has always been elected at top of the list.
Although the MLP and PMSD suffered heavy electoral losses in the September 1991 general election and were faced with internal weakness, they attempted to act as an assertive and contentious opposition. The PMSD lost its veteran leader Sir Gaetan Duval at the end of 1991 after his retirement. The MLP's leader, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, has been attacked by his own political allies for his inexperience in high office and frequent overseas travels. The opposition was quick to criticize the prime minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, for issuing a new MR20 bank note with the image of the prime minister's wife in mid-1992. In addition, the opposition and the ruling coalition have taken each other to court over charges of fraud in the 1991 election.
A particularly acrimonious row developed over Ramgoolam's absence from parliament beginning in July 1992 in order to pursue a law degree in London. The speaker of the National Assembly claimed that the MLP leader violated rules relating to absences by members of parliament. The case was referred to the Supreme Court. The Ramgoolam affair not only has prompted grumbling within the MLP but also has highlighted the tension within the ruling coalition, namely, the continuing friction between Paul Bérenger, external affairs minister and secretary general of the MMM, and Prime Minister Jugnauth. Bérenger criticized Jugnauth for calling the National Assembly out of recess while Ramgoolam was out of the country, claiming that the prime minister was merely creating another pretext for stripping the MLP leader of his seat.
, also known as "Kaya", the famous Seggae
singer of creole
origin in prison. In 2000 he was defeated by two political leaders, Paul Bérenger
and Anerood Jugnauth
, who joined hands to oust him out power, but was still elected as first representative of his constituency in National Assembly.
From 1995 to 2000 ,he was much criticised by the media with his inexperienced way of holding high offices and the Labour party which was at the highest peak in 1995 as it had never won a 60-0 elections began to sank in polls.In the early days of 2000 , the labour party nevertheless was ahead in the polls to win over the MMM and MSM. However at the last minute in a 45 minutes meeting between Sir Jugnauth and Berenger , an alliance of MSM-MMM was remade and Navin Ramgoolam lost heavily once again winning only 8 seats against 56 seats. Sir Anerood Jugnauth became Prime Minister in 2000 following his victory.
. He once again was at the same point of beginning with only 8 Mps. He initiated new policies and a new team. He took on board former members of the MSM and MMM namely Rama Sithanen
& Rashid Beebeejaun
. Sithanen who was finance minister in the MSM government helped in economic policy making and Beebeejaun ensured the support of the muslim electorate concentrated in Port Louis. He then initiated a coalition of small parties alongside with the labour party in early 2005 and stood as Prime Minister again.
His management in terms of making diplomatic relationship with other countries have served him well. He has made enormous contribution to the economy since his second appointment as Prime Minister
Following the general election on 5th May 2010, Navin Ramgoolam was re-elected as prime minister and the Mauritius Labour Party won a majority of 41 seats against 18 seats by the MMM of Paul Berenger
and 1 seat went to the FSM. The good handling of the economic issues, ensuring an improved growth during the global financial crisis, is considered by some to have been a determining factor in his winning the election with a more comfortable margin than in 2005. Another important factor was his political strategy of allying himself with the MSM, which ensured the opposition did not have a credible alternative prime minister. The Labour-led coalition won 29 seats out of 30 in rural constituencies and 12 seats of out 30 in urban constituencies. This was the first time since 1991 elections that a Prime Minister is reconducted to a second consecutive term.
and Lady Sushil Ramgoolam. He is married to Veena Brizmohun since 1976. He has a sister and his brother in law is an Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean
The Most Distinguished Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean is the highest distinct order of merit in Mauritius. It was founded in 1992 to decorate people who have made a contribution to social progress in the nations of the Indian Ocean. It may be awarded to non-Mauritian...
, FRCP, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(born नवीन चन्द्र रामगुलाम on 14 July 1947)is the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs & External Communications, as well as Leader of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Mauritius
The National Assembly is Mauritius's unicameral parliament, which was called the Legislative Assembly until 1992, when the country became a republic...
. Being the leader of the Mauritian Labour Party
Mauritian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a political party in Mauritius.The Mauritian Labour Party was structured in 1936 to model the British Labour Party and has similar socialist goals...
, he serves as Member of parliament for constituency No. 5 Triolet & Pamplemousses
Triolet, Mauritius
- Location :Triolet is a small town on the island of Mauritius. It serves the district capital of Pamplemousses. It lies exactly 7 miles from Port Louis, the capital of the island. The village is a patch of civilisation amid green sugarcane fields, near the north-western coast of the island...
since 1991.
Ramgoolam trained as a doctor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and achieved full registration with the General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1977. He later converted to Law by achieving a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
qualification at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
before starting a political career.
After a first candidacy for Parliament
National Assembly of Mauritius
The National Assembly is Mauritius's unicameral parliament, which was called the Legislative Assembly until 1992, when the country became a republic...
in 1991, he returned as 1st Member elected in Constituency No 5. He stood as a prime minister candidate for the Labour Party, but the party was heavily defeated by Sir Anerood Jugnauth with his MSM
Militant Socialist Movement
The Militant Socialist Movement is a Centre-Right political party in Mauritius that adheres to the philosophies of socialism and political democracy. It is the 3rd largest political party in the National Assembly. It has in all 13 seats directly elected from the 2010 general elections...
and alliance party MMM
Mauritian Militant Movement
The Mouvement Militant Mauricien is a socialist political party in Mauritius. The party was formed by a group of students in the late 1960s. The MMM is currently led by Paul Bérenger....
. The Labour Party secured only 3 seats of 70 in the House of Parliament. Jugnauth won 59 seats and the rest went to Rodrigues party. Thus Paul Bérenger became Leader of the Opposition.
Ramgoolam became Prime Minister in the landslide victory of 1995 general elections where the Labour Party in alliance with the MMM
Mauritian Militant Movement
The Mouvement Militant Mauricien is a socialist political party in Mauritius. The party was formed by a group of students in the late 1960s. The MMM is currently led by Paul Bérenger....
won 60 seats. He formed his cabinet and stayed as Prime Minister for a five term mandate. The government collapsed after the MMM left the coalition, but Ramgoolam continued to rule with a small majority. He lost the elections of 2000 and became leader of Opposition again until 2005.
Ramgoolam's Alliance Sociale
Alliance Sociale
Alliance Sociale is a left-wing political coalition in Mauritius. It consists of members of the Mauritian Labour Party, Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval, The Greens, Republican Movement and the Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement....
(a coalition including his own Mauritian Labour Party
Mauritian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a political party in Mauritius.The Mauritian Labour Party was structured in 1936 to model the British Labour Party and has similar socialist goals...
, the Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval
Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval
The Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval was a political party in Mauritius and has now been dissolved. The Leader of the party was Xavier Luc Duval....
, and several smaller groups) defeated the governing Mauritian Militant Movement
Mauritian Militant Movement
The Mouvement Militant Mauricien is a socialist political party in Mauritius. The party was formed by a group of students in the late 1960s. The MMM is currently led by Paul Bérenger....
-Militant Socialist Movement
Militant Socialist Movement
The Militant Socialist Movement is a Centre-Right political party in Mauritius that adheres to the philosophies of socialism and political democracy. It is the 3rd largest political party in the National Assembly. It has in all 13 seats directly elected from the 2010 general elections...
coalition in the 2005 general election
Elections in Mauritius
Elections in Mauritius gives information on elections and election results in Mauritius.Mauritius elects on national level a legislature. The National Assembly has 70 members, 62 elected for a four year term in 21 multi-member constituencies and 8 additional "best loser" members appointed by the...
. Ramgoolam was re-appointed as Prime Minister.
In the 2010
Elections in Mauritius
Elections in Mauritius gives information on elections and election results in Mauritius.Mauritius elects on national level a legislature. The National Assembly has 70 members, 62 elected for a four year term in 21 multi-member constituencies and 8 additional "best loser" members appointed by the...
elections, the Labour party made an alliance with the Militant Socialist Movement
Militant Socialist Movement
The Militant Socialist Movement is a Centre-Right political party in Mauritius that adheres to the philosophies of socialism and political democracy. It is the 3rd largest political party in the National Assembly. It has in all 13 seats directly elected from the 2010 general elections...
and the Mauritian Social Democrat Party
Mauritian Social Democrat Party
The Mauritian Social Democratic Party is a political party in Mauritius. It is conservative and francophile. It is the 4th biggest political party in the National Assembly after Mauritian Labour Party, Mauritian Militant Movement and the Militant Socialist Movement...
. His alliance won him a 3rd term as Prime Minister. However, since the MSM left the government in 2011, he only has a small majority of 37 seats against 32 in opposition.
Early life
Navin Ramgoolam was born to Seewoosagur RamgoolamSeewoosagur Ramgoolam
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam KT,GCMG,KCMG,LRCP, MRCS is the first Chief Minister, Prime Minister and sixth Governor General of Mauritius....
, a then practising physician, and his wife Lady Sushil Ramgoolam in Port Louis, Mauritius. He was born when his family was still poor and he grew up in the Capital City of the country. He went to study medicine in Ireland and graduated as a medical practitioner in 1973. He then converted to law in late 1980's and joined the Middle Temple Inn of Court. He worked in different private hospitals in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and was on the point of immigrating to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
when Sir Satcam Boolell (then leader of Labour Party) and Paul Berenger
Paul Bérenger
Paul Raymond Bérenger GCSK MP is the Leader of the Opposition of Mauritius and former Prime Minister of the Republic. Bérenger, who is a Christian of French descent, is the only Prime Minister of Mauritius who was not a Hindu....
convinced him to come back to Mauritius and to fight and win the leadership of the party.
Leadership of the Labour Party and 1991 Elections
Navin Ramgoolam assumed leadership of Mauritius Labour Party in 1991, succeeding Sir Satcam Boolell at this post. He contested his first General election in 1991 as leader of Mauritius Labour Party. The Labour Party was defeated by the MSM-MMM - coalition between party of then incumbent Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, and Paul BerengerPaul Bérenger
Paul Raymond Bérenger GCSK MP is the Leader of the Opposition of Mauritius and former Prime Minister of the Republic. Bérenger, who is a Christian of French descent, is the only Prime Minister of Mauritius who was not a Hindu....
winning only 3 seats out of 60. However, Navin Ramgoolam was elected first member of Parliament for the Constituency of Pamplemousse-Triolet, the previous constituency of his late father. Since then, he has always been elected at top of the list.
Although the MLP and PMSD suffered heavy electoral losses in the September 1991 general election and were faced with internal weakness, they attempted to act as an assertive and contentious opposition. The PMSD lost its veteran leader Sir Gaetan Duval at the end of 1991 after his retirement. The MLP's leader, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, has been attacked by his own political allies for his inexperience in high office and frequent overseas travels. The opposition was quick to criticize the prime minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, for issuing a new MR20 bank note with the image of the prime minister's wife in mid-1992. In addition, the opposition and the ruling coalition have taken each other to court over charges of fraud in the 1991 election.
A particularly acrimonious row developed over Ramgoolam's absence from parliament beginning in July 1992 in order to pursue a law degree in London. The speaker of the National Assembly claimed that the MLP leader violated rules relating to absences by members of parliament. The case was referred to the Supreme Court. The Ramgoolam affair not only has prompted grumbling within the MLP but also has highlighted the tension within the ruling coalition, namely, the continuing friction between Paul Bérenger, external affairs minister and secretary general of the MMM, and Prime Minister Jugnauth. Bérenger criticized Jugnauth for calling the National Assembly out of recess while Ramgoolam was out of the country, claiming that the prime minister was merely creating another pretext for stripping the MLP leader of his seat.
1995 Elections and First Tenure as Prime Minister
In 1994, Ramgoolam's party joined hands with the Mouvement Militant Mauricien and they won the 2 seats contested in by-election in January 1995 in constituency of Rose-Hill-Stanley. Navin Ramgoolam then assumed Prime ministership of the country in December 1995 following the landslide victory in the 1995 General election in which the coalition he led won all the 60 seats in parliament. His first prime ministership was marked by two by-elections that he won and marred by island-wide racial riots after the death of Joseph Reginald TopizeKaya (musician)
Kaya was a Mauritian musician and the creator of "seggae", a fusion of sega and reggae, two of the most popular music genres in Mauritius....
, also known as "Kaya", the famous Seggae
Seggae
Seggae is a fusion genre of sega, the traditional music of the Mascarene Islands, and reggae. Seggae is one of the most popular music genres in Mauritius.-Origin:...
singer of creole
Creole peoples
The term Creole and its cognates in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kreol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. — have been applied to people in different countries and epochs, with rather different meanings...
origin in prison. In 2000 he was defeated by two political leaders, Paul Bérenger
Paul Bérenger
Paul Raymond Bérenger GCSK MP is the Leader of the Opposition of Mauritius and former Prime Minister of the Republic. Bérenger, who is a Christian of French descent, is the only Prime Minister of Mauritius who was not a Hindu....
and Anerood Jugnauth
Anerood Jugnauth
Sir Anerood Jugnauth , KCMG, QC, GCSK, PC, LLB, GOLH, GOP, ORS is the President of Mauritius and all its dependencies...
, who joined hands to oust him out power, but was still elected as first representative of his constituency in National Assembly.
From 1995 to 2000 ,he was much criticised by the media with his inexperienced way of holding high offices and the Labour party which was at the highest peak in 1995 as it had never won a 60-0 elections began to sank in polls.In the early days of 2000 , the labour party nevertheless was ahead in the polls to win over the MMM and MSM. However at the last minute in a 45 minutes meeting between Sir Jugnauth and Berenger , an alliance of MSM-MMM was remade and Navin Ramgoolam lost heavily once again winning only 8 seats against 56 seats. Sir Anerood Jugnauth became Prime Minister in 2000 following his victory.
2000-2005
Following the victory of the MSM-MMM alliance , he resigned as Prime Minister. Between 2000 and 2005, he was Leader of the OppositionOpposition (parliamentary)
Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. Note that this article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state...
. He once again was at the same point of beginning with only 8 Mps. He initiated new policies and a new team. He took on board former members of the MSM and MMM namely Rama Sithanen
Rama Sithanen
Rama Krishna Sithanen GCSK MP is a former finance minister of Mauritius and vice-prime minister of Mauritius and has held the office between 1991 and 1995 when Sir Anerood Jugnauth was Prime Minister and from 2005 to 2010 Navin Ramgoolam's Cabinet...
& Rashid Beebeejaun
Rashid Beebeejaun
Ahmed Rashid Beebeejaun, GCSK is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Utilities of Mauritius having been in office since 2008. He is the Deputy leader of the Mauritian Labor Party since 2004 and is the first person to hold office of Prime Minister in the Mauritius line of Succession...
. Sithanen who was finance minister in the MSM government helped in economic policy making and Beebeejaun ensured the support of the muslim electorate concentrated in Port Louis. He then initiated a coalition of small parties alongside with the labour party in early 2005 and stood as Prime Minister again.
2005 & Prime Minister
In 2005, he made a coalition the Social Alliance led by Labour Party won the elections. Navin Ramgoolam kept his promise to introduce free transport services for the elderly as a tribute for their efforts to bring Mauritius to where it stands and students for they are the future of the nation. He also specified tight deadlines for achieving various other (short-term) macroeconomic measures to ensure the country sustains development. These involved tax reform amongst others.His management in terms of making diplomatic relationship with other countries have served him well. He has made enormous contribution to the economy since his second appointment as Prime Minister
Following the general election on 5th May 2010, Navin Ramgoolam was re-elected as prime minister and the Mauritius Labour Party won a majority of 41 seats against 18 seats by the MMM of Paul Berenger
Paul Bérenger
Paul Raymond Bérenger GCSK MP is the Leader of the Opposition of Mauritius and former Prime Minister of the Republic. Bérenger, who is a Christian of French descent, is the only Prime Minister of Mauritius who was not a Hindu....
and 1 seat went to the FSM. The good handling of the economic issues, ensuring an improved growth during the global financial crisis, is considered by some to have been a determining factor in his winning the election with a more comfortable margin than in 2005. Another important factor was his political strategy of allying himself with the MSM, which ensured the opposition did not have a credible alternative prime minister. The Labour-led coalition won 29 seats out of 30 in rural constituencies and 12 seats of out 30 in urban constituencies. This was the first time since 1991 elections that a Prime Minister is reconducted to a second consecutive term.
Personal Life
Navin Ramgoolam is the son of former Prime Minister and Father of the Mauritian Nation Seewoosagur RamgoolamSeewoosagur Ramgoolam
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam KT,GCMG,KCMG,LRCP, MRCS is the first Chief Minister, Prime Minister and sixth Governor General of Mauritius....
and Lady Sushil Ramgoolam. He is married to Veena Brizmohun since 1976. He has a sister and his brother in law is an Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.