Soodhun, Sik Yuen exchange portfolios

The decision was taken by President Sir Anerood Jugnauth after consultation with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.
The communiqué, though issued on Friday, took effect from Thursday.

The Commerce section has been stripped from Soodhun’s ministry and he will be responsible of the Industrial Technology and Development, Mauritius Standards Bureau, Jewellery Advisory Council, Assay Office, Mauritas, Cooperatives, and Cooperative Development.

On the other hand, Sik Yuen will now be responsible for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority, Competitiveness, National Productivity and Competitiveness Council, Consumer Protection and Price Control, Citizen’s Charter, Enterprise Mauritius, Commerce, Supplies, Import and Export Control, State Trading Corporation, and Weight and Measures.

Speaking to the Independent, Sik Yuen said, “The government works as a team and fully respects and accepts the changes made by the Prime Minister.”

Sik Yuen said that he spoke to Soodhun on Friday morning, adding that he “assured him” all his support in the cooperatives section.

Soodhun has been at the centre of several controversies since the beginning of his mandate but things worsened with his recent statements in parliament concerning a possible contamination of the Betamax tanker, which later turned out to be unfounded fears.

Incidentally, it was under the aegis of Rajesh Jeetah, now minister of Tertiary Education, that the said contract was secured. Jeetah was then minister of Commerce.

Speaking on the radio on Friday, Soodhun justified the ministerial reshuffle by stating that he requested the Prime Minister to do so for personal reasons.