Economic repercussions of Middle East war: 'Country comes first,' PM says

“Too zafer in wine more expensive. Li andeor ou kontrol. Nou konsian ki nou pei bizin pass before all.” This is what Navin Ramgoolam declared this Tuesday, April 14. The Prime Minister (PM) was commenting on the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East while speaking at the official Tamil New Year celebrations, which took place at the MGI, this afternoon.

“Rich or poor, this war will have its impact. There are several countries that have already declared a state of economic emergency because they had to take very drastic measures. We are facing a major disruption in the supply of oil, gas and fertilizer. And, in Mauritius, we import almost everything. All you need is expensive wine. Li andeor ou kontrol. Nou konsian ki nou pei bizin pass before all. All this has repercussions on it. Currently, we are ensuring three things, in particular the supply of basic foodstuffs as well as aid to people at the bottom of the ladder,” underlined Navin Ramgoolam.

“Pena mem gas la. Pou ena enn kitfwa shortage. Nou pa pou ena. Because, fortunately, we still have India which is there to help us,” said the PM. He says he is in talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. “We can enter into a government-to-government agreement to guarantee that oil and gas will be earned in India without penuri. “More than ever, I have governed India,” adds Navin Ramgoolam.

The head of government says he chairs a crisis committee on the economic impacts of the conflict in the Middle East. “We are studying the best options available to us in the interest of the country. (…) We will have to protect our population as much as possible. We realize that some measures are difficult, but they are necessary. They will be temporary. Once the war ends, we hope to put things right,” says the PM.

In the words of Navin Ramgoolam, “seki nou pe fer, se pa pou nou. We can iron easily to popiler. I don't. We can get some pei. We don't have any priority. In difficult times, it is responsibility, even collective solidarity, that can minimize the impact of war. Every time our country has faced difficulties, even adversities, everyone has always been able to respond to the challenge and we have finally responded,” he maintained.

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