Mauritius - Politics

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Mauritius is a parliamentary democracy on the Westminster model, with 62 members of parliament elected every five years by universal suffrage. Mauritius is divided into 20 constituencies, each returning three members. Rodrigues is a single constituency, returning two members.

The ‘best loser’ system allows for ethnic representation of MPs in the legislative assembly. Currently, more than 45 of the 70 members of parliament are Hindu. The ministries are also allocated on a communal basis. Hindus hold 16 ministries out of 22, three ministries are allocated to Muslims and three to Christians.

The role of the president, although important, is limited in powers to official and ceremonial procedures. Authority is delegated by him to the Council of Ministers, a body of ministers headed by the prime minister.

Government by coalition is a common feature of Mauritian politics and reflects the way of life of the people. The class divisions and communal differences of the post-war period are gradually crumbling as the economic situation improves. Education, industrialisation and improving prosperity have also helped people attain better status and heightened their aspirations.

One of the main challenges facing any government of Mauritius is the constant effort that must be made to maintain harmony between the island’s various ethnic groups. The growth of tourism has made this an even greater priority. It is no secret that many Mauritians of African descent feel disadvantaged and under-represented in politics. You only to have to visit the southwest of the island, the most Creole area, to see that this is one of the poorest parts of Mauritius. The social unrest that occurred following the death of the popular Creole singer, Kaya, in February 1999, is a reminder of how dangerous underlying discontent can be

Mauritius has no military forces as such. A paramilitary unit called the Special Mobile Force (SMF) numbers about 1,000 and has its headquarters at Vacoas. The upper ranks have usually been trained in Europe and India; French military advisers offer supervision and further training and there is also a lingering British connection. The National Coast Guard is a branch of the Mauritius Police Force.

The flag of Mauritius consists of four equal-width horizontal stripes. In descending order these are red, blue, yellow and green, so when the flag is flying, red is at the top. The colours have been interpreted as red for freedom and independence; blue for the Indian Ocean; yellow representing the light of independence shining over the nation; and green standing for the agriculture of Mauritius and showing the country’s colour throughout the 12 months of the year.

A second interpretation maintains that the colours stand for the island’s different religious and ethnic groups. Red represents the Hindus, blue the Catholic population, yellow the Tamils and green the Muslims.

The crest of Mauritius reflects its past more than its present, flanked by a dodo and a stag, both clutching shoots of sugarcane. The shield portrays a medieval ship, presumably representing the island’s discoverers, and three stylistic trees.

There is also a key and a shining star, depicting the country’s motto that appears below it: STELLA CLAVISQUE MARIS INDICI (Star and key of the Indian Ocean).

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Mauritius - Politics

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Mauritius - Politics