**Portrait of Navin Ramgoolam: Strong Leadership in the Face of the Economic Crisis in Mauritius**
Since his accession to the post of Prime Minister of Mauritius a month ago, Navin Ramgoolam has been facing a major economic challenge. The record left by his predecessor, Pravind Jugnauth, is alarming. Describing the situation as an “economic crime”, Ramgoolam quickly took the reins of government to try to allay fears and take the necessary measures to put the country back on the path to prosperity.
At the root of the crisis are poor financial management and a public debt reaching alarming levels, now exceeding 80% of GDP. The new Prime Minister has highlighted the costly projects of the former government, in particular the Metro Express, which is accumulating a colossal debt and whose very viability is being questioned. This critical situation casts its shadow over all parastatals in the country, threatening Mauritius’ already fragile financial balance.
In the face of this bleak picture, Navin Ramgoolam has adopted a resolute approach. He has promised to introduce a Fiscal Responsibility Act to ensure better management of public expenditure and thus avoid future financial crises. Moreover, the support of foreign partners is essential in this recovery phase, and the Prime Minister has already announced his intention to seek assistance from friendly countries and international organisations such as India, the United States, Great Britain, China, the IMF and the World Bank.
Under the leadership of Navin Ramgoolam, the Mauritian government is resolutely facing the economic challenges that lie ahead. His strong leadership and clear vision for the future of the country are testament to his ability to deal with crises and implement the reforms needed to ensure Mauritius’ prosperity.