International
Mauritius president refuses to resign over financial scandal
Mauritius president
March 14, 2018 | 01:28 PM
Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has refused to resign, vowing to fight allegations that saw her embroiled in a financial scandal, the presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.
Gurib-Fakim, Africa's only female head of state, has been accused of using a bank card provided by an NGO to make personal purchases.Last Friday, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced that Gurib-Fakim had agreed to resign, with a date set for her departure after Monday's ceremony celebrating the Indian Ocean archipelago nation's 50 years of independence.However a statement from the presidency slammed "weeks of attacks and false allegations" and said that Gurib-Fakim planned to clear her name and would not resign."Her Excellency Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, having nothing to feel guilty about and able to provide corroborating evidence, rejects any idea of resigning," read the statement.Gurib-Fakim, whose role is mostly ceremonial, is a scientist and biologist of international renown, and in 2015 joined the London-based Planet Earth Institute (PEI) to try and develop scientific capacity in Africa.The statement from the presidency said that in May 2016, she received a credit card to pay for travel and logistical expenses linked to her role.Gurib-Fakim "who already had an identical credit card from the same bank inadvertently used the card from the PEI for expenses not linked to her mission totalling $26,000", said the statement.She said she immediately informed the PEI and paid back the amount, as well as all expenses paid by the PEI for her missions.This is confirmed by a statement released by the PEI.Gurib-Fakim "thus never received gifts, favours, wages or expenses from the PEI, nor undue benefits or advantage. Her mission ended on March 20, 2017," said the statement.
March 14, 2018 | 01:28 PM