Ramduth Jaddoo, a well-known political figure, passed away on the 21st April, 2025. As a Public Officer, I interacted briefly with him in official meetings when he was an Opposition MP from 1976 to 1982 and later the Minister of Education and the Minister of Public Infrastructure.
When Sir Anerood Jugnauth constituted his Cabinet in 1991, he created a Ministry of Manpower Resources, Vocational and Technical Training and decided to allocate that responsibility to Ramduth Jaddoo. At that time, I was in the Ministry of Tourism and later in the Ministry of Youth and Sports under Michael Glover. Following a reshuffle of Permanent Secretaries in 1992, I moved to Ramduth Jaddoo’s new Ministry. We immediately established good working relations. He would allow free discussions as we were all bent on setting a solid foundation for the Ministry. That openness of mind would greatly facilitate consultation with the Private sector and other stakeholders in the field of manpower planning and training.
As the Industrial and Vocational Training Board (IVTB) fell under our responsibility, the government decided that the IVTB should be chaired by Minister Jaddoo, with the President of the Mauritius Employers’Federation, Rico du Mée, as the Vice Chairman. I too sat on the Board along with the capable IVTB director Suresh Munbodh and others. Together, we constituted a vibrant team to enhance industrial and vocational training by adding new training schools and setting of Prevocational schools in several parts of Mauritius and Rodrigues to take care of students who failed the sixth standard examination. The ministry was thus able to chart out a national human resource strategy to respond to the needs of the growing economy and the credit goes to Ramduth Jaddoo’s commitment and leadership.
He was not happy when he was informed that I had to leave his Ministry for the Ministry of Youth and Sports. A few months later, he himself got a prized promotion. He was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. What a big jump for him but his wide ministerial experience was a great asset. However, something unusual happened in that Ministry. The post of Secretary for Foreign Affairs was abruptly abolished by the Prime Minister and that left Ramduth without a team leader.
One Friday afternoon in August 1995, Michael Glover informed me that my name was mentioned in Cabinet. Ramduth wanted me to head his Ministry. Michael Glover told me he did not object to my transfer as he realised that a posting to Foreign Affairs would enhance my career.
Again, I found myself in close tandem with Ramduth who displayed his diplomatic skills and ensured that Mauritius played its role effectively on the international scene. He brilliantly represented Mauritius in several international conferences. It was a real pleasure for me and the entire staff to work with him and be inspired by him.
Mauritius was invited to the Commonwealth Heads of State/Government Meeting in New Zealand in November 1995 and as Prime Minister Jugnauth could not attend, he asked Ramduth to represent him. The delegation consisted of the Minister, myself and a Second Secretary. I was thus privileged to attend the confidential deliberations of the Heads of State/Government and also to see Nelson Mandela, the newly appointed President of South Africa after many years of imprisonment. That was a memorable Summit.
On the return trip, we had planned to stop in Australia and meet our Hon Consuls along with the Mauritian diaspora. Ramduth got a phone call from the Secretary to the Cabinet, informing him that the Prime Minister wanted him back as there would be an urgent bill to be debated in Parliament. He decided to cut short his visit, but asked me to stay behind for a few days to complete the programme. Little did we suspect that he had participated in his last official mission abroad.
A few days later, the Prime Minister dissolved Parliament and fixed the date of the general elections. Ramduth had made up his mind. He would not stand as a candidate and would withdraw from political life. He was smart enough to know when to exit. After the general election. I welcomed the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paul Bérenger.
Ramduth was a man of vision and action. He used his vast experience and his passion for sound human resource development to set up a company named Campus Abroad, focussed on advising our students on the best options for university studies overseas. His company, very ably led by his close associate ,S.Jayasankar, is a success story.
After my retirement in 2008, Ramduth invited me, Umesh Ruhee, Somduth Soborun to participate in activities of Campus Abroad and also the Mauritius Economic Society of which he was the dynamic President. Our paths met again when former Minister Armoogum Parsuramen appointed Ramduth and myself as Advisory Chairman of the University of Third Age and the Global Rainbow Foundation, respectively. We enormously enjoyed working together for a noble cause.
Ramduth has lived as a perfect gentleman, always caring for others. There is no need to heap praise on him. His entire life has been exemplary in all compartments. He leaves a rich legacy behind. Sharmila and I offer our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Jaddoo, Sashi, Nita and Raju for their immense loss.
I am sure that Campus Abroad, Mauritius Economic Society and University of Third Age will pay a fitting tribute to Ramduth Jaddoo, our beloved benefactor and mentor.
Krish Ponnusamy
Former Senior Chief Executive
