Election campaigns are synonymous with the unearthing of political scandals, with candidates eagerly exploiting them for their own gain, often adding their own exaggerated twists, or “pima kraze”.

Whether it’s the MedPoint or Betamax scandals, the public isn’t easily fooled. These are political and financial controversies deeply entwined with our alliances and political marriages of convenience.

Beyond the maneuverings of politicians’ close relatives, both cases represent a brutal war between the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) and the Labour Party (PTr). As the general elections approach, this battle for power and money can only intensify, dragging institutions and civil servants into the fray.

After Singapore’s arbitration ruling was overturned, the Indian Supreme Court, following our own Supreme Court, attempted to unravel the Bet-A-Max case. The situation is complicated by the fact that the PTr and MSM, sworn enemies today, were once allies who surely shared secrets in their political honeymoon phase.

When the rushed deal with the Bhunjun group was signed in November 2009 – before the ministerial committee chaired by Xavier-Luc Duval could even submit its recommendations – several other players were involved besides Navin Ramgoolam and the Jugnauths. Labour ministers Anil Bachoo and Mahen Gowressoo (who were at odds over the issue), Finance Minister Rama Sithanen, and Attorney General Rama Valayden were all key figures. The MSM remained silent at the time because of their alliance with the Labour Party in the lead-up to the 2010 elections, after which the MSM joined Ramgoolam’s government in May 2010. Back then, the MSM, through Showkutally Soodhun, staunchly defended the Betamax/ Red Eagle deal in Parliament on August 10, 2010.

In August 2011, after 15 months in power, the MSM walked out of Ramgoolam’s government, dissatisfied with how the MedPoint scandal was unfolding. From that point on, the MSM campaigned against the Labour Party and the Betamax deal. This led to the “Viré Mam” campaign, and the Lepep alliance seized power, attempting to imprison Ramgoolam after tearing up the Betamax contract, as promised during the 2014 election campaign.

According to the Jugnauth camp, the primary goal in the Betamax affair wasn’t to punish the guilty but to recover billions of rupees for the State. Since the profits expected by the Red Eagle’s owners were deemed illicit by the new government (seeking revenge for the MedPoint scandal), the contract for fuel transport aboard the tanker was supposed to be renegotiated. But the attempt was in vain, as trust between the Lepep government and Veekram Bhunjun’s group was lacking. SAJ, after all, had described the favors granted to Betamax as a “squandering of public funds.”

Government advisors argued that the alleged actions in this case “at best represent poor management of state resources and at worst, embezzlement of taxpayer money.” They pointed out that the Betamax ship cost $58 million but was leased to the STC for an annual amount of $17.6 million.

The most troubling aspect (especially for us taxpayers) is that a proposal by the Mauritius Shipping Corporation to purchase a ship for fuel transport on behalf of the state (and not on behalf of politicians’ relatives) was shelved indefinitely – until the idea was resurrected by someone close to those in power, who had suddenly become a shipowner.

However, as with the BAI case, the urgency and spirit of vengeance to stop the “hemorrhaging of public funds” have left scars behind. And, after the Supreme Court’s ruling, we witnessed a pathetic game of “passing the buck” among old and new politicians, between the DPP, the Attorney General’s office (where are Rama Valayden, Yatin Varma, Ravi Yerrigadoo, and Maneesh Gobin?), and the police.

Taxpayers are the ones footing the bill for politicians’ power struggles. Take the Betamax and MedPoint scandals, for instance. In the Betamax case, the state was ordered to pay billions in compensation after the contract was canceled, a burden ultimately shouldered by the public. Similarly, the MedPoint scandal involved the purchase of a clinic at an inflated price, with taxpayers left to cover the cost. These examples illustrate how political warfare drains public funds, leaving citizens to bear the financial consequences.