Mrs Navarre-Marie, of Chagossian descent, sworn in as first woman Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius

The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, took the Oath for the due execution of the Office of Deputy Prime Minister, as set out in the third schedule of the Constitution, before the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Dharambeer Gokhool, this morning, at the State House in Réduit.

The Swearing-In Ceremony was held in the presence of the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Ministers, Junior Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other personalities.

It is recalled that by virtue of sections 59(3) and 62 of the Constitution of the Republic of Mauritius, the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, has on, 4 May 2026, appointed the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, to the office of Deputy Prime Minister.

In a statement to the press following the ceremony, the Prime Minister welcomed the appointment of Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie as the second highest-ranking member of Government and highlighted her competence, composure in decision-making, and her eloquence. He talked of her political background, recalling that in 1982, she made history by contributing to the landmark 60-0 electoral victory in Mauritius, winning Constituency No. 14 (Savanne–Rivière Noire) at the age of 21. He noted her consistency and steadfastness throughout her career.

The Prime Minister also affirmed that the appointment of the first woman Deputy Prime Minister marks a historic milestone as he referred to criticisms, notably from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), regarding the underrepresentation of women in Parliament and in Cabinet. He underlined that Mauritius should take pride in entrusting such a high office to a woman who has dedicated her career to social justice.

Moreover, Dr Ramgoolam highlighted the significance of appointing Mrs Navarre-Marie born to Chagossian parents, in the context of ongoing discussions relating to the Chagos Archipelago.

Expressing her gratitude to the Prime Minister, the newly sworn-in Deputy Prime Minister stated that her appointment represents a significant breakthrough for women, symbolising the breaking of the glass ceiling. She was of the view that this achievement offers hope and inspiration to all women and girls aspiring to serve their country and contribute to shaping its future.

Furthermore, the Deputy Prime Minister observed that Mauritius is currently facing economic challenges due to the international context, and called on the population to remain resilient, to avoid wasting time and energy, and to work diligently for the country’s advancement. While emphasising that national unity is essential for the country’s development, she underscored the importance of working together with the population to ensure that the country progresses in unity. Mrs Navarre-Marie conveyed, too, her appreciation to Members of Parliament, constituents from Constituencies Nos. 1 and 14, members of her political party, as well as her family and mentor, for their unwavering support.

The new Deputy Prime Minister has a background in economics and management and had worked previously as a journalist and teacher. She is a mother of two. She was first elected in 1982, in Constituency No. 14. She later represented Constituency No. 1, Port-Louis West, in several elections. She has been the Minister of Women's Rights, Child Development, and Family Welfare from 2000 to 2005. Since her return to office in November 2024, she has been assigned the portfolio of Gender Equality and Family Welfare.

06 May 2026

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Topics: Gender