Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth Role President of Mauritius Children Adam Fakim, Imaam Fakim Name Ameenah Gurib Presidential term June 5, 2015 – | Residence State House Party Independent politician Political party Independent Spouse Anwar Fakim (m. 1988) | |
 | ||
Vice President Monique Ohsan Bellepeau Preceded by Monique Ohsan Bellepeau (Acting) Born October 17, 1959 (age 65)
Surinam, Mauritius ( 1959-10-17 ) Alma mater University of Surrey
University of Exeter Books Mauritius through its medicinal plants, Medicinal Plants of Mauritius and of the World Education University of Surrey, University of Exeter | ||
Mauritius president ameenah gurib accelerating excellence in science in africa
Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim, GCSK CSK (born 17 October 1959) is a Mauritian biodiversity scientist who has served as the President of Mauritius since 2015. In December 2014, she was selected to be the presidential candidate of the Alliance Lepep. After Kailash Purryag resigned on 29 May 2015, both Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger positively welcomed her nomination, which was unanimously approved in a vote in the National Assembly.
Contents
- Mauritius president ameenah gurib accelerating excellence in science in africa
- Interview of the first woman president in mauritius ameenah gurib fakim
- Early life and education
- Personal life
- Vice chancellor appointment
- 2017 Controversy
- National honours
- Foreign honours
- National awards
- Foreign and international awards
- References
Gurib-Fakim is the first woman elected President of the country and is the third woman to serve as Head of State following Elizabeth II and Monique Ohsan Bellepeau, who acted as President in 2012 following the resignation of President Anerood Jugnauth, and again in 2015 following the resignation of President Kailash Purryag.
She worked as Managing Director of CIDP Research & Innovation (formerly Cephyr, Centre for Phytotherapy Research), where she devoted her time to researching the medical and nutritive implications of indigenous plants of Mauritius. Previously, she was a Professor with a personal chair in Organic Chemistry at the University of Mauritius (2001) and where she served successively as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Pro–Vice Chancellor (2004–2010). She also worked at the Mauritius Research Council as Manager for Research (1995–1997). She served as the Chairperson the International Council for Scientific Union – Regional Office for Africa (2011–2014).
Gurib-Fakim has also been the recipient of various international awards including the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2007), Laureate for the National Economic and Social Council (2007), the CTA / NEPAD / AGRA / RUFORUM for ‘African Women in Science’ and the African Union Award for Women in Science. She was also made Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (CSK) by President Anerood Jugnauth in 2008 for her contribution in the education and the scientific sector. She was awarded the Order of the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques’ by the Government of France in 2009. Upon becoming President, she was automatically elevated to the highest civilian award of Grand Commander of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GSCK). In 2015, she was named the vice-chairman and trustee of the Planet Earth Institute.
Since early 2017, Gurib has been subjected to huge financial contreversy with her relationship with Álvaro Sobrinho who is an African businessman with major allegations about financial fraud and crimes from states including Portugal and Switzerland.
Interview of the first woman president in mauritius ameenah gurib fakim
Early life and education
Ameenah Gurib was born in the village of Surinam on 17 October 1959, to parents Hassenjee Gurib and Firdaus Durgauhee. She grew up in Plaine Magnien and completed her studies at the primary school in Saint-Patrice. She then moved to Mahébourg Loreto Convent, finishing her Higher School Certificate at Loreto convent Quatre Bornes before flying to England for her undergraduate degree in chemistry. She graduated from the University of Surrey in 1983 with a BSc degree in chemistry. After obtaining her PhD degree in organic chemistry at Exeter University, she returned home in 1987 to take employment at the University of Mauritius.
Personal life
In 1988, she married Dr. Anwar Fakim who is a surgeon. She has two children; a son and a daughter. She is currently resident of the town of Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius. She lives with her husband, children and her elderly parents.
Vice-chancellor appointment
In December 2013 Dr. Gurib-Fakim made a complaint to the Mauritian Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) alleging religious discrimination in the consideration of her application for Vice Chancellor of the University of Mauritius (UoM). The EOC investigation found that this was not the case, but noted shortcomings in the selection process. The report cited the lack of clear criteria and mark sheets for evaluating candidates. Similarly, the last word went to Professor Jugessur, then president of the Council of the UoM if tiebreak.
Gurib-Fakim eventually left her position as Professor at the University to open her own science center known as CIDP Research & Innovation where she is the Managing Director.
2017 Controversy
Since early 2017, President Gurib has been facing immense controversy due to her relationship with Álvaro Sobrinho who is an African businessman with major allegations about financial fraud and crimes from states including Portugal and Switzerland. There has been repeated allegations of the Portuguese press this week that the Angolan billionaire is suspected of having diverted an amount of about $500 million while he was president of the Banco Espírito Santo Angola (BESA).
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, in a statement to the Mauritian nation, announced that in her capacity as President of the Republic she would write to all relevant institutions in Mauritius, including the Bank of Mauritius, Financial Intelligence Unit, the Financial Services Commission and the Prime Minister's Office to ask them to investigate all Alvaro Sobrinho's financial activities and criticisms made through the media.
Gurib was then confirmed to be a Director of the Planet Earth Institute which is a company based in London and which is owned by Sobrinho. She later resigned from the position due to her constitutional post of President. It was declared by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on parliamentary questions that Sobrinho had access to the VIP lounge of the SSR International Airport. He had meetings including lunch and rendez-vous with President Gurib.
Furthermore, it was discovered by the press that President Gurib had intervened through the bias of an email that she personally sent to the Financial Services Commission for Sobrinho to obtain a banking license in Mauritius.
Both opposition and some government members of parliament later requested the President to resign as a sign of respect to the office of the Presidency.