On Monday January 20, 1997, a group of young men and women met and founded the Socialist Workers Party. It is a historical event, since we were the second and last organization to claim to be Marxist. The other one is a melting pot, mainly composed of Trotskyists.
Right from the beginning, The SWP (Parti Socialiste Ouvrier) has made it clear that it has nothing to do with Trotskyism, but we are modern communists, wanting to present a modern image of Marxism-Leninism. No one ignore the damaged caused by renegades who betrayed communism, up to the destruction of the Soviet Union and socialism in a number of countries.
The SWP (PSO) of Mauritius, though still a small party, is growing steadily and we are proud to be recognized and appreciated by foreign brother parties. In a few words, though we are modern, we stick to traditional Marxism-Leninism, including ideas of the Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Ho Chi Minh, Mao, among others. We are very vigilant against any type of revisionism.
From 1936, year when the Labor Party was founded, up to 1960, then from 1969 (when the MMM was founded) up to 1976, the country witnessed regular class struggles. These two parties were Marxist by essence with great revolutionaries like Maurice Curé and Emmanuel Anquetil of the Labor Party and to a lesser degree Paul Bérenger one of the founders of the Movement Militant Mauricien. The reactionaries were and are still represented by the Parti Mauricien Social Democrate (PMSD).
The Labor Party, under Ramgoolam gradually abandoned socialism and now has become a right wing party, practicing racial politics. The MMM gave hope to thousands of young people, workers and unemployed, but as from 1976, it deviated towards social-democracy.
When the MMM deviated, its left wing quit the party to form various Marxist parties, the only one surviving is Lalit, a small but well organized party. It is partly influenced by Trotskyism. There was a Communist Party of Mauritius, but it was won away by opportunists before disappearing. Given this situation, we have decided to form this party, to fill the vacuum and to prove that communism is not dead.
Mauritius is today a purely capitalist country. It is true that there has been enormous economic growth, but the social cost is dramatic. This is an excellent breeding ground for us.
The job awaiting us is enormous. We have to convince again the working class that salvation comes only from true socialism. It is encouraging that we are meeting success in this field. The Socialist Workers Party (Parti Socialiste Ouvrier) is also targeting young workers, students and the growing unemployed. The last two are enthusiastic, while the former are quite reluctant, tempted by the small bourgeoisie.
We are working on our manifesto, which we hope will be ready by early next year. Basically, it is a revolutionary one, what we shall do to guide the workers and the oppressed to overthrow the bourgeois society and to establish a true socialist republic.
The Socialist Workers Party (Parti Socialiste Ouvrier) has a democratic administration. It is managed by a Central Committee and an Executive Council. The present General Secretary is Didier Edmond and is elected every four years by all members of the party. The President is Bhinod Ramlochun, elected for three years by the Central Committee.
As any communist party, the SWP (PSO) has excellent relationships with brother parties in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. We are also in contact with several communist parties groupings. Up to now, we are not a member of any international organization, for practical and financial reasons. But we will adhere to them sooner or later.
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