Véronique Leu-Govind

Véronique Leu-Govind
Junior Minister of Arts and Culture
In office
22 November 2024 – 3 August 2026
Personal details
PartyNew Democrats

Marie Véronique Leu-Govind is a Mauritian politician from the New Democrats (ND).[1] She served as Junior Minister of Arts and Culture in the fourth Navin Ramgoolam cabinet from November 2024 until her resignation in August 2026, following a drug-trafficking scandal during which her husband was arrested.[2][3][4]

Political career

In December 2014, with the support of councillor Emmanuel Reine de Carthage, 30-year-old social worker Véronique Leu-Govind was elected as President of the Black River District Council as a member of the PMSD. She replaced Noel Chetty and was grateful to Hervé Aimée and Maya Hanoomanjee for this appointment. She was again voted back into the same office at the December 2016 elections but in October 2017 she was replaced by Steeve Magdaleine after a vote of no confidence authored by Kemraj Ortoo of the MMM.[5][6][7][8]

On 1 May 2018, soon after being voted out of the Black River District Council, she was nominated as President of the PMSD by the party's leader Xavier-Luc Duval.[9]

On 5 June 2020 she was elected back as President of the Black River District Council after defeating her opponent Veenabye Jeewajee.[10]

In April 2024 Véronique Leu-Govind followed Khushal Lobine and Richard Duval as they resigned from the PMSD to join the PTr-MMM coalition.[11] On 13 September 2024, she was appointed President of the New Democrats.[12]

Reunion Island drug trafficking scandal

On 31 July 2026 Yogajee Govind, also known as Gulshan Govind, the 42-year old husband of Véronique Leu-Govind, was arrested by the Anti Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) of the Western Division of the Mauritius Police Force for his involvement, with suspect Ravindra Chimajee, in a drug trafficking network after 155.7 kilograms of cannabis (worth Rs 233.55 million) were seized by law enforcement authorities of Reunion Island. When the couple's house at Case Noyale was searched by police, they discovered 4 marijuana plants growing on the roof, as well as an amount of synthetic opioid drug methadone. They also seized the couple's SUV, a GWM Tank worth Rs 2.8 million. Gulshan Govind's history in drug trafficking was also brought to light, given that he was convicted and jailed for 1 year in 2008 for trafficking marijuana. The scandal also cast light over Benjamin Leu, Véronique Leu-Govind's brother, who spent 2.5 years in jail in Reunion Island after being found guilty of cannabis drug trafficking in 2023. The Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) also started to investigate the family's involvement in money laundering. On 4 August 2026 in the National Assembly Joe Lesjongard, the Leader of the Opposition, questioned Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam about the unusually high number of trips made by Véronique Leu-Govind with her drug trafficker husband to Reunion Island since 2025, and their access to the airport's VIP Lounge. However, Navin Ramgoolam replied that the couple's access to the VIP Lounge as "absolutely normal".[13] [14][15][16]

References

  1. ↑ "Elections Mauritius - LEU-GOVIND Marie Veronique". www.electionsmauritius.com. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Le nouveau cabinet ministériel en chiffres". defimedia.info (in French). Defimedia. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  3. ↑ "New Cabinet Ministerial Team Unveiled at the State House". 22 November 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  4. ↑ Shreedam, Keshav. "Véronique Leu-Govind contrainte de démissionner". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Rivière-Noire: Une femme à la tête du conseil de district 15-Dec-2014". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Conseils de district: Pamplemousses et Rivière-Noire élisent leurs nouveaux présidents". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Maugueret, Xavier. "Conseil de district de Rivière-Noire: Véronique Leu-Govind éjectée". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Conseil de district: Hurdoyal, Leu-Govind et Purgus élus présidents". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Luckoo, Priya. "PMSD: Véronique Leu-Govind, nouvelle présidente du parti". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Conseil de district de Rivière-Noire: Véronique Leu-Govind élue à la présidence". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Lobine, Richard Duval et Leu-Govind au sein de l'alliance Ptr-MMM". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  12. ↑ cfeditoren (13 September 2024). "Véronique Leu-Govind appointed party president". Mauritius. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "PNQ Véronique Leu-Govind : Huit voyages au total, selon Joe Lesjongard". ION News. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Shreedam, Keshav. "Les vieux fantômes qui reviennent avec les marées". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Aucune charge contre Véronique Leu-Govind pour l'instant après cinq heures d'audition". L'Express. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Saisie de 100 kg de cannabis : L'ombre d'un 3e suspect plane sur le départ pour La-Réunion". Le Mauricien. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
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