Xavier-Luc Duval

Charles Gaëtan Xavier Luc Duval (born 28 January 1958) is a Mauritian politician who is the present Leader of the Opposition and was also Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius in the cabinet of Sir Anerood Jugnauth from December 2014 to December 2016.

His first candidacy was in 1987 where he was elected to serve as Member of Parliament for Constituency No 4, Port Louis North & Montagne Longue.

He was candidate of the MSM, part of the MSM/Labour Party alliance led by Jugnauth.

Firstly elected as member of parliament in 1987, he was minister in 1995 in the government of Sir Anerood Jugnauth as Minister of Industry and Tourism, then became Minister of Industry, Commerce, Corporate Affairs & Financial Services in the Government led by the Mauritius Labour Party, between 1999 and 2000.

He later joined the Mauritian Social Democrat Party and stood as candidate for the 1991 elections where he was not elected under the Labour Party/Mauritian Social Democrat Party alliance.

He later stood as candidate in 1995 under the 'Parti Geatan Duval' in constituency no 17, Curepipe and Midlands.

On 10 September 1997 Xavier Luc Duval was expelled from the PMSD by his uncle and leader of the PMSD, Hervé Duval with the support of other members of the bureau politique of the PMSD, namely Maurice Allet, Germain Comarmond, Clifford Empeigne, Mamade Khodabaccus and Vyolet Mootia.

This expulsion prompted Xavier Duval to create his own party PMXD in 1999.

In October 2000, he became senior partner at Nexia, Baker & Arenson, the Mauritian representative firm of Nexia International, a worldwide network of accountants and consultants employing some 12,000 professionals in 76 countries worldwide.

He served as Vice Prime Minister in the cabinet of Navin Ramgoolam from 2005 to June 2014.

He was previously Minister of Tourism from 2005 to 2010, Minister of Social Integration from 2010 to 2011 and Minister of Finance and Economic Development from 2011 to 2014.

His party was in alliance with the Labour Party in 2005 and 2010.

He was then Minister of Tourism, Leisure and External Communications from 2005 to 2010, in the coalition again with the MLP and Minister of Social Integration from 2010 to 2011.

He serves as Member of Parliament for constituency No 18, Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes since 2005.

He held this position at Nexia Mauritius until 2006.

In 2006 with the creation of the Festival International Kreol, Xavier-Luc Duval aimed at promoting creole culture through poetry, dance and music.

The festival has become a yearly event, with participation of international creole artists such as Compagnie Creole, Zouk Machine, Images, and Shaggy as well as Mauritian groups such as Sanedhip Bhimjee.

During his mandate at the Ministry of Tourism, tremendous work was done to upgrade a large number of sites, including touristic sites and residential areas, especially some places like Roche-Bois for a better integration on the train of development.

As Minister of Tourism and External Communication, Xavier-Luc Duval contributed to boost the image de marque of the destination culminating in a record in growth of tourist arrivals and revenues in 2008.

During his time in office he also introduced a New Tourism Act enhanced regulations and improving the business climate to boost the tourism sector.

The PMXD was dissolved in 2009 to merge with the Mauritian Social Democrat Party.

He was then elected leader of the party.

Xavier-Luc Duval was given the responsibility to launch the Ministry of Social Integration Economic Empowerment after the general elections of 2010.

He created a new policy for social housing, launched a new program for the integration of the young children at grass root level, encouraged the empowerment of women and identifying new talents in vulnerable groups (through sports and arts), as economic empowerment gained a new impetus under his leadership.

When he was appointed Finance Minister in mid-2011, Duval did not lose sight of social integration.

In his successive Budgets in 2012 2013 and 2014 huge support has been given to the vulnerable groups, especially in the fields of housing and education.

Special schemes include the construction of concrete cum CIS houses in poor areas or abolition of fees for the purchase of land.

Financial support is given to the needy children who attend school, day care centres are created in specific areas.

Due to the alliance between the Labour Party and MMM in 2014 elections, he resigned as minister on 6 June 2014 and aligned with the MSM to form the coalition of MSM–PMSD–ML, also known as Alliance Lepep, which then won a landslide victory.

He held the title of Deputy Prime Minister from December 2014 to December 2016 under Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth.

Xavier Luc Duval is the son of Sir Gaetan Duval, former leader of the opposition, later Deputy Prime Minister, leader of the PMSD and also founder of defunct Parti Gaëtan Duval.

Xavier Duval is married to Marie Jennifer Duval and is father of three children; Stephanie Duval, Alexandre Duval and Adrien Duval.

Xavier Luc Duval holds a degree in Economics from the University of Leeds in England.

B.A. Hons.

Econ University of Leeds, U.K and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, F.C.A.

During his professional career, he was a founding partner of Coopers & Lybrand and Director Abacus Financial Services.

He was previously a partner at Haskins and Sells Mauritius and a founder and managing director of The Financial Training Company Mauritius Limited and Halifax Management Limited.

He was also Minister of Tourism & External Communications and serves as 1st Member of Parliament elected from Constituency No 18 Belle Rose & Quatres Bornes.

He is the leader of the Mauritian Social Democrat Party (PMSD).

His party has 4 MPs at parliament and he succeeded Arvin Boolell as Leader of Opposition on 4 March 2021.