Angidi Chettiar

Angidi Verriah Chettiar (அங்கிடி செட்டியார்) (29 April 1928 – 15 September 2010) was a Mauritian politician who served as the Vice President of Mauritius from August 2007 until his death in September 2010. Angidi Chettiar was born in Madurai in the State of Tamil Nadu, India and came to Mauritius at the age of 10. The Chettiar family is a family of traders. Angidi Chettiar has throughout his political career been a staunch member of the Mauritius Labour Party. He served the party for more than 50 years and even held the position of treasurer of the party for a few decades. Before being appointed Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius, Angidi Chettiar had been a member of the Legislative Assembly for many years, serving as Government Chief Whip and eventually Minister in the Government of Prime Minister Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam from 1980 to 1982.

He served a first term as Vice President from 1997 to 2002, and he briefly became Acting President in 2002 when Cassam Uteem resigned. However, Chettiar also resigned within days after refusing to sign a controversial anti-terrorism bill, saying that the bill was discriminatory against Muslims. The line of succession then tipped the presidency to Supreme Court Justice Ariranga Pillay.

After the come-back of Dr Navin Ramgoolam, current Leader of Mauritius Labour Party, to power, Chettiar was reappointed as Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius for a second term by the President of Mauritius, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, in 2007.

He died while serving as Vice President on the 15 September 2010. He suffered from health problems for a few months before his death. He is survived by 4 sons and 1 daughter. Another son has already died.

References