About Dr the Honorable Jaya Krishna (Jayen) Cuttaree

The Honourable Dr Jaya Krishna (Jayen) Cuttaree, GCSK was known and loved in Mauritius and internationally for his commitment to complex international negotiations, social harmony and transparency. 

Proud of his modest origins, he was born in 1941 in Rose, Hill (Mauritius) and had a rich academic history with a BSC from Edinburg University (Scotland), a MSC and Phd in Ecology from Uppsula University of Sweden, a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies from Cambridge University, United Kingdom. He was also a qualified barrister from Lincoln’s Inn, London. 

He worked in agriculture and natural resources jobs for both national and international organizations, including UNESCO in Paris (France) and the African Union in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) before entering into politics. He was remembered at that time as an avant-gardist expert on natural resources and sustainability for the African region.  

His long and rich political career officially started in 1982 in his childhood town of Rose Hill but behind the scenes from the post-independence period in the seventies across the island. He has served to various ministries and on several occasions Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation up to 2005 when he ran for the post of Director General of the WTO, up to the final round as the African Union's candidate, representing the G90.   

He was deeply committed to regional economic integration processes which he wanted to see further deepening and to South/South trade as a necessary complement to multilateral trade.  

Jayen Cuttaree died in December 2018 at the age of 77 in Mauritius. 

Today, Jayen Cuttaree is remembered as one amongst the finest politicians that Mauritius has ever known. He gave its nobility to Mauritian politics with his oratory skills, respect for his political adversaries and people-centered approach.   He has shaped the history of Mauritius at international level and his core values will be remembered by many.

The JKC Foundation would like to pay tribute to this great visionary man of Rose Hill Stanley, elected deputy seven times in his own town, who put Mauritius on global map with pride and passion.