(Minister of Housing). Following the 1960 visit by Secretary of State Ian Macleod to the island of Mauritius Abdool Razack became aware of the inevitability of independence. Thus changes in the Constitution and electoral system were bound to occur and would once again affect Muslims' representation. The 1965 Constitutional Conference Report outlined the positions of the parties present at Lancaster House and stated that the only 2 parties advocating immediate independence were the Labour Party and Sookdeo Bissoondoyal's Independent Forward Bloc (IFB). The Secretary of State Anthony Greenwood declared that Mauritius had reached the ultimate status for independence and that the 1963 general elections had already been an indicator of the overwhelming support of independence given that when combined the Labour Party and the IFB gathered 61.5% of the votes. The report did not give weight to the indecisiveness of the CAM on the issue of independence. The CAM gathered politician J. Ah Chuen's support to ensure that the Secretary of State developed a formula for safeguarding the interests of minority groups in the Legislative Assembly. This formula became known as the "Best Loser" system which has now survived for several decades. The CAM became part of the coalition called Independence Party which held office after the August 1967 elections in preparation for independence from Great Britain in March 1968 despite the deadly January 1968 Mauritian riots and State of Emergency. The Independence Party consisted of the 3 main parties Parti Travailliste (PTr), Independent Forward Bloc (IFB) and the CAM. This coalition campaigned against the PMSD and a few other minor parties which were opposed to the concept of an independent Mauritius. From 1967 to 1976 Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Security. Recognition In 1978 a high school located at La Poudrière Street in Port Louis was named after him. One of the main streets of Port Louis has also been named after him. His effigy also appears on the two hundred rupees (Rs 200) banknote of Mauritius. The centenary of his birth was commemorated by the Mauritian Government. References Commemorative magazine published by Mauritius government commemorates the 100th anniversary of Mohamed's birth Mauritius Economic Development Ministry notes Sir Abdul Razack Mohamed's contributions Members of the National Assembly (Mauritius) 1906 births 1978 deaths Indian emigrants to Mauritius People from Port Louis District 20th-century Indian Muslims Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate politicians Knights Bachelor