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Debate No 37 of 2018 (UNREVISED) 1 No. 37 of 2018 SIXTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION MONDAY 10 DECEMBER 2018 2 CONTENTS PAPERS LAID MOTION BILL (Public) ADJOURNMENT 3 THE CABINET (Formed by Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth) Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon. Ivan Leslie Collendavelloo, GCSK, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public SC Utilities Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, GCSK, Minister Mentor, Minister of Defence, Minister for KCMG, QC Rodrigues Hon. Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Outer Islands, Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare Hon. Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, GCSK Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Hon. Yogida Sawmynaden Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation Hon. Nandcoomar Bodha, GCSK Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport Hon. Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research Hon. Anil Kumarsingh Gayan, SC Minister of Tourism Dr. the Hon. Mohammad Anwar Husnoo Minister of Health and Quality of Life Hon. Prithvirajsing Roopun Minister of Arts and Culture Hon. Marie Joseph Noël Etienne Ghislain Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Sinatambou Environment and Sustainable Development Hon. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security Hon. Ashit Kumar Gungah Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection Hon. Maneesh Gobin Attorney General, Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Institutional Reforms Hon. Jean Christophe Stephan Toussaint Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Soomilduth Bholah Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives 4 Hon. Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Minister of Social Integration and Economic Cheong, MSK Empowerment Hon. Premdut Koonjoo Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping Hon. Soodesh Satkam Callichurn Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training Hon. Purmanund Jhugroo Minister of Housing and Lands Hon. Marie Cyril Eddy Boissézon Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms Hon. Dharmendar Sesungkur Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance 5 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS Madam Speaker Hanoomanjee, Hon. Mrs Santi Bai, GCSK Deputy Speaker Lesjongard, Georges Pierre Deputy Chairperson of Committees Jahangeer, Hon. Ahmad Bashir Clerk of the National Assembly Lotun, Mrs Bibi Safeena Adviser Dowlutta, Mr Ram Ranjit Deputy Clerk Ramchurn, Ms Urmeelah Devi Clerk Assistant Gopall, Mr Navin Clerk Assistant Seetul, Ms Darshinee Hansard Editor Jankee, Mrs Chitra Parliamentary Librarian Jeewoonarain, Ms Prittydevi and Information Officer Serjeant-at-Arms Pannoo, Mr Vinod 6 MAURITIUS Sixth National Assembly --------------- FIRST SESSION ------------ Debate No. 37 of 2018 Sitting of Monday 10 December 2018 The Assembly met in the Assembly House, Port Louis at 11.30 a.m. The National Anthem was played (Madam Speaker in the Chair) 7 MOTION SUSPENSION OF S.O. 10(2) The Prime Minister: Madam Speaker, I move that all the business on today’s Order Paper be exempted from the provisions of paragraph (2) of Standing Order 10. The Deputy Prime Minister rose and seconded. Question put and agreed to. PUBLIC BILL Second Reading THE CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT) BILL (No. XXII of 2018) Order read for resuming adjourned debate on the Second Reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. XXII of 2018). Madam Speaker: Hon. Gungah ! (11.34 a.m.) The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection (Mr A. Gungah): Madame la présidente, permettez-moi d’abord de remercier et féliciter le Premier ministre pour avoir le courage et la volonté de présenter le Constitution (Amendment) Bill. Ce projet de loi est présenté à l’Assemblée nationale après plusieurs mois de discussions. Le Premier ministre avait même présenté les propositions du gouvernement à la nation en septembre dernier et ce n’est qu’après avoir pris note des points de vue exprimés que le projet de loi a été finalisé. Tout a été fait dans la transparence. Madame la présidente, toute nouvelle loi apporte son lot de changements. Mais ce projet de loi est crucial puisque nous allons tourner une page très importante dans l’histoire de notre pays, pour l’évolution de notre système électoral et pour notre démocratie. C’est historique aussi parce que nous faisons un très grand pas pour que les femmes mauriciennes et rodriguaises aient une meilleure représentation dans la prise de décision politique. Ce sera une très grande opportunité pour l’ile Rodrigues d’être représentée par une de ses filles du sol après plus de 30 ans. La présentation de ce projet de loi, Madame la présidente, démontre le respect de notre engagement envers la nation. Nous respectons encore une fois notre parole donnée. 8 D’ailleurs, dans les grandes lignes de notre manifeste électoral, nous avions proposé l’introduction d’une loi anti-transfuge, une réforme électorale qui tient compte d’une stabilité pour gouverner, d’une meilleure représentativité des femmes au Parlement et d’une dose de proportionnelle. Au cours de ces deux dernières décennies, la réforme électorale a toujours été un sujet qui a passionné les politiciens, les observateurs politiques et la population dans son ensemble. Mais il n’y a eu que deux gouvernements qui ont démontré une réelle volonté de réformer notre système électoral, celui de 2000 à 2005, c’est-à-dire l’alliance MSM-MMM et le gouvernement actuel. Madam Speaker, some Members of this side of the House and also from the other side were in the 2000-2005 Government when a first report was produced. However, a consensus could not be reached between the two parties of the alliance, but it must be acknowledged that it was still a first important step with willingness and good intention of going forward to improve our electoral system. We must admit that both the MSM and the MMM have always been sincere for a reform of our electoral system. Afterwards, we know what happened; the Labour Party and the PMSD were in Government from 2005 to 2014. Madame la présidente, force est de constater que de 2005 à 2014 aucune avancée n’a été notée sur ce sujet, sauf des rapports qui n’ont jamais été traduits en des textes de loi pour être présentés au Parlement. Le Premier ministre d’alors a utilisé la réforme électorale pour ses multiples jeux d’alliances, et la position prise par le Parti travailliste sur la réforme proposée maintenant, confirme, encore une fois, que ce parti n’a jamais été sérieux sur ce sujet majeur dans notre espace démocratique. L’histoire retiendra les prétextes de certains politiciens qui ont souvent parlé de réforme mais qui dans le fond n’ont rien fait de concret pour que notre système électoral soit revu. Madame la présidente, le hasard a voulu qu’aujourd’hui, le 10 décembre 2018, soit exactement quatre ans depuis que ce gouvernement est au pouvoir, que le peuple a rejeté la deuxième République avec une présidence de sept ans. Une grande partie de l’électorat Travailliste a rejeté cette proposition de dictature du Dr. Navin Ramgoolam. Et plusieurs membres de la présente opposition avaient soutenu cette proposition et nous savons tous les dégâts qu’aurait fait un Navin Ramgoolam comme Président de la République, avec les pleins pouvoirs et toutes les immunités. Personnellement, je ne pense pas que l’honorable Paul Bérenger serait devenu Premier ministre si l’alliance Parti travailliste-MMM avait remporté les élections. 9 Madam Speaker, 50 years after our Independence it is high time that Mauritius moves towards the modernisation of its electoral system. Elections are the most important and integral part of politics in a democratic system of Government. Despite the fact that free and fair elections are organised in Mauritius, for years now, some people choose not to vote, because they either think that their vote will not make any difference or that their voice will be ignored. On the other hand, there are voters who have the perception that our current electoral system does not fully provide opportunities for them to be represented by candidates of their choice. This is why I believe that when we have the chance to enhance our democracy, we should take it. This Constitution (Amendment) Bill will create the necessary conditions to consolidate our democracy. Madam Speaker, however though views differ on the type of reform required, we have to start somewhere, and this piece of legislation is a leap ahead in that endeavour. We must agree that this is a complex matter and it is difficult to come up with a 100% perfect electoral system. An electoral system can bring democracy and can also be levelled to a country. Other countries have experienced dictatorship, political instability and it even occurred that the far right did come into power in some countries. Proudly we can say, Madam Speaker, that our country has known a political stability since independence. The existing electoral system has proven to be a major component for the political and socio- economic stability of Mauritius for the last 50 years. However, there is room for improvement and we have to move forward for a more balanced electoral system. Madam Speaker, the electoral reform has been part of the political agenda of all parties for decades. Several reports had been published on the matter. Throughout the years, the MSM has been consistent in the type of reform that it has always proposed for the country. As I mentioned earlier, it is nearly impossible to provide a perfect electoral system. However, this Constitution (Amendment) Bill contains the elements for a political stability in the future. The major objective of the Government is to ensure that each and every citizen of this country jouisse de ses droits fondamentaux dans notre démocratie et ne se sent pas délaissé dans le processus démocratique pour élire ses représentants à l’Assemblée nationale.
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