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COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 THE LOCAL SYSTEM IN MAURITIUS SUMMARY Mauritius is a constitutional with three tiers of government: central, local and village. There is no constitutional provision for other than the Regional Assembly. Local government in Mauritius is governed by the Local Government Act 2011 (Act No. 36 of 2011). The Ministry of Local Government and Outer Islands (MLGOI) is responsible for overseeing local authorities. Local government in Mauritius has two tiers. The first tier comprises urban councils, known as municipalities, and rural authorities (called district councils), while the second tier relates only to those district councils which oversee village councils. Following the 2012 elections, 25.4% of village councillors were women and during the 2016/17 financial year, local government expenditure was 3% of total government expenditure. Municipal and district councils are empowered to raise revenues via various fees, but the main source of local government income is the national government grant. Municipal and district councils have the following statutory duties: roads, environment and public sanitation, culture, leisure and sport and education. Village councils are not responsible for roads but otherwise overlap in several areas of service delivery.

1. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 3. STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Mauritius is a constitutional republic with 3.1 Local government within the a unicameral .25.1a Local government on the island of The is the president, who Mauritius is divided into urban and rural is indirectly elected by parliament authorities. In the urban areas there are for a five-year term. The parliament four municipal councils, and one city KEY FACTS of Mauritius, known as the National council: the capital, . In the Assembly (Assemblée Nationale), has 70 rural areas there is currently a two-tier POPULATION (2016 estimate): members directly elected for a five-year system of seven district councils and 130 1,263,820 term by universal adult suffrage. Members village councils. The island of Rodrigues are elected from 20 three-member has a regional assembly. Municipal AREA (Stats Maurituis 2016): constituencies on the island of Mauritius and district councils have the same 1,868.4 sq km and one two-member constituency responsibilities but different revenue- CAPITAL: on the island of Rodrigues under the raising powers. Village councils have a Port Louis first-past-the-post system. Eight further limited range of functions. In contrast, assembly seats are apportioned to the the regional assembly of Rodrigues has : ‘best losers’. Following the 2014 national extensive local responsibilities. Mauritian (MUR) election, 11.6% of members of the 25.1b HEAD OF STATE: national assembly were women. Acting President Barlen Vyapoory 3.2 Ministerial oversight The Ministry of Local Government and : 2. LEGAL BASIS FOR Outer Islands25.3c (MLGOI) is responsible for Prime LOCAL GOVERNMENT overseeing local authorities. The minister 2.1 Constitutional provisions FORM OF GOVERNMENT: is responsible for issuing guidelines parliamentary republic There is no constitutional provision to local authorities for the smooth for local government; however, the running of council matters, as well as for PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: Rodrigues Regional Assembly is seeking input from local authorities to unicameral enshrined in the constitution.25.2a parliamentary matters and informing STATE STRUCTURE: local authorities of the policy decisions unitary 2.2 Main legislative texts of government. The minister is also LANGUAGES: Local government in Mauritius is responsible for allocating ‘grant in aid’ and other funds for capital projects and for English (official); , legislated by the Local Government French, Bhojpuri (recognised) Act 201125.2b (Act No. 36 of 2011). Local approving the finances of councils, and administration in Rodrigues is governed has the authority to approve an exemption NATIONAL ELECTIONS: by the Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act from paying rates on the grounds of last: Dec 2014, turnout: 74.4%; next: 2020 25.2c poverty. The permanent secretary is the 2001. responsible officer for all chief executives WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT (2014): 11.6% of local authorities. Overall responsibility for 2.3 Proposed legislative changes Rodrigues administration falls within the LOCAL ELECTIONS: No known proposed legislative changes. remit of the prime minister’s office. municipalities: last: 2015, turnout: 35.6%; next: 2021 2.4 National urban policy 3.3 Council types villages: There is no national urban policy; Local authorities in Mauritius currently last: 2012, turnout: 50.5%; next: 2018 however in 2015 the government consist of four municipal councils for undertook a review of the urban urban areas plus one city council and WOMEN VILLAGE COUNCILLORS: and housing policy and regulatory seven district councils for rural areas, the 25.4% (2012) framework. latter of which oversee a second tier of LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE 130 village councils. as a percentage of total government expenditure 2016/17: 3.0%

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Table 25.1a Distribution of councils and population 4.2 Voting system

Region District Municipal Asse- Villages Population Population % rural The Local Government Act 2011 council council mbly (2011 Census) (2016 est.) (2010) provides for the holding of municipal council and village council elections Port Louis 0 (city) 1 0 0 118,431 na 0 every six years. District councillors are elected indirectly by secret ballot Plaines Wilhems 0 4 0 2 362,292 na 1.6 from members of village councils. Pamplemousses 1 0 0 17 136,268 na 100 Each village council is represented at its respective district council by one Rivière du Rempart 1 0 0 19 106,267 na 100 or two representatives elected from its councillors, depending on the Flacq 1 0 0 25 135,406 na 100 population of the village.

Moka 1 0 0 17 82,301 na 98.4 4.3 Elected representatives Black River 1 0 0 13 76,605 na 69.8 Local government councillors are elected for a six-year term. Members of Grand Port 1 0 0 23 110,907 na 100 the national assembly cannot stand for office in the regional assembly or local Savanne 1 0 0 15 67,906 na 100 elections. On the island of Mauritius, Rodrigues Island 0 0 1 0 40,434 42,396 100 all elections for municipal and village councils are conducted via the first-past- Total 7 5 1 130 1,236,817 1,263,820 59.6 the-post system. Mayors in municipal councils and chairs of district and village 25.3a 25.3b Source: 2011 Census and population estimates councils are elected once every six Note: Village councils are not sub-divisions of districts. A village whose area falls within more than years by members of their respective one district has been listed within the district which includes the largest proportion of its area. councils. There is a ward system for 3.3.1 Municipal councils by law 3.3.4 The Rodrigues Regional Assembly municipal councils, with wards returning must hold monthly meetings for the comprises 18 members who are three councillors. Village councils are transaction of general business. There directly elected; 12 representing grouped into divisions to elect district are committees to look after constituencies and elected by the councillors by secret ballot from among permits and procurement. Municipal first-past-the-post system, and six their number. Municipal and district councils are also empowered to appoint elected by proportional representation. councils have the following numbers of three standing committees with no The assembly is required to appoint councillors: Port Louis 32, Beau Bassin/ delegated powers, namely public health, four standing committees: finance; Rose Hill 24, Quatre Bornes 20, Curepipe public infrastructure and welfare. Each public health and environment; works, 20, Vacoas/Phoenix 24, Pamplemousses standing committee shall meet no more planning and development; and 21, Rivière du Rempart 22, Moka 17, Flacq than once a month. Mayors are indirectly welfare, sports, culture and leisure. 26, Grand Port 28, Savanne 19 and Black elected every two years by each city and There is full discretion to establish River 14. District councils are represented municipal council. Municipal council other committees. A non-executive on each of their subsidiary village councils activities are organised under seven president, who does not have to be a by district councillors, and village councils departments: town clerk, treasury, works, member of the assembly, is indirectly consist of nine elected members each. planning, welfare, health and library. elected by assembly members by Where the number of elected councillors Port Louis and Curepipe also have a majority vote for a term of five years. falls below nine, nominations are made department for parks and gardens. Members of the assembly elect from from a reserve list submitted by groups at among their number by majority vote the time of the elections.

3.3.2 District councils also hold the chief commissioner, a full-time appointment, also for a five-year term. On Rodrigues the regional assembly monthly meetings for the transaction has 18 members, 12 of whom are local of general business. There are executive The executive body of the assembly is the executive council, comprising the regional members: two from each of the committees to look after permits and six local regions, and the remaining six procurement. District councils are chief commissioner, the deputy chief commissioner, and not more than island-wide members returned under also empowered to appoint three proportional representation. To qualify standing committees with no delegated five other members appointed by the president on the advice of the chief for an island-wide seat, political parties powers, namely public health, public must secure a minimum of 10% of votes. infrastructure and welfare. Each commissioner. The executive council is responsible to the regional assembly Each voter thus has three votes: two for standing committee shall meet no more candidates in the local region and one than once a month. The chairperson of and continues to operate during any period when the assembly is dissolved. for a registered political party for island- each district council is indirectly elected wide seats according to the list system. every two years. District council activities are organised under six departments: 4. ELECTIONS 4.4 Women’s representation secretariat, treasury, works, planning, 4.1 Recent local elections Legislation stipulates that at least one- health and welfare. The last elections took place as follows25.4a: third of candidates standing for local ■■ municipal elections – 2015: turnout elections should be of a different sex.25.4c 3.3.3 Village councils are required to 35.6%, down from 44.9% in 2012 and This has resulted in women winning over hold meetings at least monthly for 40.5% in 2005 a quarter (25.4%) of local council seats, up general business. They have a part-time ■■ village council elections from 9.1% when the new legislation was chair as leader, indirectly elected every 2012, turnout 50.5% first introduced in 2005, and 2.8% in 1997 two years in a secret ballot by the nine ■■ district council elections – indirectly and 1.0% in 1992, prior to the passing of village councillors. elected following village council the legislation (see Table 25.1b). elections.

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Table 25.1b Women village councillors and chairpersons following 1992-2012 elections 9.2 Locally raised revenue

Election 1992 1997 2005 2012 Municipal and district councils are empowered to raise revenues in Village councillors # % # % # % # % the following areas: building and land use permits, trading licences, Female village councillors 14 1.0 41 2.8 139 9.1 297 25.4 markets, cemeteries, traffic fees and advertisements. In addition, municipal Male village councillors 1,378 99.0 1,435 97.2 1,390 90.9 873 74.6 councils can also raise revenue through Total village councillors 1,392 100.0 1,476 100.0 1,529 100.0 1,170 100.0 a general (property) rate. The tenants’ tax was abolished in 2012. Chairpersons # % # % # % # %

Female chairpersons na na na na na na na na 9.3 Transfers The annual ‘grant in aid’ for all local Male chairpersons na na na na na na na na authorities is voted in as part of the budget of the MLGOI at the beginning Total chairpersons na 100.0 na 100.0 na 100.0 na 100.0 of the financial year. This amount is Source: MLGOI Gender Policy25.4c distributed in monthly instalments to each local authority. The majority of villages have two or three The chief commissioner is also required female councillors out of nine, although 19 to keep the prime minister informed of councils have only one. Following the 2012 the activities of the executive council. 9.4 Loans elections, there were six village councils The executive council must submit to No information is available. with no female councillor.25.4c the prime minister policy statements on matters relating to the development of 9.5 Local authority staff 5. SYSTEMS FOR Rodrigues and may refer specific matters Local government councillors and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT to the prime minister for consideration officers are paid by their respective by the . 5.1 Legal requirement local authorities from council funds. The Local Government Act 2011 Non-executive mayors and council specifically provides for formal 8. MONITORING SYSTEMS chairpersons, in municipal authorities consultation processes with . According to the Local Government and district/village authorities Act 2011 financial estimates for local respectively, receive a monthly authorities have to be approved by the allowance, the amount of which is 5.2 Implementation Minister of Local Government and Outer determined by the Minister for Local In Mauritius, council, but not committee, Islands and submitted to the Ministry of Government and Outer Islands. The meetings are open to the public. Finance and Economic Development. Local Government Service Commission Ordinary or special meetings of the Disbursement, withdrawal, reallocation (LGSC), established under the Local regional assembly in Rodrigues are open of funds and writing-off of bad debts Government Service Commission Act to the public. require the approval of the minister. 1975, can hire, promote, discipline Local authorities must submit a monthly and dismiss staff. The national-level 5.3 ICT use in citizen engagement monitoring report of actual revenue and Pay Research Bureau reviewed The ministry, in collaboration with local expenditure to the finance section of the organisational structures following the authorities, set up an e-government MLGOI. The annual accounts of the local passing of this Act, and harmonised pay portal for local authorities in 2012.25.5 authorities have to be submitted to the and grading between the municipal Members of the public are able to access Director of Audit within four months of and district councils. Employees of information, make applications and the end of the financial year. Each local village councils are deemed employees enquiries and file complaints via the authority has an internal control unit of the overseeing district council. Local portal. Citizens will also be able, in the headed by a professionally qualified authorities are required to appoint future, to make payments to the council internal auditor who is responsible for a chief executive as the accounting through internet banking via the portal. ensuring that independent appraisals head. Under Section 68 of the Local are effected regularly. Government Act 2011, a unified 6. ORGANISED LOCAL GOVERNMENT Local Government Service Board There are currently two associations: the 9. FINANCE, STAFFING AND RESOURCES has been created, which is chaired Association of Urban Authorities25.6a and 9.1 Local government expenditure by the permanent secretary of the the Association of District Councils.25.6b In the 2016/17 financial year, local MLGOI and comprises representatives government expenditure was 3.0% of of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Finance and Economic 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS total government expenditure, up from Development, the Ministry of Civil On the island of Mauritius any local 2.6% in 2015/16 but down from 3.1% in 2014 (Table 25.2b). Service and Administrative Reforms authority (municipal, district or village) may and the Ministry of Labour, Industrial establish joint committees between two or more authorities in their common interest. Table 25.2a Aggregate income and expenditure for local government 2013/14 In Rodrigues, the chief commissioner is Income MUR m Expenditure MUR m required to forward to the Minister for Rodrigues an annual report reviewing the Centre–local transfers Administration activities of the assembly for tabling in the national assembly. The chief commissioner Grant from national government 2,681.043 Staff 2,271.817 may be asked to attend meetings of the cabinet, where (s)he may share decisions Locally raised revenue 1,299.384 Services 1,877.243 taken by the regional assembly and TOTAL INCOME 3,980.427 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 4,149.06 represent the interests of the island on pertinent matters. Source: MLGOI in communication with CLGF

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Table 25.2b Local government expenditure 25.2b Local Government Act 2011 as a percentage of total government expenditure 2014–2017 http://electoral.govmu.org/English/ Registration/Documents/36of2011.pdf 2014 actual 2015/16 est. 2016/17 est. MURm MURm MURm 25.2c Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act 20013c Total government expenditure 107,047.6 120,645.0 132,164.0 http://aceproject.org/ero-en/ regions/africa/MU/Rodrigues Total local government expenditure 3,329.2 3,181.0 4,006.5 Regional Assembly Act 2001.pdf Local government expenditure 25.3a 2011 Census 3.1% 2.6% 3.0% as a percentage of total government expenditure http://nada.statsmauritius.govmu. org/index.php/catalog/46 Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Estimates 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 25.3b Population estimates 2016 Relations and Employment. The board The policy makes a number of http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/ is vested with certain powers previously recommendations: English/Pages/POPULATION-- held by the LGSC, with regard to And-VITAL-STATISTICS.aspx redeployment of staff and temporary ■■ to ensure that appropriate tools and 25.3c Ministry of Local Government and vacancies in particular. However, the equipment are provided to enable Outer Islands www.gov.mu/portal/ main duty of recruitment of new women employees to perform their site/mlge/menuitem employees still rests with the LGSC. duties effectively 25.4a Electoral Commissioner’s Office The Rodrigues Regional Assembly is ■■ to encourage local authorities to http://electoral.govmu.org required to appoint a chief executive, develop and consolidate gender- 25.4b Elected councillors by village who is formally appointed by the prime disaggregated data within all spheres 2012 http://electoral.govmu.org/ minister after consultation with the of their activities English/electionresult/village/ chief commissioner. ■■ to encourage local authorities and the Pages/Elected-Candidates.aspx Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service to 25.4c MLGOI Gender Policy page 11/12 10. DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICE work out their own gender policies and 14/15 http://localgovernment. DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY and implementable plans on gender govmu.org/English/AboutUs/ 10.1 Overview of local government equality Documents/Final%20Gender%20 service delivery responsibility ■■ to encourage local authorities to ensure Policy%20Document%20for%20 The statutory duties of municipal and that infrastructural investments and Local%20Government.pdf district councils include: cleansing and resource allocations for development 25.5 Portal of local authorities lighting of all public roads; collection projects are gender-equitable http://la.govmu.org ■■ and disposal of waste; provision of to encourage local authorities, while 25.6a Association of Urban Authorities public libraries; exhibition halls and art preparing their budgetary allocations, no website available galleries, theatres and places of public to enlist the participation of women 25.6b Association of District Councils entertainment; playing fields; cemeteries in their areas and take their priorities http://aodc.mu and cremation grounds; nurseries for into consideration 25.7 No reference for this section infants; and pre-primary schools. They ■■ to encourage local authorities to are also tasked with control of pollution conduct training courses for staff 25.8 No reference for this section and hawkers. Village councils have a duty on gender issues, collect data and 25.9 Table 2.1 and Ministry of Finance to organise welfare, sports and cultural develop gender assessment tools, and Economic Development, activities alongside the running of pre- reshape gender policies and facilitate Estimates 2015–2016 http:// primary schools and sewing classes. They contacts among councillors and mof.govmu.org/English/ also maintain cremation grounds and women in their areas Pages/BudgetEstimates2016. other public health facilities as well as ■■ to encourage local authorities to aspx and Estimates 2016– carrying out public works to promote the participate, through their local 2017 http://budget.mof. sanitation and cleanliness of the village. mechanisms, in the government govmu.org/budget2017–18/ A village council may carry out any other vision to make small and medium- V_00_112017_18ExpbyVotes.pdf duties assigned to municipal and district sized enterprises a strong pillar of 25.10 Debate on the SDGs and climate councils. the economy by facilitating and change www.govmu.org/English/ encouraging women entrepreneurs News/Pages/Raising-public- awareness-in-favour-of-sustainable- 10.2 ICT use in service delivery to start a business. development-goals.aspx No information is available. 25.11a UN statistics surface area REFERENCES AND USEFUL WEBSITES http://unstats.un.org/unsd/ 10.3 The role of local government 25.1a demographic/products/dyb/ in achieving the UN Sustainable www.govmu.org dyb2006/Table03.pdf Development Goals (SDGs) 25.1b Women in national parliaments. 25.11b Commonwealth Local Government In June 2017 the Office of the Prime Inter-Parliamentary Union knowledge hub www.clgf.org.uk/ Minister, in collaboration with the www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm resource-centre/knowledge-hub EU mission to Mauritius, organised a 25.2a Constitution of Mauritius 25.11c UNDP HDR Mauritius country debate to help raise awareness of the http://mauritiusassembly.govmu. profile http://hdr.undp.org/en/ importance of adopting the UN SDGs, org/English/constitution countries/profiles/MUS particularly in relation to addressing climate change.25.10 At the same time, the government has focused especially on SDG 5 – women’s empowerment – and to this end the MLGOI has developed a sector-based gender policy.

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Annex 25a Summary of service provision in different spheres of government in Mauritius

Delivering authority

Local government National Rodrigues Services government Regional Assembly Municipalities Villages Remarks GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Police n Fire protection n Civil protection n n Criminal justice n n Civil status register n n Statistical office n n Electoral register n EDUCATION Pre-school (kindergarten and nursery) n n n Primary n Secondary n Vocational and technical n n n Higher education n Adult education SOCIAL WELFARE Family welfare services n Welfare homes n Social security n PUBLIC HEALTH Primary care n Hospitals n Health protection n n n HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING Housing n Town planning n Regional planning n n TRANSPORT Roads n n n Transport n Urban roads n Urban rail n Ports n Airports n ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SANITATION Water and sanitation n Refuse collection and disposal n n n Cemeteries and crematoria n n n Slaughterhouses n Environmental protection n n Consumer protection n n CULTURE, LEISURE AND SPORTS Theatres and concerts n n Museums and libraries n n n Parks and open spaces n n Sports and leisure facilities n n Religious facilities n n UTILITIES Gas services n District heating n Water supply n Electricity n ECONOMIC Agriculture, forests and fisheries n Local economic development/promotion n n Trade and industry n Tourism n

n sole responsibility service n joint responsibility service n discretionary service

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