Debate No 16 of 2012
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1 No. 16 of 2012 FIFTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) SECOND SESSION TUESDAY 24 JULY 2012 2 CONTENTS ELECTION OF THE SPEAKER PAPERS LAID STATEMENT BY MINISTER MOTIONS BILLS (Public) ADJOURNMENT 3 Members Members THE CABINET (Formed by Dr. the Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam) Dr. the Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home FRCP Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues Dr. the Hon. Ahmed Rashid Beebeejaun, GCSK, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and FRCP Public Utilities Hon. Charles Gaëtan Xavier-Luc Duval, GCSK Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon. Anil Kumar Bachoo, GOSK Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping Dr. the Hon. Arvin Boolell, GOSK Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Dr. the Hon. Abu Twalib Kasenally, GOSK, FRCS Minister of Housing and Lands Hon. Mrs Sheilabai Bappoo, GOSK Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions Dr. the Hon. Vasant Kumar Bunwaree Minister of Education and Human Resources Hon. Satya Veyash Faugoo Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security Hon. Devanand Virahsawmy, GOSK Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development Dr. the Hon. Rajeshwar Jeetah Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology Hon. Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum Minister of Information and Communication Technology Hon. Louis Joseph Von-Mally, GOSK Minister of Fisheries Hon. Satyaprakash Ritoo Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Louis Hervé Aimée Minister of Local Government and Outer Islands 4 Hon. Mookhesswur Choonee Minister of Arts and Culture Hon. Shakeel Ahmed Yousuf Abdul Razack Mohamed Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Hon. Yatindra Nath Varma Attorney General Hon. John Michaël Tzoun Sao Yeung Sik Yuen Minister of Tourism and Leisure Hon. Lormus Bundhoo Minister of Health and Quality of Life Hon. Sayyad Abd-Al-Cader Sayed-Hossen Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection Hon. Surendra Dayal Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment Hon. Jangbahadoorsing Iswurdeo Mola Minister of Business, Enterprise Roopchand Seetaram and Cooperatives Hon. Mrs Maria Francesca Mireille Martin Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare Hon. Sutyadeo Moutia Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms 5 Members Members PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS Mr Speaker Peeroo, Hon. Abdool Razack M.A., SC, GOSK Deputy Speaker Peetumber, Hon. Maneswar Deputy Chairperson of Committees Deerpalsing, Hon. Ms Kumaree Rajeshree Clerk of the National Assembly Dowlutta, Mr R. Ranjit Deputy Clerk Lotun, Mrs B. Safeena Clerk Assistant Ramchurn, Ms Urmeelah Devi Clerk Assistant Gopall, Mr Navin Hansard Editor Jankee, Mrs Chitra Senior Library Officer Pallen, Mr Noël Serjeant-at-Arms Munroop, Mr Kishore 6 MAURITIUS Fifth National Assembly --------------- SECOND SESSION --------- Debate No. 16 of 2012 Sitting of 24 July 2012 The Assembly met in the Assembly House, Port Louis, At 11.30 a.m The National Anthem was played 7 MR SPEAKER - ELECTION The Clerk : In accordance with the provisions of section 32 of the Constitution and of Standing Order 7 of the Standing Orders and Rules of the National Assembly, the House will now proceed to the election of a Speaker. (At this stage, the Mace is brought into the House by the Serjeant-at-Arms and is laid under the Table) I will, therefore, invite two hon. Members to move and to second the election of a Member present in this Assembly or otherwise to be nominated to the office of Speaker and to take the Chair of the House as such. The Prime Minister : Clerk of the National Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of section 32 of the Constitution and Standing Order 7 of the Standing Orders and Rules of the National Assembly, I move that Mr Abdool Razack Mahomed Ameen Peeroo, GOSK, SC be elected Speaker of the House. In line with the tradition of the House, I wish to say a few words about Mr Razack Peeroo whom I am proposing to be the Speaker of the House. Mr Razack Peeroo is a well-known figure, both as a Barrister and as a politician. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1972 and to the Mauritian Bar in 1974. Mr Razack Peeroo first stood as a candidate in 1976 under the banner of the Independence Party, a coalition of the Labour Party and the CAM and was duly elected in Constituency No. 15 – La Caverne/Phoenix. The other two elected Members from that Constituency were Mr Rajkeswur Purryag and Mr Iswardeo Seetaram. By stroke of coincidence, all three elected Members from Constituency No. 15 served as Ministers in the Government of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and, by yet, another stroke of coincidence, Mr Seetaram and Mr Purryag have also both served as Speaker of the House and now Mr Peeroo too is to be the Speaker of the House. Mr Razack Peeroo stood again for Parliament as a Labour Party candidate in 1991 and was returned as the Fourth Member of Constituency No. 15. He stood for Parliament again in 1995 under the banner of the Labour Party/MMM Alliance and he was returned as First Member of the same Constituency in 1995. 8 Mr Razack Peeroo has held the following Ministry or responsibilities. He was Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations from November 1979 to June 1982; Attorney-General, Minister of Justice and Industrial Relations from December 1995 to November 1996; Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Corporate Affairs from December 1996 to June 1997; Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Corporate Affairs and Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations from June 1997 to November 1999; Attorney-General, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Minister for Reform Institutions from November 1999 to September 2000. His abilities and qualities have been recognised both locally and internationally and have earned him several decorations. In view of his exceptional and distinguished service in the political and legal fields, in 2006, he was awarded Grand Officer of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GOSK). In 2010, he was elevated to the rank of Senior Counsel. His wide experience and his well-known sense of fairness combined with the unswerving dedication to his duty fully qualify him to preside over the deliberations of the National Assembly. I have no doubt that Mr Razack Peeroo will serve the House with the same exemplary distinction he has always displayed in his previous responsibilities. With these words, I move that Mr Razack Peeroo be elected Speaker of this august Assembly. The Deputy Prime Minister rose and seconded. The Clerk : Is there any counter proposal? As there appears to be no other proposal, I shall declare Mr Abdool Razack Mahomed Ameen Peeroo, Senior Counsel, Grand Officer of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, present in the House, elected to the Chair and I invite him to come to the upper step to make the affirmation, in the first instance, and then to take the Chair. (The House having called Mr R. Peeroo to the Chair, he proceeds to the upper step of the Chair) Mr Peeroo then made and subscribed before the Assembly the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in Schedule 3 of the Constitution and signed the Roll of Membership. 9 Mr Speaker : (Standing on the upper step) Hon. Members, I am thankful to you for having elected me Speaker of the National Assembly. I am deeply honoured by the trust and confidence you have placed in me. I am fully aware that impartiality is the main characteristic attached to the Office of Speaker. The task is demanding and carries many responsibilities. My predecessor deserves praise for having so fairly and ably discharged his duties. The Speaker is looked upon as the symbol of authority and the guardian of Parliamentary rights and liberties. Let me make it known to this Assembly that impartiality and fair play will be my guiding principles. Hon. Members, I shall strive to make this impartiality and fair play felt and recognised. I shall, to the best of my abilities, enable all of you to have the opportunity to voice out your opinions, obviously within the parameters of the Standing Orders and Rules of the National Assembly. I thank in anticipation the Clerk, his officers and all the members of the staff for their invaluable contribution in ensuring the proper and effective functioning of the National Assembly. Hon. Members, I hope to rely on your collaboration in maintaining the dignity this Assembly deserves and the respect it commands. Thank you. (Applause) (Mr Speaker then takes the Chair) (The Mace which was, up to that time, under the Table, was placed upon the Table) PAPERS LAID The Prime Minister: Sir, the Papers have been laid on the Table – 10 A. Ministry of Finance and Economic Development – The Customs (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (Government Notice No. 132 of 2012). B. Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reforms Institutions – (a) The Report of the Director of Audit on the Financial Statements of the Examination of the National Savings Fund for the financial years ended 30 June 2000, 30 June 2001, 30 June 2002, 30 June 2003, 30 June 2004, 30 June 2005, 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2007. (b) The Report of the Director of Audit on the Financial Statements of the National Pensions Fund for the financial years ended 30 June 2002, 30 June 2003, 30 June 2004, 30 June 2005, 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2007. C. Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology – The Annual Report 2009/2010 of the Mauritius Research Council. D. Ministry of Local Government and Outer Islands – (a) The District Council of Moka/Flacq (Fair) Regulations 2012 (Government Notice No.