No. 26 of 2020 SEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 21 JULY 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1 No. 26 of 2020 SEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 21 JULY 2020 2 CONTENTS PAPERS LAID QUESTIONS (Oral) MOTION BILLS (Public) MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE ADJOURNMENT QUESTIONS (Written) 3 THE CABINET (Formed by Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth) Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Hon. Louis Steven Obeegadoo Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Hon. Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology GCSK Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Dr. the Hon. Mohammad Anwar Husnoo Government and Disaster Risk Management Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail Hon. Alan Ganoo Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Dr. the Hon. Renganaden Padayachy Development Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Hon. Nandcoomar Bodha, GCSK Integration and International Trade Minister of Social Integration, Social Hon. Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, GCSK Security and National Solidarity Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives Hon. Soomilduth Bholah Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change Hon. Kavydass Ramano Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance 4 Hon. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun Minister of Energy and Public Utilities Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security Hon. Georges Pierre Lesjongard Minister of Commerce and Consumer Hon. Maneesh Gobin Protection Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Hon. Yogida Sawmynaden Recreation Minister of National Infrastructure and Hon. Jean Christophe Stephan Toussaint Community Development Minister of Information Technology, Hon. Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram Communication and Innovation Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training Hon. Darsanand Balgobin Minister of Health and Wellness Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Hon. Soodesh Satkam Callichurn Resources, Fisheries and Shipping Minister of Gender Equality and Family Dr. the Hon. Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal Welfare Hon. Sudheer Maudhoo Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage Minister of Public Service, Administrative Hon. Mrs Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah and Institutional Reforms Hon. Avinash Teeluck Hon. Teeruthraj Hurdoyal 5 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS Mr Speaker Hon. Sooroojdev Phokeer, GOSK Deputy Speaker Hon. Mohammud Zahid Nazurally Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hon. Sanjit Kumar Nuckcheddy 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 and Information Jeewoonarain, Ms Prittydevi Officer Serjeant-at-Arms Pannoo, Mr Vinod 6 MAURITIUS Seventh National Assembly --------------- FIRST SESSION ------------ Debate No. 26 of 2020 Sitting of Tuesday 21 July 2020 The Assembly met in the Assembly House, Port Louis, at 11.30 a.m. The National Anthem was played (Mr Speaker in the Chair) 7 PAPERS LAID The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Papers have been laid on the Table. A. Office of the Speaker The Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements of the Independent Commission Against Corruption for the year ended 30 June 2019. B. Prime Minister’s Office Ministry of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications Ministry for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity Certificate of Urgency in respect of the following Bills (In Original): (i) The Real Estate Agent Authority Bill (No XI of 2020) and; (ii) The Supplementary Appropriation (2018-2019) Bill (No. XII of 2020). C. Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development (a) Estimates of Supplementary Expenditure (2018-2019) of 2020. (b) The Annual Report of the Civil Service Family Protection Scheme Board for the year ended 30 June 2019. D. Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change The Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 156 of 2020) E. Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection (a) The Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods) (Maximum Mark-Up) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 155 of 2020) (b) The Rodrigues Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 17) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 158 of 2020) F. Ministry of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training The Workers’ Rights (Extension of Time during COVID-19 Period) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 157 of 2020) 8 G. Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage The Financial Statements of the Le Morne Heritage Trust Fund for the year ended 30 June 2018. Mr Speaker: Hon. Leader of the Opposition! Dr. Boolell: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I put the question, I consider it improper that you should be in the Chair. Debates will resume soon on the motion of no confidence, it is unbecoming of you and I consider it that you are not fit, under the circumstances, to chair the proceedings of today’s debates. (Interruptions) Mr Speaker: Carry on with the question, hon. Leader of the Opposition! ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS LOCKDOWN PERIOD - DRUGS & MEDICAL EQUIPMENT - EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT The Leader of the Opposition (Dr. A. Boolell) (by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity whether, in regard to the emergency procurement of drugs and medical equipment during the lockdown period, he will state the total number of such exercises carried out, indicating – (a) the involvement of the High-Level Committee on COVID-19, chaired by his good self, therein, if any, and (b) whether, for the sake of transparency, he proposes to initiate an inquiry in the Ministries and organisations involved therein and in relation thereto. The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to thank the hon. Leader of the Opposition for giving me the opportunity, through this Private Notice Question, to set the records straight on many issues pertaining to COVID-19 which have been unnecessarily blown out of proportion by certain hon. Members of the Opposition and in the media. 9 Mr Speaker, Sir, as a responsible Government, it was our duty to ensure that measures were in place to face the unprecedented challenge of an invisible enemy that has turned the world topsy-turvy and put a halt to our normal way of life. Mr Speaker, Sir, let me remind the House that the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of a Public Health Emergency of international concern, that is, COVID-19, on 30 January 2020. Subsequently, on 11 March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. An assessment by the WHO of the risks for Mauritius was that for a population of 1.265 million inhabitants, the risk of exposure was 0.461 with mild infections of 87,424, slightly over 1,000 with severe infection and over 22,000 hospital admissions and 837 deaths. In the face of such a projected, unprecedented and alarming situation, we could not remain inactive, but we had to be expediently proactive. A High-Level Committee on COVID-19 was set up under my Chair on 31 January 2020 to take stock of the projected situation and chalk out the way forward. Mr Speaker, Sir, a first in-depth assessment of the situation that was prevailing across the world was made and it was observed that panic buying of essential medicines and equipment was the order of the day. At the same time, the Ministry of Health and Wellness carried out an assessment of the existing stock of medicines, equipment and resources available both in the public and private sectors and of our immediate and future requirements. In view of the extreme urgency to procure our needs, we had no alternative than to have recourse to emergency procurement as provided for under section 21 of the Public Procurement Act and further borne out by Directive 44 from the Procurement Policy Office. The objective of the Emergency Procurement Process, as pertinently stipulated by the PPO directive, was to, I quote – “Safeguard life, quality of life or environment”. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is a matter of very deep regret that, despite all efforts by our medical team, we could not save the lives of 10 of our fellow citizens. But today we have been able to steer away from the grim predictions of WHO, and what was happening worldwide had instilled fear and apprehension in the mind of the whole Mauritian population. Mr Speaker, Sir, in the light of the requirement worked out by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it was clear that the Ministry, being already stretched to the maximum in terms of resources, would need assistance from other Ministries and Departments. 10 There was a need to act promptly and effectively as the world demand was far greater than the supply of medicines and equipment. Thus, major manufacturers and suppliers from different countries were not able to satisfy the high demand. Small Island States like Mauritius were particularly vulnerable in that situation of panic buying and tarmac buying. From 23 March 2020 to 30 April 2020, the State Trading Corporation carried out 18 procurement exercises by way of emergency procurement under section 21 of the Public Procurement Act, and Directive 44 of the Procurement Policy Office, from six bidders for a total value of Rs1,040,519,412.00, using STC’s own funds. The Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection, on its part, carried out four emergency procurement for the Ministry of Health and Wellness for a total amount of Rs95,341,250.00 with funds made available by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. With regard to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, it undertook 66 emergency procurement exercises as from 23 March 2020 as follows - (i) 8 emergency procurement exercises for pharmaceutical products; (ii) 51 emergency procurement exercises for protective equipment; and (iii) 7 emergency procurement exercises for laboratory reagents and products.