No. 26 of 2019 SIXTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1 No. 26 of 2019 SIXTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 06 AUGUST 2019 2 CONTENTS ANNOUNCEMENT PAPERS LAID QUESTIONS (Oral) MOTION STATEMENT BY MINISTER MOTIONS BILLS (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. Yogida Sawmynaden Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation Hon. Nandcoomar Bodha, GCSK Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade 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 4 Hon. Soomilduth Bholah Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives 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 Deputy Clerk Ramchurn, Ms Urmeelah Devi Clerk Assistant Gopall, Mr Navin Clerk Assistant Seetul, Ms Darshinee Hansard Editor Jankee, Mrs Chitra Serjeant-at-Arms Pannoo, Mr Vinod 6 MAURITIUS Sixth National Assembly --------------- FIRST SESSION ------------ Debate No. 26 of 2019 Sitting of 06 August 2019 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 ANNOUNCEMENT NATIONAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT - SECOND EDITION - 08 & 09 AUGUST 2019 Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I have an announcement to make. The holding of the National Youth Parliament to provide a platform for young persons to discuss issues of national importance is a key and strategic action which is now well established in our Assembly. I am pleased to announce that building on the success of the First Edition of the National Youth Parliament held last year, the Second Edition of the National Youth Parliament will be held in the Chamber on the forthcoming Thursday 08 and the morning of Friday 09 August and that the proceedings will be broadcast live on the Parliament Channel. In the First Edition, the National Youth Parliamentarians debated motions with regard to – (1) Sustainable Development, Goal 4 - Quality Education; (2) Sustainable Development, Goal 5 - Gender Equality, and (3) Sustainable Development, Goal 13 - Climate Action. In the Second Edition, a slot will be dedicated to – (1) Question Time; (2) Statements on the three Resolutions adopted in the First Edition, and (3) Debates on two motions, namely on – (i) Sustainable Development, Goal 2 - Zero Hunger, and (ii) Sustainable Development, Goal 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, respectively. The National Youth Parliamentarians have, in the course of an Induction Programme, been briefed on the functions and operations of the legislature, on parliamentary history, and etiquette and procedure. Hon. Members may wish to note that the National Youth Parliamentarians were mentored by a few National Youth Parliamentarians of the First Edition of the National Youth Parliament, including those who performed the roles of the Speaker, Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. 8 Hon. Members are invited to attend both the launching ceremony and the two days event of the Second Edition of the National Youth Parliament. In spite of the fact that there is unanimity on the role which our youngsters will be called upon to assume as leaders of tomorrow, yet it is a matter of regret that only a few hon. Members showed interest in last year’s edition. I would, therefore, invite hon. Members to make a special effort to mark your presence at any point in time convenient to you, so as to provide a source of inspiration and encouragement to the participants. As part of their induction, they have been invited to attend today’s sitting. Thank you. 9 PAPERS LAID The Prime Minister: Madam Speaker, the Papers have been laid on the Table. A. Prime Minister’s Office (a) Certificate of Urgency in respect of the following Bills (In Original): (i) The Workers’ Rights Bill (No. XXIV of 2019); (ii) The Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill (No. XXV of 2019) (b) The Annual Report of the Civil Service Family Protection Scheme Board for the period 01 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. B. Attorney General’s Office, Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Institutional Reforms The Report of the Director of Audit on the Financial Statements of the Recovered Assets Fund for the period ended 31 December 2013. (In Original) C. Ministry of Housing and Lands The Annual Report and Financial Statements of the National Housing Development Co Ltd for the year ended 31 December 2017. 10 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PLANET FM – LICENCE & BUSINESS PLAN The Leader of the Opposition (Mr X. L. Duval) (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation whether, in regard to Planet FM, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Independent Broadcasting Authority – (a) a copy of the Application for the issue of a Radio Broadcasting Licence and Business Plan thereof and table same, and (b) information as to if – (i) it has effected a market needs analysis and study prior to issuing the said licence, and (ii) the officers thereof have effected an inquiry and site visit at the premises of Planet FM to verify whether the terms and conditions of the licence have been respected. Mr Sawmynaden: Madam Speaker, with your permission, I will answer to this PNQ together with PQ B/740, as it is addressed to the same company. After the first exercise of 2001 for the allocation of private free to air FM Radio licences, there have been continuous demands for these licences at the Independent Broadcasting Authority. By end December 2017, there were 13 such applications. However, due to unavailability of radio frequencies, the applications could not be entertained. Accordingly, negotiations were initiated, by the ICTA and the Multi-Carrier Mauritius Ltd (MCML), with the French regulator (ANFR), in order to identify frequencies that could be allocated to additional radios. Once negotiation regarding frequencies was successfully completed, it was decided that IBA published a Notice in the local press inviting for applications for private radio licences in February 2018, and 17 applications were received from the potential private FM radio operators. Pursuant to the provisions of the IBA Act, the Authority published a Notice in the local press and in the Government Gazette to invite objections, if any, on the 17 applications received. Madam Speaker, I am informed that – 11 (i) one applicant withdrew its application by way of a letter dated 16 October 2018; (ii) an objection had been received from Top FM. The grounds of objection raised by Top FM were not upheld by the IBA, and (iii) the 16 applicants were convened for a hearing before the Board of the IBA at the seat of the Authority on 19 November 2018. The IBA assessed all the 16 applications on the basis of the following – (i) proposed programming (local production, language of broadcast of programmes, language of news broadcast and programme schedule); (ii) reasonableness of the financial proposal to operate a private FM radio station; (iii) mandatory requirements laid down in the application form, and (iv) inputs provided during the hearing made before the Board. Clear guidelines had been set by the Board for detailed allocation of marks at each stage of the assessment. On the basis of the above assessment, the Board granted two radio broadcasting licences to the following two companies – (i) Mayfair and Purely Communications Ltd, which operates under Planet FM, and (ii) First Talk Ltd, which is Wazza FM. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (a) of the question, I am hereby tabling a copy of the application submitted by Mayfair and Purely Communications Ltd, which operates as Planet FM. However, I am not in a position to table the business plan as it would not be in order to disclose personal information, including commercial information of a private company. With regard to part (b) (i) of the question, I am informed that the IBA did not conduct a market needs analysis as the allocation of licences has been made on a demand basis driven by market forces. The already high demand for these licences is a clear indication of the interest of potential private radio operators to join the sector. With regard to part (b) (ii) of the question, there was an inquiry following contradictory information with regard to shareholding structure of the company.