1 No. 28 of 2013 FIFTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) SECOND SESSION TUESDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2013 2 CONTENTS ANNOUNCEMENT PAPERS LAID QUESTIONS (Oral) MOTION STATEMENT BY MINISTER BILL (Public) ADJOURNMENT QUESTIONS (Written) 3 Members Members THE CABINET (Formed by Dr. the Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam) Dr. the Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues Dr. the Hon. Ahmed Rashid Beebeejaun, GCSK, FRCP Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and 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, Attorney General 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 Hon. Mookhesswur Choonee Minister of Arts and Culture Hon. Shakeel Ahmed Yousuf Abdul Razack Mohamed Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment 4 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 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 (Temporary Transfer to RRA) 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. 28 of 2013 Sitting of 19 November 2013 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 ANNOUNCEMENT OBITUARY- DR. BEERGOONATH GHURBURRUN The Prime Minister : Mr Speaker, Sir, it is with deep regret that we have learnt of the demise of Dr. Beergoonath Ghurburrun on 17 November 2013 at the age of 85. Dr. Ghurburrun was born on 14 January 1928 at St. Julien Village where he attended St. Julien Government School for primary education and New Eton College for secondary education. Dr. Ghurburrun then proceeded to France in 1952 for medical studies and studied at the Faculté de médecine de Bordeaux from 1952 to 1955. He also attended the Faculté de médicine de Paris from 1955 to 1956. Dr. Ghurburrun also worked as a medical practitioner in Paris and Morocco. On his return to Mauritius, Dr. Ghurburrun joined the Mauritius Labour Party in 1960 when the struggle for independence intensified. On 11 November 1963, Dr. Ghurburrun was nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council which he served until 10 December 1963. On 16 March 1965, Dr. Ghurburrun was again nominated to serve as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. On 23 November of the same year, he was appointed Minister of Social Security and occupied that post until August 1967. He stood for the 1967 General Elections in the Constituency of Piton and Rivière du Rempart under the banner of the Independence Party and was elected Second Member of the said Constituency. He was again appointed Minister of Social Security and he remained in that post until 04 June 1968. From 11 June 1968 to 25 November 1969, Dr. Ghurburrun occupied the post of Minister of Commerce and Industry. As from 02 December 1969, he was appointed Minister of Communications, a post which he occupied until 29 June 1971. He was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Security on 26 October 1971. On 26 March 1974, Dr. Ghurburrun was appointed Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations and occupied that ministerial post until 25 May 1976. From 20 July 1976 to 21 October 1976, Dr. Ghurburrun occupied the post of Minister of Commerce and Industry. He stood as a candidate for the 1976 and 1982 General Elections in Constituency No. 7, Piton and Rivière du Rempart, but was not returned. However, on 27 November 1979, Dr. Ghurburrun was nominated to replace late hon. Mahesh Teelock. Thereafter, Dr. Ghurburrun became Minister of Health, a portfolio which he 8 occupied from January 1980 to June 1982. In 1983, Dr. Ghurburrun stood again for the General Elections in Constituency No. 5 Pamplemousses and Triolet under the banner of the MSM/Travailliste Alliance and was elected First Member of the said Constituency. He occupied the post of Minister of Health from September 1983 to February 1984. From 13 March 1984 to 30 August 1987, Dr. Ghurburrun occupied the post of Minister of Economic Planning and Development. He again stood for the 1987 General Elections in the same Constituency, that is, Pamplemousses and Triolet under the banner of the Alliance MSM/Mauritius Labour Party and was elected Second Member of the said Constituency. From September 1987 to 05 August 1991, he occupied the ministerial post of Economic Planning and Development. He then retired from active politics and did not stand as a candidate at the General Elections of 1991. Dr. Ghurburrun was also quite actively engaged in social work and contributed significantly to charitable institutions, particularly the Gandhi Breedh Ashram in Petit Raffray. In June 1969, Dr. Ghurburrun was conferred the title of Officier de l’ordre National Malgache and on 28 July 1990, he was conferred the title of Officier de la Légion d'Honneur . Mr Speaker, Sir, may I request you to be kind enough to direct the Clerk of the National Assembly to convey the deep condolences of Government and of the Assembly to the bereaved family. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr P. Bérenger): Mr Speaker, Sir, I join with what the hon. Prime Minister has just said and would also request you to convey our condolences to the family of the deceased former Minister. Mr Speak er: I associate myself with the tribute paid to the late Dr. Beergoonath Ghurburrun by Dr. the hon. Prime Minister and the hon. Leader of the Opposition and I direct the Clerk to convey to the bereaved family the assurance of our sincere and deep condolences. 9 PAPERS LAID The Prime Minister: Sir, the Papers have been laid on the Table – A. Prime Minister’s Office – Certificate of Urgency in respect of the Local Government (Amendment) Bill (No. XXIV of 2013). B. Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities – (a) The Radiation Protection (Licensing of Radiation Practices) Regulations 2013 (Government Notice No. 256 of 2013). (b) The Radiation Protection (Registration of Radiation Sources and Facilities) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (Government Notice No. 257 of 2013). C. Ministry of Finance and Economic Development – The Annual Report 2012 of the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council. D. Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Consumer Protection – (a) The Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-Taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2013 (Government Notice No. 258 of 2013). (b) The Rodrigues Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-Taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 20) Regulations 2013 (Government Notice No. 259 of 2013). (c) The Rodrigues Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-Taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 21) Regulations 2013 (Government Notice No. 260 of 2013). 10 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS STC - DIESEL & MOGAS - PRICES The Leader of the Opposition (Mr P. Bérenger) (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection whether, in regard to diesel and mogas, he will- (a) for the benefit of the House, obtain from the State Trading Corporation, information as to the - (i) reasons why the price thereof has not been reviewed downwards, since 01 March 2013, indicating the total sum paid into the Price Stabilisation Account, since then; (ii) freight and insurance rates and premium paid to the supplier thereof, as at 01 March 2013 and as at to date, respectively; (iii) total hedging losses paid as at to date, and (b) state if consideration will be given for the levy of one rupee per litre on the price thereof to finance the Bus Replacement Mechanism, as announced in the Budget Speech, to be reviewed. Mr Sayed-Hossen : Mr Speaker, Sir, as regards part (a) (i) of the question, I wish to inform the House that the Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC) met on 01 March 2013 and five more times since then, the last meeting being held on 31 October 2013. At its meeting of 01 March 2013, the PPC recommended an increase in the retail price of Gasoline and Diesel after examining the figures submitted by the STC and applying the Regulations in force governing those prices. The price for Gasoline was increased from Rs49.30 to Rs52.25, that is, by 5.98% and for Diesel from Rs41.20 to Rs43.95, that is, by 6.67%.