No. 02 of 2019 SIXTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY
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1 No. 02 of 2019 SIXTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 02 APRIL 2019 2 CONTENTS OBITUARY PAPERS LAID QUESTIONS (Oral) MOTION STATEMENTS BY MINISTER BILLS (Public) PERSONAL EXPLANATION ADJOURNMENT QUESTIONS (Written) 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. 02 of 2019 Sitting of 02 April 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 OBITUARY – MR HURRY PARSAD SHAM The Prime Minister: Madam Speaker, it is with deep regret that we have learnt of the demise, on Wednesday 27 March 2019, of Mr Hurry Parsad Sham, former Member of Parliament, at the age of 81. Mr Sham, who was also known as Sham Panchoo, was born on 27 October 1937 at Curepipe. He joined politics in 1967. He stood as a candidate for the 1967 General Elections in Constituency of Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière under the banner of the PMSD, and was returned Third Member to serve the said Constituency. In 1969, he stood as a candidate for the Municipal Council Elections in Ward II of the town of Quatre Bornes and was elected to serve as Municipal Councillor. In 1974, he became Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, a post which he held until 1976. Mr Sham also contested the General Elections in 1976 under the banner of the Unité des Travaillistes Libéraux in Constituency No. 12, Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien, and was not elected. Madam Speaker, may I request you to kindly direct the Clerk to convey the deep condolences of the Assembly to his family. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr X. L. Duval): Madam Speaker, I associate myself to the tribute made by the hon. Prime Minister to late Mr Hurry Parsad Sham, known affectionately to his friends as Sham Panchoo. Sham Panchoo was elected to the National Assembly as a Member of the PMSD in 1967, but although he left the Party for a short while, it is to be remembered that he returned to the PMSD and, upon his death, Madam Speaker, he insisted that his body be laid surrounded by two blue PMSD flags. May I also request the Clerk to convey our condolences to the bereaved family. Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, I associate myself to the tribute paid to late Mr Hurry Parsad Sham, former Member of Parliament, by the hon. Prime Minister and the hon. Leader of the Opposition, and I direct the Clerk to convey to the bereaved family the deep condolences of the Assembly. 8 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 Building Control (Amendment) Bill (No. II of 2019). (In Original) (b) The Declaration of Assets (List of Exempted Statutory Bodies) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 52 of 2019) (c) The Declaration of Assets (Prescribed Forms) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 53 of 2019) B. Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities The Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security (Appeal) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 51 of 2019) C. Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development The Environment Protection (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 2) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 54 of 2019) D. Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security The Annual Report of the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority for the period 01 January 2016 to 30 June 2017. E. Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection (a) The Rodrigues Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 48 of 2019) (b) The Rodrigues Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 8) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 49 of 2019) F. Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Oil and Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 47 of 2019) 9 G. Ministry of Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training The Non-Citizens (Employment Restriction) Exemptions (Amendment) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 50 of 2019) 10 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS NATIONAL EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION (NEF) - DIRECTOR OF AUDIT’S REPORT - COMMENTS The Leader of the Opposition (Mr X. L. Duval) (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment whether, in regard to the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF), he will state if he has taken note of the comments made by the Director of Audit in her Report for Financial Year 01 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 and, if so, indicate if he has since had any meeting with the Board of the NEF to discuss the issues raised. Mr Wong Yen Cheong: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Leader of the Opposition for his interest in the activities of the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) inasmuch as he himself was from May 2010 to August 2011 the Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment. His Private Notice Question gives me the opportunity to state facts on the NEF and my Ministry, in light of the comments made by the Director of Audit. Madam Speaker, in fact, I have not waited for the comments of the Director of Audit to have meetings with those responsible for the NEF, and I shall continue to do so to find workable solutions to problems encountered by the NEF. Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that as soon as I took cognizance of the comments of the Director of Audit in her Report for the period 01 July 2017 to 30 June 2018, I personally chaired a meeting with the Chairman of the NEF Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, other officials of the Foundation and my Ministry on Thursday 28 March 2019, to look into the comments made by the Director of Audit and to take remedial actions on the observations made. It was noted that the Financial Statements for the period 01 January 2016 to 30 June 2017 have already been prepared and are presently being examined by the National Audit Office. The Financial Statements for the period 01 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 have already been submitted to the National Audit Office in January 2019 by NEF. The Committee also took note that there was a backlog wherein the Financial Statements for the years ended 2012, 2013 and that of 2014 were never submitted. 11 I am pleased to inform the House that the Financial Statements for the year 2012 have already been audited by the National Audit Office and filed at the Registrar of Companies. The Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2013 would be released shortly by the National Audit Office. As regards the Financial Statements for the year ended December 2014, same is at the level of the National Audit Office for audit purposes. The Financial Statements for period ended 31 December 2015 and period 01 January 2016 to 30 June 2017 have already been prepared and are being examined by the National Audit Office. Madam Speaker, when this Government took over in December 2014, it was noted that the situation was chaotic at NEF. Madam Speaker, with regard to the Action Plan, the Foundation submitted same in July 2017. However, the Ministry requested the NEF that the Action Plan be submitted in a prescribed format with detailed information.