1 No. 03 of 2018 SIXTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 10 APRIL 2018 2 CONTENTS PAPERS LAID QUESTIONS (Oral) MOTION STATEMENT BY MINISTER 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 Hon. Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, GCSK Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Hon. Yogida Sawmynaden Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation Hon. Nandcoomar Bodha, GCSK Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport 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 Hon. Soomilduth Bholah Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives 4 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 Hon. Mrs Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare 5 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS Madam Speaker Hanoomanjee, Hon. Mrs Santi Bai, GCSK Deputy Speaker Teeluckdharry, Hon. Kalidass Deputy Chairperson of Committees Jahangeer, Hon. Ahmad Bashir 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 Jeewoonarain, Ms Prittydevi and Information Officer Serjeant-at-Arms Pannoo, Mr Vinod 6 MAURITIUS Sixth National Assembly --------------- FIRST SESSION ------------ Debate No. 03 of 2018 Sitting of Tuesday 10 April 2018 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 PAPERS LAID The Prime Minister: Madam Speaker, the Papers have been laid on the Table. A. Office of the President The Annual Report 2017 of the National Human Rights Commission. (In Original) B. Prime Minister’s Office (a) Certificate of Urgency in respect of the following Bills (In Original): (i) The Reform Institutions (Amendment) Bill (No. III of 2018), and (ii) The Code de Commerce (Amendment) Bill (No. IV of 2018). (b) Digest of Environment Statistics 2016. (c) The Value Added Tax (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2018. (Government Notice No. 33 of 2018). (d) The Public Procurement (Amendment) Regulations 2018. (Government Notice No. 34 of 2018). (e) The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (Republic of Cyprus) (Amendment) Regulations 2018. (Government Notice No. 35 of 2018). (f) The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (Barbados) (Amendment) Regulations 2018. (Government Notice No. 36 of 2018). C. Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection (a) The Rodrigues Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 6) Regulations 2018. (Government Notice No. 37 of 2018). (b) The Rodrigues Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations 2018. (Government Notice No. 38 of 2018). 8 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS COMMONWEALTH GAMES, AUSTRALIA - ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT The Leader of the Opposition (Mr X. L. Duval) (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Youth and Sports whether, in regard to the XXI Commonwealth Games being held in Australia, he will state if – (a) any legal assistance has been provided to athlete Ms J. R. regarding the alleged case of aggravated sexual assault, indicating if consideration will be given for the carrying out of an independent inquiry into alleged attempts of cover-up in this case, and (b) he has been made aware of widespread complaints by our athletes regarding the preparation thereof and the organisation for participation thereto. Mr Toussaint: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Leader of the Opposition for having asked this question as it provides me the opportunity to enlighten the House on a matter which has, unfortunately, tarnished the reputation of the country within the sports community and we have been the subject of international attention for the wrong reasons. The Commonwealth Games, apart from the Olympic Games, is one of the most important events of the international sports calendar. It is held once every four years and a total of 71 countries and territories normally participate. This year’s event is being held in Gold Coast, Australia from 05 to 18 April 2018. Mauritius is represented by a sports delegation of 113 persons, including athletes and officials competing in the following sports disciplines - 1. athletics; 2. badminton; 3. boxing; 4. cycling; 5. swimming; 6. weightlifting; 7. table tennis ; 8. wrestling; 9 9. squash, and 10. triathlon. I would like to draw the attention of the House that all administrative formalities, including accreditation, for the participation of the Mauritian delegation at the Games, rest with the Mauritius Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Association (Mauritius) which are totally independent of the Ministry. The Head of Mission is designated by the Mauritius Olympic Committee. My Ministry provides financial and other support. Officials of my Ministry and myself attend the Games at the invitation of the Mauritius Olympic Committee. Prior to the departure of any delegation for such types of events, we normally organise a “rassemblement” of all athletes and officials whereby they are fully briefed about the standard of behaviour expected of them. In the case of the delegation attending the Commonwealth Games, the “rassemblement” was held on Saturday 17 March 2018 at Domaine Anna, Flic en Flac. Being given that our athletes train and/or participate in meetings in other countries, the delegation cannot reasonably be expected to depart from Mauritius as a single entity. Athletes and other officials, therefore, join the Games Village at different dates prior to the opening of the Games. The bulk of the delegation left Mauritius for Gold Coast on 24 March 2018. All arrangements at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport were made by my Ministry. As regards part (a) of the question, I would like to inform the House, that prior to my departure from Mauritius on 31 March 2018, I was made aware by my Adviser on Information Matters that Mr V. G., President of the Mauritius Athletics Association, has informed him of an incident which occurred at the Games Village involving Mr K. T., the Head of Mission of the Mauritian delegation and Ms J. R., an athlete representing Mauritius in athletics. It was alleged that on 29 March 2018, a ceremony was held in the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) Mauritius’ Office in the Games Village in Gold Coast in which were present Ms J. R. and Mr K. T. The ceremony was held to distribute Commonwealth give-aways to Mauritian athletes. According to Ms J. R., Mr K. T. had an indecent behaviour towards her. On 31 March 2018, Ms J. R. made a verbal complaint to the President of the CGA (Mauritius), Mr P. H. T. V. 10 When I arrived at the Games Village on 01 April, I was informed of the incident and enquired why actions have not been taken. The President of CGA (Mauritius) informed that Ms J. R. had not yet reported the case to the Police and did not intend to do so. Ms J. R. had, in the meantime, made a request to meet me to explain the incident to me in details. However, she also informed me that she did not want to go ahead with the incident and wanted to bring an end to it. I assured her of my full support and re-comforted her. We also agreed that if there is a need to take the matter further when we would be back in Mauritius, then we would do so. However, on 02 April 2018, this matter was given wide publicity in the local Press and on social media. A meeting of the CGA (Mauritius) was convened on 03 April 2018 which I attended accompanied by my Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mr J. P. R. In the course of the meeting, it was agreed to call in Ms J. R. for her to confirm the alleged indecent behaviour. Ms J. R. confirmed that Mr K. T. had an indecent behaviour towards her on two occasions during the ceremony on 29 March 2018. She added that she was still contemplating whether she would go to the Police or not. She informed us that she was contemplating independent legal advice. We were told then that she had retained the services of Mr R. M. Since she had already retained the services of a Legal Adviser on her own, there was no need to provide with additional legal assistance. In the meantime, I instructed my Permanent Secretary to contact my colleague, the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare to provide psychological support to Ms J.