1 No. 25 of 2019 SIXTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019 2 CONTENTS PAPERS LAID QUESTIONS (Oral) MOTION ANNOUNCEMENT STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS BILLS (Public) 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. 25 of 2019 Sitting of 30 July 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 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 National Land Transport Authority Bill (No. XX of 2019); (ii) The Light Rail Bill (No. XXI of 2019) (iii) The Road Traffic (Amendment No. 2) Bill (No. XXII of 2019) (iv) The Victoria Station Overhead Pedestrian Bridge (Authorised Construction) Bill (No. XXIII of 2019) (b) The Finance and Audit (Build Mauritius Fund) (Revocation) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 117 of 2019) (c) The Finance and Audit (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 118 of 2019) (d) The Civil Aviation (Hadj 2019 Pilgrims) (Exemption) Order 2019. (Government Notice No. 127 of 2019) B. Ministry of Local Government and Outer Islands Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare The Municipal Town Council of Quatre Bornes (Victoria Fair) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 122 of 2019) C. Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation The Annual Report January 2016 to June 2017 of the Mauritius Research Council. D. Ministry of Health and Quality of Life (a) The Public Health (Restrictions on Tobacco Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 119 of 2019) 8 (b) The Dental Council (Medical Institutions) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 123 of 2019) E. Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection (a) The Rodrigues Consumer Protection (Control of Price of Taxable and Non-taxable Goods) (Amendment No. 20) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 121 of 2019) (b) The Consumer Protection (Control of Imports) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 125 of 2019) (c) The Consumer Protection (Control of Sale of Imported Live Animals for Home Slaughter) (Amendment) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 126 of 2019) F. Ministry of Youth and Sports The Sports Complex and Stadium (Control) (Amendment) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 120 of 2019) G. Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping (a) The Annual Report of the Seafares’ Welfare Fund for the period 01 July 2017 to 30 June 2018. (b) The Merchant Shipping (Security of Ships) Regulations 2019. (Government Notice No. 124 of 2019) H. Ministry of Financial Services and Good Governance The Annual Report 2017/2018 of the Financial Services Commission. 9 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS MAURITIAN SPECIALISTS - FRANCE - QUALIFICATION The Leader of the Opposition (Mr X. L. Duval) (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health and Quality of Life whether, he will state if he is aware that highly trained Mauritian specialist medical practitioners having studied and qualified in France encounter impediments to practice in Mauritius thus impeding them from returning and offering their valuable services to the country and, if so, indicate if consideration will be given for the taking of urgent appropriate remedial actions in relation thereto. Dr. Husnoo: Madam Speaker, may I, in the first instance, for the information of the House, provide a brief definition of a specialist as per the Medical Council Act 2000, as subsequently amended - (a) a postgraduate qualification in a medical speciality obtained from a medical institution after having followed a course of training of not less than three years and passed the appropriate examination pertaining to that particular course, or (b) a postgraduate qualification in a medical speciality issued by a recognised professional body, or (c) a recognised specific training in a sub speciality undertaken after obtaining a qualification under paragraphs (a) and (b), which I have just mentioned earlier. Madam Speaker, as per section 23 of the Medical Council Act, as amended, a person shall be entitled to be registered as specialist if he: (a) is registered as a general practitioner in Mauritius; (b) holds a specialist qualification which is recognised by the Council acting after consultation with the Postgraduate Medical Education Board. As per section 22 of the Council Act, to be registered as a General Practitioner, the applicant should hold a diploma in medicine and establish to the satisfaction of the Council that he has undergone not less than 18 months practical (including clinical) training in different medical specialities. Madam Speaker, furthermore, section 24 of the Medical Council Act provides for pre- registration trainees, that - 10 (1) the Council may require a person applying for registration as a general practitioner under section 21 to undergo such training as it may determine before registering him. (2) where a person who holds a diploma in medicine, is required by the country, or the medical institution where he is qualified, to complete a course of training, without which he would not be eligible for registration as a medical practitioner in that country, he may be registered as a pre-registration trainee until he has completed such course of training in an institution approved by the Council. Madam Speaker, it is clear that, any Mauritian general practitioner or specialist who wishes to practice in Mauritius, has to satisfy the Council that he holds the required qualification, whether a diploma in medicine or a specialist qualification, and he has to produce evidence of any pre-registration training where he has completed a pre-registration training. Such provision of the Act is applicable to every Mauritian, without any distinction. Whether you are qualified from India, Russia or France, or any other country, you are subject to the same treatment under our prevailing legislation. Madam Speaker, I am informed that any person holding a diploma or a degree in medicine has to undergo pre-registration training before being registered as a general practitioner unless he has already undergone such training obviously. For a specialist, the person has to register as a general practitioner first and then register as a specialist. For any Mauritian citizen who has undergone a specialist qualification abroad and who has worked for three years after registration can be registered as a general practitioner and as a specialist after going through the Postgraduate Medical Education Board provided he has obtained the clinical experience to the satisfaction of the Council. For example, in France, the undergraduate course is of a duration of six years, that is, the completion of the