1 No. 08 of 2021 SEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 18 MAY 2021 2 CONTENTS PAPERS LAID QUESTIONS (Oral) ANNOUNCEMENTS MOTION STATEMENT BY MINISTER BILLS (Public) MOTIONS S.O. 17(3) & 29(1) ADJOURNMENT QUESTIONS (Written) 3 THE CABINET (Formed by Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth) Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Hon. Louis Steven Obeegadoo Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Hon. Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology GCSK Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Dr. the Hon. Mohammad Anwar Husnoo Government and Disaster Risk Management Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail Hon. Alan Ganoo Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Dr. the Hon. Renganaden Padayachy Development Minister of Social Integration, Social Hon. Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, GCSK Security and National Solidarity Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives Hon. Soomilduth Bholah Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change Hon. Kavydass Ramano Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance 4 Hon. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun Minister of Energy and Public Utilities Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security Hon. Georges Pierre Lesjongard Hon. Maneesh Gobin Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation Minister of National Infrastructure and Hon. Jean Christophe Stephan Toussaint Community Development Minister of Information Technology, Hon. Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram Communication and Innovation Minister of Labour, Human Resource Hon. Darsanand Balgobin Development and Training Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection Hon. Soodesh Satkam Callichurn Minister of Health and Wellness Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping Minister of Gender Equality and Family Dr. the Hon. Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal Welfare Hon. Sudheer Maudhoo Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage Minister of Public Service, Administrative Hon. Mrs Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah and Institutional Reforms Hon. Avinash Teeluck Hon. Teeruthraj Hurdoyal 5 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS Mr Speaker Hon. Sooroojdev Phokeer, GCSK, GOSK Deputy Speaker Hon. Mohammud Zahid Nazurally Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hon. Sanjit Kumar Nuckcheddy 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 and Information Jeewoonarain, Ms Prittydevi Officer Serjeant-at-Arms Pannoo, Mr Vinod 6 MAURITIUS Seventh National Assembly --------------- FIRST SESSION ------------ Debate No. 08 of 2021 Sitting of Tuesday 18 May 2021 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 PAPERS LAID The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Papers have been laid on the Table. Prime Minister’s Office Ministry of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications Ministry for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity (a) The Certificate of Urgency in respect of the Mauritius Emerging Technologies Council Bill (No VIII of 2021). (In Original) (b) The Annual Report 2018/2019 of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority. 8 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AGALEGA - INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS The Leader of the Opposition (Mr X. L. Duval) (by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity whether, in regard to the infrastructural works being undertaken in Agalega, he will state the – (a) facilities being constructed thereat, including aerodrome and deep-water port, giving details thereof, indicating if these will include fuel, weapons and ammunition storage facilities and accommodation for personnel; (b) total cost of construction thereof, and (c) estimated total annual cost of operation of the facilities, including cost of human resources, transportation, repairs and maintenance and insurance. The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, as the House is aware, there are currently two main infrastructural development projects that are being implemented for improving sea and air transportation facilities in Agalega, namely the construction of a new airstrip and a jetty together with the associated infrastructure. Mr Speaker, Sir, the existing Agalega airstrip of 1,300 metres long and 30 metres wide was constructed during the years 1984/1985 and is made up of compacted corals. As from 1998, the surface of the airstrip started to deteriorate, with small pebbles coming off from the surface. Some remedial works were carried out in 1999 to resurface the airstrip, but, unfortunately, the bitumen materials used did not adhere to the surface and over time it started to peel off again. In view of the bad state of the airstrip, the Civil Aviation Department had since then not authorised the landing of commercial planes. Only medical evacuation by the Dornier was allowed. Since 2003, several attempts had been made to upgrade the airstrip at Agalega, but these have not been successful. Access by sea to Agalega is also severely constrained owing to inadequate infrastructure and facilities, as there is no proper jetty on the island for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and cargo. 9 The possibility of the Indian Government providing assistance to upgrade the airstrip in Agalega had been raised with the Indian Authorities on several occasions since 2005. In March 2014, the Indian Authorities proposed that the Government of Mauritius could consider – (i) designating a suitable Implementing Agency for preparing a Detailed Project Report for the infrastructural works in Agalega and for overseeing the overall implementation of the project; and (ii) setting up of a Joint Project Monitoring Committee comprising representatives of both India and Mauritius to oversee and monitor the implementation of the project, as well as to monitor progress made by the Implementing Agency. The Indian side also agreed to consider deputing relevant technical experts, as and when required, to assist and work with the Implementing Agency for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report up to the final implementation of the project. Being given that Mauritius had no technical expertise in those specific areas, the Indian Authorities were requested to consider commissioning a full-scale technical study. A Joint Project Monitoring Committee was thus set up in April 2014 at the Ministry of Local Government and Outer Islands and a Technical Committee was set up to work on the technical specifications of the infrastructural projects. In August 2014, three Indian technical experts proceeded to Agalega for the preparation of a comprehensive work plan for the implementation of the projects. In parallel, following discussions at the level of the Joint Project Monitoring Committee, a draft Memorandum of Understanding for the development of air and sea transportation facilities in Agalega was prepared for consideration by both sides. Subsequently, both sides finalised the Memorandum of Understanding and the then Government approved the MoU on 31 October 2014. Mr X. L. Duval: Mr Speaker, Sir, on a point of order. My question is very specific as to what is presently being constructed in Agalega. Time is going to run out. Already five minutes have gone, and the Prime Minister is taking us back along history lane! The Prime Minister: Yes, what I am saying is … (Interruptions) 10 Mr Speaker: Order! Mr X. L. Duval: Answer the question as it is! (Interruptions) Mr Speaker: Order! Mr X. L. Duval: I need your help, Mr Speaker, Sir. We need time. Mr Speaker: I am giving you my help. Give me your help; I have no control over the Executive. You have been a former Acting Prime Minister of this country. Mr X. L. Duval: I understand what you are saying. Mr Speaker: I pay you due respect. Please continue! The Prime Minister: Yes, Mr Speaker, Sir, I am stating the actual facts to explain how this project is materialising today… Mr Speaker: You may continue! The Prime Minister: ...and it started even before I was part of the Government. (Interruptions) Mr Speaker: No debate! This is question and reply. The Prime Minister: During the State Visit of His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India to Mauritius in March 2015, the Memorandum of Understanding, which had already been approved by the then Government in October 2014, was signed between Mauritius and India. A copy of the MoU was laid on the Table of the National Assembly on 31 March 2015 during the reply made to the Private Notice Question on Agalega. Mr Speaker, Sir, in regard to part (a) of the question, as the House is also aware, the two projects, namely construction of new airstrip and jetty in the island of Agalega, are being implemented by AFCONS Ltd. The new runway will be of 3 kilometres in length and 60 metres wide in the north-south orientation, parallel to the existing runway. The associated infrastructure will comprise an air traffic control tower, passenger terminal building, aircraft hangar and runway lighting, amongst