1 No. 32 of 2020 SEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) (UNREVISED) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 03 NOVEMBER 2020 2 CONTENTS PAPERS LAID MOTION QUESTIONS (Oral) BILLS (Public) 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 Hon. Louis Steven Obeegadoo Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism Hon. Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, GCSK Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Dr. the Hon. Mohammad Anwar Husnoo Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management Hon. Alan Ganoo Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail Dr. the Hon. Renganaden Padayachy Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Hon. Nandcoomar Bodha, GCSK Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Hon. Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, GCSK Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity Hon. Soomilduth Bholah Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives Hon. Kavydass Ramano Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change Hon. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance Hon. Georges Pierre Lesjongard Minister of Energy and Public Utilities Hon. Maneesh Gobin Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security Hon. Yogida Sawmynaden Minister of Commerce and Consumer 4 Protection Hon. Jean Christophe Stephan Toussaint Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation Hon. Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram Minister of National Infrastructure and Community Development Hon. Darsanand Balgobin Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation Hon. Soodesh Satkam Callichurn Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training Dr. the Hon. Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal Minister of Health and Wellness Hon. Sudheer Maudhoo Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping Hon. Mrs Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare Hon. Avinash Teeluck Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage Hon. Teeruthraj Hurdoyal Minister of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms 5 PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS Mr Speaker Hon. Sooroojdev Phokeer, 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. 32 of 2020 Sitting of Tuesday 03 November 2020 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. A. Office of the President The Annual Reports 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 of the Ombudsperson for Children. (In Original) B. Office of Mr Speaker The Report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission on a review of the boundaries of the Constituencies 2020. C. Prime Minister’s Office Ministry of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications Ministry for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity (a) Certificate of Urgency in respect of the following Bills (In Original): (i) The Climate Change Bill (No. XIV of 2020); and (ii) The Veterinary Council Bill (No. XV of 2020) (b) The Audited Financial Statements of the Discharged Persons’ Committee for the Year ended 30 June 2019. D. Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology (a) The Annual Report of the Early Childhood Care and Education Authority for the 18 months’ period ending 30 June 2017. (b) The Annual Reports of the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre Trust Fund for the year 2006 to 2009 and for the year ending 31 December 2012. (In Original) (c) The Education (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 234 of 2020) E. Ministry of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management (a) The District Council of Black River (Traffic Centre) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 194 of 2020) 8 (b) The District Council of Moka (Amendment) (Fair) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 203 of 2020) (c) The District Council of Moka (Amendment No. 2) (Fair) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 204 of 2020) (d) The City of Council of Port Louis (Streets and Squares) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 213 of 2020) (e) The Village Council Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 246 of 2020) (f) The District Council of Rivière du Rempart Market/Fairs Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 261 of 2020) F. Ministry of Land Transport and Light Rail (a) The National Land Transport Authority (Appeal Committee) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 216 of 2020) (b) The Road Traffic (Conduct of Passengers) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 218 of 2020) (c) The Light Rail (COVID-19 Sanitary Measures) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 228 of 2020) (d) The Road Traffic (COVID-19 Sanitary Measures) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 229 of 2020) G. Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development (a) The Financial Statements of the Mauritius Ex-Services Trust Fund for the year ended 30 June 2019. (b) The Companies (Payment of Fees to Registrar) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 207 of 2020) (c) The Economic Development Board (Smart City Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 209 of 2020) (d) The Financial Statements of the Mauritius Ex-Services Trust Fund (MESTF) for the year ending 30 June 2019. 9 (e) Loan Agreement between the Republic of Mauritius and the African Development Bank (COVID-19 Crisis Response Budget Support Program). (In Original) (f) The Annual Report of the Economic Development Board for the 18 months ending 30 June 2019. (g) Credit Facility Agreement dated as of 27th July 2020 between Agence Française de Développement the Lender and The Republic of Mauritius The borrower. (In Original) (h) The Companies (Payment of Fees to Registrar) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 217 of 2020) (i) Virement (Contingencies) Warrant - Quarter 4 (April – June 2020): Nos. 9 and 10. (In Original) (j) Virement Warrant - Quarter 4 (April – June 2020): Nos. 23, 25-78, 80-85, 87-93 and Retrospective Virement Warrant Nos. 94-98. (In Original) (k) Virement Certificates – Quarter 4 (April – June 2020): Vote/Sub-Head (Certificates Nos.): 1-1(5-7), 1-2(5,7), 1-5(4-18), 1-6(4,6), 1- 7(7), 1-8(1,2), 1-9(3-5), 1-10(5-8), 1-12(3), 1-15(5-7), 2-101(4,8), 2-103(6, 9- 11), 2-106(6-8), 2-107(4-8), 2-108(1-3, 5, 6), 2-2(3-10), 2-4(2-11), 2-6(2,6), 2-7(9, 11-13 ,15A, 16), 2-9(1-5), 2-13(1-4), 3-1(11-20, 22-25), 4-1(4), 4-2(3), 4-3(1), 4-4(5), 4-5(3-14), 5-1(1-6), 5-3(4-8), 5-4(1), 6-1(7-9), 7-1(8-22, 24-29), 7-2(1-3, 5, 6), 7-3(3-10), 8-1(6-9), 11-1(7-11), 12-1(4-8, 8A, 9, 11, 12), 12-2(11- 17), 12-3(4-7), 14-1(8, 9A, 10-15, 2-9), 15-1(7), 15-4(4-6), 17-1(6-10), 20-1(3), 21-1(3-11), 22-1(3), 24-1(4-6) and 25-1(17). (In Original) (l) Virement (Contingencies) Warrant - Quarter 1 (July – September 2020): Nos.1 to 3. (In Original) (m) Virement Warrant – Quarter 1 (July – September 2020): Nos. 1 to 8. (In Original) (n) Virement Certificates – Quarter 1 (July – September 2020): 10 Vote/Sub-Head (Certificates Nos): 1-5(1), 1-9(1), 2-101(1), 2-3(1), 3-1(2), 4- 1(1), 5- 1(1), 5-4(1,2), 16-1(1,2), 19-1(1,2), 19-103(1), 21-1(1,2) and 26-1(1). (In Original) (o) Carry-Over Warrant - Quarter 4 (April – June 2020): Nos. 1 to 3. (In Original) (p) The Income Tax (Amendment No. 6) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 231 of 2020) (q) The Income Tax (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 2) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 232 of 2020) (r) The Public Procurement (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 2) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 233 of 2020) (s) The Customs (Movement Certificate EUR 1) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 241 of 2020) (t) The Excise (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 242 of 2020) (u) The Value Added Tax (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 243 of 2020) (v) The Value Added Tax (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 3) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 244 of 2020) (w) The Public Procurement (Amendment of Schedule) (No.3) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 245 of 2020) (x) The Customs (Amendment) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 247 of 2020) (y) The Customs Tariff (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 3) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 248 of 2020) (z) The Excise (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 3) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 249 of 2020) (aa) The Statutory Bodies Pension Funds (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 3) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 251 of 2020) 11 (bb) The Income Tax (Contributions to Film Promotion Fund) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 252 of 2020) (cc) The Value Added Tax (Contributions to Film Promotion Fund) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 253 of 2020) (dd) The Public Procurement (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2020. (Government Notice No. 256 of 2020) (ee) The Build Operate Transfer Projects (Prescribed Threshold) Regulations 2020.