Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Johanne Prosper
Published on 2024-04-01 06:00:22
An oddly calm and composed speaker
If we were expecting the first parliamentary session of the year to bring surprises, that was not the case. It was business as usual, with the exception of a surprisingly “calm” speaker last Tuesday. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, however, did not deviate from his rule, pertinently inviting the former Prime Minister into the debates several times, and also reciting a long speech to only answer one question during the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT).
This parliamentary session unfolded in a relative calm, departing from what we were used to by the parliamentarians in the 2023 sessions – with insults, uproar, and other strong sequences in the National Assembly. And especially with the speaker Sooroojdev Phokeer, always exasperated, using and abusing the expulsions of opposition members, but who was oddly composed last Tuesday. After the speaker’s announcements at the opening of the session, a heartfelt homage was paid to the memory of the former Private Parliamentary Secretary and Member of Parliament for Curepipe/Midlands (No.17), Éric Guimbeau, who passed away from a road accident on March 6. Certainly, the opposition MPs were constrained by the additional questions that the speaker rejected, but the atmosphere – even though occasional jabs were exchanged in the chamber without real provocations – remained rather calm for a first session where however the shadow of Navin Ramgoolam still hovered.
The shadow of Navin Ramgoolam still hovered
What hasn’t changed is the attitude of the Prime Minister, who only answered one out of 20 questions addressed to him. Pravind Jugnauth, who rather bored the chamber with his long tirade, once again reiterating elements that he had already given in similar questions in the past regarding the introduction of Mauritian Creole in Parliament. Even his jabs against former Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, which he deliberately brings back into the debates in the chamber, did not have the intended provocation effect on the opposition members.
It was close for MMM MP Arianne Navarre-Marie, the originator of the question about the introduction of Mauritian Creole in Parliament, to lose her temper. But in the end, even though very annoyed by Pravind Jugnauth’s response, to whom she had to say “I understand only Creole! How arrogant!” Arianne Navarre-Marie held back, and Pravind Jugnauth continued his tirade to finish five minutes before the end of the PMQT’s regulated time, which the Speaker had to close with the famous “Time is over”, thus avoiding the questioning of Ehsan Juman regarding the alleged assault by Minister Anjiv Ramdhany on Rajiv Kumar Beeharry.
Private Notice Question
“Putting cars first and people last”
The chaotic situation experienced by the country during Cyclone Belal was the focus of the Leader of the Opposition’s PNQ last Tuesday. Xavier Duval addressed his question to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government, Anwar Husnoo, and focused on the families who suffered material damage in terms of appliances, furniture, and clothing in floods. According to Xavier Duval, the government prioritized owners of vehicles affected by the floods over families who lost everything.
Anwar Husnoo explained that over 4,000 families sought assistance from the police following the passage of Belal last January. However, Xavier Duval pointed out that his question was about the number of houses damaged by the floods and not those who sought assistance. But the minister did not have the answer. “But do you know how many cars were damaged?” the Leader of the Opposition asked. Responding to these accusations, Minister Husnoo stated that the government provided financial assistance of Rs 250 per night per person to the affected residents and food packages. However, Xavier Duval highlighted the glaring disparities between the funds allocated to compensate vehicle owners and the significantly lesser financial aid granted to affected families. This disparity led the opposition leader to make the comparison between the Rs 200 million spent to compensate vehicle owners and the Rs 6 million allocated for food aid for families who lost everything in the floods. This led him to say that it is what is called “putting cars first and people last.”
Xavier Duval also expressed shock that two months after the passage of Belal, there have been no works for the installation of drains at Montagne des Signaux. The Minister Husnoo stated that these are extensive works that take time. The Leader of the Opposition also insisted on the publication of the 56 sites that would pose a threat in case of floods. In response, the Deputy Prime Minister supported that work is ongoing in different regions of Port Louis. The minister also mentioned the evacuation protocol of the downtown of Port Louis, which has been tested repeatedly with planned diversions by the police.
Bill on the rights of persons with disabilities
Opposition criticizes the timing
approaching elections
The schedule of the bill on the Protection & Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities raises questions within the opposition, especially in light of the upcoming elections.
Xavier Duval, Leader of the Opposition, expressed doubts about the timing of this bill, calling it a total failure in addressing the needs of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, he pointed out the cases of fraud reported in recent months related to disability pensions. Arianne Navarre-Marie from the MMM shares this opinion, stating that the bill does not correspond to the reality of persons with disabilities.
In response, representatives of the majority government counterattacked. Minister Kalpanah-Koonjoo Shah stated that the opposition expressed bitterness due to the recent increase in social benefits. On the other hand, Minister Fazila Daureeawoo highlighted a blatant discrimination that had been corrected after 40 years, emphasizing significant and immediate measures taken to address this situation. She also pointed out that the government had taken care to consult all stakeholders before drafting this bill.
Delivery of textbooks
“Not up to par,” concedes the minister
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Leela Devi Dookun Luchoomun, did not shy away from the questioning of the mauve MP Adil Ameer Meea regarding the provision of textbooks amid reported delays in primary and secondary schools. “The challenge of a supplier following the tender exercise for the production of textbooks has caused delays in distribution,” she said. The minister added that tenders had to be relaunched for these specific textbooks, thus extending the delivery period.
In view of these delays, temporary measures were taken to ensure that students are not penalized. According to Leela Devi Dookun Luchoomun, zone directors and principals have been tasked with providing copies of relevant chapters of textbooks while awaiting the full delivery. Currently, 21 titles out of 206 for primary schools and 33 titles out of 216 for secondary schools are awaiting delivery. She mentioned that the exercise is expected to be completed by next week. Despite efforts to resolve these issues, the minister concedes that the control of textbook supply “has not been up to par.”
Proliferation of fleas in Stanley
Mass sterilization campaign in April
“Plagued by fleas, a primary school temporarily closed in Stanley. Students affected by itching for three months.” In its edition of February 25, 2024, Week-End shed light on this plight that had been shaking the school for four months, and to which the authorities did not seem to pay much attention. The MP for the Deven Nagalingum constituency, who had raised the alarm about the presence of a pack of stray dogs in the area, the source of this proliferation, questioned the Minister of Agro-Industry, Mahen Seeruttun, in Parliament. The latter responded that the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare (MSAW) plans to sterilize 200 dogs during a sterilization and adoption campaign in April, with the assistance of the neighboring municipalities.
Flooding in Canal Dayot
Hurreeram adds more
The Minister of National Infrastructures, Bobby Hurreeram, persists and repeats. After criticizing, on January 15, the day after the monster floods that shook the country, the attitude of some residents of Canal Dayot on the grounds that they opposed the construction of a retaining wall in 2022, he reiterated this Tuesday in Parliament, noting that “unfortunately, due to the reluctance of some residents, blinded by influence from certain politicians, access to the works was denied. Consequently, the contract was canceled on October 11, 2022. Without that, the situation could have been different.”
Bobby Hurreeram was answering questions from MPs Fabrice David and Patrice Armance from the constituency. In a broader sense, the minister argued that “the Land Drainage Authority conducted a post-assessment survey on January 19 and concluded that several factors were responsible for the floods, including the insufficient hydraulic capacity of the canal to handle the maximum flow generated by Cyclone Belal, not to mention the limited capacity of the Roussel bridge.”
Agenda
Agaléga, horse races, e-health, floods…
A month after the visit of members of the National Assembly to Agalega, the issue resurfaces in Parliament. This will also be the dominant topic during the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT), with the Chief Whip Kavi Doolub initiating questions surrounding the new facilities, notably the new jetty and the new airstrip inaugurated a few weeks ago in the archipelago. While 17 questions are scheduled for this hour-long session, the Leader of the House is expected to stick to just the first one. It remains to be seen if opposition members will be allowed supplementary questions on this matter.
Other interrogations on the agenda for this session include the Air Mauritius aircraft fleet and the frequent cancellations of flights by the national airline, with questions from Nando Bodha (Mauritian Rally) and Patrick Assirvaden (PTr). The accident involving a truck that saw the collapse of the pedestrian bridge in Roche-Bois is of interest to MSM MP Joanne Tour.
Regarding interrogations addressed to ministers, the opposition will make horse racing a focal point with a series of questions for the Minister of Finance, Renganaden Padayachy, who will have as many as six inquiries. Rajesh Bhagwan (MMM) returns to the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) affairs, particularly the stakes money scale for the 2024 racing season, the number of registered stables to date, as well as whether due diligence has been carried out concerning the owners or shareholders participating in races.
The MMM MP and his colleague Franco Quirin will also seek clarification from Minister Padayachy on the establishment of the Petit-Gamin equestrian center for gaming magnate Jean-Michel Lee Shim. They will try to obtain information on whether a license has been issued by the GRA to Global Equestrian Ltd.
Still from the MMM, MP Aadil Ameer Meea will inquire from the Finance Minister about the public debt, with questions regarding the levels reached in December 2023, the amounts in Mauritian rupees as well as foreign currencies, the ratio against the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the measures that will be taken to reduce the debt mountain. Renganaden Padayachy will also respond to Nando Bodha on the quantity of imported cigarettes from January 2023 to date, as well as the amount paid, the country of origin, and the amount of taxes collected.
Another minister who will be in high demand next Tuesday is the Minister of Health, Kailesh Jagutpal. There will be inquiries from both sides of the chamber about the eHealth project, with a question from backbencher Ashley Ittoo (MSM) on the progress of the project to date and the disbursements made by the state so far. Then, PTr MP Fabrice David will seek clarification on the tender exercises that have taken place, the name of the company that won the contract, and the cost of implementing the eHealth System.
The situation of dengue will also be among the questions. While Karen Foo Kune-Bacha (MMM) and Ranjiv Woochit (PTr) will demand information on the situation in Mauritius, OPR MP Buisson Léopold will seek clarification on the epidemic situation in Rodrigues and the associated deaths recorded in the past two years. Farhad Aumeer will try to find out the roles of Drs. Catherine Gaud and Laxmi Taukoor at the Harm Reduction Unit and their actual status with the Medical Council.
This week, the opposition returns to the issue of floods, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government, Anwar Husnoo, will have to respond to MMM MP Aadil Ameer Meea on the latest developments regarding the demolition project of Kentucky Fried Chicken premises and parking facilities built over the Pouce stream, following the recommendations of the 2014 judicial inquiry.
Anwar Husnoo will also have to respond to various questions regarding local authorities. Kushal Lobine (PMSD) will seek information on the number of times the gas incinerator and the crematorium at Highlands have been used since January last year, while Stéphanie Anquetil (PTr) will question the minister on the upgrading of infrastructure at the Vacoas station. Michael Sik Yuen (PTr) will mention complaints about flooding in Morcellement Ramalingum, while Osman Mahomed (PTr) will focus on poor road conditions and drainage problems in Guibies/Pailles. In addition, Farhad Aumeer will question the Minister of National Infrastructures, Bobby Hurreeram, on the Rs 500 million budget for repairing public infrastructure damaged by the inclement weather caused by Cyclone Belal.
The energy issue will also be revisited, with Joanna Bérenger (MMM) and Patrick Assirvaden (PTr) questioning the relevant minister about the Corexsolar issue, specifically regarding the Power Purchase Agreement signed between the Central Electricity Board and the Reunionese company. Patrick Assirvaden is also expected to inquire with the Minister of Commerce, Dorine Chukwory, about the increase in the prices of consumer products and the cost of living.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
