Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-04-03 08:00:45
The PNQ from the leader of the opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval, was addressed yesterday to the Deputy Prime Minister, Steven Obeegadoo. He asked the latter whether, regarding the lands allocated to the Mauritius Tamil Centre Trust and the Mauritius Indo-Catholic Association at the Réduit Triangle, the issue of returning the land parcels to these two organizations had been studied and if the lands had been allocated for development purposes. In this case, he asked the Deputy Prime Minister to indicate to whom the lands had been allocated and for what purpose. He also wanted to know if the two organizations will be compensated, taking into account the damages incurred and to enable them to cover construction costs.
Steven Obeegadoo sought to put the whole question into context by going back to the various stages since the identification of development projects following the acquisition, in 2001, of lands owned by Lonrho Sugar Corporation, better known as the ‘Illovo Deal’. In 2004, a plan was developed regarding the use of the lands, but in 2006, the government at the time decided to grant lands to different organizations without considering the originally planned development under the territorial development plan.
In the meantime, Réduit has become a development center, with part of the lands intended to be used for the Metro-Express line. In 2021, in line with its mandate, the Ministry of Housing and Lands conducted a study, concluding that out of the 24 land parcels allocated to various organizations and parastatal bodies, only 11 had been developed.
Therefore, the government decided to develop a new plan, grouping activities that are compatible this time. To do this, all unused lands were taken back, except for those designated for the construction of archives and libraries, where construction had reached an advanced stage, as well as a parcel allocated to the Ministry of Education for the creation of a planetarium.
The other lands, including those allocated to four sociocultural organizations (Hindi Speaking Union, Indo-Mauritian Catholic Association, Mauritius Tamil Centre Trust, and Urdu Speaking Union) were recuperated by the government, he said. Before explaining that other lands had been proposed to them in Côte-d’Or. If all the organizations initially agreed, he continued, the Mauritius Tamil Centre Trust and the Indo-Mauritian Catholic Association later changed their decision.
Site visits were conducted, and the said lands are in the process of being acquired by Landscope Ltd. However, it was considered that lands leased under a lease would be made available to the four aforementioned organizations. In the meantime, three organizations (HSU, MTTCT, and USU) had agreed. However, the IMCA did not accept the offer.
Steven Obeegadoo continued by explaining that the return of lands was never considered. However, he said, the lands have not yet been allocated to other developers. Also, according to him, the question of compensation is not relevant, as no harm was caused to any of the four organizations. At this stage, he recalled that the lands were allocated to the Tamil Culture Centre Trust in July 2010. The IMCA obtained its land in 2013. And the other two sociocultural organizations, in 2016.
In these four cases, work was supposed to commence within nine months after the signing of the contracts. But the conditions were not met. The minister added that infrastructure work is ongoing, before revealing that the government had decided to fully finance the constructions planned by the various sociocultural organizations. “This demonstrates the government’s commitment to supporting all cultural centers in order to promote peace in the country,” said Steven Obeegadoo.
The leader of the opposition expressed his disappointment that the lands would not be returned. Adding that in the case of the IMCA, their plan and construction project were not approved. “Today, the minister has the audacity to assert that the sociocultural organizations did not respect the deadlines,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister, however, expressed his surprise that during the previous PNQ from the leader of the opposition, the same question had been asked to him. He then stated that during his meetings with the IMCA, nobody had drawn his attention to the fact that they did not obtain permission to proceed with the construction of cultural centers. He also mentioned that he met with the president and executive members of the IMCA last year to explain the reasons behind the government’s decision, emphasizing that no one objected at that time.
Steven Obeegadoo also mentioned receiving a request for additional land parcels, and the government promised to look into the matter. If there were a request for Planning Clearance, the question would have been on the agenda, he said. However, the government’s priority remains relocation. “The government ensures that all amenities are ready before undertaking the construction of cultural centers at its own expense,” he further stated.
Xavier-Luc Duval then presented two letters addressed to the Ministry of Housing by the IMCA, one requesting the ministry to grant Planning Clearance. The Deputy Prime Minister claimed to be unaware of this. In response to Xavier-Luc Duval’s remark that he did not have control over his files, he retorted that it was the opposition leader who did not, as he was allegedly just “repeating his questions from a previous PNQ”.
He reiterated that no one had informed him about such letters. He reaffirmed that he had met with the representatives of the IMCA in his office to discuss all these issues. If the issue of Clearance from any organization had been raised, it would have been considered, he asserted.
Not accepting this, Xavier-Luc Duval argued that “these organizations cannot be victims of the lack of organization at the ministry.” He then placed the letters he had just mentioned on the Assembly table, arguing that if the IMCA had not been able to move forward with the construction of its center, “it’s the fault of the Ministry of Housing.”
Steven Obeegadoo reiterated that the lands allocated between 2010 and 2015 had been taken back due to the lack of development and the fact that a new study had been carried out by the Ministry of Housing. “Moreover, the government not only proposed a relocation of the centers but will also incur the construction costs,” he said.
At this point, Xavier-Luc Duval recalled that he had asked the same question last year to the Deputy Prime Minister, inquiring whether assistance would be provided to the sociocultural organizations for the construction of their centers. He claimed that the Deputy Prime Minister had refused. “And now, suddenly, on the eve of the elections, the necessary money is found.”
Highlighting that the TCCT had accepted the government’s proposal, he emphasized that “everyone knows that the executive members of this association are appointed by the Ministry of Culture, and therefore, they are mostly civil servants.” Accordingly, in his opinion, “they will not oppose a ministerial decision,” even if its members “do not agree with what is happening.”
Steven Obeegadoo then reiterated that “all necessary measures have been taken to ensure that the lands are appropriate,” adding that discussions are ongoing with Landscope for the purchase of lands and that the Minister of Culture is preparing to engage in discussions with the three organizations regarding the location of the lands that will be allocated to them.
He accused the leader of the opposition of “waking up once a year” to raise this issue. “It took 12 months after the previous PNQ to know the truth,” retorted Xavier-Luc Duval. Before asking the Prime Minister to say whether he intends to apologize to the leaders of the relevant organizations for being identified as “usual troublemakers” and their projects being labeled as “gibberish.”
A remark from Steven Obeegadoo then elicited strong reactions from opposition members, prompting the Speaker, Sooroojdev Phokeer, to intervene and demand order from both sides of the Chamber. The Deputy Prime Minister later affirmed that he had “told the truth” regarding the state of the relevant lands, the nature of the project, as well as the fact that the repossession of lands concerned no fewer than 13 lands, including those allocated to ministries and NGOs.
He recalled that the trusts concerning the cultural centers were created between 2000 and 2005 by the MSM/MMM government. “I don’t know if the leader of the opposition is against these trusts. We will continue to work with trusts of all religions,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.
Regarding the issue of “troublemakers,” he believed that “everyone knows that this issue was politicized in order to score Political Points, even if it jeopardizes relations between communities.” He ultimately stated that the term “gibberish” concerns the lack of urban planning.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
