PRIME MINISTER REPLIES TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS ON 23 MAY 2006
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/543 The Honourable First Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Riviére (Mr Bhagwan)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether, in regard to the appointment of Mr Dinesh Ramjuttun and Mr Gilbert Philippe as Advisers at the Prime Minister’s Office, he will state (a) in which category of advisers they have been appointed (b) the terms and conditions of their contract (c) their monthly pay packet including basic salary and other allowances and (d) the duties assigned to them?
REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
I am tabling the full details of the terms and conditions of the contract of Dr Dinesh Ramjuttun and Mr Gilbert Philippe. Mr Speaker, Sir,
As everybody is aware, it is a common practice for Governments to enlist the services of advisers. The recruitment of these two Advisers is in line with this practice. However, I must add that the terms and conditions offered to the two Advisers in question are much less favourable than what had been granted to senior and special Advisers employed by the previous Government.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/544 The Honourable First Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière (Mr Bhagwan)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether he has been made aware of the involvement of a Mauritian businessman in the "Clear Stream" affair in France and, if so, will he, for the benefit of the House state if (a) he has directed our Embassy in Paris to obtain further information from the French Authorities and (b) the relevant financial authorities are inquiring thereinto?
REPLY
Mr Speaker, Sir,
I have taken cognizance of the “Clearstream” affair through the media. I have requested our Embassy in France to follow the matter closely and keep me informed.
Following the naming of an offshore management company in the issue of “Week End” of 21st May, my Government has referred the matter to the Financial Services Commission for any investigation it deems appropriate. I am informed that a full investigation is already underway to find out whether any Global Business Company incorporated in Mauritius is involved in any way.
I would also like to add that any request from the competent French authorities for assistance in this connection with their investigation into the matter, will be acceded to in conformity with the provisions of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal and Related Matters Act 2003.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/545 The Honourable First Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière (Mr Bhagwan)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether, in regard to the cases of rapes and thefts which have been reported to have taken place during the past weeks, he will state the actions that have been initiated to reinforce public safety? REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
As I stated in my reply to PQ B/489 last week, Government intends to introduce legislation to render the punishment for rape more severe by increasing imprisonment from 15/16 years to a maximum of 60 years without remission.
Lately, the Police has put in place the following strategies to combat rapes and thefts with a view to reinforcing public safety:
(i) hotline service to provide prompt assistance; (ii) high visibility presence through police patrols; (iii) crackdown operations by specialised police units; (iv) sensitization campaigns and educational programmes; (v) proposed installation of Close Circuit Television Systems; and (vi) training of police officers in new surveillance and investigation techniques.
While reinforcement of public safety is at the core of Government functions, it is imperative that Government and Civil society play their respective role and conjugate their efforts so that we can deal effectively with our social problems and enhance public safety.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/546 The Honourable Second Member for Curepipe and Midlands (Mrs Martin)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether, following the recent judgment rendered by the British High Court with regard to the Chagossian Community, he will state the measures that Government proposes to take? PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/552 The Honourable First Member for Grand River North West and Port Louis West (Mrs Navarre-Marie)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether, he will state the measures that Government proposes to take following the recent judgment of the High Court in London with regard to the Chagos Archipelagos issue?
REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
With your permission, I shall reply to Parliamentary Questions B/546 and B/552 at the same time as they relate to the same issue.
As the House is already aware, on 11 May 2006, the UK High Court overturned the two Orders in Council of 10 June 2004 which prevented the Chagossians from returning to and residing in the islands of the Chagos Archipelago.
Mr Speaker, Sir,
Since I assumed office, I have left no stone unturned to reiterate both in the local and international fora our legitimate sovereignty claim over the Chagos Archipelago. I have forcefully made the point that the people of the Chagos Archipelago, who were evicted from the islands, were still struggling for their right to return to their birth place. The House will recall that following my meeting with the British Prime Minister last year, the latter agreed to my proposal to allow a group of Chagossians to visit their ancestral graves.
Indeed, this judgment from the UK High Court comes soon after the historic and humanitarian visit last month of the Chagossians to the Chagos Archipelago.
Mr Speaker, Sir,
I am informed that the British authorities have a period of 28 days from the date of judgment to appeal against the verdict of the High Court.
I also understand that members of the Chagossians Community are lobbying influential personalities in UK to convince the British authorities not to appeal against the decision.
The State Law Office and our Consultant in London are currently studying the full implications of the High Court Judgment for Mauritius. It would, therefore, be premature, at this stage, to disclose the course of action that the Government of Mauritius intends to take. The moreso, as the British Government is yet to take a decision whether to appeal against the High Court Judgement.
However, I have suggested through diplomatic channels that a meeting should be arranged at the earliest between the British Prime Minister and myself as well as a meeting with the newly appointed Foreign Secretary.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/547 The Honourable First Member for Quartier Militaire and Moka (Mr Jugnauth)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, information as to whether all the football matches of the World Cup will be broadcast live on channels 1, 2 or 3 of the MBC/TV and not on the MBC Digital Channel 6?
REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
Given that Soccer is the most popular sport in Mauritius, I have ensured with the MBC that the viewer’s interest is always put first. The MBC has already arranged for all matches to be broadcast on MBC Channel 3, that is, 56 games live and 8 delayed, as these will be played simultaneously on the last day of the group phase. MBC will also broadcast the same number of matches on Digital Channel 5.
Mauritius will be among the 200 countries to broadcast this unique sports event and the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation has obtained exclusive rights for radio and television. It is indeed a great achievement as many countries are still striving hard to obtain the relevant rights from foreign countries.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/548 The Honourable Third Member for Curepipe and Midlands (Mr Dowarkasing)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to whether it has been established that some fishing vessels are involved in drug trafficking and, if so, will he state the preventive measures that have been or will be taken in order to reinforce control in the fishing port area? PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/554 The Honourable Second Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière (Mr Allet)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to the measures that are being taken to prevent drugs from entering Mauritius by ships and along the coast?
REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
With your permission, I propose to answer Parliamentary Questions Nos B/548 and B/554 together as they relate to the same subject.
Mr Speaker, Sir,
For period 2000 to date, 21 ships were secured for cases of drugs among which only 4 were fishing vessels.
However, one has to reckon with the fact that Mauritius, being an island, is vulnerable to drug trafficking by sea. The possibility that fishing vessels dealing with drugs, having contacts with other islands in the Indian Ocean during their ‘sorties’ does exist. Conscious of this possibility, the Police, in collaboration with the Customs and Excise Department and the Ports Authority have taken the following preventive measures:
(i) patrols in the fishing port area are being maintained by personnel of Port Police, Anti Drugs Smuggling. Unit, National Coast Guard and Central Investigation Division;
(ii) a Joint Port Drug Unit operating at the harbour is tasked to analyse intelligence, risk, commercial documents and also to profile containers and vessels;
(iii) interaction of ADSU with marine agencies and stakeholders operating in the port;
(iv) the 23 National Coast Guard posts located all along the coast of Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega and St Brandon carry out active boat patrols and foot/mobile patrols in the lagoons and the beaches respectively. In addition to the routine checking of pleasure craft, random stop and search is carried out daily for inspection of the vessels/ search in the event of any information or suspicion;
(v) Coastal patrol within the territorial waters of Mauritius, is conducted by the minor ships of the Coast Guards, namely, CGS Guardian and the Zhuk class vessels.
(vi) Offshore patrol outside territorial waters within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is presently conducted by CGS Guardian.
Additionally, the Dornier and Defender aircraft of the National Coast Guard are also utilized for maritime reconnaissance missions within the EEZ in coordination with appropriate surface assets for prevention, detection and/or suppression of any illegal activity.
Mr Speaker, Sir,
With the development of the Seafood Hub and the vast area at our EEZ, we need additional capacity to patrol our sea territory.
In this context, during my official visit to India in October last, I had discussions with the Indian authorities regarding the procurement of an offshore patrol, vessel, an advanced light helicopter and a coastal surveillance system which would reinforce the patrol within our EEZ.
I am also advised that the Customs and Excise Department is in the process of procuring a Small X-Ray Scanner at the passenger ferry terminal to scan baggages of arriving passengers. Additionally, the Customs Launch has been refitted with radar and other equipment in early May this year to allow surveillance in the inner harbour and anchorage area.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/549 The Honourable Third Member for Montagne Blanche and Grand River South East (Mr Gunness)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to whether an inquiry has been carried out in the case of alleged rape and murder of Mrs R. R.* of Sebastopol on or about Saturday 13 May 2006 and, if so, where matters stand?
REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
The Major Crime Investigation Team is carrying out an enquiry to look into the case of murder and rape of one Mrs R. R which occurred during the night of 13 May 2006.
I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that two suspects had been arrested. The first one, on 15 May 2006, against whom a provisional charge of murder was lodged before Flacq Court on 16 May 2006. He was remanded to Police cell up to 23 May 2006. The second suspect was arrested on 19 May 2006 and is actually detained at the Moka Detention Centre. A provisional charge of murder has been lodged against him on 22 May 2006 before Flacq Court.
The Major Crime Investigation Team has so far interviewed 14 persons in connection with the abovementioned case.
The enquiry is still underway and on completion, it will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/550 The Honourable Third Member for Montagne Blanche and Grand River South East (Mr Gunness)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to whether one Mr K. B.; alias Siven, of Bel Air was arrested on or about 10 May 2006 for possession of cannabis and, if so, the charges that have been retained against him?
REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
On 10 May 2006 at 1730 hours, one Mr. K. B, alias Siven, a resident of Royal Road, Bel Air Rivière Sèche, was arrested by the Eastern Division ADSU.
On 11 May 2006, he appeared before Flacq District Court and was provisionally charged for “Possession of cannabis”. He was released on bail on the same day upon furnishing a recognizance of Rs 25,000.
The enquiry is still in progress.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/551 The Honourable Second Member for Pition and Rivière du Rempart (Mr Boodhoo)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether he will state the amount spent as rent by Government on rental of office space for each of the last five financial years? REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
The information sought is being tabled.
In fact huge sums are being spent by the Government yearly on rental of office space, mostly in Port Louis. In view thereof and in order to address the problem of congestion in Port Louis, the idea for the construction of a New Administrative City away from Port Louis is being envisaged and has been envisaged in the past. In this context, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has prepared a Concept Paper and the World Bank has already been approached for further examination of the idea along with the central highway project linking the Northern part of the Island to the Center through La Nicolière.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION B/553 The Honourable First Member for Grand River North West and Port Louis West (Mrs Navarre-Marie)
To ask Dr the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Home Affairs, Minister of Civil Service & Administrative Reforms and Minister of Rodrigues & Outer Islands:-
Whether, in regard to the threat of the H5N1 Avian-Flu he will state if he proposes to chair a national committee with a view to set up a national pandemic control plan and a communication stategy to raise public awareness on the threat of such a pandemic?
REPLY Mr Speaker, Sir,
In view of the pertinence of the issue, I propose, with your permission, to make a full statement to the House.
A National Emergency Preparedness Committee comprising Government officials and the private sector has been set up and has been meeting regularly since November 2004. The Committee is chaired by the Principal Veterinary Officer and comprises the representatives of following institutions:-
• Representative of Prime Minister’s Office • Ministry of Agro Industry and Fisheries • Ministry of Health and Quality of Life • Ministry of Local Government • Ministry of Environment • Police Department • Special Mobile Force • Road Traffic Management Unit • Plant Quarantine Services • Agricultural Research and Extension Unit • Poultry Breeding Centre • Airports of Mauritius Limited • Mauritius Ports Authority • Mauritius Customs, • Outer Islands Development Corporation • National Parks and Conservation Unit • Major Private stakeholders from the poultry industry.
As from 2005, the Committee chaired by the Principal Veterinary Officer held monthly meetings to follow evolution of the disease when it first appeared in South East Asia. With the evolution of the disease affecting certain European and Baltic countries, the Committee has started meeting on a weekly basis as from November 2005. The Committee is closely monitoring the spread of the disease worldwide, in particular African countries and the outbreak that has occurred in India during the last months. The Committee is closely monitoring the movement of migratory birds and the biological samples are being collected for detection of Avian Flu virus. The surveillance also includes on wild local birds (Pigeons, Mynas, Parrots), domestic poultry (industrial and backyard), exotic and wild birds of Casela and Le Val Nature Park.
A National Contingency Plan has been put in place and is constantly being updated following the pattern of the disease and its occurrence.
In so far as the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life is concerned, I am informed that an “Avian Influenza Preparedness Plan” has been prepared since March 2006 in line with WHO recommendations. In this plan, the following aspects have already been included:
• Increased surveillance at Port and Airport • Advice to travellers visiting affected regions (e.g to refrain visiting poultry farms and markets where poultry are being sold in these countries) • Indication of isolation Wards in all Regional Hospitals, in case of emergency. • Visits by Health Inspectors to poultry farms to ensure proper husbandry practices and to report abnormal deaths of poultry • Procurement of Personal Protective Equipment as per WHO guidelines • Stockpiling of Anti-Viral drugs 160,500 treatment doses of Oseltamivir are available • Control practices in Health Care Facilities have been reinforced. • Continuing Medical Education for Medical and Paramedical Staff • Regular samples of throat swabs were taken by the Virology Laboratory as a surveillance measure. • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Rapid Tests for diagnosis of Avian Influenza at the Virology Laboratory
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life has prepared protocols, guidelines and recommendations for:
• Airline flight crew • Persons meeting passengers arriving from areas with Avian Influenza • Airline cleaning crew and maintenance crew • Baggage/package and cargo handlers for airlines returning from regions affected by Avian Influenza.
In addition, preventive measures to restrict entry of the disease have already been implemented such as ban on importation of live birds and poultry products from certain countries. Vigilance at ports of entry has been reinforced. Foot dips with virucidals have already been placed at our ports of entry. Private shipping agents have been issued a communiqué to implement a foot dip with virucidal on their ships. Ship inspection forms are being faxed to the Mauritius Ports Authority by the plant quarantine on a regular basis. Passengers in touch with poultry or farms during their outward visits are being screened by the Ministry of Health which is working in close collaboration with the Plant and Quarantine Services of the Ministry of Agro Industry and Fisheries. Pamphlets have already been prepared by the Ministry of Health for distribution to outgoing passengers.
The sanitary officers of the Ministry of Health and the Quarantine Officers of the Ministry of Agro Industry are also on the alert. Among steps taken and recommended in the Contingency Plan, we have already imported necessary equipment such as protective clothing, disinfectants and biological tests kits.
A consignment of 225,000 doses of vaccines against Avian Flu in poultry has already been received. A vaccination program has been worked out in consultation with International Institutions like the World Animal Health and F.A.O and will be implemented.
Our Veterinary Officers have recently attended workshops on Avian Influenza in Pretoria and Libreville under the sponsorship of the SADC, World Animal Health, F.AO and W.HO. Our services are in constant contact with International Experts who have visited Mauritius recently and participated in the meetings of the Avian Influenza Committee. A simulation exercise was organised on Saturday 06 May 2006 to test and validate Emergency Operational Measures. The response from all stakeholders was prompt and effective and the exercise was correctly done and successful. A similar exercise will be carried out, this time targeting a large industrial poultry farm.
The Ministry of Agro Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life have devised communication strategies in order to create awareness on Avian Flu among poultry breeders, health workers and the general public. Officers of AREU are educating poultry breeders on biosecurity measures to be taken in the context of Avian Flu. 2000 information sheets have been prepared and distributed to poultry breeders. Officers of both Ministries have been participating in radio and television programs to inform the public about Avian Flu and preventive measures to be taken.
Mr Speaker, Sir,
The House would appreciate the Government has left no stone unturned in the fight against the introduction of Avian Influenza into the Republic of Mauritius.
I am fully briefed of the workings of the National Committee and I personally commend the work that has been done so far. Of course, I shall chair the National Committee in the light of the evolution of the disease.
