Africa-Press – Mauritius. After a two-week recess, the National Assembly will resume sittings on Tuesday, October 28, with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam facing 17 parliamentary questions. The issues span public governance, national security, drug control, diaspora relations, infrastructure, administrative transparency, and civil rights. Several sensitive matters are expected to draw particular attention, including the compensation paid to former Bank of Mauritius Governor Rama Sithanen, the functioning and budget of the National Agency for Drug Control (NADC), and the activities of the now-dissolved Special Striking Team (SST). Time permitting, the Prime Minister will also respond to a question on the presence of Malagasy businessman Mamy Ravatomanga in Mauritius.
Opposition MP Adrien Duval (Port Louis North and Montagne Longue) will open the session with a question on the Prime Minister’s recent State visit to India. He will seek details on the full composition of the delegation, the official roles of its members, and total travel expenses—including airfares, accommodations, transport, and per diems—along with the tabling of the visit’s official programme. Duval will also question Dr. Ramgoolam about Rama Sithanen’s departure as central bank governor, requesting the calculation basis for his Rs 5.5 million compensation, his total remuneration, and the number of days spent abroad on official missions. Opposition MP Franco Quirin will follow up with questions about the NADC’s annual budget, executive salaries, consultant fees, and administrative expenses.
On the matter of drug control and potential cannabis reform, MP Khushal Lobine will question the Prime Minister about the government’s efforts against synthetic drug consumption and trafficking. He will ask for updated statistics on arrests, charges, and drug seizures since January 2025, the number of minors involved, and whether a national action plan or parliamentary debate on the decriminalization of recreational cannabis use is being considered. Other questions will address various institutional matters, including a query from MP Ludovic Caserne about the composition of the Commission on the Prerogative of Mercy, and one from Ram Etwareea concerning the Development Bank of Mauritius’s 2024 recruitment policy and the travel expenses of its former CEO between 2015 and 2024.
Another segment of the session will focus on the advisors appointed by former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth. MP Kevin Lukeeram will ask for a list of advisors, their remuneration details, and the boards on which they served between 2015 and November 2024. MP Roshan Jhummun will question the Prime Minister about banking charges, guarantees, and collateral policies, asking when they were last reviewed and whether alignment with international standards is planned. MP Babajee will seek answers regarding Mamy Ravatomanga’s business presence in Mauritius, including assets acquired, travel history, due diligence processes, and the potential establishment of a Board of Inquiry on his arrival.
Further questions include one from MP Rubna Daureeawo on the development of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index in collaboration with the SADC, and another from MP Jugurnauth on the Police Helicopter Squadron’s fleet, pilot staffing, and expansion plans. MP Manoj Seeburn will raise the issue of land lease termination for the Neotown project at Les Salines, seeking details on compensation payments and legal proceedings. MP Farhad Aumeer will question the Prime Minister on the SST’s operations before its 2022 dissolution, focusing on drug-related investigations and unprosecuted cases. Additional questions from MP Roshan Jhummun will address the suspension of social networks on November 1, 2024, and the restructuring of Casinos of Mauritius, while Rodrigues MP François François will request environmental and infrastructural updates on the Port Mathurin Port Area. The final question of the session, from MP Khushal Lobine, will concern the long-awaited Freedom of Information Bill, seeking updates on the legislative process and any planned public consultation.
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