Africa-Press – Mauritius. During the resumption of the investigation court on the sinking of the tug Sir Gaëtan, Shakeel Goburdhone, Deputy Director General – Technical & Operational Services – at the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) and who is in charge of procurement, affirmed that it is not necessary for the procurement department to know the contents of a report for the purchase of spare parts.
“We’re just sending a request.
” He was thus responding to a question from Me Rault, the lawyer for the Mauritius Ports Authority Maritime and Other Staff Union, who referred to the 2009 report of the British company Burness Corlett – Three Quays (Southampton) Ltd), and who referred to the various shortcomings of the tug Sir Gaëtan.
He said it was only after the sinking of the tug that he learned there was a report. “I never saw the Burness report. The Port Master supervises everything.
Electrical and Electronic Engineer Yaasin Issany has been posted to help with administrative tasks. ” Former judge Gérard Angoh then intervened: “Isn’t he a qualified Marine Engineer?” he asked.
Shakeel Goburdhone’s response: “We asked him to help. ” So, the president of the investigative court said, “he was supervising”. Shakeel Goburdhone insisted on the word “assist”.
“What do you mean by assist? Assist and overseeing is it not the same thing? Assist means to perform the job, “said former judge Angoh.
“My understanding of assist is to help”, launched the witness.
“But when assisting, are you not helping?” then asked former judge Angoh. According to Shakeel Goburdhone, Yaasin Issany was reviewing some aspects of the preparation of the documents.
“Doesn’t it surprise you that instead of a Marine Engineer it’s the Electrical and Electronic Engineer who recommends spare parts?” Shakeel Goburdhone replied in the negative because, he said, the MPA did not have a Marine Engineer.
It was not until 15 days after the incident that a marine engineer was recruited. Also called to the helm was Jean Mario Geneviève, Marine Engineer Surveyor, who explained that he was recruited for the tug Da Patten, whose main engine was having some problems.
According to him, the original spare parts list, prepared by the MPA and given to the bidders, was not appropriate for the engine. “The list was prepared by two engineer interns from the University of Mauritius. They placed an order for spare parts that were not needed. ” And he clarified that it was Yaasin Issany who checked the list.
