Madam Speaker, the last Municipal City Council and Municipal Town Council elections were held in June 2015. Accordingly, as per the Local Government Act, the life of all councils should have ended in June 2021. The previous government repeatedly postponed the Municipal Elections on three occasions since June 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Municipal Elections were postponed on two occasions for a period of one year each, as from 15 June 2021 and a further period of one year as from 14 June 2022. However, the previous government again postponed the Municipal Elections for a third time to June 2025. This was very irresponsible and against the democratic rights of the inhabitants governed by the municipal council concerned.

25 Madam Speaker, it is an undeniable fact that the previous government was aware that if ever the Municipal Council Elections were to be held, they would have lost all the 120 seats in the Municipal Councils. Hence, they came up with an amendment to the Local Government Act to extend the life of the municipal council by a further period of two years on the ground that the reform had to be brought to the local government system in Mauritius. The Municipal Council Elections are now due by mid-June 2025. Madam Speaker, unfortunately, one and a half years have elapsed, but no official report on such reform has been laid on the table of the National Assembly nor has the public been made aware of these reports. Our Government has the commitment to uphold the democracy and to ensure that the Municipal Council Elections be held as soon as possible. Madam Speaker, we do not believe in piecemeal solutions. Our firm commitment is to redress all the wrongdoings of the previous government, to uphold democracy, and to ensure that the local authorities are governed under a proper, modern, and effective legal framework. Accordingly, only a few days after joining the Ministry, we have already started to review and update the Local Government Act and all the regulations that flow from same. Our Government and my Ministry give the firm undertaking that we are going to hold the Municipal Council Elections as soon as possible when all the necessary amendments are made to the Local Government Act to reflect the vision of this Government.

Thank you, hon. Minister.

(Interruptions)

Be careful, I can hear! The hon. First Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue, Mrs Savabaddy! LATE MINOR E.E.J. – ALLEGED MURDER – FAMILY ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT