Thank you. I will try to be very quick. So, as I said earlier on when it was my turn, Madam Speaker, plots of state land in Réduit Triangle were allocated to various governmental and non-governmental organisations, including 6 sociocultural organisations. There was an application for state land on 22 June 2024 by Luxury Retirement Village Ltd. In March 2023, if we follow the sequence of events, however, the then government decided to retrieve all undeveloped plots of state lands allocated in Réduit Triangle. The 6 social- cultural organisations, the status as of March 2023, were as follows – • Maharashtra Bhawan had been constructed on a plot of land allocated to the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation; • A socio-cultural centre had been constructed on the plot of land allocated to the Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation, and • The four plots of land allocated to the Hindi Speaking Union, Indo- Mauritian Catholic Association, and the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre Trust, as well as the Urdu Speaking Union, were undeveloped. In April 2023, with a 48-hour’ notice to start construction over the leased plots of undeveloped land, the government had decided, following that 48-hour’ notice, to pull back the lease and to cancel the lease of all those 4 plots of land. Following that, Madam Speaker, I am informed that there are court cases that are pending. In April 2024, there was a plaint with summons, which was upon the Ministry of Housing and Land and the Ministry of Arts and Culture, and the co-defendant was the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre Trust. These plaintiffs in the plaint to summons claimed that they were beneficiaries of the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre Trust, and as such, there was another case that was also entered by the Indo-Mauritian Catholic Association against my ministry back in July 2024. As we speak, the letter of reservation, which was issued on 16 October of 2023 to Luxury Retirement Village over the plots of land that were retrieved from the Hindi Speaking Union and the Urdu Speaking Union, and as it stands today, the plot has been fenced. In spite of the fact that it is only a letter of reservation and it does not mean that title has passed, the Luxury Retirement Village has fenced, in my view, wrongly the land allocated to it. And, as such, it has not even informed the Ministry of Housing and Land that it is fencing the place. The plots of land, the state land retrieved from the Indo-Mauritian Catholic Association, and the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre Trust are, as we speak, still

67 uncommitted and undeveloped. In the circumstances, I proposed to meet the representatives of the 4 organisations, meaning the Indo-Mauritian Catholic Association, the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre Trust as well as the Hindi Speaking Union, and the Urdu Speaking Union, to find the solution because there is a commitment that has been made before elections and after elections that those plots of land, if uncommitted and undeveloped, would be returned, and this is what we are doing. We are sticking to our commitment, and we are returning those lands. We are going to embark upon discussions in order to find what would be the most practical way to do it. I am also considering referring the matter to the hon. Attorney General’s Office. Why? It is because part of the letter of reservation to Luxury Village makes reference to the fact that they need to be informed in the event that the company wishes to raise capital through equity financing; prior written approval of the Ministry should be obtained, and such an issue of transfer or shares shall be up to a maximum of 30%. So, prior to issues of equity financing being raised, there needs to be a written authorisation. Same was not done. As such, I am also aware that there have been negotiations with the MIC and the State Bank by that same company to the tune of several hundred million rupees without the authorisation being sought first. There is, therefore, potentially another violation of the letter of reservation. So, this matter will be referred to the Attorney General’s Office with a view to seeking his advice on whether this letter of reservation can be cancelled, and if cancelled, in what way to be done in a lawful manner. This is my answer, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Now, time is really up. But I have to inform you that a few questions have been withdrawn: PQs I B/2, I B/34, I B/35, and I B/36. Hon. Members who have not reached their PQs can get written replies. You maintain you want to remove it, hon. Jhummun?

Yes, I want to remove it so that I can take it for the next session.

Yes, and then you can come back, of course. No issues then! STATE SECONDARY ACADEMIES & REGIONAL SCHOOLS – GRADE 10 INTAKE