(4.12 p.m.) RODRIGUES HEALTH SERVICES – PHYSIOTHERAPISTS/PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSISTANTS – RECRUITMENT Ms M. R. Collet (First Member for Rodrigues): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to raise an important issue in this statement. Of particular concern to me and my constituents is the present delivery of health services in Rodrigues, that this House do take note that the population of Rodrigues is nearing 44,000. I am informed that at present, Rodrigues Island counts only one physiotherapist in service together with four physiotherapy assistants who are on-the-job training in mainland Mauritius. Given the high number of patients requiring treatment for a broad spectrum of physical problems and the like treatment, health promotion, and illness prevention, I call upon the relevant authorities to respond urgently to remedy the situation, especially since the authorities contemplate the recruitment of additional physiotherapists as well as additional physiotherapy assistants at the earliest in the interest of the people of Rodrigues. Thank you.

Thank you.

May I respond?

Yes. Do not give us too lengthy replies, please.

No. I have taken note of your request and I will see to it that the needful be done to provide additional therapists.

Who has not spoken here? Je donne une chance à ceux qui n’ont jamais parlé. Je crois, je ne suis pas sûre. Allez-y ! MARE D’AUSTRALIA – ADDITIONAL PRESSURE FILTER Mr R. Beechook (Second Member for Flacq & Bon Accueil): Merci Madame. J’ai une demande à l’honorable Patrick Assirvaden. S’il pouvait demander à la CWA d’allouer un deuxième pressure filter qui permettra de supply, comme on dit, 2500 m3 d’eau potable à Mare d’Australia, puisque l’eau y est abondante et l’actuel pressure filter d’un volume de 1200 m³ est insuffisant, donc un pressure filter additionnel permettra d’alimenter au moins un cinquième de la circonscription no 9. Merci.

Noted, Madam Speaker.

Yes, Mr François! (4.14 p.m.) AIR MAURITIUS FLIGHTS – MAURITIUS-RODRIGUES – UNAVAILABILITY OF SEATS Mr J. F. François (Second Member for Rodrigues): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the issue I am raising this afternoon is addressed to the hon. Prime Minister. So, in regard to the actual non-availability of seats on Air Mauritius flights on the Mauritius-Rodrigues Mauritius route during this end-of-year period for our Rodriguan brothers and sisters stranded patients here. Many patients have already been discharged from hospitals, and I am informed that they have been advised to wait until after mid-January to secure a seat on Air Mauritius. Madam Speaker, you realise they are concerned about the situation while staying in hospitals without any accommodation or any financial support. You will also note that the Commission for Health of the Regional Assembly has been in default payment at a private hotel accommodation for our Rodriguan patients and accompaniers transferred to Mauritius. Madam Speaker, I would humbly request Dr. the hon. Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office to intervene with Air Mauritius to schedule additional flights on humanitarian ground to facilitate their repatriation either before Christmas or before New Year, which will also provide additional seats to many persons seeking to secure one. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, if I may respond. I find what the hon. Member is saying shocking. Even on a humanitarian ground it is shocking. But this is what I have been saying; they destroyed Air Mauritius. This is probably the reason they cannot find a flight, whatever they do, but I will certainly look into it and make sure that they go home.

Hon. Members, there is one here, there is Dr. Aumeer, then Mrs Savabaddy; there are too many. We won’t be able to respect the time. Also, remember you can put a question for next Tuesday; a real question. Okay? So, if it is urgent, I said. Young man here, I am sorry I can’t remember. (4.16 p.m.) CONSTITUENCY NO. 6 – WATER SHORTAGE Mr N. Beejan (Second Member for Grand’Baie & Poudre d’Or): Madam Speaker, thank you. My request is addressed to the hon. Minister of Energy and Public Utilities. There has been an acute problem of water shortage for several months in my Constituency No. 6, especially in Goodlands, Grand Gaube, Vale, Fond du Sac, Petit Raffray, Calodyne, Grand Baie, and Cap Malheureux. So, I request the hon. Minister to address this issue, please. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Noted, Madam Speaker. (4.17 p.m.) CONSTITUENCY NO. 9 – DRAINS & RIVERS – CLEANING Mr C. Ramkalawon (Third Member for Flacq & Bon Accueil): Madam Speaker, my request is addressed to the hon. Minister of National Infrastructure. I make a humble request to the hon. Minister in regard to the highly flood-prone village of Poste de Flacq in Constituency No. 9, that needful be made for the dredging of rivers and cleaning of drains as soon as possible. I would like to point out that the hon. Prime Minister did a site visit six months before and insisted that these tasks be done regularly.

Yes, Minister, are you taking note?

I take note. I am sure that my hon. friend knows that we had a meeting with the local authorities for the cleaning of drains and rivers.

Good! Now, Dr. Aumeer! (4.17 p.m.) SOREZE – AVENUE ROUGET & LA BONITE LANE – DESTROYED ROADS – REPAIRS Dr. F. Aumeer (Third Member for Port Louis South and Port Louis Central): My request is addressed to the hon. Minister of National Infrastructure. It is regarding Avenue Rouget and La Bonite Lane in Sorèze, Pailles, whereby the roads have been completely destroyed since Cyclone Belal, making it even difficult for people to have access to their residence. I would urge you to see if your Ministry can see to it at least now that you have a new Government, repairs are started.

I take note.

Yes! (4.18 p.m.) MARE D’ALBERT SWIMMING POOL – DEPLORABLE STATE Mr T. Apollon (Second Member for Mahebourg & Plaine Magnien): Je m’adresse au ministre de la Jeunesse et des sports concernant l’état déplorable de la piscine de Mare d’Albert, surtout en cette période de vacances où les enfants n’ont pas pu profiter de cette facilité. Donc, je demande au ministre si le nécessaire peut être fait très rapidement. Merci.

I take good note, hon. Member. A meeting is scheduled for next Thursday and you can accompany hon. Members for the Constituency.

Yes! (4.18 p.m.) CONSTITUENCY NO.4 – SHORTAGE OF WATER SUPPLY Mrs A. Savabaddy (First Member for Port Louis North & Montagne Longue): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Humble request to the hon. Minister of Public Utilities, hon. Patrick Assirvaden. Nous avons dans la circonscription de gros problèmes en ce qui concerne la fourniture et la distribution en eau sachant que durant ces cinq dernières années, il y a eu un Senior Minister qui occupait ce même poste mais malheureusement, la situation est restée inchangée et on compte sur vous pour résoudre ce problème. Merci.

Madame la présidente, c’est noté.

Très bien. Il y avait qui encore ? (4.19 p.m.) CONSTITUENCY NO. 13 – BUS SERVICE REVIEW Mr R. Jhummun (Second Member for Rivière des Anguilles & Souillac): My question is addressed to the hon. Minister of Land Transport. Can we review the timings, the duration, and the time that they have to wait in my constituency from Bois Chéri, Grand Bois, and La Flora for bus services in the morning as well as the evening, including Benares and Batimarais? Thank you.

Yes, Madam Speaker, I take note of the concern raised by the hon. Member and I will look into it.

Yes, there was someone on this side? Yes! (4.20 p.m.) MONTAGNE BLANCHE POLYTECHNICS – 3 CREDITS CRITERIA Mr R. Saumtally (Third Member for Montagne Blanche & GRSE): My question is addressed to the hon. Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research. I want to know about the reform coming for education, the status of three credits to be admitted to HSC, and what about the standing of the Polytechnics of Montagne Blanche, which was initially a project of the previous Government meant for tertiary education, whether he will stand as we are meant together to have many more students at HSC levels? Thank you.

In fact, we are asking each one of them what capacity they are using and I will come back. I understand that we do have spare capacity that can be used for running other programmes.

Thank you everybody! Last question! (4.20 p.m.) CITÉ CIM, RIVIERE DU REMPART – RESTRICTED ACCESS – FIRE SERVICES & AMBULANCES Dr S. Prayag (First Member for Piton & Rivière du Rempart): Thank you, Madam Speaker. My request is addressed to the hon. Minister of Youth and Sports. We have an issue with Cité CIM of Rivière du Rempart where access is very restricted to fire services and maybe even ambulances because of the football ground’s wall, so I will request an urgent visit with our colleagues, MPs, and Ministers of the Constituency to remedy the situation. Thank you.

I take good note.

Thank you. May I just remind Members that if you want to send questions, you have until tomorrow 2 p.m. to send your questions? And now, we discussed during lunchtime, we have agreed that there will be a tirage au sort, but it will be done in a very strict and serious fashion, okay? So, don’t forget, before 2 o’clock, because some of you haven’t reached your questions, you see, so we will have to give a chance to everyone. Thank you very much. At 4.23 p.m., the Assembly was, on its rising, adjourned to Tuesday 17 December 2024 at 11.30 a.m.