Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me remind the House that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Trading Corporation had, on behalf of the then Government, procured 50 medical ventilators from Pack & Blister Distribuciones Farmacéuticas, located in Spain, against an outright payment of 1.8 million euros. The equipment was delivered to the Ministry of Health in July 2020. Upon inspection, it was reported that the ventilators were defective and not according to specifications provided by Pack & Blister and as agreed between the parties. These ventilators turned out to be utterly useless. So, the then Government had paid 1.8 million euros for defective ventilators while patients in dire need in Mauritius were dying during the COVID. This is what the Government, you once were part of, did. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, following several representations made to Pack & Blister, the equipment was returned to the supplier in Spain in December 2021. However, Pack & Blister refused to take ownership of the equipment and the consignment has been stored in a freeport zone in Barcelona, Spain. The monthly charges for storage of the defective ventilators are around 800 euros per month. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, after consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade and the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of Health and Wellness enlisted the services of a Spanish law firm in March 2023 to start legal proceedings against Pack & Blister to recover the expenses incurred. Notices for non- compliance were served to Pack and Blister in July 2024 but the latter refused to receive the notices. Meanwhile, Pack & Blister declared bankrupt on 20 September 2024 and entered an insolvency procedure. These expenses, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, incurred so far for the procurement of 50 ventilators including the action taken for their return to Pack & Blister and legal fees, has cost us Rs98 million. For 50 ventilators that people were dying during COVID here, they ordered, gave money and it was not working. Ask yourself who did this.

(Interruptions)

35 I wish to reassure the House that no stone will be left unturned to recover the amount and as such, a case is being lodged before the First Instance Court in Spain. Also, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in regard to the Parliamentary Question of the hon. Member, I am informed by the Financial Services Commission that the defunct Independent Commission Against Corruption started an investigation on the procurement of the ventilators. It was a show because elections were near. They had to show. We were saying in Opposition what they were doing. So, they started investigation on 7 July 2020 and I am informed that so far, nothing happened to that inquiry. Now, the FCC is re-inquiring, already 13 further statements have been taken.

Time is over! Hon. Members, the Table has been advised that the following PQs have been withdrawn: B/586, B/588, B/589, B/590, B/591, B/594, and B/596. The Table has also been advised that PQ B/602 will be replied by the hon. Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. So, I now call upon the hon. Second Member for Rodrigues! RODRIGUES – LAND DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN – UPDATE