(7.17 p.m.) RODRIGUES – AIR MAURITIUS – SEATS NON-AVAILABILITY Mr F. François (Second Member for Rodrigues): Thank you, Madam Speaker. The issue I am raising tonight, again, is with regard to the present non-availability of seats on Air Mauritius prevailing on the Rodrigues-Mauritius route addressed to the hon. Prime Minister. Yesterday, Madam Speaker, I spent the whole day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with so many of the citizens at Plaine Corail Airport trying to secure a seat to attend to my parliamentary duty on time today. Finally, the personnel thereat this morning, and I do not know with what koustik, have been able to uplift me to reach parliament late. I have to say that I appreciate and thank them for their valuable efforts despite situations that are beyond their control. May I again request the hon. Prime Minister, through his good office, to request Air Mauritius to review and increase its flight schedule on the Rodrigues-Mauritius route, especially during weekends, on Fridays and Mondays, and alternate weekdays? Actuellement, c’est un calvaire, M. le Premier ministre, pour de nombreux voyageurs qui souhaitent voyager. La queue partout! This should no longer be allowed to continue. In the same breath, allow me, Madam Speaker, to request the government, through the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry for Rodrigues, and the Ministry of Shipping, to also reconsider and plan for the availability of passenger seats by sea on the MV Mauritius Trochetia, especially during the coming school holidays period. I thank you.

I will certainly look into the matter. It is a good sign that more people are travelling. Thank you.

It is a good thing he managed to come today. Yes, hon. Beechook! (7.19 p.m.) SALAZIE, PONT BONDIEU & NOUVELLE DECOUVERTE – MOBILE NETWORK PROBLEM Mr R. Beechook (Second Member for Flacq & Bon Accueil): I will request the hon. Minister of Technology, Communication, and Innovation if he could urge the telecommunication companies to please ensure that there is a mobile network in the locality of Salazie, Pont Bondieu, and Nouvelle Decouverte because this road is being used by lots of people who, from Constituency No. 9 to Ebene, travel to work. Very often there is no network, and in the absence of a network, very often when they have issues and breakdowns of their vehicles, it is very dangerous for them to stay there without a network—it also extends to La Nicolière, where the people from the North, Constituency No. 7, and Constituency No. 6 use that road very frequently to travel to Ebene and to the centre of the island. Thank you.

Hon. Beechook, thank you for the note; we are aware of this problem. We are also aware of the fact that there has been an increase in the density of traffic through that road from Pont Bondieu to Salazie, and we have already taken up the matter with the key suppliers of the network across the island. Thank you.

Thank you. At 7.20 p.m., the Assembly was, on its rising, adjourned to Friday 07 February 2025 at 3.00 p.m.