Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that for the period 01 November 2024 to 28 February 2025, 190 contraventions have been established with regard to loud noises emanating from modified motorcycle exhausts and loud music from vehicles, from premises and public beaches in breach of – (i) Regulations 83(2) and 83(3) of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 2010 concerning exhaust silencer systems not in good and efficient working order and the alteration of silencers, respectively; (ii) Regulation 84(3) for using motor vehicle causing excessive noise, and (iii) the Environment Protection (Control of Noise) Regulations 2022. I am further informed that out of 190 contraventions, 53 have been established by the Police de l’Environnement while the remaining 137 contraventions have been established at the level of the Emergency Response Service (ERS) and the seven Divisions of the Police Department. Madam Speaker, with your permission, I am tabling the breakdown of the contraventions. The House may wish to note that 190 contraventions (53 from the Police de l’Environnement and 137 from the Police Department) for noise nuisance have been established from November 2024 to February 2025 compared to 153 contraventions (34 from Police de l’Environnement and 119 from Police Department) for the four previous months, namely from July 2024 to October 2024. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (b) of the question, the Police de l’Environnement is currently manned by 33 Police Officers and is led by an Inspector of Police. The Officers are deployed in seven Divisional Environment Protection Teams to provide service island- wide, and the main office (Headquarters) is based in Port Louis. The staffing position is as follows – • Northern Division 4 officers • Eastern Division 3 officers

72 • Western Division 5 officers • Southern Division 3 officers • Central Division 4 officers • Headquarters 5 officers • Port Louis (North) 3 officers • Port Louis (South) 4 officers The Divisions are under the responsibility of two sub-inspectors. My Ministry is also having discussions with the Commissioner of Police to increase the number of staff posted at the Police de l’Environnement to ensure better enforcement actions. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (c) of the question, crackdown operations are carried out island-wide by the Police de l’Environnement in relation to noise pollution. Besides, as a preventive measure, awareness/sensitisation campaigns are being conducted through community policing with the support of neighbourhood police. As for noise nuisances caused on public beaches, Police de l’Environnement will intensify their presence and will initiate appropriate actions in connection with the coast guard. My ministry is closely monitoring the situation, and amendments to Regulations are being envisaged for tougher penalties. My ministry would even consider the seizure of motor vehicles for repeated offenders. Madam Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the Commissioner of Police for his active support and collaboration, and I commend the staff posted at the Police de l’Environnement for their commitment and dedication in the performance of their duties.

Yes!

Madam Speaker, 190 contraventions are nearly not enough, unfortunately, when we see the number of motorcycles nowadays driving all around Mauritius, especially in coastal areas, which is becoming a real hazard for people. The quality of life of people se fait dégrader with these, let alone the loud music on public beaches, etc.

73 So, 190 contraventions still seem very little for so much, even if it is an improvement from before. Can the minister seriously look into setting up a task force of the officers of the Police de l’Environnement together with the local police stations so that we enforce road traffic rules with regard to these motorcycles which are known to local police? Every day, they drive their motorcycles; every day, they create noise pollution. Safe City also can help. Will the minister look into the matter? Because people are really complaining now as the use of light exhaust has become exaggerated.

Madam Speaker, this is not a new phenomenon; this is also the case in towns, in urban areas, and in coastal regions. Since I have taken over the ministry with my young colleague, the Junior Minister, hon. Ms J. Bérenger, we have actively been working on this issue. I do not know what the performance was before, from the previous minister. He was busy looking after his notary office. But we are actively working with the Commissioner of Police, and we are also appealing to the public in general, de dénoncer, de participer à cette action collective, non seulement en informant la Police de l’Environnement, au niveau des stations de police et de venir dénoncer. We are in Parliament. We need people to go to police stations et dénoncer, donner les plaques d’immatriculation, et je suis sûr que le nouveau Commissaire de Police, unlike his predecessor who was using the Striking Team for other things, is also working to find ways and means, at least to better perform, I can say, within the parameters of the law.

Yes!

Madam Speaker, it is regrettable that, for now, the situation has not improved. In fact, these users of motorcycles also go on public beaches, like I said, but there is a laisser-aller on the part of the police as well because they know these people, and they do not stop them. So, why did I say a taskforce? I think it’s time. I would suggest that the hon. minister see with the Prime Minister that we use special units to crack down… An hon. Member: Laisser-aller la mem ki …

To crack down, stop and enforce these regulations because local Police Stations… An hon. Member: Laisser-aller la…

I can’t hear…

Atan do matlo ! To pou koze tou le 2 minit ?

74

You have the floor, don’t …

Aster to pe …

Madam Speaker, you need to…

Depi 10 an pe ale sa !

I mean, how long are we going to go with this? This guy has been shouting at every turn.

I don’t appreciate all this going on, at all! Hon. Jhummun, let him speak. Then you can stand up and speak if you want! Okay?

Okay.

You finish your sentence.

Yes. Thank you. Madam Speaker, what I am saying is local police…

It’s a very simple problem; we know the problem!

… local police seem powerless today.

Question! Question!

The question is whether he will look into it because with his 33 Police Officers, it is nearly not enough to enforce; whether he will look at utilising other units of the Police to make sure that there are crackdowns all over the island.

We got your message! Will you do that, please, Minister?

Madame la présidente, il n’y a plus de laisser-aller. Le laisser-aller, c’était dans le passé, lorsqu’il était au gouvernement.

(Interruptions)

Il n’y a plus de laisser-aller. Maintenant, le nouveau Commissaire de Police, la Police de l’Environnement, y compris moi-même et la Junior Minister de l’Environnement, sommes en train d’agir.

Les policiers sur place!

Il n’y a plus de laisser-aller, Madame. Peut-être à son époque, lorsqu’il était au gouvernement, c’était un laisser-aller. C’était comme ça!

Not too much! Not too much!

75 Okay. Where am I? Now, I’ll have hon. Third Member for Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien, Mr Lukeeram! PLEIN BOIS, CARREAU ESNOUF & CARREAU ACCACIA – ROUTES 10A, 137 & 99 – IRREGULAR BUS SERVICE