Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Dr. James Burty David Market Fair in Rose Belle was built and started operating in 2010. It includes 1,067 stalls and has about 490 parking spaces over an area of 9,419 m3. Over the years, the number of people visiting the market has increased due to the growth of the surrounding population. As a result, parking has become a major issue. Many visitors struggle to find parking space and are forced to park along nearby roads, causing traffic congestion and serious safety risks. Additionally, crowded parking areas and blocked access routes make it difficult for vendors to operate properly, leading to lower sales and frustration among customers. Madam Speaker, to tackle this issue, I have instructed the Chief Executive of the District Council of Grand Port to take urgent measures to improve this situation. I will personally monitor the progress and conduct surprise visits to ensure action is being taken. Regarding the parking solution, I wish to inform the House that we are planning to build additional parking facilities near the new food court, with an estimated cost of Rs12 million, and this project will be included in the next budget for consideration. Recently, 70 additional parking spaces were created by the District Council of Grand Port, but this is clearly not enough to solve the problem. Madam Speaker, the previous government did absolutely nothing to address this parking crisis. Despite repeated complaints from the public, they ignored the problem for years, leaving market visitors and vendors to suffer. On 21 January 2025, I personally visited the Dr James Burty David Market Fair, accompanied by my junior minister and MPs of the constituency. What I found was shocking, Madam Speaker. Not only was parking a major issue, but the entire market was in a poor state due to the neglect by the previous administration. The problem includes – ▪ Poor maintenance of the market yard; ▪ Delays in removing wastes, leading to unhygienic conditions after market days; ▪ Dirty and unsanitary conditions in the poultry and meat section; ▪ No fire extinguishers and no valid fire certificate, creating a serious fire hazard; ▪ Pigeon droppings on stalls, making the environment unhealthy; ▪ Exposed electrical cables causing a major safety risk;

61 ▪ Narrow walkways making it difficult for people to move around, especially in an emergency; ▪ Filthy public toilets with no proper cleaning; ▪ Report of illegal vendors coming from all over the island to sell goods on parking and embarking areas without any control, thus causing obstruction and harming legal traders. Madam Speaker, the previous government turned a blind eye to these problems. They had the responsibility to take action, but they failed completely. Now, under this administration, we are taking firm and urgent steps to fix these longstanding issues, and I will personally ensure that the necessary improvements are made, and I will not allow this market to continue suffering from the past neglect.

Yes?

Madam Speaker, now that the hon. Minister mentioned the construction of additional parking near the food court at an estimated cost of Rs12 million, can he confirm when this project will begin and when it is expected to be completed, and also what measures will be taken to prevent illegal parking on adjacent roads and ensure proper management around the market area?

Madam Speaker, in fact, this project could have been planned long ago. Unfortunately, the previous government, I have just said it, failed to recognise the growing need for additional parking space. They lacked vision and did not allocate funds properly. However, this government is ensuring that parking expansion is included in the next budget. As soon as funds are allocated, work will begin without further delay. No structure plan was put in place to regulate the vehicle flow. So, we are now working with relevant authorities to introduce a designated parking zone, proper signage and traffic enforcement to address this issue.

Yes, I cannot tell you more! Hon. Second Member for Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien!

62 BARACHOIS LA CHAUX, MAHEBOURG – LEASE