Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with reference to part (a) of the question, I wish to inform the hon. Member that recruitment to the post of Assistant Chief Executive (ACE) in Local Authorities falls under the purview of the Local Government Service Commission, that is, the LGSC. All vacancies in this grade are first reported to the Unified Local Government Service Board which operates under the aegis of my Ministry and thereafter, makes recommendations for filling of posts to the LGSC. At the District Council of Grand Port, there are three funded posts of ACE. Two are already filled on a permanent basis since 01 July 2019 and the second since 04 July 2022. The third post became vacant after Mrs Oozeer Bibi Farozia was promoted as temporarily Deputy Chief Executive on 05 May 2023. Since then, Mrs Miniksha Boodhun Rochecouste –

56 an Office Management Assistant from Municipal Council of Curepipe has been assigned to act in the post from 15 April 2025 for a period of 3 months or until it is permanently filled. However, I am informed that this vacancy cannot be reported to the LGSC due to a pending appeal for judicial review by the LGSC and Mrs Oozeer and Mrs Dayal at the Supreme Court against the determination of the Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal who had previously quashed the decision of the LGSC to appoint Mrs Oozeer and Mrs Dayal to the post of Deputy Chief Executive. The case is coming before the Supreme Court on 28 May 2025. Across all the local authorities, there are 31 funded posts of Assistant Chief Executive, of which, 24 are currently filled. Six vacancies have already reported to the LGSC and the remaining ones will be reported in due course depending on the outcome of the appeal. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (b) of the question, there is 1 post of Safety and Health Officer/Senior Safety and Health Officer at the District Council of Grand Port. This post has remained vacant since the retirement of the previous holder on 12 June 2023. The vacancy was reported to the LGSC on 23 June 2023 and advertised by public notices on 15 September 2023. The evaluation of the application was completed on 27 December 2023. However, the recruitment process was delayed because of serious governance problem within the LGSC under the previous government. In particular, the former Chairperson of the Commission took all decision-making powers into his own hands and excluded all the other members of the Commission. This action was a clear violation of constitutional principles, contrary to the established philosophy of the LGSC. As a result of these improper practices, the institution’s work was undermined and the critical posts remained unfilled for nearly two years. Worse still, the failure to complete the selection exercise before the dissolution of the National Assembly in October 2024, as confirmed by correspondents dated 17 December 2024, further obstructed the recruitment process. These events reflect a lack of good faith and administrative will on the part of the previous government. To comply with Section 30 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 2005 which requires a full-time Safety and Health Officer for an organisation of 500 to 2,000 workers, temporary arrangements were made. An officer, Mr Babajee, holding a BSc (Hons.) in Occupational Safety and Health Management, has been assigned the duties of Safety and

57 Health Officer at the District Council of Grand Port since last week until the vacancy is filled. The ministry issued the letter of assignment on 02 May 2025. The Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations was consulted, and similar temporary arrangement has been made in other local authorities facing the same issue. Efforts are ongoing to register these officers under Section 29 (1) of the OSHA 2005 so they may legally act in this capacity. I wish to assure the House that the post will be re-advertised soon and the recruitment process will be conducted urgently and transparently to ensure that the post is filled at the earliest opportunity. My Ministry is committed to restoring good governance and ensuring the health and safety of employees in local authorities is in full compliance with the law.

Do you have a supplementary?

Yes! I understand from the hon. Minister’s reply in respect to part (a) of the question that one Ms Rochecouste has been appointed on a temporary basis for a period of three months as from 15 May 2025. Would the hon. Minister be in a position to confirm that upon the expiry of these three months, that is, on 15 August 2025, Ms Rochecouste would be renewed at the same post, at the same place in order to ensure the continuity of the services provided by the District Council?

It will be renewed until the post is filled by the LGSC.

Next question, hon. Ramdass! FSC – PRUDENTIAL & FINANCIAL INSPECTIONS