Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Belle Rose Fair, previously known as Doyen Fair, was originally held in the open-air along the former railway track at Avenue Doyen, Belle Rose. Following the implementation of Metro Express Project, the fair was relocated, on 15 September 2019, to a new site at Victoria Avenue, Quatre Bornes. The current site is State land leased to MJTI Properties Co. Ltd. Cabinet approved a lease agreement between MJTI Properties Co. Ltd and the Municipal Council of Quatre

69 Bornes for an area of 5,200 m2 at an annual rental of Rs1.1 m. The fair has been operating at this location since its relocation. I wish to assure the hon. Member that my Ministry is actively following up on this project as a matter of priority. We are treating it on a fast-track basis and giving it due consideration to ensure that all administrative and procedural steps are completed promptly so as to facilitate the development of a permanent market infrastructure for the benefit of traders and community. It is regrettable that despite the site being operational since 2019, no significant progress was made by the previous administration to secure the required land vesting or to move forward with construction. Procedures are now being accelerated to transfer the land from the State Investment Corporation to the Ministry of Housing and Lands, which will then vest the land to my ministry. Currently, 5,400 m2 of the site is being used as a bus holding area on weekdays and Saturdays, and as a market fair on Sundays. According to correspondence dated 20 March 2025, the State Investment Corporation has returned the leasehold rights to the Ministry of Housing and Lands. Compensation has also been agreed for structures on the site, covering an area of around 6,000 m2. The Victoria Fair currently consists of 277 stalls across various sections, including vegetable, food, haberdashery, flowers, eggs, fish and spice. Of these, 232 stalls are occupied while 45 remain vacant. The fair operates only on Sundays from six o’clock to noon. Police assistance is provided during operation to regulate traffic and hawking activities. Basic facilities, including toilets for male, female and disabled persons are available. Parking is also provided at the nearby Marie Marot Activity Centre. It is unfortunate that although the previous government had earmarked Rs2 m. for consultancy services as far back as 2021, and two separate procurement exercises were launched, one in 2021 and another in 2022, both of them failed due to poor planning and lack of responsiveness. No meaningful action was taken after that. Despite the allocation of Rs70 m. in the Public Sector Investment Programme over several years, construction has never started.

70 The current administration in office since November 2024 has taken decisive steps to release the project. A design-build approach was approved by the Council’s Executive Committee and the Public Infrastructures Department has finalised the project specification. However, works can only begin once the land is officially vested. My ministry is working diligently with all concerned institutions to expedite this final step and initiate construction without delay. The absence of meaningful progress in this essential infrastructure over the last five years highlights the delays and inaction of the previous regime. The new Government is committed to change this situation and to deliver a permanent, well-equipped and dignified market place for our traders and the community over there.

Yes, do you have a supplementary?

Je vous remercie, M. le président. Can the hon. Minister inform the House, why, despite the allocation of R 70 millions in the last budget, construction has still not started?

As I just said, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, although Rs70 m. has been earmarked in the Budget 2024-2025 for the construction of the permanent market, the project is still awaiting completion of the land vesting procedures. Procedures are only now being accelerated to transfer the land from the State Investment Corporation to the Ministry of Housing, which will then vest the land to the Ministry of Local Government within two months.

Last one!

Okay, last one!

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Given that only 232 out of 277 stalls are currently occupied, will the Minister inform the House what are the measures being taken to support the vendors and ensure full occupancy of the remaining spaces?

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in fact, an expression of interest was launched on 17 March 2025 to allocate the remaining 45 stalls, with the closing date set on 18 April 2025. The evaluation process is currently undergoing.

71

Thank you. Hon. Fourth Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue! MERCANTILE & MARITIME GROUP– PETROLEUM PROCUREMENT CONTRACT