(7.50 p.m.) RODRIGUES – SHIPPING – DEFECTIVE CONTAINERS Mr F. François (Second Member for Rodrigues): Thank you, Madam Speaker. My request is addressed to the hon. Minister responsible for shipping. It is about the many defective containers sealed with tape that are used to transport products to Rodrigues such as animal feed, rice, flour and other commodities. I am informed that importers consignment deliveries are regularly damaged by rain and sea water without any compensation in return causing a lot of loss to them. In that regard, may I humbly appeal to the hon. Minister to intervene with the Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd to see with the container service provider company for urgent remedial measures for the replacement of these old and damaged containers as we do not want to see again the episode of diri rasion pouri ou manze zamino gate to land on the market in Rodrigues. Further, may I request the hon. Minister to also look into the asphalting and upgrading of part of the muddy, dusty and untarred tarmac of a new container park depot for a convenient reliable storage and handling solutions and environment at Mer Rouge. Thank you.

Yes, hon. Minister! The Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries (Dr. A. Boolell): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I am glad that my good friend hon. François gave me notice of the issue that he has raised. He can rest assured that we will press upon the Mauritius Shipping Corporation to take corrective measures to address the situation. So, he can rest assured things have been done.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Yes, hon. Beejan! (7.52 p.m.) GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS – SKILLING & RESKILLING PROGRAMMES Mr N. Beejan (Second Member for Grand Baie & Poudre D’or): Thank you, Madam Speaker. My request is addressed to the hon. Minister of Education and Human Resource, given that there is a serious skills mismatch in Mauritius, in this spirit, will the hon. Minister consider running skilling and reskilling programmes in government schools after school hours? Thank you.

Yes, hon. Minister!

Madam Speaker, I have taken good note of the hon. Member’s request and the answer is yes. The human resource department specially the HRDC is going to look into that.

Thank you. Very good news. Yes, hon. Beechook! (7.52 p.m.) SOCIAL HOUSING – INCOME THRESHOLD – INEQUALITY AMONG APPLICANTS Mr R. Beechook (Second Member for Flacq & Bon Accueil): Madam Speaker, I have a request to the hon. Minister of Housing and Lands concerning the social housing income threshold which is currently of Rs40,000 for one applicant be it one single person or a family. So, it raises a question of inequality of fairness because very often I come up with two situations whereby people who had apply some 15 to 20 years before are being called for an interview today and today their income has crossed Rs40,000. Secondly, I find that the current income threshold favours single applicants more than families because someone who is single and earning Rs40,000 is not equivalent to a family whereby husband and wife are earning Rs40,000. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I believe that the issue that the hon. Member raises is a very valid point. It has already been addressed by myself with the officers of the NHDC and the NSLD who have submitted a report and analysis. It has clearly shown that there has been an increase also of income over the various increases yearly, even recently in January, and therefore, it brings them out, or slightly above, the Rs40,000 and then a lot of them are caught in the income trap. We have made representations to the Ministry of Finance and you can rest assured that we will be looking into the matter. Government will come up with a solution in the forthcoming days or weeks. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, hon. Dr. Prayag! (7.54 p.m.) SSRN HOSPITAL – UNUSED SPACE Dr. S. Prayag (First Member for Piton & Rivière du Rempart): Madam Speaker, may I request the hon. Minister of Health to do a site visit at SSRN Hospital. Behind the pharmacy, we have a huge unused space, a room which is renovated anew which can be used for a transition ward for patients being discharged from the hospital. Thank you. The Ministry of Health and Wellness (Mr. A. Bachoo): I will take note of his request and I will do the needful.

Thank you very much. I think we are done. Thank you very much everybody. At 7.55 p.m., the Assembly was, on its rising, adjourned to Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 11.30 a.m.