Thank you very much. Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare that over the past two months following the coming into operation of section 31 (1) and 31 (3) of the Animal Welfare Act on 01 October 2025, 14,500 dogs have been registered which is more than double of the number of dogs registered throughout the year 2024 which stood only at 6,470. I am further informed that the estimated number of dogs that are unregistered as at date is between 250,000 and 300,000. However, the House should know that the last dog population survey was carried out in 2013 by the Humane Society International. But those statistics are not reliable anymore. In order to obtain an accurate and up-to-date estimate of the dog population, MSAW is initiating a comprehensive dog population survey using drones, for which, necessary clearances are being sought. This survey would provide detailed mapping of dog distribution in both urban and rural areas, identify dog packs and estimate population densities across different regions. The information gathered through the registration process and the population survey will establish a reliable baseline for evidence-based policy making the planning of dog control measures a strategic intervention, including the prioritisation of shelter development. It will also reinforce efforts to effectively manage stray dogs’ population and support targeted public awareness campaign on responsible dog ownership. As regards part (b) of the question, my Ministry has initially identified land at Five Ways, Belle Rive, for the construction of an animal hospital and dog shelters. However,

54 following the state visit of the hon. Prime Minister to India from 09 to 16 September 2025, a grant of Rs2 billion was secured from the Government of India for the development of veterinary school and an animal hospital. Consequently, the site at Five Ways has been repurposed for the implementation of the project. In parallel, the Ministry of Housing and Lands has also been requested to identify alternative and suitable plots of land within its jurisdiction for the establishment of dog shelters on a regionwide basis. The site to be identified should inter alia meet the following criteria – • Availability of essential utilities, namely water and electricity; • Accessibility to public transport with a maximum walking distance of 400m from the shelter, and • A minimum setback of 500m from any residential area.

Yes!

Hon. Minister, first of all, only 5% of dogs have been registered despite the panic that was created with the abrupt fine. We have spoken about that last time in the House. An hon. Member: Pena panik la!

Question!

So, the campaign is not bearing the fruits that the Minister thought it would. May I ask the Minister, for the animal shelters, how many shelters will be built and operated by government?

Madam Speaker, I will not comment on the figment of imagination of the hon. Member. Let me impress upon him that we doing our level best despite the resources which we have. I have to congratulate our friends from MSAW who are delivering. Now, in relation to shelters identified, I have stated very clearly that the Ministry of Housing and Lands is identifying the site. We are working very closely with the Ministry of Housing and Lands. As matters stand, there are six existing sites. Three belong to the private sector and three belong to MSAW. Having said so, Madam Speaker, we are putting our best endeavour to make sure to make things happen. Things are happening in a positive way. I would have expected our

55 friend to appreciate. I do not want to compare like with like, but he should have known what happened under the previous regime.

May I ask the hon. Minister…

Question! Question!

Yes, question! Twenty were promised. Now, we are talking about six. May I ask the hon. Minister, with regard to the registration again, the fees, which were a disaster, have been brough down from Rs500 to Rs350. The fact that there was only one registration centre and is now being devolved around the island, which should have been done at the outset. An hon. Member: Question!

All of that, Madam Speaker, therefore, equates…

You are not listening to whatever I have said before.

Will the hon. Minister…

Put your question!

Will the hon. Minister agree that the disastrous start of his campaign has led to these disastrous figures of 5% ...

(Interruptions)

… after two months of having panicked the island, people taking their dogs on public transport…

You are still putting a question? That long your question?

The question has been put. Yes! Madam Speaker, other Members have been making statements…

Now, he is judging your …

… and you did not stop them.

I do not see the others?

You do not see!

Are you again?

You do not see! I think that is…

56

Are you once more saying that I only see one side? Are you once more criticising me?

If I may, Madam Speaker, you said you did not see. I merely repeated what you said.

If I do not see…

Twa kinn …

Hon. Deputy Prime Minister, please!

Yes, stop him!

Let me deal with this. If I do not see and I do not hear, what I want you to say now in this House: are you saying that I am not independent?

Madam Speaker, you said you did not see! I repeated that indeed you did not see. You said it.

Fer foutan !

Sit down boy!

Ki foutan?

Foutan… Imbécile!

Twa to pa fer foutan twa?

Hon. Minister, do you want to reply?

Imbécile!

Twa zis to lavwa ki marse.

(Interruptions)

Sa 2-3 zour to ti laba la…

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member is a losing consent and he deserves to be treated with contempt.

Kot li’nn tir pasians pou tou sa letan la ?

57

I know, I know. I have not up to now done any case of contempt – the hon. Attorney General is not here –, including members of the press. I am being patient. I said, I would be independent. If people do not like the way I do it, I cannot do anything about it. But I do not want to tolerate anybody doing loads of explanations. I can understand that you have to do a little bit but not that much. So, try and control yourself.

May I, Madam Speaker, since it is directed … An hon. Member: No!

No, you cannot question my ruling and what I said.

I am not questioning. You said last time that if I had any issue to raise…

Get sa malelve la! Malelve! An hon. Member: Respect the Chair!

(Interruptions)

You are talking in a sitting position. So was hon. Ms Savabaddy earlier on and I have told her, but you did not hear me.

Madam Speaker, may I? Since you asked last time to raise issues when they do arise. Madam Speaker, my point being that other Members do make long statements. My statement was necessary, in my opinion, to give a certain…

Madam Speaker, on a point of order. He can’t go on like that! I take a point of order.

You sit down!

Sit down! Asize do bourik!

(Interruptions)

Asize! Camaron!

(Interruptions)

Hon. Deputy Prime Minister! Honestly, I am convinced that the hon. Member understands exactly what is going on…

58

Yes!

…and he is cultivating this way…

(Interruptions)

If you, on this side, you start getting into that game, it will never end. Let me deal with it. You better keep quiet for the moment. You have asked your question, the hon. Minister has replied. You have replied to the last question?

Yes.

So, that is it.

No, Madam Speaker, I want to take a point of order.

Okay.

We do not object to him introducing a supplementary question, but he makes it a point to use provocative, insulting words every time he starts with a supplementary question. I think you should rule that out.

Since when? Since when?

I do not want you to speak from a sitting position. This is the third time I am saying it. He is not the only one who does this by the way, and I… This is the last sitting. This is the last …

May I, Madam Speaker?

Let me speak!

Imbécile! Bachara!

This he can say! This he can say! He can treat me of these words and you do not hear!

He is always provoking, Madam Speaker!

And then, you are asking me if you are being one-sided? He can insult me like this and you will not interact? You will not intervene?

And you keep sitting…

59

(Interruptions)

Both of you…

How can that be? An hon. Member: He raised the question of point of order!

(Interruptions)

I am going to raise the Sitting. I have had it. I am raising the Sitting. You sort it out between yourselves. At 2.56 p.m., the Sitting was suspended. On resuming at 3.10 p.m. with Madam Speaker in the Chair.

I am going to just call the next question. If anybody will speak from a sitting position, I will raise again. Hon. Dr. Ms Thannoo, please! Second Member for Quartier Militaire & Moka. ELECTRICITY DEMAND – PEAK SUMMER SEASON – SOLAR SYSTEM KITS PROFIT CEILING