(6.59. p.m.) RODRIGUES – CYBER SECURITY CHALLENGES – REMEDIAL MEASURES Ms M. R. Collet (First Member for Rodrigues): Merci beaucoup, Madame la présidente. Rapidement avec votre indulgence, je souhaite soulever un problème et adresser une question à l’honorable ministre des Technologies et de l’information, de la communication et de l’innovation. À Rodrigues le numérique offre de nouvelles opportunités de communication et d’ouverture sur le monde mais, il expose aussi la population a des risques. Le cyber harcèlement et la désinformation fragilisent la confiance, alimentent les divisions et menacent la cohésion sociale. Dans une île isolée où les ressources pour contrer ces dérives restent limitées, le défi est clair : profiter des avantages de la connectivité toute en protégeant la communauté surtout notre jeunesse contre ces dangers. Il nous faut promouvoir l’unité et la sécurité dans notre île. Je souhaiterais demander à l’honorable ministre s’il peut indiquer, s’il compte envisager des mesures afin d’assurer la protection de nos citoyens en ligne pour Rodrigues et pouvoir mettre fin à la désinformation et violence numérique. Merci.

Merci. L’honorable ministre! The Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation (Dr. A. Ramtohul): I thank the hon. Member for this question. The issue of cyber security, misinformation, disinformation and malinformation is a global issue and we all know that just like many other developed countries are facing that problem, so is Mauritius and so is Rodrigues. So, the whole Republic is facing that problem. We actually connected Rodrigues to digital map of the Republic through the MARS cable and we are very glad today that there are different connectivity options including low Earth orbits satellites as well which we added as part of what we are doing at the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation. We have an online platform for reporting cybercrimes, Madam Speaker, and that platform earlier, while we captured the data and the statistics for the whole Republic, we did not differentiate from those reports that were coming out from Rodrigues, for issues specifically for Rodrigues. Just yesterday, we actually amended that application so that when somebody from Rodrigues is reporting a case of cybercrime that person will have the opportunity to indicate that the report is coming from Rodrigues. This will enable us to collect data that and we can then devise policies which are evidence-based. So, this is the first point. The second point is that we also intend to create some ambassadors who can in turn sensitise our people in Rodrigues, especially our children. Statistics has it that most of those people who suffer from cybercrime happen to be women as we stated last week at the Parliament. Therefore, actually during the month of January, we intend to have a campaign for Rodrigues and that campaign will focus on child online protection along with protecting the rest of the society. We hold at heart the interests of Rodrigues and the legal amendments that we intend to bring, will be applicable to Rodrigues Island as well. Together with the hon. Prime Minister, we are working on a strategy which can help not only reduce cybercrime but also help resolve cases of cybercrimes faster. Madam Speaker, this is my response to the question raised by the hon. Member. Thank you.

Bravo! Bravo!

May I ask those who want to help me tomorrow, hon. Rookny, anybody who wants to help me tomorrow with the debate on Human Rights which is the last day for the 16 days, please, to come and see me immediately, so that we know what to do tomorrow morning. Thank you. Now, the House is really adjourned. At 7.02 p.m., the Assembly was, on its rising, adjourned to Friday 12 December 2025 at 3.30 p.m.