Madam Speaker, at the very outset, let me inform the House that our students of Grade 1 to Grade 9 have unjustly suffered a lot year in and year out because they used to receive a few of their prescribed textbooks very late during the academic year. Sometimes, even during the second semester. When I assumed office as Minister, I looked into the main causes of this tardy supply of these textbooks by selected bidders in order to remedy the problem. I found that there were only two main local printers who were monopolising the printing of these textbooks. The main reason why these two were able to do so was simply because the specification for the inside papers being 90 grams matt for procuring these textbooks. Earlier during this year, I openly denounced such obscure practices which were blatantly encouraged by the previous regime. Who were the main victims? Our helpless kids. They suffered unjustly as they were denied timely delivery of their textbooks. With a view to addressing this issue, more printers are henceforth encouraged to participate in the textbook bidding exercises. Henceforth, my Ministry, in consultation with the MIE, revised the paper requirement from 90 grams to minimum 80 grams matt. With regard to part (a) of the question, I tabling a copy of the bidding document for the particular procurement exercise. Bids were launched by my Ministry on 19 June 2025 through open national bidding for the provision of textbooks to secondary schools, mainstream students and educators, in respect of Grade 7 to 9 for Academic Year 2026.

55 I am informed that according to the bidding document, the delivery time for textbooks shall be within 60 days as from the date of issue of letter of acceptance. Moreover, the successful bidders are required to provide a maquette of the textbook to the MIE to ensure that same meets the requirements and specifications of my Ministry. In regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed that there were technically four responsive bidders. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (c) of the question, I am tabling the list of bidders together with the corresponding contract prices for each lot. I am informed that all the conditions mentioned in the bidding document have been fully adhered to, except for the delivery period and its strike off process prior to bulk printing in relation to Lot 4. Notwithstanding the recommendations of the Bid Evaluation Committee and Departmental Bid Committee, the Senior Chief Executive of my Ministry provided an extension in delivery period of around two weeks for Lot 4. Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Procurement Section of my Ministry that all bidders who have been awarded contract for printing of textbooks for both primary and secondary have until the end of November 2025, at latest, to deliver their respective lots of textbooks. Except unforeseen circumstances beyond my Ministry’s control, all textbooks are expected, hopefully, to be distributed to all schools on time prior to the start of the Academic Year 2026 so that our students can resume their studies in all serenity. Thank you.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Yes!

Can I ask the Minister – we are talking about millions of rupees of procurement of textbooks – is it normal that, with respect to Lot 4 as stated by the Minister, a contract has been awarded whilst two critical conditions as per the bidding document, that is, the delivery time and the prior submission of a maquette to ensure quality, have been forgone? Who has taken the decision, therefore, to forgo these two critical conditions contrary to the bidding document?

I said it in the main answer. But definitely, as you are mentioning, I think an investigation will take place in that sense.

56

May I ask the Minister about – I am sure he has received it as well – an anonymous letter that alleged that there have been meetings prior to the award of the contract for Lot 4 between the Senior Chief Executive of his Ministry and a non-responsive bidder at the time? There have been allegedly modifications made to the Minutes, and provisos have been added and Backdated. Following that meeting, an award was given in respect of which, again, conditions which were critical to the bidding document have been forgone? In light of this, is the Minister now going…

Excuse me, on a point of order.

Yes, this is an anonymous letter.

On a point of order.

Yes!

Whenever a Member of Parliament makes such accusations, he must come and back it up. Very often, I see that they have a loose tongue whereby they can pronounce whatever they want, slur anyone, throw in accusations, but they have nothing to back it up. I am saying that I am taking a point of order because unless and until this Member can back up what he is saying – not his word – with a document or someone who said so, then he can come. Otherwise, he should…

Let me reply.

This is not the first time!

You have put your point of order.

And I would be…

This is too much!

Hon. Member…

I would be more than happy to table the said letter.

No, no, no.

I will. I undertake to do so by…

(Interruptions)

57 An hon. Member: Now!

I undertake to do so. I do not have it with me now. If you give me 10 minutes, I will table it. But the question remains…

Hon. Member, you did not let me deal with the point of order! First of all, the Minister raised a point of order. Secondly, I did not have the time. By the time you said it, I had started talking. You said anonymous letter. So, even if you table it, it is an anonymous letter. An hon. Member: Sa aussi li pa kone!

Right! Let me rephrase my question. But it is to be noted that whistleblowing is encouraged in the House.

Madam Speaker, on another point of order.

You cannot both stand up! Sit down!

Sit down!

And there is no…

Sit down! An hon. Member: Assize do!

I have another point of order.

He is raising… An hon. Member: Assize do!

He has… I am being interrupted. It is my time…

(Interruptions)

He should say with relevance to which point of order in the Standing Orders.

Asize!

I am telling you. Sit down!

Asize!

He is raising…

58

Ale do sovaz!

Madam Speaker, I take note that he is not insisting on the question. However, while he was putting his question…

I will rephrase.

…he is rephrasing it –, he made some serious averments that he should withdraw first and then continue. An hon. Member: Withdraw!

Madam Speaker, may I?

Okay, yes, but do not…

Madam Speaker, let me ask the question differently. Is the Minister…

Withdraw! Withdraw!

(Interruptions)

But under which Standing Order?

Withdraw!

Madam Speaker, under which Standing Order has hon. Shakeel Mohamed raised a point of order? Which Standing Order? He is simply making a speech! I am asking a question. He has made a point. I will rephrase. Can I ask my question now?

(Interruptions)

First of all, …

Can I ask my question?

But you do not let me reply! If nobody will let me talk, we will sit here and wait!

(Interruptions)

It is so obvious, even…

Li pa mem konn fer so travay!

59

Ki mo pa…

(Interruptions)

Hon. Minister, please!

…li onte pou…

Vinn asiz-la, montre mwa fer travay-la! An hon. Member: Li pa kone!

(Interruptions)

May I say a word? The thing is that I am sweet Speaker; I am not loud Speaker! Before you finished, I tried to stop you because I noted that you said anonymous letter, and I knew that it was wrong. But you do not let me speak! So, now, I am asking you to withdraw whatever you said based on that anonymous letter, then, I will let you put other questions. Please!

Madam Speaker, the question was: has he received an anonymous letter?

Withdraw! Withdraw avan!

That was the question.

Withdraw!

Withdraw it because it is anonymous!

Withdraw what, Madam Speaker? What?

Everything that was in that anonymous letter!

I will rephrase it. And therefore, I am changing the question.

(Interruptions)

The question is simply: has the Minister received an anonymous letter making allegations against his Senior Chief Executive in the award of the contract to a non-responsive bidder…

One moment, everybody! One moment!

…who did not comply with the conditions of the contract? It is a question; he will tell me!

60

First of all, you withdraw everything that you said that was in that letter. First, you withdraw, and then I will allow that question, okay?

Lerla to poz to kestion!

Madam Speaker, I cannot withdraw the fact that there is anonymous letter which raises allegations.

No, you are not listening to me. We are both members of the Bar. You know what I am saying.

Sa!

You have already said, now you have another question…

Enn lot kalite bar!

(Interruptions)

… which may be is different. Withdraw the first part!

In the interest of my question being put, I will withdraw and rephrase it differently. I will ask it again. Has the hon. Minister received a letter or be it anonymous, making allegations against impropriety involving the Senior Chief Executive in the procurement of that contract to the non-responsive bidder in respect of the Lot No.4 for the record, is it clear now?

Yes, okay! Hon. Minister!

I wish to assure the hon. Member that I sit on the right side of the House and on this side, we believe in transparency, in accountability. So, rest assured, whatever has to be done, will be done. No need to worry regarding same.

Hon. Minister, he will not give up until and unless you say whether you received a letter or not?

Enfin!

No, we don’t want to know whether you are going to act on anonymous letter. An hon. Member: Dir li oui!

Yes, and we have already acted as for his reassurance.

61

Very good! Very good! That’s better!

May I ask a last question?

Last question but careful!

Yes! Will the hon. Minister now undertake to come back to the House and to inform the House of whatever maybe revealed by any inquiry which he might have initiated already or is about to initiate?

I repeat myself again. I am sitting on the right side of the House and we adhere to transparency and as in all the cases, we will do the needful. Rest assured!

Okay, you will tell the House in due course! Next question! Now, where are we? We have finished with hon. Duval. Now, we are with Mr Apollon, Second Member for Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien! FISHERMAN CARD – PENDING APPLICATIONS – ISSUANCE OF CARDS