Thank you very much, hon. Apollon. Madam Speaker, at the very outset, I wish to inform the House that the previous government refused to make public the report of the Court of Investigation into the grounding of MV Wakashio. As a responsible government, we could not allow things to linger. Consequently, I had a meeting with my colleagues, the Attorney General, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, to discuss the way forward and following which, the government decided that the report be made public, thus upholding the principle of transparency espoused by this government. This is contrary to the stand taken by the former government. Accordingly, a communiqué was issued on 02 October 2025, thereby informing the public that the report was now accessible on the website of my Ministry. Madam Speaker, I am informed that following the grounding of MV Wakashio, compensation to the tune of Rs200 million was paid to victims including fishermen and other claimants over the period of 2021 to 2022 by the Japan Protection and Indemnity Club, insurer of MV Wakashio. I am tabling the total amount of compensation that was made to the victims. However, following the release of the report of the Court of Investigation to the grounding of MV Wakashio, no payment of compensation has been effected by the insurer as the ship owner, Okiyo Maritime Corporation, has on 25 October 2021 entered a case before the Supreme Court, applying for a limitation fund to be set up limiting the value of compensation to be paid to the tune of approximately Rs720 million. The case of Okiyo Maritime Corporation v the State of Mauritius was heard before the Supreme Court on 24 October 2025 and the judgment of the Supreme Court has been reserved.

66 Moreover, the Attorney General’s Office is in the process of finalising a mise en demeure for civil action in relation to compensation for all expenses and claims of the Government of Mauritius against all parties for oil pollution damage. On the other hand, Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Director of Public Prosecution that the Commissioner of Police has been requested to initiate an inquiry into an alleged act of negligence which may have been committed by officers of National Coast Guard. The Commissioner of Police has informed my Ministry that the matter has been referred to the Central Criminal Investigation Department and inquiry is ongoing.

Yes, Mr Apollon.

Thank you very much. As we know, there are many NGOs and citizens that also initiated legal action. Will the government support these NGOs in the legal action?

Yes, in fact, Dentons has lodged a case on behalf of the NGOs, and we are working very closely with Dentons. We are comparing notes and you can rest assured that we will leave no stone unturned in relation to compensation that should be paid to the victims.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the hon. Minister also state whether, the mise en demeure that the Attorney General’s Office is envisaging to serve on the company that caused those damages, would include all the damages that were caused to the shores of Mauritius, including the parties involved.

I cannot give an exact reply although this question should have been addressed to our good friend, the Attorney General but as I have said, you can rest assured, no stone will be left unturned.

Okay, next question, please. Hon. Second Member for Vieux Grand Port and Rose Belle, Mr Seeburn. GRAND PORT – STATE-OWNED COASTAL LANDS – PAS GÉOMÉTRIQUES LAND – LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS