Madam Speaker, I would refer the House to my reply B/417 of the hon. Ms. Anquetil at the sitting of Tuesday 06 May 2025 where I stated that an amount of – it is a long figure but I am going to cut it short – Rs34.3 million had been paid to Metro Express Limited by Alliance Media since the beginning of the contract on 28 August 2020, that is, over a period of five years almost and this averages to about – again, I am going round up – Rs6.9 million per year. I am informed by Metro Express Limited that after my raising serious concerns regarding the contract of MEL and Alliance Media at the level of National Assembly during PQ of hon. Ms. Anquetil, and I would like to thank her for that particular question, a further amount of Rs56.8 million was paid suddenly by the advertising company as part of the advertising revenue stream of MEL. No doubt, the reply that I had made had been very beneficial to Metro Express Limited. I am further informed that the total amount of Rs91.04 million has been received by MEL to date which comprises of a minimum guaranteed payment of Rs34.3 million for a period up to January 2026 and a variable income share of Rs56.7 million for the period up to April 2025. For the period May to July 2025, a further Rs1.6 million will be paid to MEL as income share. The income shares for months of August, September and October 2025 are currently under evaluation. The average has therefore moved; it has almost tripled over that period of five years and now it is averaged to around Rs18.2 million per year which is important because Metro Express Limited needs that revenue to reduce the yearly deficit. Madam Speaker, in view of the anomalies initially observed regarding the contract, a special audit is being undertaken to ascertain compliance with procurement and legal procedures and

75 assess the performance of the contractor. Further action will be taken on the basis of the outcome of the special Audit Report. In this respect, I must point out that MEL has recently appointed its park and leisure manager, Mr B.H, a marketing and communication manager. The latter holds qualification in Events and Project Management. As part of the duties, the latter is expected to manage the advertising contract to optimise advertising revenue streams of the Metro Express Limited. I am made to understand that Mrs B.B, former communication officer at MEL resigned from the company last month.

Yes!

Je vous remercie, Madame la présidente. Le ministre peut -il indiqué à la Chambre que la personne à laquelle il fait référence dans sa réponse a effectivement était élue sous bannière MSM lors des élections Municipal à Vacoas en 2015?

I am aware of this. Mrs B.B. was elected by the Alliance Lepep in 2015. She was subsequently recruited as Public Relations Officer of Larsen & Toubro during the construction of the Metro line to liaise with people facing difficulties during construction. Then, subsequently, she was recruited as Communication Officer of Metro Express Limited. Now, she left the company last month, a decision of her own. There has been no pressure at all. Now, the new officer in charge, like I said in my substantive reply, is expected to do a better job to monitor the contract of the contractor Alliance Media because we need this revenue to reduce the deficit of the Metro Express Limited. Thank you.

Yes! Are you okay? The next question is being withdrawn if I am not mistaken. Then we will move on. I am a little surprised, our friend hon. Jhummun is not here. Hon. Third Member for Port Louis North, hon. Caserne! SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS – SUSPENSION – REASONS – SOCIAL & ECONOMIC IMPACT