Yes, hon. Prime Minister! (7.24 p.m.)

Madam Speaker, before I move for the adjournment of the House, I would like to say a few words as Leader of the House. Madam Speaker, the first sitting of this year was held on 24 January 2025 and was marked by the Address of His Excellency the President of the Republic outlining the Government Programme of 2025-2029. During the current year, we have had 40 sittings. 30 Bills were introduced in the National Assembly, out of which 29 have been passed. In addition, Government has replied to 838 Parliamentary Questions requiring oral answers and 6 requiring written answers. Government has also replied to 32 Private Notice Questions from the hon. Leader of the Opposition. As we close the year at this Assembly, I wish to thank you, Madam Speaker, for your smooth conduct of the deliberations of the House. I would like also to thank the Deputy Speaker for his valuable contribution when presiding over the debates. I also wish to acknowledge the meaningful interventions and active participation of all hon. Members in the debates. I further extend my appreciation to the Clerk of the National Assembly, the parliamentary staff, as well as the Serjeant-at-Arms and his team, for their dedicated support to the work of this House. Madam Speaker, may I kindly request you, in my own name and that of the hon. Members of the House, to present the Season’s Greetings to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Mauritius and Mrs Gokhool, as well as to His Excellency, the Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius and Mrs Hungley. I convey to you, Madam Speaker, Mr Cziffra and your family, our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I also extend my warmest wishes to the Deputy Prime Minister, the hon. Ministers, hon. Leader of the Opposition, as well as to all hon. Members of the House and their families. My best wishes are also extended to the Clerk, the Serjeant-at-Arms, the officers of the National Assembly and to all the civil servants who have assisted in the work of this Parliament. Thank you.

Thank you. Hon. Members, hon. Prime Minister, if you will bear with me, I also have a few words to say. During this year, we welcomed two Heads of State: the Prime Minister Modi of India and President Macron from France recently. I have also had the immense pleasure to open the precincts of the Assembly to the public. Several groups have visited our Parliament on a regular basis. We already opened the Chamber to 76 young Parliamentarians in August this year. We were very proud to see that youngsters today are very committed to public service and to politics. I thank hon. François to have mentioned that we have recently organised a major event in the Sir Harilall Vaghjee Hall from 26 November onwards to engage with the public on the theme which clearly touched many of our citizens who came to share their views with us on the scourge of gender-based violence, and I thank you for having opened that very interesting event. On 01 December, we launched a prototype letter box called ‘La Colombe’ for children to safely send messages regarding violence, which may have been perpetrated against them, and this was done with the Minister of Education. On Monday, the 09 December, we organised a side event on Rodrigues which was a great success, thanks to our good friends here. On Wednesday, the 10 December, we organised a free debate on human rights with some 150 youngsters, hon. Prime Minister, 30 of whom came from five countries of the Indian Ocean. They came here in the Chamber to present their resolutions, led by the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie. The National Assembly was, therefore, more and more opened to one and all. We even welcomed young recruits of the Police Force. They also came, and I hope that they benefitted from our sensitisation talks. Hon. Members, at the end of this season, in my own name, and on behalf of the Clerk and officers of the National Assembly, I also convey my best wishes and I will present my best wishes in your name to the President of the Republic and Mrs Gokhool, as well to his Excellency, the Vice-President of the Republic and Mrs Hungley and their families. I also thank you, hon. Prime Minister for your kind words of appreciation extended to myself, to my husband, and to the staff of the National Assembly. I am pleased to convey my best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, hon. Prime Minister and Mrs Ramgoolam; to you, hon. Deputy Prime Minister; to hon. Ministers and members of their family; to the hon. Leader of the Opposition and his family; to the Deputy Speaker, who is unfortunately not with us, and his family, and to all hon. Members and your families. The time is one of peace and I wish all of you to rejoice and wish each other best wishes. I join the hon. Prime Minister to thank the Clerk, the Deputy Clerk, the three Clerk Assistants, all the officers of the National Assembly, the Serjeant-at-Arms and his officers, the Solicitor-General and his officers, the Parliamentary Counsel and her officers, and all public officers who have assisted in the work of the Assembly and I convey to them and their families my season’s greetings. I thank you.