Government’s pledge to construct “A new Economic Model” for Mauritius and particularly to pay an urgent and…
(No. B/362) Mr J. Edouard (Fourth Member for Rodrigues) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister of 31 Finance, Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands whether, in regard to Government’s pledge to construct “A new Economic Model” for Mauritius and particularly to pay an urgent and special attention to Rodrigues as outlined in the Government Programme 2025-2029, he will state the measures and/or actions being envisaged to achieve same for Rodrigues.
Madam Speaker, the Government Programme 2025-2029 is a Programme for the Republic of Mauritius, including Rodrigues and the Outer Islands. We recognise that each outer island has their own specificities. In this context, at Paragraph 19 of the Government Programme, we have stressed that “Government will pay urgent and special attention to Rodrigues, Agalega, and St Brandon”. With regard to Rodrigues, the Government Programme also announces that – (i) the development of the airport in Rodrigues will be integrated in the master plan for the overall development of our airports; (ii) special attention will be given to the water situation through the improvement of the distribution network and storage system; (iii) food security will be enhanced through an agricultural land suitability mapping, the rational use and management of prime agricultural land and introduction of the latest methodology for the traceability of food and food products; and (iv) a Land Drainage Masterplan will be commissioned by the Land Drainage Authority. The consultancy contract has already been awarded. Madam Speaker, as announced in the Government Programme, we are coming up with a new economic model, on which we will elaborate in the forthcoming Budget, taking into consideration the state of the economy. However, nobody knew in what precarious economic situation the previous regime has left the country. Total public sector debt, as hon. Yeung Sik Yuen just mentioned, as a percentage of GDP is just over 90% and budget deficit would be above 9% by June of this year.
32 We need to bring down the level of budget deficit and public sector debt, and this will be the priority of the Government.
Yes, Mr Edouard!
Merci, Madame la présidente. Depuis les années soixante, on a parlé de la nécessité de prendre des mesures pour que Rodrigues puisse rattraper son retard sur Maurice dans les différents secteurs ?
Je n’ai pas trop bien compris la question.
It is a tall order. He is talking about catching up…
On?
…development in Rodrigues in general. Is that right, Mr Edouard?
Oui.
Oui, voilà !
Le retard que Rodrigues a accumulé. On a pris l’engagement, on a fait la promesse qu’on va faire en sorte que Rodrigues puisse rattraper son retard sur Maurice. Mais au fil des années, on a vu que l’écart se creuse par rapport au développement…
Don’t make a statement!
Mais est-ce que le Premier ministre peut nous dire si ce gouvernement va prendre l’engagement de faire en sorte, autant que possible, pour que Rodrigues puisse rattraper son retard dans les différents secteurs ?
I would love to be able to say yes, but we have to take into account the context of this economic situation, which is disastrous.
Okay, Mr Beechook, Second Member for Flacq and Bon Accueil! BAIE JACOTET CABLE LANDING STATION – ALLEGED SNIFFING CASE – INQUIRY