Madam Speaker, a request for funds for an amount of Rs553,882,752 was made to the Ministry of Finance for Financial Year 2024-2025. This amount was calculated on the basis of forecasted expenditure and forecasted revenue to be generated including contributions from Councils owned funds and probably efficiency gain. However, I am informed that for the Financial Year 2024-2025, the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes was provided with a grant-in-aid of Rs344 m. only. As at 10 April 2025, it has generated a revenue of Rs110,644,246 to date and the total revenue available to the Council stand at Rs454,644,246. It is noted that the Ministry of Finance anticipated that the contribution from the Councils’ own fund for an amount of Rs25 m. and probably efficiency gain to the tune of Rs44,288,770, this never materialised. Madam Speaker, the Local Authorities Governance Unit of my Ministry undertakes a mid-term review of all local authorities including the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes in the months of December and January every year. During that exercise, the Council has informed that its revised expenditure stands at Rs543,458,908 in view thereof based on actual as well as forecasted revenue and expenditures. The forecast in budget deficit would be around Rs89 m. Madam Speaker, the deficit situation of the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes is a reflection of what is happening in other local authorities also. The result of inadequate funding being provided by the Minister of Finance is that additional grant-in-aid for all local authorities have to be sought in March each year. This demonstrates a clear lack of foresight on the part of the former government which was more concerned in dilapidating public funds for their own motives instead of addressing the real issues. Hon. Members must have read now how the funds from the Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC) have been diverted to

83 unauthorised use. Had the same fund been injected in the local authorities, many projects, for the common good of the citizens, could have been implemented. Madam Speaker, I wish to reassure the House that the mid-term review exercise has already been carried out and a request for additional grant-in-aid to the tune of Rs89 m. has been formulated in order to cater the current budget deficit and for the good running of the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Yes!

I thank the hon. Minister for his answer. Should we understand that the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes spent more than they were allowed? Did they get approval from your Ministry? Thank you.

Short and sweet. C’est direct ça!

Madam Speaker, in the Council we have for every expense, we have a vote and it is depending on the vote that they…

Je connais très bien les municipalités, n’oubliez pas !

Exactly, so all the expenses have been made according to the votes. So, we can’t overspend on the same vote.

No overspending!

Yes!

You have another question, Ms Anquetil?

No!

No, okay. Next question, hon. Member for Rivière des Anguilles and Souillac! MAURITIUS & RODRIGUES - RISING COSTS OF COMMODITIES - NEW POLICY