the Surinam Industrial Building situated at Souillac Cemetery Road, he will, for the benefit of the House, o…
(No. B/133) Mr S. Jugurnauth (Second Member for Savanne & Black River) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister of Finance, Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands whether, in regard to the Surinam Industrial Building situated at Souillac Cemetery Road, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain information as to – (a) which department had the responsibility for the management thereof from 2014 to date, and (b) whether it is currently operational, indicating the – (i) maintenance costs thereof, and (ii) total payments effected therefor to date.
Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Development Bank of Mauritius that there are actually two buildings at Souillac Cemetery Road. One building has two floors with a gross covered area of around 2,880 square metres. The other building also has two floors with a gross covered area of around 1,858 square metres, and its construction is not fully completed. Both buildings are on leasehold State land. Regarding part (a) of the question, the DBM has been managing the buildings since August 2019. On 16 August 2019, the DBM purchased the buildings from Aquaplast Ltd which went into receivership in January 2017.
33 Regarding part (b) of the question, I am informed by the DBM that the buildings are currently not operational. Since acquisition in August 2019 to date, total maintenance costs amounted to Rs848,200 and total payments amounted to Rs 24,787,580. The total payments comprise the purchase price, the rent for State land, security services, utilities, insurance costs, maintenance costs, and other expenses. Madam Speaker, this is yet another blatant example of wastage of public funds. I have given directives for an audit of all DBM buildings to be done, so that unutilised spaces could be made more profitable and rented to needy small entrepreneurs if they want.
Thank you. Yes, hon. Second Member for Rodrigues! RODRIGUES – EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF – CLAIM