the Dubai Expo 2020, he will state the names of the former Ministers, Parliamentary Private Secretaries and…
(No. B/714) Mr N. Beejan (The Second Member for Grand’ Baie & Poudre D'or) 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 Dubai Expo 2020, he will state the names of the former Ministers, Parliamentary Private Secretaries and Members of Parliament who attended same, indicating in each case, the total participation cost thereof, giving details as to the – (a) duration of stay; (b) per diem or any other allowance drawn, and (c) composition of the delegation.
Madam Speaker, the Dubai Expo 2020 was held from October 2021 to March 2022. Dubai Expo 2020 was clearly a ‘Travel Folly’ by the former ministers using taxpayers’ money at a time when the Mauritian people were reeling under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; most families were financially in difficulty but also worried about the COVID-19. These people were travelling on taxpayers’ money. I hope you ask me a question next time on this.
I hope to get the answer.
25
You are getting the answer. I am informed that 11 ministers of the previous government, together with their accompanying delegations, attended the Dubai Expo 2020. Three former Ministers, I did say 11 ministers but three former ministers, namely, Dr. Renganaden Padayachy, former Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development; Mr D. Balgobin, former Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, and Mr S. Bholah, former Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, attended the same Expo twice. Explain to me why. Why did they have to go twice?
(Interruptions)
The total participation cost of the ministerial delegations amounted to Rs8,252,970.89.
Profiteur!
Madam Speaker, the list is very long. It will take a lot of time. I think it is better to table the list together with the duration of the stay, the per diem and other allowances drawn.
Yes, one question.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the hon. Prime Minister inform what criteria were used to select attendees of Dubai Expo because now it is the time for us to expose the former Government as so much of public…
Question! Question!
…funds have been used.
Wait! Don’t make a statement!
Swazirer dan la kwizinn sa!
(Interruptions)
Ask your question… You finished? Yes!
(Interruptions)
26 Yes, Prime Minister!
As I said, there was no criteria. We cannot see any criteria. Why would somebody have to go twice? Three Ministers went twice and they went with delegations. This is why I will table it. There was as I called it, a ‘travel folly’. It was an occasion for them. People were dying with COVID here, they could not give a damn – I was going to say something else – and they just travelled, enjoyed…
La honte!
…because gouvernman dan nou lame, fer seki zot le!
La honte!
Madam Speaker, I have a question!
Okay.
Madam Speaker, I have one!
Yes? What do you have? A supplementary? Okay!
I am glad that the Prime Minister is prepared…
Do not comment! He should put his question. Ki comment?
(Interruptions)
…to table…
Please! Don’t do the same…
It is not a comment!
No, give me a question! An hon. Member: Shut up!
Ki shut up ta? Li pe dir ou shut up !
Non!
Alors, is he…
We were doing very well so far.
27
I am… Well, il ne doit passer des commentaires comme ça. S’il ne veut pas travailler, qu’il aille à la maison !
(Interruptions)
Qu’il aille à la maison !
(Interruptions)
Combien de temps on va permettre encore comme ça ?
(Interruptions)
Ma question…
Hon. Member!
La question c’est…
You were asking a question. Please, carry on!
La question au Premier ministre, c’est je suis ravi qu’il va donner les détails. J’espère qu’il puisse prendre l’engagement ici de donner des détails systématiquement à toutes les questions qui reportent sur les voyages…
(Interruptions)
Tout depend….
What is the question, Madam Speaker?
…parce que la dernière fois, je n’ai pas eu…
Non ! Non ! Non !
…les informations !
It is not a question!
The question is: is he prepared to do it systematically?
Whether there is transparency on the….
Transparency that is…
(Interruptions)
28
Prime Minister!
The hon. Member seems to forget…
Try to answer to his question.
I have always given all the details except for the Bank of Mauritius which I just… Always, you ask any question you want to ask, I will be giving all the details of the amount of money they spent. It is criminal. These people should be hanged.
(Interruptions)
Hon. Second Member for Quartier Militaire…
(Interruptions)
I do not want to say the word ‘shut up’ again.
You are getting contaminated.
(Interruptions)
Give me on second! I will take this time to apologise for last time when I could not bear it anymore and I said ‘shut up’ which is not a parliamentary word. So, I am now apologising to the House but do not push me too far. Please! Dr. Ms Thannoo, please! CYBERCRIME UNIT – REPORTED THREAT CASES – EFFICIENT SERVICE DELIVERY – ACTIONS