PARLIAMENTARY SITTING 20.06.25 – UNPARLIAMENTARY WORDS – RULING At the Sitting of Friday 20 June 2025, at some point during the Private Notice Question, the hon. Leader of the Opposition, drew my attention to the following, I quote – “Can [you] ask hon. Assirvaden to withdraw what he has just said? He said that I am lying in this House” There followed a series on interventions on the said matter, many in Sitting positions. During the exchanges, hon. Adrien Duval, in turn, took a Point of Order and requested me, I quote – “to ask him to withdraw that” Apparently, referring to the word ‘liar’. As I intimated at the said Sitting, I perused the records and my observations are as follows – Hon. Assirvaden, all three of them in a Sitting position, hon. Assirvaden is heard saying, I quote – “ Li pe vinn koz menti ici et pension CEB aussi lie ! Hon. Shakeel Mohamed and other members are heard uttering the word ‘liar’ a number of times, apparently to the attention of hon. Leader of Opposition. And the hon. Deputy Prime Minister, is also heard saying the words – “He is a liar.” And all these words were said, as mentioned earlier, in a Sitting position. In view of the aforesaid, I am requesting hon. Assirvaden, hon. Shakeel Mohamed and the hon. Deputy Prime Minister to withdraw what they have said.

I withdraw.

I withdraw.

I, also, withdraw.

Thank you, hon. Members. So, we proceed with the debate. Hon. Ms Navarre-Marie. (5.36 p.m.)

Merci, M. le président. Merci de me donner l’occasion d’intervenir sur le discours du budget présenté le 6 juin par l’honorable Premier ministre et ministre des Finances. M. le président, samedi dernier, il a eu une manifestation contre une mesure particulière, c’est-à-dire la pension universelle, non contributive, qui sera progressivement portée à l’âge de 65 ans. En tant que gouvernement démocratique, nous respectons cette démarche. Mais nous avions déjà entendu la voix de la population et nous avions déjà agi avant la manifestation en instituant deux comités qui ont été annoncés par l’honorable Premier ministre. Deux comités annoncés avant même la participation burlesque de Pravind Jugnauth et de ses acolytes à ce rassemblement. M. le président, ils mettent le feu, et ensuite, ils essayent de jouer au pompier. C’est indécent ! Quand on se souvient des propos de l’ex-Premier ministre par rapport à la marche citoyenne de 2020 à Port Louis, il disait ceci – « Seki pa dakor kapav al mars marse dan lamars. » D’autres traitaient les manifestants ‘d’insignifiants.’ Et ils étaient dans la marche de samedi. Oui, nous avons entendu la colère des gens. Le Premier ministre a entendu la colère dans les marchés, dans les rues et dans les centres commerciaux. Nous avons perçu cette colère dans le regard de celles et ceux qui travaillent dur et qui se demandent encore un sacrifice. Pour qui ? Pourquoi ? M. le président, nous aurions souhaité de ne pas prendre cette mesure. Mais avions- nous le choix ? Nous marchons sur une corde raide. Chaque maladresse peut nous conduire au précipice. Dieu sait que le Premier ministre et ministre des Finances a tout fait pour éviter cette mesure. Mais il y a une épée de Damoclès suspendue sur le pays. Elle s’appelle Moody’s, agence internationale, qui nous surveille de près après la mauvaise gestion du MSM. Des irresponsables qui étaient aux commandes du pays ont commis un crime économique, un crime contre la population et ont essayé d’asphyxier nos enfants et nos petits-enfants. L’histoire ne leur pardonnera pas. Aujourd’hui, ils prennent la pose au milieu des manifestants prenant des selfies. Non, mais, M. le président, si le ridicule pouvait tuer ! Heureusement, il y avait parmi les personnes présentes des Mauriciens qui n’ont pas la mémoire courte. Ils ont répondu à ce show orchestré comme il se doit, comme en témoignent les images et les commentaires sur les réseaux sociaux. L’histoire retiendra que l’honorable Premier ministre, l’honorable vice-Premier ministre et le gouvernement de l’Alliance du Changement, en tant que patriotes, ont pris les décisions qu’il fallait au moment voulu. La pilule est amère certes, mais inévitable. Un bon dirigeant fait le bon choix, même quand ce n’est pas toujours facile. M. le président, après les dix années sous le règne de la nonchalance, de la corruption et du népotisme, ce budget, le tout premier de ce gouvernement, peut ne pas être celui que la population espérait. Mais ce budget a le mérite d’être un budget qui parle vrai. Un budget qui fait face à la réalité et qui choisit la vérité plutôt que la facilité et la démagogie. Nous avons le choix de continuer à fermer les yeux ou d’avoir le courage d’ouvrir une voie nouvelle. Nous avons choisi celui du courage. Nous avons choisi le cap vers un avenir plus digne, plus équilibré, plus solidaire pour tous les Mauriciens. Dès le départ, il n’a jamais été question de simplement colmater les fissures, mais de restaurer la confiance, de réparer notre contrat social et de dire enfin que les familles mauriciennes méritent mieux que de vivre dans l’illusion dans laquelle elles ont vécu ces 10 dernières années. Quand je parle de famille, je parle de la maman seule qui jongle entre deux emplois pour nourrir ses enfants, du papa au chômage qui s’inquiète de l’avenir, et de la grand-mère qui élève ses petits-enfants avec sa pension de vieillesse. Ce sont eux que je porte dans ma voix, dans mes choix, dans mes combats. L’objectif, M. le président, de ce présent exercice budgétaire n’est pas de plaire, mais surtout, de construire. Nous ne sommes pas là pour séduire, mais pour servir. Pendant trop longtemps, la réforme de la pension a été repoussée. Sans doute pas peur de l’impopularité ou par calcul électoral. Pourtant, les signaux étaient clairs. Depuis plus de 30 ans, les actuaires, les économistes et les institutions internationales nous alertent sur le fait implacable que notre système de retraite est en péril. Avec la réforme, nous garantissons qu’à l’avenir, nos enfants ne seront pas écrasés par un fardeau que nous aurions refusé d’assumer aujourd’hui. M. le président, des mères des familles se retrouvent souvent contraintes de rester aux côtés de leurs enfants, non par choix, mais par devoir. Nous savons que le travail d’une maman n’est pas un travail à temps partiel. À un certain âge, il devient difficile pour ces femmes de retrouver le chemin du travail, souvent en raison d’une absence de formation. Le comité mis sur pied va assurément se pencher sur ces questions en vue de leur faire justice tant que faire se peut. M. le président, la vision de ce gouvernement est de protéger les familles. Protéger les familles, c’est aussi leur dire la vérité même quand cette vérité est difficile à entendre. Si nous fermons les yeux aujourd’hui, la facture sera lourde. Et la fracture sociale sera d’autant en plus grande. Cette réforme dans laquelle le gouvernement s’est engagé s’accompagne, toutefois, de mesures fortes pour protéger les familles, les femmes et les enfants. Nous avons, malgré la situation économique difficile, fait le choix de ne pas reculer devant nos engagements sociaux. Ce budget améliore l’accès au logement, à la santé, à l’éducation, avec des investissements dans les crèches, les écoles et les infrastructures de proximité.  R 10 milliards ont été alloués pour atténuer la volatilité des prix des produits de base dont R 2 milliards dès cette année, protégeant directement les familles contre l’inflation.  La suppression de la TVA sur certains produits essentiels notamment sur les aliments pour bébé et certains légumes en sachets.  Soutien aux familles les plus vulnérables, maintien des aides au foyer enregistré au SRM.  Prise en charge des frais d’examen SC et HSC pour les enfants issus de familles modestes.  Nous élargissons l’éducation inclusive, soutenons les enfants en situation de handicap et lançons des programmes de santé préventifs.  Nous garantissons que les retraités nécessitant des soins à l’étranger continueront de percevoir leur pension même après six mois et j’en passe, M. le président. Pour certains Mauriciens, ce budget est peut-être difficile à accepter aujourd’hui mais demain il sera notre force, il sera le socle de la dignité retrouvée. Nous avons choisi de refonder la République autour de la famille dans une démarche profondément humaine, lucide et solidaire. M. le président, permettez-moi de dire quelques mots sur le ministère qui m’a été confié depuis décembre de l’année dernière, celui de l’Égalité des genres et du bien-être de la famille. Je ne peux passer sous silence l’état général dans lequel j’ai hérité de ce ministère. À mon arrivée, il régnait une atmosphère amorphe au sein de ce ministère. Une certaine léthargie et une désorganisation indescriptible. Héritage très lourd laissé par le gouvernement MSM. La situation était telle que tout était à refaire. Certaines personnes de bonne volonté avaient été mises à l’écart mais ont, aujourd’hui heureusement, retrouvé le goût de retrousser les manches pour se mettre au service du pays. Nous avions hérité d’une situation catastrophique au sein du shelter Oiseaux du Paradis à Cap Malheureux qui était en réalité un nid d’enfer pour les enfants qui y étaient admis. Mes proches collaborateurs et moi avons fait tout ce qu’il fallait pour remédier à la situation. Nous avons rencontré le personnel, nous avons parlé aux enfants mais certaines personnes proches de l’ancien régime nous mettaient systématiquement des bâtons dans les roues. En tant que ministre, je ne pouvais plus continuer à laisser la vingtaine d’enfants au sein de ce shelter car leur sécurité et leur bien-être n’était pas assuré. Il fallait prendre une décision car la mission du gouvernement et d’assurer la sécurité de tous les enfants de la République et en particulier ceux qui sont les plus vulnérables. Cette sécurité si essential, M. le président de séance, n’était plus à l’ordre du jour en raison du comportement de certaines personnes censées protéger ces enfants. J’ai donc décidé de fermer ce shelter le 5 juin en dirigeant les enfants vers d’autres shelters, vers d’autres abris tout en prenant soin de ne pas séparer les fratries, les frères et les sœurs. Une enquête a été ouvert le même jour pour faire la lumière sur cette situation. Le rapport de l’enquête ne serait tardé ma-t-on fait savoir. À l’heure des conclusions et des recommandations chacun devra assumer ses responsabilités. M. le président, le bien-être des enfants reste au cœur de nos actions. C’est ainsi que les services de familles d’accueil de mon ministère se sont renforcés grâce au programme Back to Home and Re-bonding programmes en mettant l’accent sur la réhabilitation et la réintégration. Parallèlement, mon ministère est en train de finaliser le projet de loi sur l’adoption avec l’aide de mon collègue l’honorable Attorney General, le projet de loi qui est long overdue. L’objectif de ce projet de loi assez complexe, je dois dire, est de compléter les dispositions du Code Civil Mauricien en établissant un cadre juridique plus solide pour l’adoption au plan national et international. M. le président, à travers ce budget le gouvernement réaffirme son engagement envers le concept de l’égalité des genres. Pour les femmes ce budget représente un levier d’émancipation, il prévoit le doublement des prêts pour les femmes entrepreneurs et garantit l’accès au mentorat, au marketing et au réseautage. Il préconise également la réforme du télétravail afin de concilier vie professionnelle et vie familiale. Le concept de télétravail, M. le président, est une solution pendant les grosses pluies où les écoles et les crèches sont fermées. Par ailleurs, mon ministère ne ménagera pas ses efforts pour lutter contre le fléau de la violence basée sur le genre qui détruit nos familles. Un projet de loi dans ce sens est en préparation afin de renforcer les protections juridiques à Maurice en élargissant les définitions de l’abus et des relations et en renforçant les mesures de protection entre autres. En effet ce projet de loi sera conforme aux normes internationales en matière de droits humains et garantira une approche globale et centrée sur la victime en matière de violence basée sur le genre, les grandes lignes ont déjà été rendues public. M. le président, alors que je viens d’aborder l’évolution de la violence basée sur le genre, il est important de reconnaître la menace croissante du cyber harcèlement comme l’avait expliqué mon collègue, le ministre des TIC lors de son intervention sur le budget. Le cyber harcèlement est souvent utilisé comme une arme psychologique par les auteurs contre les femmes, les jeunes filles et les enfants. C’est pourquoi, nous allons rassembler les principaux acteurs lors d’un atelier sur le cyber harcèlement le mois prochain afin d’examiner les menaces, les conséquences et les mesures de sécurité en ligne nécessaire pour protéger nos jeunes ainsi que les autres membres de la famille. Cette initiative, M. le président, nous permettra d’élaborer une feuille de route nationale guidant une action coordonnée pour lutter efficacement contre le cyber harcèlement. M. le président, avec votre permission je vais dire quelques mots sur la situation au niveau de ma circonscription. Après dix ans du règne du MSM, le constat est affligeant. Il y a un sentiment d’abandon dans cette circonscription connue pour être une région fortement habitée par les travailleurs, les pêcheurs, les marchands ambulants, les ex travailleurs de la zone franche et d’autres cadres. Dix ans, M. le président, c’est beaucoup de temps perdu ; ce qui veut aussi dire qu’il y a énormément de travail qui nous attend et j’en suis pleinement consciente. On s’est mis à la tâche, mes deux collègues et moi, depuis décembre dernier, et je dois vous dire que le nombre de problèmes qui sont restés sans solution dans cette première circonscription de Maurice est incalculable, notamment en ce qui concerne les régions où les habitants sont souvent victimes d’inondations, qui sont notamment à Canal Dayot, Sables Noire, Riche Lieu, La Tourelle, Débarcadère, Jean Blaise, Firinga et une partie des morcellements de Pointe aux Sables entre autres. Depuis janvier de cette année, des discussions ont été entamées avec les autorités concernées notamment, la National Development Unit (NDU), la Land Drainage Authority et la municipalité de Port Louis pour trouver des solutions permanentes aux problèmes d’inondations. Dans ce contexte, je voudrais saluer mon collègue, le ministre des Infrastructures publiques, qui a alloué quelques R 100 millions dans ce présent budget pour des travaux pour limiter le plus possible les débordements en temps de pluies à la rivière St Louis. Ces travaux consisteront d’une part à rehausser et à élargir le pont Roussel et, d’autre part, à hausser le mur de soutien le long de la rivière St Louis pour contenir les débordements. Nous avons engagé des discussions avec les habitants du morcellement Rey à Pointe aux Sables pour trouver une solution à un gros problème de circulation dans cette région. À Richelieu également, les discussions ont été engagées sur le problème d’inondation. Cette région, M. le président – vous êtes au courant – a été trop longtemps négligée. Mes deux collègues et moi comptent bien engager une discussion citoyenne avec les habitants de la circonscription no. 1, afin que chaque roupie dépensée soit effectuée pour leur bien-être et leur sécurité. M. le président, quand le sage montre la lune, l’idiot ne voit que le bout de son doigt. En effet, je suis, avec le vice-Premier ministre, les deux seuls rescapés du 60-0 de 1982. Je suis fière d’avoir participé à cet exploit encore une fois lors des dernières élections générales de novembre 2024. À chaque fois que le MMM a été au gouvernement, nous avons assumé nos responsabilités. Nous avons fait ce qu’il fallait faire sur le plan économique, social et législatif. Cette fois-ci encore, nous allons le faire sous le leadership du Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, le Premier ministre de ce pays. L’ancien régime, qui a précipité notre pays au bord de la banqueroute, peint chaque mesure budgétaire comme un exercice d’austérité destiné à asphyxier le peuple. Contrairement à leur approche qui a laissé nos concitoyens dans la précarité, notre gouvernement a décidé de bâtir un véritable socle de protection sociale. M. le président, ce budget est un acte de vérité. Il ne flatte pas. Il construit. Il ne promet pas le ciel. Il nous évite l’abime en nous tirant vers la prospérité. Il ne cherche pas à plaire, mais à protéger. Quand une famille vacille, c’est tout un pays qui tremble. Ce budget, au-delà des chiffres, des réformes et des lignes comptables, est une main tendue vers celles et ceux qui chaque jour portent la solidarité et le lien social. Il ne s’agit pas seulement de parler d’égalité et de justice, mais d’incarner et de pratiquer chaque jour l’engagement qui les rend possibles. La transformation de notre société repose sur ces actes quotidiens où, avec courage et détermination, nous remettons en question des structures obsolètes pour construire un avenir inclusif et harmonieux. Chaque obstacle surmonté et chaque voix écoutée nous rapproche d’un monde où la dignité et le respect de chacun ne sont plus de vains idéaux, mais bien les fondations de notre vivre ensemble. Et ce gouvernement s’engage à transformer nos aspirations en actions concrètes vers une égalité réelle et durable. Je vous remercie.

Thank you. Hon. Minister Dr. Ms Jeetun! (6.01 p.m.)

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, like many of my colleagues in this Chamber, I rise today with a profound sense of duty. Duty to the people who have placed their trust in us, their hope in us and duty to the generations who will inherit the consequences of the choices we make today. This budget is, therefore, not just about numbers. It defines the new Mauritius we aspire to build. The decisions we take today will define who we are for decades to come, because Mauritius can and must do better. We face some hard realities: an ageing population, a shrinking workforce, unsustainable social obligations, intensifying global competition for talent, the existential threat of climate change and an economy weakened by years of reckless populism. So, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my intervention will be in two sections – i. I will speak about my Ministry: Financial Services and Economic Planning, and ii. I will then go on to speak more widely on the budget. So, let me share how this budget aligns with the financial services mandate of my Ministry and how it paves the way for sustainable growth, financial stability and international competitiveness. The financial services sector is the first pillar of our economy, contributing 13.4% of GDP and employing directly more than 19,000 highly skilled people and many more indirectly. It also accounts for 68% of corporate tax revenue – Rs15.4 billion and 34% of PAYE collections – Rs4.3 billion. Yet, today, the sector faces serious challenges after years of complacency in the face of fast changing global competitive environment. If Mauritius is to remain relevant in this environment, we had to act decisively. That has been the driving force behind the strategy that was recently approved by Cabinet, Rethinking the Future of Financial Services Industry 2025-2030. It is not just a vision. It is a concrete and actionable plan that rests on five pillars, each grounded in today’s realities and tomorrow’s imperatives. We have set ourselves very ambitious goals and KPIs. As we know, this is one sector that has huge growth potentials. It proposes actions around thematic pillars – (i) Enhancing ease of doing business and reducing the cost of doing business through regulatory streamlining, e-KYC and turnaround benchmarks. (ii) Diversifying and modernising financial products, including Fintech, sustainable finance, wealth management, family office and capital markets. (iii) Rebranding the Mauritius IFC with a coherent and national promotional strategy. (iv) Strengthening international market presence, the Mauritius IFC brand visibility and attractiveness, particularly in Africa and Asia. (v) Addressing human capital gaps by aligning training, improving incentives and engaging diaspora talent. We are building a vibrant finance Fintech ecosystem with a national strategy developed alongside the UN Economic Commission for Africa to simplify regulation, fast track licensing and attract startup in blockchain, digital banking and payments. A dedicated Fintech Unit at the FSC and targeted global outreach will strengthen Mauritius’ position as a leading Fintech destination. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we stand at a pivotal point in our journey. We have, at our doorstep, two of the world’s most dynamic regions – India and Africa. India has been instrumental to the growth of our financial services industry. We may be a small nation of 1.2 million people, while India is the country of 1.4 billion people, but we share the same ancestral heritage, culture and traditions. For years, Mauritius was the first FDI driver in India, but following the amendment of the Double Taxation Treaty, under the MSM Government in 2017, Mauritius lost its place to Singapore, and we are now consistently the third driver after Singapore and the US. We are working with the Indian Government to mitigate the issues and we are very confident that there will be some positive outcomes soon. Today, India is set to become the world’s third largest economy and we can be part of this exciting growth story through our strategic partnership and the very special relationship that we share with India. Africa, of which we are one of the tiniest nations, is the future. It is the youngest, fastest growing continent on earth. By 2050, one in every four people on the planet will be African. The continent is on an exciting growth path and attracting tremendous investments. We are an African country, we can and should position ourselves to be partner and become part of that incredible growth story unfolding at our doorstep. Just last week, Financial Times published a ranking of the top 130 companies in African, and guess what? Mauritius had the fourth largest number of companies after Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. More than USD 80 billion of investment have already flown through Mauritius into Africa, and we host over one thousand funds, a substantial of which is Africa focused. Looking ahead, we are moving decisively from strategy to execution. The Financial Services Consultative Council is being reconstituted to steer implementation, working in close collaboration with the industry stakeholders, which will serve as a permanent platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are fully aligned with the principles of fiscal consolidation outlined in the Budget. At the same time, we need to safeguard the momentum of the financial services sector. Measures like the Fair Share Contribution and the Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax are perceived by the industry as a setback. We understand that we need to protect the international competitiveness and attractiveness of our financial centre but, as the Prime Minister has said in the Budget Speech, this is a temporary measure until we weather the storm in a couple of years. My Ministry remains fully committed to upholding Mauritius’ reputation as a sound and responsible jurisdiction while working with stakeholders to ensure that the new fiscal tools do not weaken our global edge. Moreover, at the heart of our strategy lies a firm national commitment to combat money laundering, counter financing of terrorism and uphold the highest standards of integrity. Compliance is essential to our financial integrity and we are preparing for the 2027 Mutual Evaluation by the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG). The stakes are high, like Moody’s risk of downgrading. We cannot afford to grey listed again. That is why we are treating this as a national priority. A whole of government effort is underway to ensure full technical and institutional readiness. When I took office, one of the most urgent inherited challenges was the long-overdue second National Risk Assessment. This exercise has now been completed. We are now moving quickly from diagnosis to action –  A new National AML/CFT Strategy and Action Plan has been finalised.  A dedicated committee is seeing implementation, working closely with public and private sector stakeholders to ensure alignment with international standards.  Legislative reforms are also progressing and a new Bill is under preparation to reinforce our regulatory space.  With support from the partners like the World Bank, we are strengthening coordination and building capabilities. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the success of these efforts depends on strong systems and procedures, and just as importantly, on a culture of governance grounded in integrity. That is why we are advancing institutional reforms to embed transparency and accountability across public life. As part of this Budget measure, my Ministry is committed to produce a Public Sector Code of Good Governance. This will serve to set clear expectations of conduct and governance. At the same time, the Financial Reporting Council is expanding its oversight. In the year ahead, it will review 120 annual reports from public interest entities. These steps are vital to reinforcing trust and ensuring that integrity becomes the standard of practice. I now turn to economic planning. The bold reforms in this Budget, from pension adjustment to fiscal consolidation, will only fulfil their promise if they lead to lasting structural change and long-term economic transformation. One of the most consequential decisions we have taken is the return to long-term planning. Our traditional sectors are in decline. Our colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, spoke about sugar production which has nearly halved over the last two decades from 550 000 tonnes to 286 000 tonnes. Same for textile manufacturing and exports, once our biggest employer, now in decline. Our export- oriented enterprises have gone from a 500 one to 228 enterprises. Tourism is showing its limit. We are a tiny island, how many more hotels can we build? So, where will future growth come from? We have to define these future pillars of growth and shape a roadmap to develop those sectors with determination. For too long, economic planning has been more of slogans and announcements rather than serious policy-driven approach. The Axis Report recently noted that out of 137 capital projects announced in last year’s Budget by the previous government, 95 were either identical or closely resembled those announced two years prior. An economy cannot be run like a recycling machine, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. So, with Vision 2050, we are defining the national trajectory, a framework that addresses our development challenges and positions Mauritius to adapt and compete in a rapidly changing world shaped by technology, climate change, demographics and global economic realignment. To translate this vision into results, we are also preparing a 10-year National Development Plan. While the Vision 2050 outlines where we want to go, the 10- year plan sets out how we will get there, ensuring policies alignment across the various Ministries and Departments. It will also require that limited resources are invested in priority sectors. This process will be inclusive. Broad consultations are being launched across the public and private sectors, civil society and academia because lasting reform must be built together. Our economic development plan will focus on the medium to long-term investment in key sectors, public sector performance and service delivery to the people and to enterprises. A robust monitoring framework will ensure we track progress and measure impact over time. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is how we move from short-term fixes to long-term foundation and how we build a more resilient, inclusive and future-ready Mauritius. In this new Mauritius that we are aspiring to build, we must not forget those who will invest and create jobs and prosperity. Our enterprises, big and small, too often are shunned. Our priority today and tomorrow remains economic growth. Growth is not created by government. A vibrant private sector is the cornerstone of a country. They create jobs, reduce poverty and bring prosperity. People do not need handouts. They need well-paid jobs. When I say a vibrant private sector, please, do not misunderstand this for the traditional private sector of the big corporates only. A vibrant private sector is also the small and medium enterprises toiling day and night out there. Vegetable and food growers, women entrepreneurs, SMEs, self-employed, professionals, this crucial sector of our economy provides some 278,000 jobs. We want to see more of them. Overall, the private sector employs more than 480,000 people, that is, 80% of our workforce in the country. Many of these enterprises are facing existential crisis with rising labour costs and acute labour shortages. Isn’t this a paradox, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir? Social benefits rising exponentially while we are importing so many foreign workers! Today, from the bakery to the factory to the construction sites, this country has no other choice than to employ foreign labour. So, the private sector, small and large, is being asked to make an extra effort today towards increasing government’s revenue through taxation. Let me say this to all the entrepreneurs out there: we understand that this could be a bitter pill. We understand that you need an attractive and sustainable business environment to continue investing. We understand that you mobilise private capital. It is not just for your benefit, but also, for the benefit of the wider economy, the workers and society as a whole. Again, as the hon. Prime Minister has announced, this extra effort is a temporary measure that should last two to three years. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me now move to the second part of my intervention. If we look back half a century ago, two most eminent Noble Prize Winners, James Meade and V. S. Naipaul, had predicted a bleak future for Mauritius. But the people of this country proved them wrong. Successive governments took the difficult measures and seized the opportunities provided by our evolving demography. We diversified our economy from sugar into textile, tourism, financial services and real estate, creating jobs and prosperity. We invested in education. Free education in 1977 was a game changer. Jobs, higher education, medical care and access to education, higher income, transformed lives up and down the country. Many people came out of poverty. This laid the foundation for the emergence of the middle class and their economic and social mobility that followed after independence. We increased our income per head nearly fifty times in dollar terms since independence. Yes, fifty times! It’s important to remember the advances were not gifts of history. They were built on certain core values – values of discipline, of hard work and entrepreneurial drive. This is what forged modern Mauritius. Let us not forget that, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Former Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, once said, I quote – “Now, we too should fulfil our obligation to our children and grandchildren We must not erode their patrimony nor should we burden future generations with debt nor mortgage their future. We are beneficiaries of our forefathers’ sacrifice and vision, but we are also trustees for future generations.” Are we now to consume what was meant for our children? Mortgage their future under the weight of unsustainable debt, squander their future pension money? No! Our first responsibility is to them. Leadership is not measured by applause in the streets. It is measured by the courage to act before crisis becomes collapse. The hon. Prime Minister has said this during his speech, but it is important that we repeat this because a lot of people still are confused or are spreading false information. First, we are not changing the age at which people retire in this country. The retirement age is already at 65 years. Second, the universal pension is non-contributory. We are one of the very rare countries in the world where universal basic pension is 88% of the minimum wage. Today, we are facing demographic headwinds. Our population peaked to 1.2 million in 2021, but the working age population peaked somewhere back in 2015. So, our working age population is shrinking. The population age above 60 has increased from just over 100,000 at the turn of the century to reach an estimated 260,000. Yes, an increase of 160,000 people over 25 years. That’s almost 15% of our population. While the increase in longevity is something to rejoice, as it reflects our economic development and improvement in healthcare, we also need to ensure we are caring for the elderly, especially when they need more support as they grow older. The greying of our society requires a planning that has been ignored for the last decade. It is high time to address that omission. We need to be caring to those who are no longer independent, provide adequate care facilities for those in need. And we are heading into a demographic cliff. If we thought where we are is concerning, we should probably be even more concerned about what is about to hit us. Our population is projected to further reach a million in 25 years. Yes, that’s a loss of 200,000 from the peak. The number of people aged above 60 will be close to 350,000, that is, a third of our population will be above 60. If no decision is taken, it will only go downhill from there. Yes, the structure of our society as we know, is changing fast, but as the saying goes, if we fail to prepare for the future, we are preparing to fail. Across the world in Europe, but also in developing countries like Brazil, Vietnam and closer to us, Seychelles, Ghana and South Africa, have faced this reality with courage. Let us speak plainly, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. When we took the helm of the country in November 2024, the nation had lost its way. We had drifted like a ship that had lost its compass. We were heading towards a storm. We had consumed too much. Government had borrowed too freely. They had delayed reforms for too long. The MSM government bought billions into politically convenient projects, ignoring national priorities. Corruption and mismanagement were allowed to flourish. Consider just one example, the BAI crisis, Rs24 billion. Rs24 billion could have paid the Basic Retirement Pension for all our 250,000 senior citizens for nearly seven months. This is just one example of mismanagement. Week after week, in this very Chamber, we have learnt about the magnitude of their reckless management, driven by greed and corruption. Rs6 billion in the Betamax payout. This could have bought two years of rice supplies for Mauritius. Rs1.9 billion on the Neotown fiasco. This is equivalent to the whole budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, and multiple times to the budget of my Ministry. Rs4.7 billion on the Côte d’Or Sports Complex. Billions lost through irregular procurement. And the list goes on! None of this was free money, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Much of these sums were borrowed by the then government, and the consequences turned the lives of our citizens in a living nightmare. Now, the people of this country are getting impatient. They want to see the change that they voted for and they want to see that change now but my fellow citizens, a country is not like a computer game where you just press the button and the ship changes direction instantly. Meaningful change will take time. Change is like turning a large ship at sea; you cannot spin it around instantly. It requires time, it requires steady hands and careful adjustment to ship its course but once it starts turning, its new direction becomes unstoppable. So, do not lose hope. You voted for a team that brings wisdom, that brings honesty and that brings integrity. You voted for a team that brings competence, credibility and determination to do what is right for the people. You chose truth over illusion, results over rhetoric. And, let me say this clearly, we do not have the moral right to push these reforms and the burden into the next generation. We need to fix the broken foundation; we can no longer do business as usual. This first budget is the beginning of a new chapter of our national renewal. We recognise, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the anxiety from our elderly citizens regarding the pension reforms. Their voices matter but leadership is not about doing what is easy; it is about doing what is right. This is why, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are supporting the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, and the Deputy Prime Minister with resolve because they did not choose the easy path. They chose to lead with courage, explaining tough decisions clearly and keeping the country together in difficult times. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Mauritius stands at a turning point; we have to steer the ship away from the storm. The path ahead is calling for effort and national discipline. It begins with something simple and essential – the recognition of who we are, where we come from and in what direction we are going. From independence, the people and the enterprises worked hard to produce prosperity. We seemed to have lost that sense of collective effort and values. Go abroad and you will see the Mauritian spirit. From Australia to Europe, UK, France, Canada, U.S, our diaspora is the pride of our nation. They work extremely hard as they know there is no such thing as free lunch. Their drive, determination and entrepreneurial spirit make their parents and family very proud back home. Yes, this government is asking for effort but the government is also leading by example. Let me say this to the nation – every single week, the Prime Minister reminds us all at Cabinet meeting that there is no money, do not spend if it is not critical. Any project that comes to the Cabinet, the financing is scrutinised before bringing it there. At my own Ministry, when we were preparing the budget, I told my officers that we will need to do more with less because there is no money. This is not a journey that the government can take alone; it is a shared undertaking. The test of leadership is not to avoid difficult decisions; it is to guide a country through with courage, fairness and care. And, that is the responsibility we have accepted and that is the responsibility we will honor because the future of Mauritius must be one that we build together. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, before I finish, let me refer to what the hon. Leader of Opposition said the other day. His mockery of my conversation in Bhojpuri, our ancestral language, is a truly remarkable display of wit, fer boufon at its finest. I would like to believe that I have put Bhojpuri back in the mainstream across this nation, but people up and down the country, from Goodlands to Souillac, from Flacq to Triolet, probably, communicate in Bhojpuri. Yet, during his ten years in government, he never once spoke the language of the people he claims to represent. Instead of serious debate, he resorts to mockery and making fun. He forgot that this is a new era of democracy in our Parliament, not the mockery they had made of it during the past ten years. He forgot that these are grave times in the history of our country. He forgot that his government has left this country in a huge mess which caused so much suffering to the people. The citizens expect solutions, not cheap rhetoric. So, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with your permission, let me say this loud and clear – “Aap meri bhaasha ka tamasha banana choro!” I translate – Stop making fun of my language. “Aap meri basha, meri sanskriti ka mazaak banana choro, hasi banana choro” Stop making a mockery and a laughing stock of my language. It is an insult to all Bhojpuri speaking citizens. Let’s focus on the real issues and deliver tangible result for the nation but he also said one thing, Mr Deputy, Speaker, Sir, which was not translated. He said – “Ab ka bol ba, beti?” Beti! [What do you say now, my daughter?] And I have only one thing to say, leave my late mother out of this. Thank you.

Thank you. Hon. Damry!

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move for the adjournment of the debates. The Deputy Prime Minister rose and seconded. Question put and agreed to. Debates adjourned accordingly.