Madam Speaker, I am informed by the State Trading Corporation that in April 2020, the then General Manager of the Corporation was requested by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection to initiate action for payment of 11 units of body temperature measurement thermal camera solution procured from Bo Digital Co Ltd for the total amount of Rs6,600,000 exclusive of VAT. The Board of State Trading Corporation approved the payment of the invoices on 3 April 2020 and payment was affected by the State Trading Corporation as follows –  On 03 April 2020, an amount of Rs690,000 per one thermal camera;  On 06 April 2020, an amount of RS 4,200,000 representing 70% of total invoice amounting Rs 6 million for 10 units of thermal camera. The remaining 30% amounting to Rs1,800,000 was paid on 25 November 2020. The State Trading Corporation has also informed that upon instruction from the National Task Force Committee COVID-19 chaired by the then Prime Minister, one thermal camera was installed at the entrance of the Prime Minister’s for security control of visitors and guests whereas the other 10 units were delivered to my Ministry and hospitals and clinics. Madam Speaker, as regards part (b) of the question, I am informed that all the thermal cameras were put to use and were installed as follows – (a) Health Region No.1 – One unit were delivered at Dr. AG Jeetoo Hospital and one at the Subramania Bharati Eye Hospital at Moka. Both are out of use, the one at Dr. AG Jeetoo since 2023 and the one at Moka since 2022 and both units are faulty. (b) Health Region No. 2 – One unit was provided at SSRN Hospital and the same is out of use since 2022 and is not in working conditions.

49 (c) Health Region No.3 – One unit was delivered to Dr. Bruno Cheong Hospital. However, the unit is not being used following the relocation of services from Dr. Bruno Cheong Hospital to the New Flacq Hospital. (d) Health Region No.4 – Three units were installed namely at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, New Souillac Hospital and L’Escalier Mediclinic. The one at Souillac Hospital is out of order since 2022, the other two units are in good working order but not in use actually. (e) Health Region No. 5 – One unit of thermal camera was installed at the entrance of Accident and Emergency Department of the Victoria Hospital. The thermal camera is in good working condition but actually not in use. Regarding the Emmanuel Anquetil Building, I am also informed that one unit was placed at the ground floor of the building from a headquarters office of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and it was operational at that time. Parliament of Mauritius – I mean from the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection that one unit was based at the National Assembly and it is in good working conditions and is fully operational. Madam Speaker, I am requesting the Acting Senior Chief Executive of my Ministry to carry out an enquiry into the matter, to find out any shortcomings and any measures to be taken so that the thermal cameras may be operational again, particularly at a time when there is a threat of Chikungunya’s outbreak.

Yes, one question.

6.6 million has been disbursed for the purchase of thermal cameras and we have heard that so many of them are either not in working condition…

Question please!

May I ask the hon. Minister whether these equipment were purchased at market value or at extremely high prices so that the beneficiaries could enjoy a bumper crop at the time?

This is an answer.

Madam Speaker, I find in the quotation sheet that ‘approved for installation, approved on instruction from the National Taskforce chaired by the Prime Minister for installation.’ So, I get the feeling that there were no procedures involved. It was the Task Force Committee which took the decision and it was chaired by the Prime Minister.

50 Hence, I am not in a position to say on the question of pricing, but it was from instructions that came from above.

Yes, Dr. Ms Daureeawo! Last question! ICTA – BARRISTER SERVICES – FEES PAID (2015-2024)