Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority that for the period January 2015 to November 2024, the services of 49 barristers were retained by the authority. Madam Speaker, while preparing the response to this question, answers revealed that there was a similar questioned asked by hon. Ms Joanna Bérenger on 29 November 2022. The question pertained to the names of the legal people and the cases to which the names were related. In reply, the then Prime Minister to both parts of the questions, said that the answers are being placed in the Library of the National Assembly. Hence, to a certain extent, denying transparency to the public. Further research revealed that there was an attorney, Mrs S.S.O., who actually earned, in a period of 12 months, Rs2.8 m. I can tell you the name of the company – a company by the name of Ribot Chambers. They bagged Rs6.72 m. in 12 months! Now, we know the reason for which the then Prime Minister did not actually voice out the answer, but chose to go file the document in the Library of the National Assembly. An hon. Member: Par linposs!

Par linposs once again! Coming back to the actual answer of today’s question at hand, with regard to part (a) of the question, there was a total of 39 cases that were assigned to barristers. As to part (b) of the

51 question, the legal fees amounted to Rs63.84 m. for ten years. That shows how public funds have squandered. However, there were some names that came with insistence, Madam Speaker. There is Mr S. T…

(Interruptions)

Hon. Members, we have to listen!

With your permission, can I give the names, Madam Speaker?

Of course!

(Interruptions)

But we will have to listen!

Yes!

Right! Just give me one second, I will come to this.

These are facts, hon. Minister? Hon. Minister, these are facts?

These are facts, they are! So, there was the name of a barrister Trilochun who bagged Rs22.18 m. out of 26 cases.

Jackpot!

That is a jackpot! An hon. Member: Ena bez la!

No, do not use…

Ribot Chambers, for seven cases, bagged Rs12.37 m. Again, the name of Mrs S.S.O., that is, Mrs Sonah-Ori, comes again. Incidentally or interestingly, in IT terms, S.S.O. means Single Sign-On. An hon. Member: She is multiple sign-on!

For 42 cases, Rs7.6 m. in the last 10 years. Now, to me, this is unacceptable! We see there was a really reason then for which the Legal Director of the ICTA was not recruited. This position was left open for ten years so that space could be made for such services of the cronies of the MSM Government, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. We finish in one minute!

52

Can Dr. the hon. Minister inform the House what is being done to curtail such bad practices, and ultimately, avoid wastage of our public funds?

Sure. So, I am tabling the details of the response. With regard to the supplementary question, I would like to add that this Government takes good governance very seriously. The ICTA has already advertised for the position of the Legal Director and the applications have now been closed for the board to consider. Thank you.

Okay, one question on this side!

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

He caught my eye!

Being given that large amounts of money have been paid, which is a matter of public concern, would the hon. Minister consider, in public interest, to disclose the names of those beneficiaries and the amount that has been paid?

He will table the answer. He said he will table the full answer.

What has been tabled actually pertains strictly to the question asked. But with regard to the supplementary question, I will table additional information, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I suspend the Sitting for one and half hour! Bon appétit! At 1.04 p.m., the Sitting was suspended. On resuming at 2.36 p.m. with the Deputy Speaker in the Chair.

Please be seated! Hon. Members, the Table has been advised that PQs B/226 and B/233 have been withdrawn. Hon. Second Member for Rivière des Anguilles & Souillac ! MONKEYS – EXPORTATION – PERIOD 2014-2024