Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the House is aware that I have been replying to several Parliamentary Questions recently about the poor level of bus transport service island-wide and I believe, this is also the case for regions which the hon. Member has referred to in her question today. In fact, the House will recall that I have also made several public announcements, in and outside the House, stressing on the prevailing malaise in the bus industry. I seize this opportunity to reassure the House and the travelling public at large, that the improvement of the level of public bus transport is one of my priorities. We, at the level of my Ministry, are fully committed to look for workable solutions with a view to improving the services around the island in line with the numerous measures which I have already enumerated in the House during my previous replies. Now, coming to the regions of Vallée des Prêtres, Chitrakoot and Caroline, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed by the National Land Transport Authority that the public transportation services in these localities are exclusively offered by the United Bus Service through the following routes –  Route 41, Vallée des Prêtres-the New Transportation Centre;  Route 41A, Upper Vallée des Prêtres;  Route 160, Vallée des Prêtres-New Transportation Centre;  Route 160A, Upper Vallée des Prêtres-Cité Vallijee, and  Route 237, Vallée des Prêtres-Morcellement Raffray, Pailles. I am further informed that 13 road service licences have been granted to the United Bus Service to operate its buses along the aforesaid routes. In accordance with the established timetable, buses along routes 41, 41A, 160 and 160A should operate at 30 minutes interval during peak hours and on an hourly basis during off peak periods.

80 As regards Route 237, buses are required to ply at an hourly interval throughout the day. The hours of operation along these routes are 05.25 in the morning to 08.00 o’clock at night. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to also point out that inspections conducted by the NLTA Inspectorate have revealed that the UBS buses plying in the regions which I have just mentioned are not adhering to the prescribed timetable and this has undeniably resulted in complaints from commuters thereat, in respect of service delays and inconsistencies. The NLTA Inspectorate has, in fact, pointed out that the UBS is operating at a lower number of buses out of its operational fleet and this situation has been observed across all its routes island-wide. It is a malaise actually right now despite they have been availed of free transportation service. To this effect, I have been informed that the NLTA has had dedicated meeting with the Traffic Manager of the UBS on 30 August 2024 whereby the latter was apprised of the issues and complaints. The representative of the UBS undertook to take remedial actions, highlighting the main cause thereof related to the shortage of drivers and that necessary arrangements were underway for the recruitment of foreign labour. The representative of the UBS was once again convened at the NLTA last month, that is, in February 2025, in view of the persistent situation and it would seem there has been no improvement so far. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to inform the House that I can humbly state that, after four months in Office, I have been able to understand the problems being encountered by the travelling public and the reasons thereof which are multiple-pronged. Let me give you three reasons –  Firstly, I am inclined to strongly believe that the issue of recruitment of foreign workers has become some sort of a pretext for several bus operators to keep their buses in their garage while benefiting at the same time from government subsidies monthly. This is across the board and across all companies. Unfortunately, it is a malaise right now.  Secondly, I have been made aware, through various representations that I have received, several bus operators do not treat their employees properly, and hence, potential candidates are reluctant to join these companies. And they do not realise that importing foreign labour can be more expensive.

81  Thirdly, in some cases, bus operators have resorted to employing drivers and conductors who are not fit and proper for the job and this has led to the alarming and dangerous situation whereby we are having cases of bus crew operating under the influence of alcohol and drugs. I have had extensive meetings with the Mauritius Police Force during the course of last week and even before that, to try and address the situation. The recent accident which occurred at Solitude whereby a school bus was being driven a conductor, who was not only under the influence of illicit drugs but was not even the holder of a valid driving licence, is telling of the situation we are in right now. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me reassure the House that the introduction of the Fleet Management System, a project on which my Ministry is actively working on, will be a game changer for the bus industry and that will certainly redress the issue of inadequate buses and non-adherence to established timetable. The request for proposal is currently being worked out by the consultant and, hopefully, the project will be in place by the end of this year. Nevertheless, in the meantime, based on the recommendations of the NLTA regarding the timetable, on the immediate plausible remedial actions, I have asked the latter, I mean the NLTA, to consider the possibility of licensing additional RSLs, according to section 77 of the Road Traffic Act 2023 which empowers me to do so, to other bus operators in order to improve the level of service in the regions where inhabitants are encountering acute transport problems, including the regions mentioned in the question of the hon. Member, and I am waiting for a reply from the NLTA. Thank you.

Yes, one question!

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Bus transport is a real headache in the regions that I have mentioned in my PQ, Vallée des Prêtres, Chitrakoot and Caroline. M. le président, il est déplorable de constater que certains autobus de la United Bus Service sont âgés de plus de 15 ans, lesquels sont bons pour de la vielle ferraille, sont toujours en circulation dans la circonscription à l’instar dans les régions citées à l’instant. Donc, ma question : est-ce que le ministre compte ouvrir des lignes à d’autres compagnies d’autobus ? Clearly, there is no will from the side of the actual bus operators to improve their services there. Can the hon. Minister ask the Inspector of the NLTA to be more active there until the situation improves? Thank you.

82

You repeated what you have just said in the last phrase.

The end of a lifetime of a bus is 20 years old, legally. So, 15 years is five more years to go, but that is not the reason why the bus should not be in good condition. So, I will look into the issue for the specific buses plying that route and will come back to the Member in due course. MAURITIAN ECONOMY – BRAIN DRAIN ISSUE – REMEDIAL MEASURES