Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed by the National Land Transport Authority that prior to the amendment which was brought to section 77 of the Road Traffic Act in 2023, no temporary Road Service Licences were granted. However, I am informed that during the period 24 October 2023 to 16 September 2024, 45 Road Service Licences have been granted for the operation of buses, that is, 42 in Mauritius and 3 in Rodrigues, and the Rodriguan ones are under judicial review right now following application made by the Rodrigues Regional Assembly.

83 I wish to point out that according to information provided to me, approval was obtained from the then Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail for 13 other Road Service Licences on 01 October 2024 but these licences were not issued by the NLTA as the general elections were imminent. That was 3-4 days before the Parliament was dissolved. These RSLs have been granted under the provisions of section 77D of the Road Traffic Act, which was introduced in 2023 under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act No. 10, which came into operation on 17 July 2023. This section of the law, in fact, empowers the Minister to either – 1. direct the NLTA to allow an existing license sheet to redeploy his bus from an existing route to another, or 2. direct the NLTA to grant a new road service license to an existing licensee to operate services along a route designated by the Minister. In both instances, the Minister has to ascertain that the redeployment of any bus for the grant of a new license is in the public interest, based on a report from the NLTA, to the effect that the redeployment or grant of license is justified and that there is a need to supplement the service along any designated route. The Minister while directing the NLTA has also to specify the duration for which the license is to be granted. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, according to the NLTA, all 45 new licenses have been granted following applications submitted by existing licenses to the then Minister for specific routes. The NLTA then submitted a report on the need for supplementing bus services along the route applied for. The then Minister subsequently directed the NLTA to issue the license. Another pertinent observation was in respect of the grant of these temporary licenses, is that the law clearly stipulates that – “Where the Minister is satisfied that a particular route or area is inadequately served and in public interest to improve bus service on that route or area, he may direct the NLTA to grant a road service license for such duration he may deem fit [The word ‘duration’ is listed there]to an existing licensee so as to allow him to operate bus services on such route or area designated by the Minister.” However, it is worth pointing out that although it is the prerogative of the Minister in law to determine the duration for which their license is to be granted, such was not the case, I

84 am given to understand. It would seem, therefore, that the NLTA has taken it upon itself to decide on the temporary licenses to be for an initial period of three months. I have also been made aware that these temporary licenses have been subsequently been renewed for an additional period of three months administratively, solely at the level of the regulator, which is the NLTA. I have also been informed that in the case of the 45 new licenses issued, officers of my Ministry were not at all involved in the whole licensing processes. Sealed confidential files moved to and fro between the NLTA and the office of the then Minister. The Ministry did not have the slightest hint of the rules where licenses were being granted, the manner in which the existing licenses were becoming informed that they should submit applications to the Minister for any specific route, and the mechanism as to how the NLTA was requested to submit a report on the level of service. Nothing could be found in any file in my Ministry, I am told. I am further informed that the whole licensing exercise seems to have been carried out in strict confidentiality both at the level of the then Minister’s office and the NLTA. As a matter of fact, there have been several representations from operators as to the manner in which these temporary law survey licences have been granted, and I am inclined to think that these may have prompted hon. Apollon to come up with this question. The hon. Member may rest assured that since I took office at the Ministry, I have stressed that henceforth, all legal and administratively established processes should be strictly adhered to. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed that the established administrative procedures have not been duly followed and it would appear that the then Minister was approving the applications for temporary road service licenses without referring these files through proper channel, that is, the administration, resulting, in fact, there is no record regarding these applications and the grant thereof at my Ministry; I am informed by the NLTA that the Officer-in-Charge of the NLTA took it upon himself to grant these temporary road service licenses for an initial period of three months despite the fact that such duration should have been specified by the Minister as provided under the law.

85 In the light of the above, I wish to reassure the hon. Member and the public that, I have already given instructions for an enquiry to be conducted promptly, as per the request of hon. Apollon for an enquiry, in his main question. In the event, any malpractice is confirmed, in the manner these temporary licenses have been granted and/or renewed, necessary actions, as may deem necessary, will be initiated accordingly. Additionally, an assessment will be undertaken as to whether these temporary licenses are still required. In the affirmative, the NLTA will be requested to open up application for permanent road service licenses to be granted along the relevant routes for the benefit of the traveling public. Finally, I wish to enlighten the House that the buses licensed with a temporary road service licences are benefiting from free travel compensation monthly. Thank you.

Thank you, hon. Minister. According to your answer, I think, a full- fledged enquiry should urgently take place. Can the hon. Minister table the list of those who have been granted these licenses as well as those who have not been granted the licenses. Also, can the hon. Minister confirm to the House who signed all these documents?

Yes, I will table all the information, as requested by the hon. Member, for those who were issued a license and for those who made an application, but who were not issued a license because the elections were imminent. The signature of the former Minister Ganoo is there.

The hon. Second Member for Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes! VICTORIA & AVENUE BELLE ROSE JUNCTION – TRAFFIC FLOW