the National Agency for drug Control, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain information as to the –…
(No. B/901) Mr F. Quirin (Third Member for Beau Bassin & Petite Rivière) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister of Finance, Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands whether, in regard to the National Agency for drug Control, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain information as to the – (a) details of the annual budget allocated thereto; (b) monthly salaries and benefits drawn by the Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson thereof, and (c) amount disbursed in terms of other salaries, consultancy fees and administrative overheads as at date.
Madam Speaker, The National Agency for Drug Control (NADC) Act was proclaimed on 15 May 2025. The NADC is a statutory body entrusted to
27 coordinate the national drug response through prevention, enforcement, treatment, rehabilitation and harm reduction. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that for the Financial Year 2025/2026, an amount of Rs70 million has been allocated to the NADC. As regards part (b) of the question, I am informed that – (a) the Chief Executive Officer was appointed on 12 June 2025 and he currently draws a monthly package of Rs169,350, including basic salary, salary compensation, travelling allowance and telephone allowance, in addition to contractual entitlements such as car benefits, passage benefits and gratuity, and (b) the Chairperson was appointed on 16 June 2025 and he receives a monthly allowance of Rs40,000. In regard to part (c) of the question, Madam Speaker, I am informed that as at date, a total of Rs2,246,751.05 has been disbursed. I am tabling the information requested by the hon. Member. Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the NADC, being a newly created agency, is still in the process of transitioning into a fully established organisation. With a view to assisting the NADC administratively, 10 officers of my Office are providing support to the CEO in the fields of Administration, Finance, Human Resource, Procurement and Accommodation. Meanwhile, to empower the Agency to fulfil its mandate optimally, a recruitment exercise for seven core posts such as Administrative Manager and Coordinators is ongoing. The posts were advertised on 03 October 2025 with a closing date on 23 October 2025. A total of 144 applications for all the posts has been received. Interviews will be conducted from 03 to 07 November 2025. In addition, the NADC has already identified premises to set up its office, and procedures for finalising the lease agreement are underway. Madam Speaker, I must point out that my Office has received a number of representations from NGOs as well as from independent persons regarding the performance of the NADC and the lack of coordination of efforts sur le terrain. In fact, as I said, it is a new agency. It must start doing… It takes time to do all these. But, in fact, Government is not, I cannot say that we are totally satisfied with the way the Agency has been operating, and we intend to take remedial actions to improve its effectiveness in the days to come.
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Yes, Mr Quirin!
Merci, Madame la présidente. L’honorable Premier ministre peut-il dire à la Chambre suite aux doutes exprimés par plusieurs travailleurs sociaux, des ONG et même par le Junior Minister, hon. Kugan Parapen, concernant les compétences et la capacité du président Sam Lauthan à s’adapter aux réalités actuelles, s’il compte le remplacer à la tête de cette agence comme cela a était fait récemment au sein d’autres institutions ?
Hon. Prime Minister!
This is a sensitive post, I can tell the hon. Member, it is very difficult to find people who are actually ready do that job.
Il y en a !
Il y en a ? Mais quand on prend contact avec eux, ils s’en vont, c’est trop dangereux.
Je peux vous donner des listes.
Maybe you will be prepared to do it?
Not me. I am a Member of the National Assembly.
No, but maybe you will want to do it.
Blabla fasil sa.
Blabla, mo pu donn twa nom la.
It is not easy. If you have names, give us the names. We will consider.
Yes, I will give you!
Okay, your next question please. Do you have more supplementary? Yes?
No, no, next question, please. GENERAL ELECTIONS – LAW AMENDMENTS – MAURITIAN DIASPORA – RIGHT TO VOTE