Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Civil Status Division, that the celebration of civil marriages in Rodrigues, including those between a Rodriguan and a foreign national, as well as between two foreign nationals, is governed by the Civil Status Act which applies across the Republic of Mauritius. As regards the publication procedure for marriages involving a non-citizen to a citizen, I am informed that – a) both persons must appear in person at the Central Civil Status Office to submit a joint application for publication, along with all the mandatory documents;

26 b) upon verification and acceptance of the documents, the Civil Status Officer proceeds with the publication of the intended marriage at the Central Civil Status Office, the Civil Status Office of the district where each party has resided for at least seven days, and the Civil Status Office of the district where the marriage is meant to take place; c) the publication notice is affixed in the respective offices for a period of 30 consecutive days. It is to be noted that the civil marriage cannot be celebrated during that period of publication, that is, 30 days; d) moreover, during the 30-day publication period, any person may lodge a notice of objection to the marriage with the Registrar, and e) if no objection is received, or if any objection is overruled, the marriage may then be celebrated within a period of three months. Madam Speaker, with regard to marriages between two non-citizens, I am informed that the procedure is as follows – a) an application for publication of the intended marriage, along with all required documents, must be submitted to the Central Civil Status Office either via email or through a registered wedding coordinator at least one month prior to the intended date of the celebration, to allow for necessary verification and clearance from the Passport and Immigration Office; b) upon arrival in Mauritius, both parties must report in person to the Central Civil Status Office for verification of their original documents; c) once the documents have been verified and approved, the parties proceed to the Civil Status Office of the district where the marriage is meant to be celebrated to complete the publication procedures, and d) the civil marriage may then be celebrated on the day immediately following the day of publication. As for Rodrigues Citizens intending to marry a foreign citizen or for two foreign citizens to marry in Rodrigues, they have to follow the process in Mauritius, as it is described above, and therefore, proceed to Rodrigues for the celebration of the civil marriage.

Yes, your supplementary?

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Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the hon. Prime Minister for his reply. Some years back, I understand that the procedures were done in Rodrigues, can the hon. Prime Minister inform the House if he will consider that this be resumed, as it was before?

I must say I didn’t quite understand the question. You want a different procedure for Rodrigues?

Yes, he said – will you accept to go back to the previous procedure when it was done in Rodrigues.

I will have to look into that matter.

Yes, I think so. What is interesting is that Mauritius is not Gretna Green. You can’t just go and get married, you need publication. Okay, I think now we have reached the Second Member for Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien, hon. Apollon! MALHERBES, CUREPIPE – 24 SEPTEMBER 2024 INCIDENT – MR G. G. COMPLAINT – INQUIRY