B/786 is a nice coincidence. It is my registration number of the Roll of Engineers. Madam Speaker, I would like to refer the hon. Member to my reply to her PQ B/153 of 18 March 2025 whereby I informed the House that an inquiry will be carried out on the Cycle Network Project, which was implemented by the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit of

41 my Ministry, owing to its high value and failing of the paint at several locations, which the hon. Member had mentioned in the House. To recall, the hon. Member had questioned me as to whether an inquiry would be conducted on this project that cost Rs61.94 million, inclusive of VAT. In this respect, Madam Speaker, the Internal Control Unit of my Ministry was requested to conduct an inquiry with the following terms of reference – (a) To assess compliance with procedures; (b) Review the procurement process, and (c) Assess the role of stakeholders. Madam Speaker, the Internal Control Unit has submitted its report to my Ministry on 30 May 2025. I must say the findings are appalling. The list is quite long. I will just mention the salient ones for this project at this stage which I have to remind the House, as I stated before, is devoid of a regulatory framework – (i) Regarding the compliance and procedure part, which is the first part of the terms of reference, the capital project process manual and the conditions of contract have not been complied with; (ii) There are instances where major items which have not been completed, but they were paid for. This tantamount to forgery; (iii) The photos and fading road markings, as were tabled by hon. Ms Anquetil, has been confirmed by the Internal Control Unit. As a matter of fact, there have been discrepancies in the materials used. Now, coming back to the second part of the terms of reference, the review of the procurement process. The findings are as follows – (i) There were inconsistencies in the scope of works for the consultancy services of Mega Design Consultants Ltd., which is the consultant that was appointed. I am informed that there are deviations as regards requirements of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). There were in appropriate in evaluation of technical bids for consultancy services and I am informed that the consultant was paid a total of Rs13.472 million inclusive of VAT. (ii) There were inappropriate cost estimates by that the TRMSU.

42 (iii) Rate submitted by the contractor was on the high side. (iv) The contract was awarded to Transinvest Construction Ltd though the contract price was 25.13% higher than the cost estimate. It is to be noted that the required limit as per the capital project process manual of the Ministry of Finance is only 15%. Madam Speaker, as regards the assessment of the role of stakeholders which is the third part of the terms of reference, the Internal Control Unit found major shortfalls in connection with lack of supervision by the project manager at the TRMSU and at the Ministry’s level. Madam Speaker, against this backdrop, I would like to inform the hon. Member and the House that the report is now being submitted to the Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation.

Thank you. Yes, hon. Ms Anquetil!

Je vous remercie, Madame la présidente. Je suis abasourdie par la réponse du hon. Ministre. Will the hon. Minister inform the House of the number of meetings chaired by the former Minister Ganoo in connection with this project? Thank you.

I do not have this number but, Madam Speaker, I have to say that in my more than a decade of career in the Civil Service, I have never seen such level of deviation with approved processes and manuals. In as much as the report is being forwarded to the Financial Crimes Commission, I will leave it to the Commission to elucidate whether the officers took it on themselves or were instructed by other people including the former Minister.

Yes!

A last one, Madam Speaker. Will the hon. Minister indicate whether the findings of the inquiry will be made public in the interest of transparency and good governance?

Madam Speaker, I have a report with me. It is quite thick. This is the report that is being forwarded to the Financial Crimes Commission for further enquiry. I believe at this stage it will be improper for me to table it.

Yes, too early. Yes, Hon. Beejan, the Second Member for Grand’ Baie and Poudre D'or.

43 GOODLANDS – DOORGACHURN HURRY GOVERNMENT SCHOOL – CONSTRUCTION OF DRAINS