(5.36 p.m.) RIAMBEL - PAS GÉOMÉTRIQUES – ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

Je vous remercie. Ma requête s'adresse à l’honorable ministre de l'Environnement. Madame la présidente, certains titulaires de baux sur les pas géométriques se croient malheureusement tout permis. Un nouveau cas à Riambel. Il y a deux jours où des lianes batatran et des veloutiers ont été déracinés et une dune de sable modifiée alors qu'il s'agit d'un Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) répertorié sur la carte officielle. Ces éléments sont essentiels pour protéger nos plages de l'érosion. La section 25 de l'Environment Act exige une autorisation préalable avant toute intervention sur une ESA. Et à ma connaissance, aucune autorisation officielle, en tout cas, n'a été donnée ici. Le cas a donc été signalé à la police. Mais je demanderais à l’honorable ministre de bien vouloir s'assurer que les dommages à l'environnement soient réparés, que de nouveaux dommages soient empêchés, et que les responsables soient jugés pour leurs actes. Mais surtout, je lui demanderais de communiquer clairement sur le sujet parce qu'il y a eu d'autres cas récemment à Belle Mare, à Mont Choisy, et maintenant à Riambel. Je lui demanderais d'envoyer un signal fort et clair, c'est-à-dire : qu'être titulaire d'un bail ne donne pas le droit de faire n'importe quoi avec notre patrimoine naturel. Je vous remercie.

Merci. Je suis sûr que vous allez faire ce qu'il faut. The Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change (Mr R. Bhagwan): We are very well aware of this case. So, there has been a site visit yesterday by the different responsible persons of the Ministry of Housing, la Police de l'Environnement, our Ministry, and the District Council. It is true that the owner of the property has effected some works on the sand dunes, and he has been taken to task. He has even been served a programme notice and he will be prosecuted according to the legislation. As far as communication to the population, we know what we have to do. We have been doing it, and we will continue to communicate to the population with regard to its responsibilities.

Thank you. The hon. Minister of Housing spoke about that issue last time.

Yes. Since it also concerns State land, let me just inform the hon. Member, Madam Speaker, that not only have we had the site visit, but we are also already in talks with the Attorney General's Office in order to clarify by way of regulations, perhaps, the responsibilities and rights, what happens from the low-water mark to the high-water mark, from the high-water mark to the building line, and who has rights and what are the responsibilities. So, this is already underway because there was a huge lacuna in the law, which led a lot of people doing a lot of things that they are not allowed to do. But let me say, in particular to this matter: those are leases and approvals that were given before the last general elections. But, nevertheless, we will continue to wipe the mess created by others.

Yes. I remember you were talking about this in in Parliament the other day. Thank you for bringing it up. Thank you, hon. Ministers, for clearing the matter. Now, I think that is it for the day! At 5.39 p.m. the Assembly was, on its rising, adjourned to Tuesday 14 July 2026 at 11.30 a.m.