Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, since my becoming Minister of Land Transport, I have initiated several initiatives that seek to modernise the transport sector. Today, the Penalty Point System is fully digital, just like the online payment of road tax, commonly known as online MVL. Forthcoming ones are the digital driving licence and online payment of fines, for which the drafting instructions have already been issued to the Attorney General's Office. A cashless ticketing system is at consultancy stage. We are going for the extra mile in the quest for digitalisation of the land transport, and I am sure my colleague, the Minister of ICT, will surely concur with me on this front. The Fleet Management System, which is the subject matter of hon. A. Ramdass, is a key initiative which I and officers of my Ministry have relentlessly worked on. With an initial intention to have it on a PPP basis, almost no budgetary provision, except for consultancy services, we have after a consultation with the Attorney General's Office, deemed it more appropriate that it be financed and implemented by government as all PPP projects that followed strictly the process of the Build-Operate-Transfer Unit of the Ministry of Finance have never been completed, as far as we know. An international bidding exercise was launched on 21 January 2026 for implementation of the Fleet Management System with an initial closing date of 09 March 2026 and a bid opening on 11 March 2026. The closing date was subsequently extended to 24 March 2026, following representations from bidders and opened on 26 March 2026. Three bids have been received at the closing date. The technical evaluation exercise has been completed and the relevant report has been submitted and is being processed for endorsement. My Ministry expects to award the contract very shortly in line with procedures laid down in the Public Procurement Act. I am confident that the Fleet Management System will be running in early 2027 and will go a long way in enhancing transparency, efficiency and accountability in the public transport system while improving service delivery to commuters. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank the hon. Member for his interest in the project, which when coupled with the Bus Services Bill, for which we have already issued drafting instructions to the Attorney General's Office, seeks to modernise the public bus services that convey nearly half a million people daily. The Fleet Management System which, inter alia, entails the installation of GPSs in all buses will profoundly redefine the current bus operation system. It will introduce digital tools to support real-time operations, improve timetable adherence, and enable data-driven decision-making for both operators and regulators. It will also allow for payment of compensation for free travel and diesel subsidies based on the real numbers of trips effected. Thank you.

Yes, hon. Ramdass.

M. le président, in view of the difficulties faced by the inhabitants of remote areas of the country including Saint Hubert, as the hon. Minister is aware himself, may we have a clear timeline as to the full implementation and putting into practice of the Fleet Management System?

My officers and technicians tell me that it will be early 2027. Because once the tender is awarded, there will there will be extensive work involved in the installation of the electronic system in 2,000 buses and the central control system. So, we should be okay by 2007, if all goes on well.

The hon. Second Member for Grand’ Baie and Poudre D'or! CENTRAL ELECTRICITY BOARD – CADET TECHNICIANS – NON- TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS