Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am informed that out of the 163 NHDC housing estates, 34 are governed by règlement de copropriété, and in line with the provisions of the Code Civil Mauricien, the owners of these apartments have to set up a syndicat de copropriétaires whose duties are to manage the common space of those housing estates. The syndicat de copropriétaires, through its general assembly, appoints a syndic who is responsible to manage the affairs of the syndicat de copropriétaires, that is, the good management of housing estates. In this respect, each copropriétaire is called upon to make a monthly contribution as determined by the general assembly of the syndicat de copropriétaires to finance the expenses of the syndicat. Over the years, it was noted that many syndicats de copropriétaires were not functional due to low rate of contribution by the copropriétaires. To be more precise, there are certain copropriétaires who do contribute, whereas the great majority do not. With a view to addressing the issue, Government, in 2012, decided to contribute Rs200 per housing unit, per month, to the respective syndics. As matters stand, Madam Speaker, I am informed by the NHDC that contribution to the syndicats de copropriétaires comes mainly from Government. I am also informed that around 40% of the amount contributed, goes towards and that is the problem, administrative costs of the syndicat, thus leaving barely adequate fund for the proper maintenance of common areas. In this context, I have requested the NHDC to come up with proposals to operate themselves as syndic on housing estates where the syndicat is not fully functional or not functional at all. I underline those two words. Because if it is working properly, there is no need for us to intervene. It is understood that this proposal can only happen if the decision is taken by the copropriétaire at their General Assembly. Since there is already a housing estate management and community development unit and a maintenance unit at the NHDC, resorting to the latter company will result in reducing the amount being absorbed as administrative cost of existing syndics, thus providing for additional funds towards proper maintenance. In regard to part (a), the key measures to be implemented by the NHDC will be as follows – (i) assist the syndicats des copropriétaires in convening their respective general assembly to approve the appointment of the NHDC as syndic if they so desire. (ii) seek the consent of the respective syndicats des copropriétaires for the monthly subsidy of Rs200 per housing unit by Government to be disbursed to the NHDC. Since it is the NHDC that will do the work, the NHDC, with their consent, will hold on to that in order to do the work. (iii) Reinforce its housing estate management and community development unit, as well as its maintenance unit. (iv) Undertake inter alia the cleaning of common spaces, maintenance of children’s playground and water pumps, tanks, minor rehabilitation and dislodging works and most importantly, payment of utility bills of common services. Because as it stands, I will add that part, it has been brought to my attention and that is so very often that common utility bills for the common areas in syndic residences are very often not paid. There are certain, one of them, not far from where I stand, even has a bill of approximately Rs380,000 unpaid and it has also been reported to the Central Electricity Board, that there has been unlawful connection of electricity in order for them to continue getting electricity in common areas. So, all this, Madam Speaker, has been going down the down the drain because the previous Government, the previous Minister responsible, the previous administration at NHDC, just let things happened and did not even bother to come and find solutions and solutions are not always easy. They demand courage. In regards to part (b) and (c), I understand that officers of the NHDC are already working on the implementation schedule to carry out sensitization and information campaigns on NHDC estates where the syndicats des copropriétaires are not functional. As it stands, Madam Speaker, let me conclude on that, a lot of those non-functional or dysfunctional syndics are represented by certain people, as I have explained. 40% minimum, sometimes more, of what Government gives, is absorbed by their administrative costs. They take on that money and very often, you find out that they were political agents of the former Government, surreptitiously placed there. So, let me make it very clear. I know that they will find change complicated. It is understandable. All change is very difficult for certain people who have vested interest in there. So, they will be trying a lot of things in order to stop this regime, in order to bring solutions, in order to make sure that NHDC residences are clean, well maintained, and there is a proper living environment. I will not deter. My officers will not run away. We will forge ahead with the help of every single hon. Member of Parliament, even on the hon. Member of Parliament on the other side. Thank you very much.

Good! Yes, one.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the hon. Minister give any indication on how financial matters will be handled by the syndic and whether, residents of NHDC complexes will be made to contribute any sum, if so, the amount please? Thank you.

It is a very good question. The exercise that we have carried out already at the level of the Ministry, together with officers and management of the NHDC, also with the new housing estates of the NSLD, there will be 14. In actual fact, I have the figures, the NHDC housing estates, there are 34. Number of housing units, 7,635. Number of syndics, 79. Number of active syndics out of the 79, only 32. Amount disbursed for syndic grant 2025-2026 – Rs13,587,687 out of the almost Rs19 million. A recent assessment of syndic's expenditure revealed that, as I have said, only 40% goes to administrative costs. So, as it stands for the NSLD, it is 14, number of housing units 2,730 as at now and it will keep on increasing. So, what we are going to do is, yes, one size does not fit all, Madam Speaker. There are certain residences that require less common areas, less areas in order to upkeep, that do not require such contribution and where it does not require such contribution, whatever Government gives, since it started in 2012, will continue and if they desire to resort to our services of the NHDC, it will be managed. If there is a need pour faire des appels de fonds for other work, as and normally it is done, it will be done. But there are certain people who do not pay a penny. And there was a question. What happens if those who are now owners of those apartments, who can sell it and make a profit, who can benefit from subsidised Government property, but they do not pay a penny with regard to upkeep? What do we do? There are people who have suggested that we consider other means and measures in order to take the money from an electricity bill for instance, or to be able to have certain people who refuse to pay consistently, in spite of being able to pay, just out of pure negligence, they do not want to pay, being antisocial. Do we have the syndic take them to Court, as it normally should be, as according to the Civil Code? There needs to be discipline because the majority wants a good living environment and it is not because a small number of people mess things up that we are going to keep quiet.

Okay. Maybe no more long answers, hon. Minister. In case, you may be able to make a statement. It is so important. Yes.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I ask the hon. Minister what services will the new syndic scheme propose?

So, with regard to the new services, Madam Speaker, I have explained earlier on. I have the details. So, we have the cleaning of common areas. We have the green spaces, children’s playground. Some of them have never been opened and I have to run. True it is we are having certain problems and I have to be very candid. I apologize; I need to say that the Ministry of Finance will have to be able to consult quicker with Local Government and Local Government has to be able to take on board their responsibilities for cleaning of playground areas, etc. because they need to be given finance and they need to take that responsibility. Now, something else is repair of works and maintenance of amenities because a lot of them are broken down within the housing estates, cleaning of water tanks, maintenance of pumps, paying electricity bills, cleaning of drains, minor waterproofing and structural repairs of housing blocks, removal of bulk waste, dislodging works. So those are the works that normally a syndic does and we will be providing it. But most importantly, we will have a number and a dedicated person responsible for each residence where they will be able to be reached at all times and they will be able to dispatch people in order to do the work.

Okay, thank you, hon. Minister. Now, the next question has been withdrawn, B /1046, that of hon. Lobine. Dr. Prayag, I do not know what has happened. So, I shall call on hon. Ms S. Anquetil for the moment for the next question. We will keep Dr. Prayag.

He is not coming today. He is not coming.

Okay. So, that question is also out.

Il a présenté ses excuses. PHOENIX – RAMPAT & IQBAL LANE – DRAINS UPGRADING & ASPHALTING WORKS