Madam Speaker, the House will recall the previous government was never in favour of making public the report of the Court of Investigation into the grounding of MV Wakashio. The MSM-led regime was indifferent and insensitive to the appeal from the public and hon. Members of the Opposition. I place on record that this Government took a bold decision, and on 02 October 2025, the report was made public. Indeed, a major milestone in our bid to making freedom of information a reality and upholding transparency in Government endeavours. Since the grounding of the MV Wakashio on 25 July 2020 and to date, Madam Speaker, there has been a total of 6,309 claims amounting to approximately Rs2.3 billion, which have been transmitted to Japan P&I Club, the insurer of MV Wakashio for reimbursement. However, as I had previously mentioned in my reply to PQ B/989 at the Sitting of 11 November 2025, whereby I tabled the total amount of compensation which is around Rs200 million that was paid to the victims over the period 2021-2022 by the insurer of MV Wakashio. It was indeed a huge letdown as only Rs200 million out of the Rs2.3 billion was paid to the victims. On 2025 October 2021, the ship owner Okiyo Maritime Corporation entered a case before the Supreme Court applying for limitation fund to be set up limiting the value of compensation to be paid to the tune of approximately Rs720 million. I am also informed that since this case was lodged, the insurer had seized payment of compensation to the victims. The last payment of compensation made by the insurer was in April 2022. On 23 February 2026, the Supreme Court delivered a judgement authorising Okiyo Maritime Corporation to set up a limitation fund for the payment of claims not related to oil pollution damaged by way of bank guaranteed. I have been informed by the hon. Attorney General’s Office that Okiyo Maritime Corporation has now lodged an appeal against the judgement of the Supreme Court before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The case will probably be heard before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council by the middle of next year. I am made to understand that my good friend, hon. Member, in his question, that I am sure that he was referring to the Supreme Court Judgement and not as an international court as there has been no compensation proposed by the international court regarding this case. I am further informed by the Attorney General’s Office, Madam Speaker that following the Supreme Court Judgement, the State of Mauritius will now enter a case against the owner and related parties to seek damages for the oil pollution damage following the grounding of the MV Wakashio and the ensuing oil spill. It is in this very perspective but my Ministry, in consultation with the Attorney General’s Office, is working on a mise en demeure against Okiyo Maritime Corporation for oil pollution damage. This Government believes in the principles of the rule of law and it is committed to ensure that justice is done to the people of Mauritius especially those who have directly suffered due to the impact of the shipwreck and oil spill. As a responsible government, we will stand guided by the decision of the court but I wish to reiterate that Government will ensure that compensation due are paid to victims.

Yes!

Yes, Madam Speaker, being given that a figure has been earmarked for compensation, is the hon. Minister in a position to see whether there is a possibility to negotiate for an interim payment in the meantime so as to reduce the amount of prejudice being caused to the victims of the MV Wakashio?

My hon. Friend can rest assured that in regard to the legal issue, the matter is being dealt with by our friends from Attorney General’s Office.

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