Madam Speaker, Club Méditerranée, also known as Club Med, is a five-star rated hotel located at Albion and comprises 295 rooms and 40 villas. The hotel operates at an average occupancy rate of around 100% during peak seasons and approximately 50% off-peak periods. I am informed by the National Land Transport Authority that presently, no taxi is licensed to operate from the hotel. However, 24 taxis from the surrounding localities have been operating from the hotel premises since 01 July 2007 to cater for the transport needs of guests. Now, Madam Speaker, I am also informed by the NLTA that on 26 September 2007, the then National Transport Authority (NTA) – it was then called NTA – decided to grant 20 taxi licences on transfer to operate from Club Méditerranée Albion and the communiqué was issued on 06 October 2007 to invite applications. However, licencing exercise was not brought to conclusion due to representations from the General Taxi Owners Union and a case lodged at the Supreme Court by six taxi owners. Madam Speaker, following a survey carried out in year 2022 and based on the policy criterion of one taxi for every ten rooms, 33 taxis may be licenced to operate from the hotel. It is my understanding that on 07 April 2023, new applications were invited through the press to grant taxi licences to operate from the hotel and 55 applications were received. However, this exercise was not concluded in view of the serious flaws identified in the exercise. After the general election of 2024, the new management of the NLTA promptly cancelled the exercise. Madam Speaker, the NLTA has advised by the end of April 2026 – in one and a half months’ time or so – applications will be invited on transfer from holders of taxi licences within a radius of 6 kilometres to provide taxi services at Club Med, Albion. Taxi operators who have been providing services at the hotel during the last three years will also be eligible to apply. Thank you.

Yes, of course.

Je vous remercie, Madame la présidente. Je remercie le ministre pour sa réponse. Can the Minister inform the House of the expected timeframe for the allocation of these taxi licenses? Thank you.

Well, by the end of April 2026 like I mentioned, the Expression of Interest will be floated. Now, I hope there is no macadam, because sometimes if people protest again it, it can be complicated like the case was in 2007. So, I think within this year it should be resolved.

Thank you.

Oui, M. Beechook ?

Oui, Madame. My question is not directly related to Club Med but to hotels and public service licenses. Will the hon. Minister request the NLTA to please enquire into those hotels which are no more requesting taxi licenses and instead, are outsourcing the business of transport to contractors, which to my knowledge, is illegal?

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for this question. I am aware of such practice and mind you, my officers have been going down for crackdown operation and some well-known hotels, des noms ronflants have been taken to task.

Give us the names of the noms ronflants please!

Ils ne sont pas des gentils organisateurs ! Okay, Ms Anquetil, you are okay? Okay, Mr Beechook, yes? SALAZIE, PONT BON DIEU & LA NICOLIERE – TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT – INSTALLATION MEASURES