Madam Speaker, Government remains firmly committed to ensuring inclusive and a balanced development across the Republic of Mauritius, including Rodrigues. As stated at Paragraph 64 of the Government Programme of 2025–2029, we are giving special attention to the water situation in Rodrigues. Accordingly, financial resources are being directed towards key projects in Rodrigues, namely the installation of new desalination plants, the construction of new reservoirs, the improvement of the distribution network, and also the expansion of the storage capacity in the island. Madam Speaker, the Mauritius Investment Corporation Ltd had agreed – that was with the previous Government – to allocate an amount of Rs1 billion to develop the water sector in Rodrigues, although this, I must say, was not in its core mandate. Its core mandate was to generate return on investment in strategic enterprises, but the previous Government decided that they would move away from the core mandate and allocate Rs1 billion for the water sector. Since the agreement was signed in 2021 between the Mauritius Investment Corporation Ltd and the Rodrigues Public Utilities Corporation, which is a company set up by the Rodrigues Regional Assembly, Government has continued the implementation of the water projects in Rodrigues, and an amount of Rs540 million was earmarked for the first phase of the project. I am informed that, as at to date, the Mauritius Investment Corporation Ltd has disbursed Rs310 million to the Rodrigues Public Utilities Corporation and that the remaining Rs230 million will be disbursed by the end of this financial year. I am further informed that with a view to speeding up the disbursement of funds, the Rodrigues Public Utilities Corporation Ltd has been requested to submit all the necessary documents required by the MIC for the processing of claims in a timely manner. In the second phase, the remaining amount, that is, Rs460 million would be considered for land-based water projects on the island. The projects to be financed in the second stage have been worked out by the Rodrigues Public Utilities Corporation Ltd, and a fresh agreement will have to be signed for the disbursement of these funds. These investments will significantly enhance water production, water storage, and distribution capacity in Rodrigues and contribute to improving water security on the island.

Yes, Mr Edouard? One moment, one question.

I thank the hon. Prime Minister for his reply. Will the hon. Prime Minister address the problem of delays in the release of money which impact on project completion and also has a great incidence on the spending capacity of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly? Thank you.

Certainly, Madam Speaker. This is why they have been informed to speed up the disbursement of funds; the Rodrigues Public Utilities Corporation Ltd has been requested. They have not submitted all the necessary documents; they will need to give all the necessary documents which are required by the MIC for the processing of the claims. ANNOUNCEMENT SITTING OF 17.03.26 – PNQ – RELATED SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS

Thank you. Before Mr Jhummun puts his question, I have to advise the House – and the hon. Prime Minister knows – that the hon. Prime Minister was to reply to PQs B/26, B/29, B/34, B/43, B/44, B/47, B/51, and B/61 on the issue that he just replied to at PNQ time. So, what I will do is after Mr Jhummun has put his question or supplementary, whichever, I will allow all these Members to put their supplementary, but try and watch the time nonetheless. Okay? MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS – ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS – CONTINGENCY PLANS