Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, at the very outset, I wish to inform the hon. Member that my Ministry is not responsible for dredging or desilting works at La Balise boat passage as this does not fall under our jurisdiction. Therefore, the District Council of Black River has neither carried out desilting works at La Balise boat passage, nor does it have the legal mandate to undertake such coastal dredging works. I am also informed that the District Council has not received complaints regarding navigational difficulties at that particular location. However, within its inland mandate, the Council has undertaken desilting works in nearby rivers channels, namely at Rivière Saint- Martin in September 2019, October 2021, February 2023 and February 2026, and at Grande Rivière Noire in February 2023. I am also informed that the Land Drainage Authority completed cleaning and desilting works along Rivière Saint-Martin over approximately 3.5 km up to A3 Black River Road in February 2023. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, although this matter does not fall under the District Council's direct responsibility, I caused inquiry to be made in good faith with all relevant authorities concerned. The Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries has advised that La Balise boat passage is presently practicable for navigation and no complaints have been registered from fishermen regarding thereon. The Beach Authority has also confirmed that it has no mandate to dredging or desilting in the lagoon or river mouth area as its role is confined to beach management only. I am further informed by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change that a request submitted by La Balise Marina in April 2025 for dredging at the Rivière Noire mouth could not proceed as such works requires an Environmental Impact Assessment under item 27 of the sixth schedule of the Environment Act 2024 and no application has been submitted by the promoter till date. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed that a separate request was made in January this year by the Commissioner of Police for urgent desilting works at the National Coast Guard berthing area at Black River, where sediment deposition was affecting the safe berthing and operational deployment. Following a site visit by several authorities, the Ministry of Environment issued in March 2026, a no objection for desilting works strictly limited to that particular operational area, subject to given environmental safeguards. I am further informed that the Police Department and the Ministry of National Infrastructure are currently finalising the technical specifications, following which, a bidding exercise will be launched soon for implementation. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I, therefore, wish to reiterate that the District Council of Black River is not the responsible body for coastal dredging or desilting at La Balise. Nevertheless, all relevant authorities have been consulted and where intervention is required, the authorities are taking the necessary actions through appropriate legal technical and environmental procedures to go ahead with the Commissioner of Police’s request.

The hon. Third Member for Quartier Militaire & Moka! MOHUNLALL MOHIT GOVERNMENT SCHOOL, L'AVENIR – ELECTRICITY SUPPLY ISSUES