Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed by the Forestry Service that 10,270 hectares of State land falling under its purview have been earmarked for shooting and fishing and ecotourism purposes. In this respect, 54 leases covering a total of 8,696 hectares have been granted under the Shooting and Fishing Leases Act for the purpose of shooting, fishing and ecotourism activities. I have to inform the House that out of these, 48 leases were granted by the previous regime during the period June 2021 to September 2024. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, since November 2024, the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Fisheries and Blue Economy has granted six shooting, fishing and ecotourism leases and these, for these applications, due diligence exercises were conducted first by the Forestry Service. The applications were thereafter examined by a Shooting and Fishing Steering Committee chaired by the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry. This Committee comprises of representatives – (i) the Corporate and Business Registration Department of the Ministry of Finance; (ii) the Ministry of Tourism; (iii) the Registry of Association of the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations; (iv) the Mauritius Police Force, the Forestry Service, and (v) the National Parks and Conservation Service. It was only following the favourable recommendation of the Committee that the grant of the leases was approved by the Ministry, pursuant to Section 3(1)(c) of the Shooting and Fishing Leases Act. Now, with regard to part (a) of the question, a shooting and fishing lease is granted for a period of seven years. The lease may be extended for another seven years up to a maximum of 14 years, provided that the lessee has properly preserved game and duly fulfilled the conditions of the lease. On the other hand, an ecotourism lease may be extended such that its total duration does not exceed 20 years. As regards part (b) of the question, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed by the Forestry Service that four leases have been cancelled and two leases have not been reviewed over the past three years. The four leases that have been cancelled are – (i) The lease granted to Eco Deer Park Association over State land, Dayot and Mangin, of an extent of 250.76 hectares. The lease was cancelled with effect from 09 March 2023 as the lessee had undertaken activities that were outside the ambit of the lease and of the applicable legislation specified in the lease. At that time, the then Independent Commission Against Corruption was investigating into an alleged case of corruption involving the former Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, and an alleged case of money laundering connected with the association. (ii) The lease granted to Agrihunt and Lodge Ltd over part of State land of an extent of 75.69 hectares was cancelled on 17 January 2026 as the lessee had failed to settle rent for the period 08 September 2025 to 07 September 2026 by the set deadline of 01 of April 2025, which had been extended twice, up to October 2025. (iii) The lease held by Green Force Forest Company Limited over State lands, Rochery and Rampal, of an extent of 64.75 hectares, was cancelled on 04 April 2026 upon the request of the lessee. (iv) The lease granted to Société Hémisphère de L’Est over State land Desenne & Valton, Rochery, Le Clerc and Gallanty of an extent of 178.68 hectares was cancelled on 25 May 2026 in view of the several breaches of the lease and Shooting and Fishing Leases Act. The lessee had failed to settle the annual rent for the period 08 September 2026 to 07 September 2027 by the statutory deadline of 01 April 2026. It had also failed to properly maintain the State land and did not employ any watchman for the site as required under the Act. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as regards those leases which have not been renewed, there is firstly the lease held by Chassée de la Rivière du Post Ltd over State land, Salazie and Beau Vallon, of an extent of 78.98 hectares. I am informed that the lease was not renewed as there had been several breaches of the lease and the Shooting and Fishing Leases Act, including late payment of rental fees and encroachment upon plot of State land of over four hectares. Furthermore, following the recommendation of the Shooting and Fishing Steering Committee, the Ministry did not approve the renewal of the lease held by First Direct Resort Limited over part of State land Raoul, of an extent of 175.18 hectares for a period 25 May 2019 to 24 May 2026. Contrary to the provisions of the Shooting and Fishing Leases Act and the condition of the lease, the lessee failed to carry out shooting and fishing and eco-tourism activities and made no provision for any watchman on site. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have to reassure the House that leases for shooting, fishing and eco-tourism purposes are being allocated in line with good governance practices.

Yes.

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, and thanks to my very good friend for his very explicit answers. May I ask the hon. Minister whether cannabis cultivation has been found on certain on any of the lease land; not the ones he mentioned and does that entail automatic cancellation of the lease?

I do not know, I would be surprised if there has been cultivation of cannabis, but as far as I know, it does not entail immediate cancellation because we do not know who is the person who is growing the cannabis. It does not necessarily mean it has to be the lessee.

Thank you. The hon. Third Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue. PAD & CO. LTD, RICHE TERRE – STATE-OWNED OR PRIVATELY- OWNED – HOUSING PROJECT