Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for this question. I am informed by Mauritius Post Ltd. that it currently operates a total of 114 outlets, including five in Rodrigues and one in Agalega. Out of these 114 outlets in Mauritius, 100 are providing postal services such as delivery of letters, parcels, selling of stamps and non- postal services as well. A total of 55 postal and 24 non-postal. Madam Speaker, Mauritius Post Ltd. has further informed me that 91 of those post offices are equipped with fully operational point of sale systems whereby payment by cards for CEB bills and postal services are currently being accepted. Mauritius Post Ltd. is in discussion with the NLTA, CWA and MT to provide for alternative modes of electronic payment. I am further informed that payment by card for a minimum of Rs200 can, in fact, be accepted by Mauritius Post Ltd. in so far as the utility company concerned gives relevant instructions to Mauritius Post Ltd. The issue reported, therefore, is not that of technical feasibility, but that of financial viability. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Yes, hon. Ramdass!

Madam Speaker, in respect of payment of NLTA services, le ministre étant lui-même un érudit de la technologie, à un moment où nous faisons de moins en moins de paiements en espèces, conviendrait-il qu’il est grand temps d’autoriser, voire même d’encourager d’autres moyens de paiements numériques tels que Juice, my.t money, cartes de crédit, etc. ? Serait-il disposé à engager des pourparlers en ce sens auprès des bureaux de postes de l’île Maurice ?

M. le ministre !

Thank you, hon. Member for the supplementary question. I think, in Mauritius of 2026, we need to have people online, not in line, to effect payments at government counters. My Ministry is actually attending some committees, under the Bank of Mauritius, to look into the possibility of even having government counters accept payment by electronic modes. Not just the Mauritius Post. As a Ministry, we are working towards a point where people will be able to effect all their payments online. So, one extension of the KOREK app will be to also accept the online renewal of MVL through the app, and payment modal will also be electronic, obviously. So, yes, we are doing it.

Okay. Not happy? One more!

Madam Speaker, that is, obviously, in respect of online apps, but how about the counters in the specific units of the Mauritius Post? Will the hon. Minister consider the possibility of authorising payments by electronic means at those counters for NLTA services? At the moment, it is not the case.

At the counters, hon. Minister!

So, it is a decision to be made by the NLTA. Why? Because there is a commission that is applicable on the payment received via cards. Even via Juice. So, a decision needs to be made by the NLTA. Once the instructions have been provided, the Mauritius Post will be able to accept the payments. We are awaiting authorisation from the authority involved. Thank you.

Okay, I think we have got it now. So, Mr Apollon, Second Member for Mahebourg & Plaine Magnien! MAHEBOURG HOSPITAL – METHADONE DISTRIBUTION – PROPOSED RELOCATION