The Mauritian government has spent a total of Rs 42.7 million on 109 official trips abroad by cabinet ministers since December 2024. This information was provided by the Prime Minister's Office in response to a question from Joanna Bérenger, a member of the Fron Militan Progresis party. However, the government has refused to disclose details of the meetings attended, the length of each trip, and the money spent on flights, allowances, and other costs.
The Prime Minister's Office stated that daily allowances for the trips followed the rates outlined in the Finance ministry's Circular No 10 of 2017. However, no breakdown was provided for individual missions. The government also revealed that ministers brief Cabinet on their return and will keep those reports private, with only the total expenditure being made available to Parliament.
The lack of transparency in the government's dealings has raised concerns among citizens and opposition parties. The detail of the trips, including the purpose and outcome, is crucial in determining whether the money was well spent. The government's decision to keep the reports private has been criticized, with many calling for greater accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.
Meanwhile, Minister Shakeel Mohamed has proposed that Mauritius become a regional reference point for managing Waqf, a type of Islamic charitable endowment. He made this pitch at the 5th AlBaraka Summit in London, highlighting the need for transparency, ethics, and governance in the sector. The government has already made amendments to the colonial-era Waqf Act to bring it closer to international standards.
In other news, the environmental group Eco-Sud is pressing the Constitutional Review Commission to include the rights of nature in the supreme law. The group is proposing that nature be recognized as a 'subject of law' with a right to exist, be protected, and be restored. This move is inspired by Ecuador, which became the first country to put rights of nature in its constitution.
The construction sector in Mauritius is facing challenges, including project delays, water shortages, and higher material costs. The sector contributes around Rs 350 million to the economy daily, and every day of delay results in a loss of around Rs 35 million. The industry is also reeling from recent unrest and labor shortages.
The government has also been dealing with the aftermath of a global security flaw that affected its online services. Around 10-15% of government online services were still down days after the issue was reported, with officials assuring that no data was lost and services were being restored in stages.
Key points
- The Mauritian government spent Rs 42.7 million on 109 ministerial trips since December 2024, but details of the trips remain undisclosed.
- Minister Shakeel Mohamed proposes that Mauritius become a regional reference point for managing Waqf.
- The construction sector in Mauritius faces challenges, including project delays, water shortages, and higher material costs.
