The Mauritian parliament is set to convene on November 10, with Deputy Prime Minister Arianne Navarre-Marie taking the helm in the absence of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who is on an official visit to Paris. This session is expected to draw significant attention, particularly during the Prime Minister's Question Time (PMQT). Navarre-Marie, who also serves as the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, will respond to questions and potentially face opposition leader Chetan Baboolall.
One of the key issues to be discussed is the agreement regarding the Chagos archipelago. Ashley Ramdass, a member of parliament, has asked about the developments in the ratification process of the treaty signed on May 22, 2025, between Mauritius and the United Kingdom concerning the transfer of sovereignty over the archipelago. Ramdass specifically wants to know the current status of the dossier following the meeting between the Prime Minister and British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell on October 2 in London.
The financial situation and strategy of Air Mauritius will also be under scrutiny, with two separate parliamentary questions. Sydney Pierre, an opposition member, is interested in the report prepared by Seabury Aviation Partners LLC for Air Mauritius. He wants to know if the document has been made public and if the government plans to release it. Pierre also seeks information on whether the current transformation strategy of Air Mauritius aligns with the recommendations in the report.
Kaviraj Rookny will focus on Air Mauritius's financial results for the 2025-2026 financial year. He seeks clarification on the contribution of reevaluations of provisions, revenue from travel vouchers, and unrealized exchange gains to the announced profit. Rookny also requests the financial result that would have been recorded without these accounting items and the net amount of liquidity generated by operational activities.
Other issues to be discussed include the development of the port sector, with Ludovic Caserne asking for the conclusions of the recent inter-ministerial committee meeting on port development strategy. Roshan Jhummun will inquire about the debt levels of parastatal organizations, public corporations, and state-owned enterprises. Additionally, there will be questions on a presumed case of child abuse, recent violence and vandalism incidents, and the participation of minors in recent riots.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also face questions on various other topics, including the functioning of the Gaming Brigade, an accident involving a tourist hydravion, and the preparations for upcoming village elections. These questions reflect a range of concerns and issues affecting the country, from economic and environmental matters to social and security issues.
The session will also cover environmental concerns, with Joanna Bérenger inquiring about the ministry's approach to addressing climate risks and water management. The discussions are expected to be comprehensive, covering a wide array of topics that impact the daily lives of Mauritians and the country's development trajectory.
Key points
- Deputy Prime Minister Arianne Navarre-Marie to lead the Mauritian parliament session in the absence of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.
- The session will discuss key issues including the finances of Air Mauritius and the status of the Chagos archipelago agreement.
- Other topics to be addressed include port development, debt levels of state-owned enterprises, and recent social and security incidents.
