The commitment made by some members of the Labor Party to reimburse the amount disbursed by the government has still not been honored. This is the answer of the Prime Minister to a question from MP Kenny Dhunoo, during the PMQT session in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Pravind Jugnauth said that contrary to the claims of the former Prime Minister, it was the latter’s wife who phoned him to request financial assistance for the hospitalization of her husband.
The tension rose a notch when the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth made it clear that it was following a phone call from the wife of Navin Ramgoolam that the necessary arrangements were made for the anti-covid treatment of the latter in India in September 2021.
“In fact, contrary to what Dr. Ramgoolam has stated at his Press Conference, I never phoned him personally while he was admitted at Wellkin Hospital. It is, in fact, his wife who phoned me, seeking government assistance, as the Labour Party members had so far failed to organize the urgent medical evacuation of Dr Ramgoolam,” he said.
Arrangements were made urgently and in good faith for the payment of the medical evacuation exercise to be made by the State Bank of Mauritius Ltd through Kaluha Holding Ltd.
On the same day, September 6, 2021, Mr. Damry sent another email expressing his gratitude for the assistance provided and confirmed his commitment to reimburse the government for all payments advanced to Dr. Ramgoolam.
Later the same day, the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service also officially informed Mr. Damry that the payment had already been made to Kaluha Holding Ltd, through the State Bank of Mauritius Ltd. Mr. Damry was, at the same time, reminded of his commitment to repay the amount so advanced.
Arrangements have also been made for our High Commission in New Delhi to provide all necessary assistance to Dr. Ramgoolam during his treatment and recovery in India.
“Nearly two months after the medical evacuation, neither Mr. Damry nor the Labor Party has attempted to repay the amount advanced. As a result, an email was sent to Mr. Damry on October 28, 2021 from my office requesting that he make the refund, as per his commitment, by the end of November 2021. When there was no response, a reminder was sent to Mr. Damry on December 10, 2021, with a renewed request to repay the amount by December 15, 2021.”
He has yet to make the refund. A first meeting was convened on December 29, 2021 at the Prime Minister’s Office during which Mr. Mr. Damry, accompanied by Mr. S. Faugoo, agreed to proceed with the reimbursement, Kaluha Holding Ltd. provided him with the details of the various expenses. Mr. Damry still did not reimburse the amount, even though Kaluha Holding Ltd. provided him with all the details afterwards.
A second meeting was convened by the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service on March 2, 2022 during which Mr. Damry, who was again accompanied by the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, was informed of the expenses. Mr. Damry, who was again accompanied by Mr. S. Faugoo, reiterated his agreement to make the repayment within a week, after the agreement with Kaluha Holding Ltd and the State Bank of Mauritius Ltd on the exact amount to be repaid. Mr. Damry has still not made the reimbursement, although Kaluha Holding Ltd had already provided him with the details of the expenses incurred.
After consultation with the Attorney General’s Office, a letter was sent to Mr. Damry on May 20, 2022, in which he was again called upon to repay the amount, which now amounts to U$D 156,675.77, within one week, failing which the Government would consider recovery through the courts and take such other steps as it may be advised to take.
Following my reply on 05 July 2022, both Mr. Damry and Dr. Ramgoolam have alleged, in the media, that commissions are being claimed on the cost of the medical evacuation of the latter.
Let me provide to the House a breakdown of the expenses, which, as I said earlier, amounted to a total of USD 156, 675.77, as follows:- USD
(i) Payment to Spice Jet for the Medical Evacuation Flight 126,390.57
(ii) Air Ticket for Mr Dhaneshwar Damry 2,600.00
(iii) Ground Handling charges 8,000.00
(iv) Flight Planning and Clearances 2,000.00
(v) Travel Insurance for Dr N. Ramgoolam and Dr. Das 179.70
(vi) General COVID-19 Medical Cover for Dr N. Ramgoolam 3,726.44
(vii) Ground 2 Air – Flight Despatch & Pax Handling SSR International Airport
950.00
(viii) KALUHA AERO Ltd Admin fee 1,200.00
(ix) KALUHA Holding Ltd (KAL) Service Fee 5,600.00
(x) Part Payment and Interest paid on Credit Card in September 2021 by KALUHA Holding Ltd 4,957.75
(xi) 240 days Interest on Overdraft facilitated by SBM 823.81
(xii) SBM Bank Transfer Charges (Local and International) 247.50
This is the only claim sent to Mr Damry which they have, so far, failed to settle. There is no indication of any commission, as alleged by them.
