Urgent motion by the leader of the Opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval on measures to be taken to deal with new variants, expulsion of the leader of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM), Paul Berenger after heated exchanges with the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth during the Summing-up of the ‘Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill’ and presentation of the second reading of the ‘Independent Broadcasting Authority (amendment Bill)’ and a walk-out by the members of the Opposition
Yesterday’s parliamentary session was eventful and required the intervention of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Sooroojdev Phokeer. The walk out of the Opposition members took place in the early afternoon when the Leader of Government refused to accede to the request of the Opposition Leader to adjourn the debate on the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill to consider his motion with regard to the actions the government will be called upon to take after the emergence of the new South African variant, B.1.529, which is far more devastating than the Delta variant. However, the head of government stressed that there is no need to come forward with this motion because the government is already taking action since 2020. Thus, the motion of the Leader of the Opposition was rejected.
The expulsion of Paul Bérenger happened after the speaker of the National Assembly found that he was disturbing the head of government during the Summing-up on the ‘Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill’. It seems that the MMM leader became irritated when the head of government said that the latter had said in the past that no more than ten countries will vote for Mauritius at the United Nations General Assembly for an ‘Advisory Opinion’ on the Chagos.
You are lying,” Paul Berenger told him. I am not lying. We have witnesses”, said Pravind Jugnauth. Seeing that the MMM leader continued to make comments during the Prime Minister’s speech, the speaker of the National Assembly then said to Paul Berenger, “You are going too far. I have already warned You. Can you withdraw from the chair? The MMM leader was thus expelled.
