This was the statement made by Pravind Jugnauth to Arvin Boolell during the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT) during the parliamentary session on Tuesday 05th April. He also replied to MMM’s MP, Adil Ameer Meea confirming that Agaleans will not have to leave the island and that no deposit will be required from any Agalean, Mauritian or other visitor.
No India-Mauritius co-management
If this question was worth asking by the PTr leader, it is due to the fact that the airstrip and jetty projects under construction are entirely financed by the Government of India at around Rs 3 billion, via the AFCON company, to which Pravind Jugnauth clearly responded that “there will be no co-management of Agalega. The management of Agalega will be under the authority of the Republic of Mauritius. The civil aviation, including the management of the airstrip, will be under the authorities of the Mauritian Civil Aviation, that is, the PMO and the Jetty will be under the authorities of the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA).”
Both projects handed over in 2023
However, the PM did not appreciate the insinuations of the member of Labour Party that Mauritius will give up or share its sovereignty over the island. “I am really surprised, Mr Speaker. Every time this issue has been put on the table, there have been the same persistent allegations. These allegations are false and frivolous. The position of the government remains unchanged. Mauritius’ sovereignty over Agalega is not threatened. The work on the airstrip is currently 85% completed and this part of the project is scheduled to be handed over by the end of September 2022.” However, the PM indicated that the entire project will take some time to be completed and estimates that the project will be completed between January and September 2023, including the control tower, aircraft hangar and passenger terminal. The Pier is only 77% completed. The main part of this project is estimated to be ready in December 2022 and the construction could be completed in April or May 2023 after the completion of the Associated Works. These delays are attributed to Covid 19, the recent cyclones and bad weather.
New housing and infrastructure
During his developments on the Agalega issue, the PM announced housing and infrastructure projects. “Two sites have already been identified. The consultant will have to confirm whether they are suitable. The National Housing Development Co Ltd (NHDC) will then be tasked with building 50 housing units, 36 in the northern part of the island and 14 in the southern part. We are also planning a seawater desalination unit, a rainwater harvesting system and the installation of photovoltaic panels to power these houses,” Pravind Jugnauth said.
Deposit of Rs 500, 000 contradicted
To Adil Ameer Meea, Pravind Jugnauth reassured the fears of relocation expressed by the MMM’s MP and representative of the Agaleans. “At no time, will the Agaleans have to leave the island. These infrastructure works are precisely to offer them a more decent standard of living“.
The MP of the MMM also argued that a deposit of Rs 500,000 per visitor was imposed. In fact, it is exactly Rs 403,000 as insurance for emergency medical expenses coverage. This deposit has remained at the proposal stage until now. Adil Ameer Meea reminded the Parliamentarians that he last visited his Constituency ten years ago and was accompanied by the MP of the Labour Party, Shakeel Mohammed. In 2015 and 2017, he has made several requests for Agalean representatives to visit Mauritius without being charged a deposit of Rs 500,000 per person. The PM recalled that this measure has never been put into practice and thus, denied this practice of imposed deposit. “There is no reason why an Agalean cannot visit Mauritius freely or for a Mauritian to go freely to Agalega. There is no form of deposit of Rs 500,000 imposed by the government”.
