The PNQ of the Opposition Leader was the other event that dominated the parliamentary debates on Tuesday 26th July. Xavier Luc Duval questioned the Prime Minister over infrastructure being developed on Agalega island. The Prime Minister refuted XLD’s allegations and said that the development of the islands would benefit the local populace.
Questions From XLD
The Opposition Leader wanted more information on the number of infrastructures already built, underway and to come since the launch in 2019 in Agalega. He also wanted to have an estimate of the amount calculated for the maintenance after the infrastructures are put into operation and the number of personnel required and their nationality. In his question, he reserved a large part for the publication of the agreement signed between India and Mauritius. He asked that the cost and details be made public as well as the calculation of this project, originally estimated at Rs 900 million, which has been recalculated at over Rs 8 billion. “The Indian Foreign Minister has indicated that he has no objection to the document being released. We have the right to know what the quid pro quo was in the MoU between Mauritius and India,” XLD said.
The MoU
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in March 2015 between India and Mauritius for the improvement of the sea and air transport facilities at Agalega. The MoU states, “This MoU provides for the establishment and upgradation of infrastructure to improve maritime and air connectivity at Agalega. This will go a long way in improving the condition of the inhabitants of this remote island (Agalega). These facilities will enhance the capacity of the Mauritian Defence Forces to protect their interests in the outer island (Agalega).”
Infrastructure Projects Fully Funded By India
The PM made it clear that “a confidentiality clause stipulates that the details of the agreement will not be made public. But the funding for this project is provided free of charge by the Indian government.” Pravind Jugnauth outlined the two main projects underway, in sum the new runway is 80% complete, it will be 3km long and 60m wide parallel to the existing runway and is expected to be operational by September 2022, a hangar for a B737 900 Airbus, a parking area for aircraft, a Passenger Terminal amongst others. The second project is the jetty to accommodate ships. The Prime Minister revealed that “the ongoing work at Agalega is fully funded by the Indian government to the tune of about Rs 8.8 billion and by the Indian construction company, AFCONS Ltd,” pointing out that the initial estimates have tripled so far.
Pravind Jugnauth maintained that the infrastructural developments projects currently underway on the Island will also go a long way towards improving the standard of living of our Agalean brothers and sisters as it will generate significant economic activities on the Island.
In his reply to the leader of the opposition, the Prime minister made it clear that “for far too long in the past, Agalega was relegated to the status of poor parent and even the Outer Islands Development Corporation in the earlier days did not concentrate on its infrastructural development needs. The runway in Agalega which was constructed in the year 1984/1985 was in a very bad condition. The landing and take-off of the Dornier aircraft became a challenging exercise. Some remedial works were carried out in 1989 to resurface the airstrip, but regrettably the bitumen materials used did not adhere to the surface and over time it started to peel off again.”
A Memorandum Of Understanding Between India And The Then Government Was Approved On October 31, 2014
The PM stressed the fact that the possibility of the Indian Government helping to upgrade the airstrip in Agalega had been raised with the Indian authorities on several occasions since 2005. The Indian side also agreed to consider deputing relevant technical experts as and when required to assist in the preparation of the detailed project report up to the final implementation of the project. In August 2014, three Indian technical experts proceeded to Agalega for the preparation of a comprehensive workplan for the implementation of the projects. Subsequently, both sides finalised a Memorandum of Understanding and the then Government approved the MoU on 31 October 2014. The MoU was signed during the visit of H.E. Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India to Mauritius in March 2015. A copy of the MoU was laid on the table of the National Assembly on 31 March 2015 during the reply made to the Private Notice Question on Agalega.
The Prime minster states that once the project implemented, the infrastructure will remain the property of the Republic of Mauritius. However, the cost for maintenance, operation and functioning will be borne by the Government of Mauritius with the support of the Government of India.
Pravind Jugnauth reminded the house that on several occasions in Parliament, he has said that the Agreement signed with the Government of India on the Infrastructural Projects in Agalega is intended only for the implementation of measures to promote, protect and safeguard our maritime security needs in the following areas, among others: –
(i) surveillance and monitoring of our vast EEZ of 2.3 million square kilometres;
(ii) counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and human trafficking;
(iii) controlling poaching; and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing;
(iv) provision of hydrographic services;
(v) promoting economic development, including blue economy initiatives;
(vi) emergency response, including search and rescue;
(vii) marine pollution response; and
(viii) Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief activities.
XLD Alleges Hidden Tunnels And A Deep-Water Port
On the construction of the jetty, which will have a 255m long berthing space and is estimated to be ready by January 2023, XLD said that according to its information “there are tunnels being built under the jetty. What is there to hide? Nobody, even India will not invest Rs 13 billion for the Agalega Fishing Industry. It is a Deep-Water Port that is at least a third the length of Mauritius Container Terminal.” XLD fears that these facilities will be used for military aircraft such as the Poseidon P81, “which is the same as a Boeing 737, an anti-submarine warfare aircraft, it carries missiles, and it is the Boeing 737 that is going to be parked under these hangars, it belongs to the Indian army.” He also mentioned possible submarines.
Xavier Luc Duval also held up pictures of the construction sites. “Go and check, we don’t know if there won’t be Indian military troops on the island. I’m not saying it’s good or bad. I am just saying that Mauritius is a sovereign country. So is its Parliament. Therefore, the Prime Minister has no right to hide this kind of information from Parliament.”
Prime Minister Strongly Refutes XLD’s Allegations
Pravind Jugnauth strongly refuted XLD’s comments and the construction of the tunnels. “We have a long-term vision for Agalega, unlike that of the PTr/PMSD when they were in power,” said the Prime Minister.
Earlier, he had reproached the Opposition, “Instead of being grateful, the Opposition Leader feels that there must be a quid pro quo. XLD had asked what the quid pro quo for the full funding of the work in Agalega by the Indian government will be.” The PM also spoke about the Metro Express project: “I must say thank you to the Government of India for the line from Port Louis to Curepipe …. They gave us half of the money as a grant… a gift.”
The Prime Minister added that, “I wish to reiterate what I stated in my reply to the PNQ on 18 May 2021 that as for Rodrigues, where development has been spearheaded and accelerated every time the MSM has been leading the Government, we are putting Agalega on the path of development and progress with the assistance of India. We want development to reach every single part of our territory since our people remain at the heart of our development goals. We also stand committed to develop the islands of the Chagos Archipelago once we are able to exercise our full sovereign rights on the islands as determined by the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
