In his introductory response, the Minister of Agro-Industry indicated that the request from Eco-Deer Park was made on 05 November 2020. Following the recommendation of the Conservator of Forests, the Ministry gave its green light on 27 July 2021. The lease was then signed on 17 February 2022 and registered on 25 February 2022. Following an investigation, it was noted that the company had organised activities that were not part of the lease conditions. As a result, the lease was terminated on 07 March 2023 and the Ministry took possession of the land on 09 March 2023.
The most interesting question was asked at the end of the segment. The Opposition Leader referred to the coincidence of the registration of the Eco-Deer Park company and the alleged presence of the Minister on the premises two months earlier. He also referred to another coincidence whereby he stated that the company, which held the lease in the past, withdrew its challenge in June 2021. This allowed the Ministry of Agro-Industry to grant the new lease in July 2021. The leader of opposition asked: IIs it a coincidence that the alleged the Stag Party on 12 September, the company Eco-Deer Park was formed and applied for lease on 5 November 2020? This was the last question Xavier-Luc Duval to Maneesh Gobin during the Private Notice Question. Immediately afterwards, the Speaker ended the PNQ which was focused on granting of land in Grand Bassin to the company, Eco-Deer Park Ltd.
The Minister of Agro-Industry simply replied that these are allegations and speculations.
Earlier, Xavier-Luc Duval asked the Minister why his services did not react to the fact that a person, convicted of drug trafficking, was involved in this company. Minister Gobin replied that it was a certain A.D. and not V.J. who signed the application.
Xavier-Luc Duval also questioned whether the shareholders of Eco-Deer Park Ltd and the company which held the lease in the past were related. Maneesh Gobin replied that it is difficult to determine who is related to whom. It should be noted that the granting of the lease in 2008 and the renewal of the lease in 2015 were also the subjects of exchanges between Maneesh Gobin and Xavier-Luc Duval.
