Sooroojdev Phokeer did a walk-out during the Private Notice Question. What irritated him was the fact that the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Administration and Disaster Risk Management did not address their questions and answers to the chair. “If my presence is not required…I am leaving,” he said before standing up and leaving the chamber. He returned a few minutes later and the proceedings resumed.
The Private Notice Question focused on the investigations into the Wakashio case and the reports that were filed. The Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, Anwar Husnoo, explained that there was first a report from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Centre which outlined a series of shortcomings.
He explained that when a ship runs aground, all powers lie with the Director of Shipping. However, following an oil spill, the powers then revert to the Director of Shipping. The Wakashio case showed, Anwar Husnoo said, quoting from the report, that these two departments had difficulty working together. “They answer to different hierarchies, and this has been a problem,” the minister added.
Anwar Husnoo also stressed the importance of harmonising legislation such as the Merchant Shipping Act, the Protection of Environment Protection Act and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, among others.
Minister Husnoo also mentioned the fact that many ministries and departments involved in the environmental disaster have had difficulties in operating on a 24/7 basis.
Minister Husnoo also referred to another investigation which attributes the main reason for the grounding of the MV Wajashio to “social distraction on the bridge which prevents” to use the emergency systems.
Xavier-Luc Duval insisted on pushing the innocent passage further away from our coast and said that Mauritius is still not prepared for a similar situation.
