The hearings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Betamax Case will be held in the building housing the former Supreme Court in Port-Louis. Yesterday, a press communiqué was issued to inform all those wishing to give evidence to the Chairperson, Caroline Green-Jokhoo, and her two assessors, Kodados Mosafeer and Telkraj Parbhunath, to write to the Secretary of the Commission, Chaya Devi Ramkalawon. They have until the 10th November 2021 to do so.
It should also be noted that that terms of reference have finally been published in that press communiqué. “Have the national interests of Mauritius been safeguarded by the Contract of Affreightment” awarded to Betamax? This is one of the issues that the Commission of Inquiry will have to address.
But the commission will also have to determine the circumstances that led to the awarding of the contract to the Bhunjun’s firm and those leading to its termination. The financial and commercial consequences of this action will also have to be into.
The Commission of Inquiry will have another task. It has to make recommendations to strengthen the integrity of the procurement system in the public sector.
It should be noted that Veekram Bhunjun is contesting via a judicial review the decision of the President of the Republic to set up that Commission of Inquiry. The case is before the Supreme Court.
