National Assembly Three ministers appear before the Assembly on first sitting for second trimester |26 May 2021

The National Assembly yesterday resumed its work with three ministers answering questions during the first sitting of the second trimester.

Health Minister Peggy Vidot, Minister for Lands and Housing Billy Rangasamy and Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Flavien Joubert answered questions regarding Covid-19, housing assistance and the rise in utility bills respectively.

Minister for Health Peggy Vidot

The session began with a private notice question from leader of the opposition Sebastien Pillay regarding several allegations in regards to a reduction in the number of rapid tests being carried out.

Firstly, he asked whether the reduction in tests is directly linked to the reduction in the number of positive cases being recorded.

Minister Vidot answered that there is no link between the two, while the cases are genuinely decreasing.

In his second question, Hon. Pillay enquired about the director of the Public Health Laboratory who is on leave. He wanted to know whether he did on voluntary basis, or whether he was forced to do so based on the number of Covid-19 tests.

Minister Vidot said the Public Health Laboratory has been well invested in and has the capacity to carry out various types of tests, other than the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for Covid-19 and based on various negative feedbacks regarding the various tests carried out from both locals and visitors, it is necessary to carry out a review of the laboratory procedures.

This, she said, is a worldwide normal procedure and in the local context, it is being carried out in a professional manner by two independent experts.

To ensure fair and independent review, the director of the Public Health Laboratory has been asked to take his leave, Minister Vidot explained.

Thirdly, Hon. Pillay wanted to know why the Ministry of Health is having difficulties to certify death by Covid-19 as per the policy of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Minister Vidot explained that a deceased person with a positive Covid-19 test might have not necessarily died of Covid-19.

She said the person could have died of other complications, not necessary related to Covid-19.

Minister Vidot further explained that testing positive does not mean that person has an active condition.

She also noted that various factors must be taken into consideration while carrying an analysis on whether Covid-19 is the main cause of death, while every case is dealt with on an individual basis.

During supplementary questions time, various issues were raised such as the involvement and credibility of the additional or private laboratories involved in the testing of Covid-19, isolation and quarantine procedures and methods.

Minister Vidot also gave replies based on the public’s concerns on the efficiency of the Covid-19 tests that are carried out locally, based on the rise recorded, as well as allegations of possible sabotage within the service.

She explained that there have been some anomalies, or inconsistencies between tests carried out by the public health laboratory and private ones.

This, she said, depends on various factors involving the samples such as the kind and time of the day taken.

Based on the concern of sabotage, Minister Vidot said it is important to carry out several reviews to look into the situation.

Member of the National Assembly for Perseverance, Desheila Bastienne, asked Minister Vidot whether the government is in discussion with the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) to ensure that all meter readers are vaccinated so that they can carry out their work without any risk, so that the bill estimation system can stop.

Minister noted that as for all working establishment, the PUC was offered vaccination and according to the record, about 808 workers have taken both doses of vaccines, while 29 have taken a single dose.

Out of 45 meter readers, 30 have taken both doses; two have taken a single dose, while the rest have decided not to take the vaccine at all.

Minister Vidot reminded the Assembly that to date, the vaccination programme in the country is still being carried out on a voluntary basis.

She however noted that vaccination is highly advisable as it will help, not only the individual, but also the community.

She also added that the ministry is ready to hold talks in all the working establishments to educate workers on the role and benefits of the vaccines, while it is also their responsibilities to ensure proper enforcement of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

In an urgent question, proportionately elected member for LDS, Rosie Bistoquet, highlighted that there has been a rapid reduction in the Covid-19 cases, precisely from 324 cases to 154 cases between May 9-18 and this, she said, represents a reduction of 47.5 percent.

She wanted to know why number of cases was previously high and what strategic or operational measures the ministry has put into place, contributing to the decrease, and lastly what are the continuous measures in place.

Regarding the surge in the number of positive cases, Minister Vidot explained that it was based on various factors, including clusters at construction companies, the lifting of certain restrictions which allowed people to move around and mingle more, as well as celebrations during the Easter period.

Minister for Lands and Housing Billy Rangasamy

Based on the fact that all housing assistants for the most vulnerable have now been switched from the Agency for Social Protection (ASP) to the Ministry for Lands and Housing, elected member of the National Assembly for Glacis, Regina Esparon, wanted to know, firstly, how are the situations being evaluated before assistance is given.

Secondly, what new structures have been put in place to ease the process, and thirdly, what is the maximum sum being offered.

Minister Rangasamy explained that, first of all, the programme is a very complicated one since it implicates various other ministries and departments.

He said there is presently a full internal audit being carried out regarding the programme, assessing on how it was being generated in the past, including the positive and negative sides, as well as where necessary amendments are required so that it becomes coordinated, integrated and transparent.

Minister Rangasamy said they are waiting for end results of the audit for them to be able to synchronise the policy so that it fits everyone concerned.

He added that a detailed assessment is also underway, investing all the concerned cases.

Based on the assessment, Minister Rangasamy said they will be in a better position to sort out the different projects in three groups, based on the needs of the clients.

The first group will be made up of projects which are already in the construction phases, while the second group will feature those that have already gone through the vetting process, while the projects were still in the tender and designing phase.

The third group will feature projects which have gone through the application phase, but have not gone through the technical phase yet.

He explained that based on the financial situation, it will be impossible for the government to carry on with those projects as they were being handled before.

The immediate approach of the government is to continue with the projects of the first group, while those in the second group will be put on hold, again, based on budget situation.

As for the third category, all the applications will be pending, awaiting the result of the audit.

Regarding the third question, in relation to the maximum sum being offered, Minister Rangasamy said, at the moment there is no capping on the amount, but the new policy will include a thorough assessment to decide the amount of money that would be given.

On his part, elected member for Baie Ste Anne Praslin, Churchill Gill, wanted to know about the number of new tourism projects, including on outer islands, which have already received approval, as well as those still in the pipeline.

He also wanted to know about the locations and developers.

Minister Rangasamy said the nature of the question is vast taking into accounts the number of applications received in the area of tourism development.

He said the different categories varied from self-catering to bigger projects, starting from 24 bedrooms upwards.

He explained that based on the high number of applications, it would take a lot of time to give detailed information.

Focussing mainly on big hotels, Minister Rangasamy explained that up till yesterday, 12 projects have been approved, even if construction work has not started.

For those which are still in the pipeline, he explained that there are 22, making a total of 34 tourism projects in the category of big hotels.

As for the developers, Minister Rangasamy said they varied from locals, foreigners, naturalised citizens, as well as partnerships.

Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment Flavien Joubert

Based on the increase in the utility bills, Minister Joubert – through member of the National Assembly for Glacis, Regina Esparon – was asked to give a detailed explanation on how the bills were calculated during the past months.

Minister Joubert explained that it was in January that the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC), in accordance with the restrictions set by the health authority, started to charge households based on estimations, rather the traditional physical meter reading.

He explained that one of the main reasons for the increase was based on the company’s reviews of tariff in regards to the price of fuel.

Another reason for the increase was due to the restriction on movement order which increased household consumption of utilities since most family members were at home during that time.

Minister Joubert explained that PUC has been estimating bills on the average based on the consumption from January to March.

Regarding the question of faulty meters raised by elected member of the National Assembly for Mont Fleuri, Michel Roucou, it was explained most of the meters have been changed recently and that in the event of any recorded fault following monitoring, the client in question will be re-funded by the PUC.

Elected member of the National Assembly for Inner Islands, Rocky Uranie, raised some concerns regarding damaged electrical appliances due to frequent power cuts on La Digue.

He wanted to know where the real problem is and what are they doing to rectify the problem.

Another question was regarding two temporary generators at Dan Goulo which now looks like they will be there on permanent basis.

Minister Joubert explained that La Digue’s principal source of electricity is via two underwater cables from Praslin, installed in 1985 and 2008 respectively, while two years ago, the PUC placed two generators at Dan Goulo to ensure power supply in case of power cuts.

He noted that according to the records, since January 2021, consumers on La Digue have been affected with power interruptions on three occasions.

Minister Joubert added that the PUC is trying its best to maintain the safety of electricity services in the country, including clearing of branches and trees above its overhead lines, as well as frequent maintenance of generators and other equipment.

He further added that the generators at Dan Goulo form part of the back-up plans of the corporation.

Chief executive of the PUC, Philippe Morin, who was also in the National Assembly, explained that the generators will be soon moved to another location, precisely at L’Union.

Regarding reimbursement of damaged electrical equipment, Minister Joubert explained that whenever there is an incident of some sort, the PUC also loses a lot in terms of money; therefore it will not be able to sustain a practice, or general scheme of reimbursement.

Roland Duval