Shakeel Mohamed: "In a year at the helm of the ministry, I have not allocated any state land, nor beachfront property to anyone"

Shakeel Mohamed, the number 3 of the government, asserts that since he has been leading the Ministry of Land and Housing, no state land or beachfront property has been allocated to anyone. He made this statement on Thursday evening following the Mauritius Real Estate Awards 2025 ceremony held at the InterContinental Hotel in Balaclava. He emphasized several realities concerning public land management and property development in Mauritius.

The minister referred to past "abuses": some individuals allegedly obtained public land due to their connections with the former regime, despite lacking the means to invest in them. Many, according to him, later sought funds from the Mauritius Investment Corporation (MIC) for hotel constructions that never materialized, resulting in the loss of public funds. Others reportedly attempted to monetize these lands, turning state assets into private opportunities, he stated.

Shakeel Mohamed also highlighted that numerous investors are injecting capital into the country, thus contributing to job creation and economic growth. Their presence is essential, he insisted, as without them "we would face serious problems." However, he acknowledged the difficulty for some Mauritians to access home ownership in an increasingly unaffordable real estate market.

According to him, the government is now adopting a more cautious approach to ensure balanced development. "Our interest is to collaborate with developers who can bring real added value to Mauritius and create wealth for Mauritians," he declared.

In this context, he concluded that no state land has been allocated since he took office.