National Assembly this Tuesday: Loans Granted to Dhyanavartam Ltd Interest Parliamentarians

This Tuesday, December 9, the Parliament is addressing a sensitive issue: the public loans granted to Dhyanavartam Ltd, a real estate and hospitality company that owns Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa and is linked to the Ramdanee family. Throughout the week, Sanjiv Ramdanee, the CEO of the company and brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, was arrested by the FCC in connection with loans of approximately Rs 470 million granted by SBM to Dhyanavartam Ltd.

Two questions are directed to Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam by MPs Roshan Jhummun (Rivière-des-Anguilles/Souillac) and Nitish Beejan (Grand-Baie/Poudre-d’Or). Roshan Jhummun focuses on the loans granted to Dhyanavartam Ltd between 2022 and 2024 by SBM and the Mauritius Investment Corporation Ltd, a subsidiary of the Bank of Mauritius. The MP asks the Prime Minister to clarify, with the FCC, the number of individuals questioned or arrested to date and the measures taken to recover the funds, "especially since Dhyanavartam has already initiated winding-up proceedings."

Nitish Beejan expands his inquiry to all loans disbursed by SBM to Dhyanavartam since 2014 and requests an update on the FCC investigation.

Among other questions directed at the Prime Minister is one from Franco Quirin, the third elected official of Beau-Bassin/Petite-Rivière. The first concerns the Metro Express. He asks the government leader what measures are being taken to ensure safety around the stations and on board the trains.

The second query from Franco Quirin pertains to the assault of a 6-year-old girl that occurred on November 24 at her home in Résidence Barkly. The MP requests details about the police investigation and the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the alleged perpetrator.

Additionally, Roshan Jhummun is interested in an external audit of aircraft sales by Air Mauritius Ltd during the voluntary administration. Economically, MP Manoj Seeburn questions the stabilization of the Mauritian rupee over the past year compared to the US dollar and British pound. Health and education are also on the agenda.

Other questions address health and justice. MP Arvin Babajee asks about the current number of detainees, specifying the number of women and HIV-positive individuals, and wants to know if these infections were contracted while in detention. He also inquires about compliance with World Health Organization guidelines regarding antiretroviral treatments.

Socially, opposition whip Adrien Duval raises the issue of cannabis: is the National Agency for Drug Control planning to mandate the future technical committee on decriminalization to include recreational use? If not, why?

MP Anabelle Savabaddy will question the fate of retired police officers forced to leave their official residences due to serious health problems. She will also address the timelines for their family relocation and the possibility of revisiting these practices.

Moreover, Education Minister Mahend Gungapersad will be questioned by Adrien Duval about the failure rate of students in the Extended Program of the National Certificate of Education 2025. MP Tony Apollon will ask for the list of public schools closed or non-operational in 2026 and the plans to address this issue.

Anabelle Savabaddy also questions the rationale behind abolishing coeducation in public schools through reform and its extension to private schools. Franco Quirin is inquiring about the teaching of Kreol Morisien in secondary schools.

Lastly, Adrien Duval will ask the Minister of Agro-Industry Arvin Boolell for an estimate of the number of unregistered dogs.