ILE AUX BENITIERS – RENTAL VALUE
Sitting tuesday 28 April 2009
(No. B/370)
Mr E. Guimbeau (First Member for Curepipe & Midlands)
asked the Minister of Housing & Lands whether, in regard to Ile aux Bénitiers, he
will state if the actual rental value thereof reflects the actual market value and, if
not, why not, indicating –
(a) the actual rental yearly per arpent;
(b) the number of arpent leased, and
(c) the value of the project that will be implemented thereat.
Dr. Kasenally: Mr Speaker, Sir, the annual rental value of Ile aux Bénitiers
for plantation of coconuts and any other agricultural production has been assessed
by the Valuation Department at the time of the grant of the lease in 1990. As
indicated by my colleague, the former Minister of Housing & Lands, in reply to
PQ B/996 of 2007, the annual rental payable was Rs10,000 for the 1st year,
Rs20,000 for the 2nd year, Rs30,000 for the 3rd year and Rs40,000 for the 4th and
remaining years. Therefore, as at date, the annual rental payable is Rs40,000.
In regard to part (b) of the question, the site leased is of an extent of
155A00.
In regard to part (c) of the question, according to figures provided by the
promoter, the proposed hotel development project would cost around Rs3.4 billion.
Mr Speaker, Sir, in case an industrial site lease for hotel development is
granted to Soolaman Nubheebucus Company Limited over Ile aux Bénitiers, the
rental will be as per the provision of the Finance Act 2008.
Mr Guimbeau: Mr Speaker, Sir, can we know what is the provision of the
Finance Act?
Dr. Kasenally: Mr Speaker, Sir, I answered that question last time.
Mr Speaker: According to the Standing Orders, it is an official document.
The hon. Member can go and consult.
Mr Guimbeau: Mr Speaker Sir, in reply to PQ B/996, the Minister said it is
Rs40,000 for the remaining years, which brings you up to the year 2052. Actually,
he is paying Rs258 per arpent per year, which is Rs21 per arpent per month. Mr
Speaker, Sir, it is a private investment of Rs3.4 billion on State land. As a matter
of urgency, the Minister should review the lease granted to Ile aux Bénitiers.
Dr. Kasenally: Mr Speaker, Sir, if the hon. Member had listened to me
carefully, he would have known that, if you are going to build a hotel, it is going to
be an industrial lease, and the rental will be as per provision of the Finance Act
2008. It may run into millions of rupees, but I don’t know the exact figures. We
have to compute it.
Mr Guimbeau: Can the hon. Minister tell the House when it is going to be
transferred to an industrial lease?
Dr. Kasenally: Once the project is approved and all the conditions are met,
and if the project is approved by Cabinet, then construction started. Once the
hotel is built, the industrial rate will come into force.
Mrs Perrier: Can the hon. Minister inform the House whether he is aware
that in the same region, at La Gaulette to Côteau Raffin, for a small lease of 6 to 7
perches, people are paying up to Rs10,000 per year? Doesn’t the hon. Minister
think that there is a politique of deux poids, deux measures? Can he review this?
Dr. Kasenally: Absolutely not, Mr Speaker, Sir! This was a coconut list
and I have explained over and over again that …
(Interruptions)
Mr Speaker: Order! Order!
Dr. Kasenally: …when an industrial lease is issued, then the rate is totally
different.
Mr Speaker: Last Question!
Mr Guimbeau: Can the hon. Minister state if a proposed project would
concentrate on the State land of the island or will it impede on the public domain,
such as the lagoon and the beach?
Dr. Kasenally: I have answered that question last time, Mr Speaker, Sir. I
don’t intend to come back over it again.
Mr Bérenger: Can I ask the hon. Minister whether we have reached EIA
stage with that project?
Dr. Kasenally: As I answered in my last question, an EIA has been issued
with certain conditions already.
Mr Guimbeau: Did the hon. Minister say that an EIA has been issued?
Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister has said yes. Next Question, hon.
Guimbeau!

Sitting tuesday 28 April 2009

(No. B/370)

Mr E. Guimbeau (First Member for Curepipe & Midlands) asked the Minister of Housing & Lands whether, in regard to Ile aux Bénitiers, he will state if the actual rental value thereof reflects the actual market value and, if not, why not, indicating –

(a) the actual rental yearly per arpent;

(b) the number of arpent leased, and

(c) the value of the project that will be implemented thereat.

Dr. Kasenally: Mr Speaker, Sir, the annual rental value of Ile aux Bénitiers for plantation of coconuts and any other agricultural production has been assessed by the Valuation Department at the time of the grant of the lease in 1990. As indicated by my colleague, the former Minister of Housing & Lands, in reply to PQ B/996 of 2007, the annual rental payable was Rs10,000 for the 1st year, Rs20,000 for the 2nd year, Rs30,000 for the 3rd year and Rs40,000 for the 4th and remaining years. Therefore, as at date, the annual rental payable is Rs40,000.

In regard to part (b) of the question, the site leased is of an extent of

155A00.

In regard to part (c) of the question, according to figures provided by the promoter, the proposed hotel development project would cost around Rs3.4 billion. Mr Speaker, Sir, in case an industrial site lease for hotel development is granted to Soolaman Nubheebucus Company Limited over Ile aux Bénitiers, the rental will be as per the provision of the Finance Act 2008.

Mr Guimbeau: Mr Speaker, Sir, can we know what is the provision of the Finance Act?

Dr. Kasenally: Mr Speaker, Sir, I answered that question last time.

Mr Speaker: According to the Standing Orders, it is an official document. The hon. Member can go and consult.

Mr Guimbeau: Mr Speaker Sir, in reply to PQ B/996, the Minister said it is Rs40,000 for the remaining years, which brings you up to the year 2052. Actually, he is paying Rs258 per arpent per year, which is Rs21 per arpent per month. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is a private investment of Rs3.4 billion on State land. As a matter of urgency, the Minister should review the lease granted to Ile aux Bénitiers.

Dr. Kasenally: Mr Speaker, Sir, if the hon. Member had listened to me carefully, he would have known that, if you are going to build a hotel, it is going to be an industrial lease, and the rental will be as per provision of the Finance Act 2008. It may run into millions of rupees, but I don’t know the exact figures. We have to compute it.

Mr Guimbeau: Can the hon. Minister tell the House when it is going to be transferred to an industrial lease?

Dr. Kasenally: Once the project is approved and all the conditions are met, and if the project is approved by Cabinet, then construction started. Once the hotel is built, the industrial rate will come into force.

Mrs Perrier: Can the hon. Minister inform the House whether he is aware that in the same region, at La Gaulette to Côteau Raffin, for a small lease of 6 to 7 perches, people are paying up to Rs10,000 per year? Doesn’t the hon. Minister think that there is a politique of deux poids, deux measures? Can he review this?

Dr. Kasenally: Absolutely not, Mr Speaker, Sir! This was a coconut list and I have explained over and over again that …

(Interruptions)

Mr Speaker: Order! Order!

Dr. Kasenally: …when an industrial lease is issued, then the rate is totally different.

Mr Speaker: Last Question!

Mr Guimbeau: Can the hon. Minister state if a proposed project would concentrate on the State land of the island or will it impede on the public domain, such as the lagoon and the beach?

Dr. Kasenally: I have answered that question last time, Mr Speaker, Sir. I don’t intend to come back over it again.

Mr Bérenger: Can I ask the hon. Minister whether we have reached EIA stage with that project?

Dr. Kasenally: As I answered in my last question, an EIA has been issued with certain conditions already.

Mr Guimbeau: Did the hon. Minister say that an EIA has been issued?

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister has said yes. Next Question, hon. Guimbeau!