Private Notice Question 21 November 2017

To ask the Honourable Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government

and Outer Islands -
Whether, in regard to the buildings, she will state, and 11 July 2017, the
measures taken by her Ministry to improve the fire safety thereof and, for the
benefit of the House, obtain from the Fire and Rescue Service, information as to

(a) the measures taken to upgrade the firefighting equipment thereof;

and
(b) if the warehouse of the Shoprite Mall at Trianon was in full compliance
with all such currently applicable norms as at the date of the recent fire
outbreak thereat?

At the outset, allow me to express my deepest condolences and sympathy to

the grieving family of late Mr. Dineshwar Domah. I am deeply saddened by
the tragic loss of life of this young man in the fire outbreak at Shoprite
(Mauritius) Ltd last week.
The whole nation is devastated by this sad incident. Every death is one death
too many.
On Saturday 18th November, I carried out a site visit at the scene of the fire
and had the opportunity to meet the parents of late Mr. Domah.
While I was in office at the Ministry of Gender Equality Child Development
and Family Welfare, I gave instructions for psychological support and
counselling to be offered to the parents and close relatives.
In an effort to take stock of the situation and ensure coordination between
the different stakeholders, a crisis committee meeting, chaired by myself,

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was held on the same afternoon of Saturday 18th. The meeting comprised
officers of my Ministry, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, the
Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and
Sustainable Development, the Mauritius Police Force, the Mauritius Fire and
Rescue Service, the Special Mobile Force, the Municipal Council of Quatre
Bornes, the General Manager of Shoprite (Mauritius) Ltd, and
representatives of Trianon Shopping Park.
The top priority was to ensure the continuity of the rescue and search
operations, under the supervision of relevant authorities.
On Sunday 19th November, the police confirmed that the missing body
found was in fact that of late Mr. Dineshwar Domah.
The crisis committee met again yesterday Monday 20th for an update on the
situation and the way forward.
Now we also need to consider the reopening of Trianon Shopping Park, as
hundreds of jobs are at stake. However, the complex will not be opened until
we secure the clearances of all relevant authorities. The different Ministries
concerned are working to make sure that Trianon Shopping Park is safe to
be opened to the employees and the public at large.
With regard to buildings and measures taken since 11 July 2017, it should be
noted that the buildings can be categorized as follows:
1. High-rise buildings
2. Government-owned buildings
3. Privately-owned building occupied by government organisations
Following a survey carried out by the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service,
which began prior to 11 July 2017, there are 342 high-rise buildings with
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more than 3 floors. These buildings are commercial, residential and mixed
occupancies.
All these buildings have been inspected by the Mauritius Fire and Rescue
Service.
Out of the above 342 high-rise buildings, one hundred and thirty nine (139)
have been issued with a fire certificate after 11 July 2017.
Out of the above 342 high-rise buildings, it was noted that 203 buildings do
not comply with fire safety measures and fire certificates have not yet been
issued. However, the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service has initiated action
to serve improvement notices in the first instance.
The House may also wish to note that there are 1229 buildings which are
occupied by government organisations, out of which, 1019 are owned by the
State.
Prior to 11 July 2017, 60 state-owned buildings had a fire certificate. One
hundred and forty-three (143) buildings owned by the state do not require a
fire certificate because they are not occupied by more than 20 persons and
they have a floor area of less than 250 square metres.
Thus they do not fall under the parameters of the OSHA 2005 and the
Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service Act of 2013. These 143 buildings have
been inspected and issued with a fire clearance.
Of the remaining 799, 287 applications have been received for a fire
certificate. Of these 287, 235 have been inspected and 17 additional buildings
were issued with a fire certificate.

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There are 210 privately-owned buildings which are occupied by government
organisations. Of these 210, 64 already have fire certificates and 52 do not
require a fire certificate because they are occupied by less than 20 people and
have a floor area of less than 250 square metres. These 52 have been issued
with a fire clearance document. Out of the 210, 94 buildings have not been
issued with a fire certificate and as such improvement notices have already
been served.
With regard to commercial buildings, in 2016, 546 commercial buildings
have been issued with a fire certificate. Up to November 2017, 381 fire
certificates have been issued.
As regards NHDC buildings, they are residential buildings, which are not
subject to inspection by the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service. However,
consideration will be given to the advisability for such buildings also to be
subject to fire inspections.
With regard to Victoria Hospital, one fire door was reportedly blocked.
Inspection was carried out and remedial action was taken immediately.
For NPF building in Rose Hill, a fire certificate was issued on 1st September
2017.
For Jhugroo Building, in Vacoas, an enforcement inspection effected on 10th
November 2017 revealed that the building still satisfied fire safety
requirements and the conditions imposed in the fire certificate issued on 10th
May 2010 are complied with. The fire certificate is still valid.
With regard to Goliva Building, the fire certificate was revoked for non-
compliance with fire safety measures on 27th May 2014 and the following
authorities have been informed for action at their end: Ministry of Labour,
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Industrial Relations and Employment and the Municipality of Quatre
Bornes.

With regard to part (a) of the Question, it is pertinent to mention, that the
budget allocated to the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service by the Prime
Minister and Minister of Finance, Honourable Pravind Kumar Jugnauth in
2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 has been on the rise, as the
government recognizes the important role played by the fire and rescue
services.
With regard to part (a) of the Question, I am informed by the Mauritius Fire
and Rescue Service that there are:
a) 32 firefighting vehicles, out of which 18 are in operation in all the 10
Fire Stations and 14 are under repairs;
b) 52 utility vehicles including breathing apparatus and rope rescue van,
out of which 5 utility vehicles are under repair;
c) 3 aerial ladders, out of which one is in operation.
All the firefighters have been issued with their respective Personal Protective
Equipment, comprising fire boots, tunics and leggings, helmets, gloves,
goggles and fire hoods.
Since this equipment is subject to wear and tear, a procurement exercise has
already started for the renewal of defective ones. The Mauritius Fire and
Rescue Service is also in the process of inducting new recruits who will join
the service soon.
As regards the firefighting vehicles, for this financial year, an amount of 200
million rupees has been provided under the Indian Line of Credit for the
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acquisition of 20 firefighting vehicles. Thirty million rupees have also been
earmarked for the purchase of 2 high volume water pumps.
My Ministry has already forwarded the tender documents to the EXIM Bank
of India for the invitation of bids. The EXIM Bank of India will undertake the
procurement exercise.
The delivery of the firefighting vehicles is expected in or about 15 months
time and the high volume water pumps in or about 6 months.
The House may wish to note that the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service is
expected to receive another high volume water pump by December 2017, for
which the procurement exercise was initiated last financial year.

With regard to part (b) of the question, in relation to the warehouse of

Shoprite (Mauritius) Ltd, I am informed that, prior to the fire outbreak, the
warehouse was in full compliance in as much as it was the holder of a Fire
Certificate duly issued on 19th October 2015 (tabling Annex A) to the owner
of Trianon Shopping Park.
The last enforcement inspection was carried out on 28th February 2017 by
Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service and it was observed in the inspection
report (Annex B) that Trianon Shopping Park satisfied the fire safety
requirements.
I wish to remind the House that there are currently three ongoing enquiries:
a police enquiry
an enquiry by the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service
an enquiry by the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the
Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training.
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Madam Speaker,
Let me assure the House that I shall consider all necessary measures for the
continuous upgrading and modernization of the Mauritius and Fire Rescue
Service to meet and ever be prepared for any challenges.