Private Notice Question

To ask the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports –

Whether, in regard to the XXI Commonwealth Games being

held in Australia, he will state if –

(a) any legal assistance has been provided to athlete Ms

J.R. regarding the alleged case of aggravated sexual assault,
indicating if consideration will be given for the carrying out of an
independent inquiry into alleged attempts of cover up in this case;
and

(b) he has been made aware of widespread complaints by

our athletes regarding the preparation thereof and the
organization for participation thereto?

Madam Speaker

I would like to thank the Honourable Leader of the Opposition for

having asked this question as it provides me the opportunity to
enlighten the House on a matter which has, unfortunately tarnished
the reputation of the country within the sports community and we

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have been the subject of international attention for the wrong
reasons.
The Commonwealth Games, apart from the Olympic Games, is one of
the most important event of the international sports calendar. It is
held once every four years and a total of 71 countries and territories
normally participate. This year’s event is being held in Gold Coast,
Australia from 05 to 18 April 2018.
Mauritius is represented by a sports delegation of 113 persons,
including athletes and officials competing in the following sports
disciplines:
1. Athletics;
2. Badminton;
3. Boxing;
4. Cycling;
5. Swimming;
6. Weightlifting;
7. Table tennis ;
8. Wrestling;
9. Squash; and
10. Triathlon

I would like to draw attention of the House that all administrative

formalities, including accreditation, for the participation of the
Mauritian delegation at the Games, rest with the Mauritius Olympic
Committee and the Commonwealth Games Association (Mauritius)
which are totally independent of the Ministry. The Head of Mission is
designated by the Mauritius Olympic Committee.

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My Ministry provides financial and other support. Officials of my
Ministry and myself attend the Games at the invitation of the
Mauritius Olympic Committee.
Prior to the departure of any delegation for such types of events, we
normally organise a “rassemblement“ of all athletes and officials
whereby they are fully briefed about the standard of behaviour
expected of them. In the case of the delegation attending the
Commonwealth Games, the “rassemblement” was held on Saturday
17 March 2018 at Domaine Anna, Flic en Flac.
Being given that our athletes train and/or participate in meetings in
other countries, the delegation cannot reasonably be expected to
depart from Mauritius as a single entity. Athletes and other officials,
therefore, join the Games Village at different dates prior to the
opening of the Games.
The bulk of the delegation left Mauritius for Gold Coast on 24 March
2018. All arrangements at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport
were made by my Ministry.

As regards part (a) of the question, I would like to inform the House,
that prior to my departure from Mauritius on 31 March 2018, I was
made aware by my Adviser on Information Matters that Mr V.G,
President of the Mauritius Athletics Association, has informed him of
an incident which occurred at the Games Village involving Mr K.T, the
Head of Mission of the Mauritian delegation and Ms J.R an athlete
representing Mauritius in athletics.
It was alleged that on 29 March 2018, a ceremony was held in the
Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) Mauritius’ Office in the
Games Village in Gold Coast in which were present Ms. JR and KT. The
ceremony was held to distribute Commonwealth give-aways to

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Mauritian athletes. According to Ms JR, Mr K.T had an indecent
behaviour towards her.
On 31 March 2018, Ms. JR made a verbal complaint to the President
of the CGA (Mauritius). Mr. P H T V.
When I arrived at the Games Village on 01 April I was informed of the
incident and enquired why action had not been taken. The President
of CGA (Mauritius) informed that Ms. JR had not yet reported the case
to the Police and did not intend to do so. Ms JR had in the meantime
made a request to meet with me to explain the incident. I immediately
met with her and she related the whole incident to me in details.
However, she also informed me that she did not want to go ahead
with the incident and wanted to bring an end to it.
I assured her of my full support and re-comforted her. We also agreed
that if there is need to take the matter further when we would be back
in Mauritius, then we would do so.
However, on 02 April 2018 this matter was given wide publicity in
the local press and on social media.
A meeting of the CGA (Mauritius) was convened on 03 April 2018
which I attended accompanied by my Deputy Permanent Secretary,
Mr J.P.R. In the course of the meeting, it was agreed to call in Ms. JR
for her to confirm the alleged indecent behaviour. Ms. R confirmed
that Mr K. T had an indecent behaviour towards her on two occasions
during the ceremony on 29 March 2018. She added that she was still
contemplating whether she would go to the Police or not.
She informed us that she was contemplating independent legal
advice. We were then told that she had retained the services of Mr
R.M.

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Since she had already retained the services of a Legal Adviser on her
own, there was no need to provide her with additional legal
assistance.
In the meantime, I instructed my Permanent Secretary to contact my
colleague the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and
Family Welfare to provide psychological support to Ms JR in any
manner, be it online or through the services of a local psychologist.
Madam Speaker,
I consider that in such situations the provision of Psychological
support to the victim is of prime importance and overrides any
other form of assistance.
Ms JR was, thereafter, contacted by a Psychologist of the Ministry of
Gender and she responded, informing that she was very busy with
her training and with the ongoing enquiry and that she would get
back to the Psychologist once she is free.
I am informed that Ms JR has taken contact with the Psychologist and
an appointment is scheduled for today at 15 h 30. I wish also to point
out that the said Psychologist is one whose services have been
retained by my Ministry to offer psychological support to athletes.
Upon my arrival in Mauritius, I had a meeting with the parents of Ms
JR and we agreed that should the need arise for any one of the family
members to proceed to Gold Coast to assist and support her, the
Ministry would bear all associated costs.
In the light of the various developments and pending the completion
of the enquiry I have instructed that Mr K.T be replaced on all
committees of the Ministry where he was a member. The MOC will be
officially requested to send a replacement.

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Insofar as the setting up of an independent enquiry is concerned,
Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that in the evening of 03
April 2018, Ms. JR went to the Police to formally report the case of
sexual assault against Mr K. T. All through the process Ms JR was
assisted by our Honorary Consul in Gold Coast Mr E. Q.
The Australian Police has already recorded the statements of all those
who were present at the ceremony of 29 March 2018. The President
of the CGA, Mr. PHTV, who was not present at the ceremony of 29
March 2018 was also invited by the Police to give a statement.
On 06 April 2018, Mr K.T was called in by the police and charged with
a count of INDECENT ASSAULT. He was released on bail on the
following conditions:
1. No contact direct or indirect with the complainant or other
police witnesses; and
2. Prohibited from entering or remaining in any major event area
associated with (Gold Coast) Commonwealth Games.

Mr K.T is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on

17 April 2018 to answer a charge of Sexual Assault.
Madam Speaker,
In the light of my explanations above, the House can appreciate the
seriousness with which this matter is being treated by the Australian
Police. Setting up an Independent Inquiry into alleged attempts of
cover up, is tantamount to saying that the Australian Police
Authorities may be involved in a cover up exercise.

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Insofar as part ( b) of the question, except for the case of Ms JR and
Mrs E.L who complained about the quality and size of the competition
shoes provided to her, I have never been made aware of any
complaint or dissatisfaction from athletes in respect of the
organisation and preparation for the Games.
Whatever request was made by the Mauritius Olympic Committee
was attended to promptly.
As regards the preparation of athletes for the Games, it is a matter for
each Federation to provide the best facilities to those who have been
selected. The Ministry has a budget and at the beginning of the
Financial Year, the Federations normally submit an annual work plan
in accordance with their calendar of activities, including international
events.
I wish to point out that preparation of athletes for major sports
events, like the Commonwealth Games, is an on-going process. Most
of the athletes participating in these Games are also under
preparation for various international competitions, including the
Indian Ocean Island Games. In this context, these athletes have
benefited from the elite budget of their respective federations
amounting to Rs 20M up to now.

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