CNT Board Demands Answers Over Ex-CEO's Bonus and Car Loan

The board of directors of the National Transport Corporation, known in Mauritius as the CNT (Corporation Nationale de Transport), is demanding a full accounting of financial benefits allegedly granted to its former director-general, Harvin Soonarane, during his tenure.

The CNT is a state-owned public transport body operating bus services across Mauritius. Its director-general is a senior executive post appointed under contract, subject to board oversight and civil service rules.

According to an internal memorandum dated 6 November 2026, signed and addressed to the head of the human resources department, the board set out a series of concerns at its 606th meeting, held on 2 November 2026. The document outlines decisions taken in the wake of Soonarane's departure from the role.

Among the issues flagged is a gratification payment equivalent to two months of salary, reportedly made after Soonarane completed his first year under contract. The board states this payment was made without its prior approval, and has requested that a detailed report be submitted to it on the matter.

The board has also decided to seek clarification from the Ministry of Public Service on whether Soonarane was even eligible for such a gratification, given the circumstances surrounding his resignation. A further question has been raised about whether he failed to serve the required one-month notice period, which would represent a breach of his contractual obligations.

A car loan granted to the former director-general is also under review. The board has asked for explanations regarding this facility, though the full details of the loan arrangement were not disclosed in the available portion of the memorandum.

Soonarane's departure from the CNT is the trigger for all these inquiries. The circumstances of his resignation are not fully detailed in the document, but the board's decision to contact the Ministry of Public Service suggests it may have implications beyond the CNT's own internal governance.

What this means: When a director-general of a Mauritian state-owned body resigns, the board retains responsibility for ensuring that all benefits paid during the contract were properly authorised. If a bonus was paid without board approval or contrary to public service regulations, the corporation may seek to recover the funds or refer the matter to the relevant authorities. This case illustrates the accountability mechanisms that apply to senior public sector executives in Mauritius, where contracts are governed by both board decisions and Ministry of Public Service guidelines.

Source: ION News