MP Joanna Bérenger to Grill Government on Water, Food and Legal Fees

Joanna Bérenger, Member of Parliament for constituency No. 15 (Vacoas-Floréal) and a representative of the Forward Movement Party (FMP, or Mouvement Forward Mauricien), announced on Sunday 25 October that she will table four parliamentary questions during the sitting of Tuesday 27 October 2026. The topics range from the fees paid to a foreign legal adviser to water resource management and cuts to pesticide inspection staffing.

The question likely to draw the most attention is directed at the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. Bérenger is asking for a full account of the engagement of a senior British lawyer, referred to as Sir G. C. 3 KC, as legal adviser to the Mauritian government in connection with the drafting of the National Crime Agency (NCA) Bill. The NCA Bill is a proposed piece of legislation intended to establish a national body to tackle serious and organised crime in Mauritius.

Bérenger wants to know the precise scope of services provided, including how many hours the adviser worked, how directly involved he was in drafting the NCA Bill and any related legislation, and a detailed breakdown of all costs and fees incurred. She also intends to raise the question of whether a potential conflict of interest exists in this arrangement, a point the government will be expected to address on the record.

The KC designation, standing for King's Counsel, is a senior rank awarded to barristers in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth jurisdictions. Hiring overseas legal specialists is not unusual for governments preparing complex legislation, but the cost and terms of such engagements are a legitimate area of parliamentary scrutiny.

Bérenger's remaining questions touch on themes that have become increasingly pressing for Mauritians in recent months. Water resource management is one of them. The island has been experiencing a prolonged dry period, with key reservoirs such as Mare-aux-Vacoas reaching worrying levels, raising concerns about supply reliability for both households and the agricultural sector.

Food security is also on her agenda, a topic closely tied to the regulation of pesticides. She is expected to question the relevant minister about reported reductions in staffing at the level of pesticide control, at a time when the overuse of agricultural chemicals on locally grown produce has become a public health concern. Parliament is also expected to consider a Pesticide Bill in the coming weeks.

What this means: Parliamentary questions in Mauritius are a key accountability tool. They require ministers to answer on the record, and the responses, or the refusal to give them, often reveal how the government is managing public funds and sensitive policy areas. Bérenger's four questions collectively touch on transparency in public spending, the security of the national water supply and the safety of the food that Mauritians eat every day. The answers given, or withheld, on Tuesday will be worth watching.

Source: ION News