PARL

IAME
NTAR
Y
QUES
TION
NO.
B/28
(Sitti
ng of
Tues
day
28
Marc
h
2017)

B/28 The Honourable First Member for Beau Bassin and Petite
Riviere (Mr Bhagwan)

To ask Dr the Honourable Minister of Health and Quality of

Life

Whether, in regard to Ms V.S., Executive Director of the Trust Fund

for Specialised Medical Care (Cardiac Centre), he will, for the
benefit of the House, obtain therefrom, information as to (a) her
date of appointment (b) her monthly gross pay and (c) if he is
aware that she participated in a political gathering on Friday 27
January 2017 at the Town Hall of the Municipal Council of Quatre
Bornes and, if so, indicate the actions taken against her on
account thereof, if any?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 REPLY
(Tuesday 28 March 2017)

Madam Speaker,

With regards to part (a) of the Question, I am informed that following

the approval of Cabinet on 30 January 2015, Ms V.S assumed duty as

Executive Director of the Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care (Cardiac

Centre) on 2 February 2015.

With regards to part (b), I am further informed that:

a) The initial salary of Ms V.S in March 2015 was Rs 200,200.

Thereafter her salary was increased by Rs 15,000 without the

approval of the Senior Chief Executive of my Ministry bringing

her salary to Rs 215,200.

b) On 18 January 2017, i.e. five days before my appointment as

Minister of Health and Quality of Life there was a special Board

Meeting of the Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care which

was attended by the Senior Chief Executive of my Ministry. With

the resignation of a Cardiac Surgeon employed on contract at

the Centre, who was paid a monthly salary of Rs 300,000, the

Board of the Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care

considered that since savings would be realized, a decision

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 was taken to temporarily pay the Executive Director of the Trust

Fund for Specialised Medical Care a further allowance of Rs

100,000 monthly, pending the renewal of her contract. However,

as per official Note of Meeting which I received today, it has

emerged that a decision was taken to pay an additional

allowance of Rs 100,000 exclusive of Pay As You Earn (PAYE)

to Ms V.S.
c) Prior to Trust Fund Board Meeting of 25 January 2017, I was

consulted and there was a suggestion by the Board to give to

Ms V.S an extra allowance of Rs 100,000. I agreed to the

extension of the contract of Ms V.S on the existing terms and

conditions of her initial contract for one more year only. I was

not agreeable to the allowance of Rs 100,000. This was

discussed with the Hon. Prime Minister and he concurred with

me.
d) On 2nd March 2017, I was again contacted for an allowance of

Rs 100,000 and again after discussion with the Hon. Prime

Minister, the decision was taken to turn down the additional

allowance requested. This instruction was conveyed to allow for

a contract of one year only on the same terms and conditions

as before.
e) I was informed yesterday that is 27 March 2017, that in fact a

new contract has already been offered to Ms V.S since 25

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 January 2017 for a period of two years instead of one year

together with the allowance of Rs 100,000.

f) The increase in allowance was with retrospective effect since

1 December 2016.
g) The Termination of Contract Clause has also been changed for

payment of compensation for the remaining duration of contract

should the termination of contract be contemplated.

h) Under Section 7 of the Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care

Care Act, the Board has the power to appoint an Executive

Director on such terms and conditions as it may determine

subject to the approval of the Minister. However, I did not give

my approval to the alterations on pay package and conditions

proposed to Ms V.S.
i) I intend to consult the Attorney General to see whether, a

committee of enquiry ought to be set up to enquire into the

circumstances leading to the extension of the new contract of

Ms V.S.

2. As regard to part (c) of the Question, I have been made to

understand that the Board has never raised any objection to Ms V.S to take

part in political gathering but I am going to speak to her and to instruct her

not to take part in any political activities in the future.