Ministerial Travel Expenses Summary: July 2023 – March 2024

From July 2023 to March 2024, the former government of Mauritius spent Rs 33,211,997.64 on official overseas travel for its ministers, conducting a total of 70 missions within that nine-month period. According to a document presented to Parliament, which was prompted by a query from opposition member Rajesh Bhagwan on March 26, the majority of these expenses were associated with the travels of the former Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth.

Costs of Specific Travels

Pravind Jugnauth’s travel expenditures amounted to Rs 10,423,470.96 and included the most expensive trips. His most significant journey was to London, England, from September 18 to 26, 2023, for the United Nations General Assembly, which cost Rs 6,686,805.35.

This included Rs 766,716 in per diem allowances, Rs 676,725.67 for travel expenses, and Rs 4.1 million for hotel accommodations, alongside Rs 1.1 million for airfare.

Another substantial trip involved Jugnauth traveling to New Delhi, India, for the G20 Leaders’ Summit on September 9-10, 2023, costing taxpayers Rs 3,087,673.58.

His expenses for this trip consisted of Rs 355,217.50 in per diem and Rs 2,628,023.43 in hotel fees.

Other Notable Travels

Steven Obeegadoo, who served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, conducted five international trips during this timeframe.

His travels included visits to Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan (with a stop in Dubai), as well as several trips to London and Berlin, totaling Rs 1,805,846.65.

Obeegadoo received Rs 884,226.65 in per diem but was responsible for covering his hotel expenses.

The most frequent traveler among the ministers was Maneesh Gobin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who undertook 13 international trips to various destinations, including New York, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zambia, South Korea, Switzerland, Australia, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

His per diem alone amounted to Rs 1,322,836.15.

Renganaden Padayachy, who served as the Minister of Finance, made six trips overseas, all costing over Rs 500,000, except for one to South Korea, which cost Rs 172,691.67.

His most expensive trip was from July 6 to 16, 2023, to Cape Verde for the African Caucus Meeting and then to London for the ALM African Summit, totaling Rs 1,258,882.95.

Another notable visit included his travels from October 9 to 19, 2023, to Marrakech, Paris, and the UAE, which cost Rs 923,611.92.

Mahen Seeruttun, the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, also had a significant expense during his trip to the United States from September 5 to 14.

His journey to promote Mauritian financial services cost the government Rs 1,077,870.61, which included Rs 412,698.16 in per diem and Rs 236,207.45 in travel allowances.

Breakdown of Total Travel Expenses

The expenses for ministerial missions during this nine-month period were categorized as follows:

• Airfare: Rs 12,484,990.77
• Per Diem: Rs 10,418,875.65
• Hotel Costs: Rs 7,705,756.19
• Travel Allowances: Rs 2,557,569.04
• Other Expenses: Rs 44,805.99

Total Expenditure: Rs 33,211,997.64

This detailed overview is highlighting the significant financial resources allocated to ministerial travels, raising questions about the prioritization of public funds in the former government.

Source: Defi Media