Politics
MTPA Under Fire: Rs 450k Public Money Spent on East European Dancers at Maradiva
In a revelation that raises serious concerns over the stewardship of public funds, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) finds itself embroiled in scandal following extravagant events at the Maradiva hotel in 2024. Minister of Tourism Richard Duval recently brought these troubling issues to light during a parliamentary debate, exposing questionable financial practices that threaten the integrity of the Mauritian tourism sector.
It has been disclosed that, in the months leading up to the general elections, the MTPA allocated an astonishing Rs 450,000 to finance four Eastern European dancers’ travel expenses for lavish “white parties” at Maradiva.
These individuals were misleadingly presented as journalists and influencers, and compromising images from these extravagant soirées have since emerged, provoking public fury.
“Who covered the Rs 450,000 travel costs?
Obviously, it was the MTPA! In other words, it’s the taxpayers footing the bill!
This is nothing short of a scandal,” Duval declared emphatically.
MTPA
The allegations don’t stop there. Another troubling issue involved the MTPA and Maradiva’s joint participation in the annual Snow Polo event in Switzerland.
For the upcoming 2024 edition, the MTPA is facing a claim for Rs 2.8 million due to unpaid debts, inclusive of interest and VAT.
Disturbingly, it seems the former director of the MTPA may have signed an agreement with the event’s organisers without seeking board approval or the president’s signature, sparking grave concerns about possible conflicts of interest.
From 2016 to 2024, the MTPA and Maradiva were also participants in the esteemed Royal Ascot horse race, accruing a staggering Rs 8.8 million in costs for the MTPA, of which Rs 8.1 million went directly to Maradiva.
Alarmingly, some payments were made via the MTPA’s representative in London, bypassing established financial procedures.
These expenses escalated each year, peaking at Rs 3,487,000 in 2023, despite the travel limitations imposed during the pandemic from 2020 to 2021.
“A formal complaint has been submitted to the Financial Crimes Commission, and an inquiry is currently underway,” the minister confirmed.
These shocking revelations demonstrate a troubling lack of oversight and transparency within the MTPA, with public funds being diverted for private interests.
Yet, Richard Duval has promised a return to accountable governance, declaring that the MTPA will once more operate as the “Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority,” rather than devolving into the “Maradiva Promotion Authority.”
Internal audits are now in progress to shed light on these irregularities, and those responsible may soon face legal repercussions.
Source: l’Express
