Minister Boolell Defends Rs 4 Million Contract Awarded to New Mauritian Firm

A Rs 4 million government contract funded by the European Union has become the subject of a formal complaint to the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) following allegations of “anomalies” and a lack of due diligence.

The maritime expert Alain Malherbe filed the complaint on 26 February, alleging that the contract for Mauritius’s National Blue Economy Strategy was awarded to a consortium led by a company that failed to meet basic eligibility criteria.

The firm at the centre of the row, Valinor Energy Analytics Ltd, was incorporated in January 2023 with a declared share capital of just Rs 1.

Allegations of “Paper Company” Status

Mr Malherbe has questioned the validity of the tender process, claiming the firm showed no signs of concrete activity before winning the bid.

He further highlighted that the company had faced strike-off proceedings by the Registrar of Companies in October 2025 after failing to pay its annual fees.

The Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries has hit back at the claims.

Officials state that at the time of the bid submission on 15 September 2025, the company was listed as “active” and therefore eligible.

Minister Denies Political Interference

The Minister, Arvin Boolell, has moved to distance the executive from the controversy, insisting on a strict separation between political leadership and administrative procurement.

“The tender exercise is carried out strictly by the administration and ministry officers,” Mr Boolell stated. “The executive and the Minister have nothing to do with it.”

The Ministry further defended the lack of an intensive due diligence exercise by citing Procurement Policy Office (PPO) Directive 73.

Under this rule, mandatory due diligence is only required for contracts exceeding Rs 200 million. As this project is valued at approximately Rs 4 million, officials say no such audit was legally required.

Technical Merit vs. Administrative Delays

The consortium, which comprises five consultants, reportedly achieved the highest technical scores during evaluation. Pravesh Rughoo, Director of Valinor Energy Analytics Ltd, dismissed concerns over the Rs 1 share capital, noting it is standard practice for intellectual service firms that do not require physical assets.

Valinor Energy Analytics Ltd issued a statement clarifying its position:

• International Ties: The firm acts as the local arm of Valinor Research & Consulting, an international specialist in climate policy.
• Fee Dispute: The company admitted to a “temporary administrative delay” in paying a Rs 500 fee to the Registrar of Companies between January and February 2026, attributed to the director’s absence.
• Compliance: The firm maintains it has since regularised its status and provided the necessary tax compliance certificates from the Mauritius Revenue Authority.

The contract, signed on 19 January 2026, remains in place while the FCC considers the merits of the complaint.

Source: l’Express