Your right to know (YRTK), a recently founded NGO to militate for a ?Right to information Act? would like to congratulate you for answering ?for the sake of transparency? a question relating to the overseas missions of the Governor of the Bank of Mauritius not withstanding the independent and autonomous status of the institution.

As part of your answer to the PQ(B/54) in Parliament, you circulated a financial statement, emanated from the Bank of Mauritius, regarding the eleven official missions of the Governor during the period 14 Feb 07 to mid March 2008.

Your Right To Know believes that the whopping Rs 4.4 millions including a sum of Rs 3 millions as per diem spent on the missions of the Governor during the short stint of one year, is beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals namely, the tax payers of this country.

Since the Social Alliance Government is committed to promoting transparency and accountability of expenditure incurred by all public authorities and in line with the concept of good governance, it would be highly appreciated if you could provide our association (YRTK) with a more detailed breakdown of the amount spent on each mission along with the following additional information;

(a) The Travel agency/ies and their address(es) where air tickets were booked, the number of tickets bought, the travelling class (first class, business class or economy class) and a breakdown of the costs of the tickets.

(b) (b) The names and addresses of the hotels where the Governor stayed and all the expenses related to food, drinks and entertainment, supported with appropriate bills and receipts.

(c) The detailed time schedule and agenda of the Governor, the important personalities the country/cities where the meeting(s) took place and any expenses connected thereto for each mission.

(d) (d) The mode of transportation used in the countries visited and their cost.

(e) (e) Other benefits amounting to Rs 103,549 that the Governor obtained for his first visit to the US.

(f) (f) The benefits gained to the country for each of the overseas missions.

(g) Hon. Minister, we are flabbergasted by the fact that

(h) (i) The Governor , over and above, receiving the per diem of £ 500 for the duration of each mission also benefitted from an extra allowance; ?other benefits? on his mission to the USA to the tune of Rs 103, 549.

(i) (ii) Regarding the per diem which is an astronomical figure of Rs 2,997,829, we note t(hat the Governor stayed inter alia:

Duration Country per diem

7 to 20 April (USA) Rs 452,445 25 may to 7 June (Switzerland) Rs 415,511

23 to 24 June (Switzerland) Rs 228,885*

3 to 17 August (Malaysia and Libya) Rs 461,592

25 Sept to 2 Oct (South Africa) Rs 265,944

11 to 24 Oct (Guyana and USA) Rs 342,399

● We would also like to be enlightened how is it a two-day mission in Switzerland (23 to 24 June) means the payment of Rs 228,885, aquivalent to 7 days per diem.

● (iii) With reference to air fares, we note that the return air tickets for some of the missions are excessive.

Country Air fares

USA Rs 187,549

Switzerland Rs 119,823

Malaysia and Libya Rs 185,382

Guyana and USA Rs 312,075*

UK Rs 94,017

France Rs 91,419

India Rs 66,370

● We would appreciate a breakdown of the air ticket(s) to USA and Guyana amounting to Rs 312,075 which seems excessive according to us.

We would like to draw your attention Hon Minister that for ordinary mortals a return air ticket to London/Switzerland/France probably costs Rs 30,000, India and Malaysia Rs 20,000, USA about Rs 40,000. However we are fully aware that the Governor cannot be treated as ordinary mortals. Unfortunately it is the tax payers of Mauritius who had to foot the bill of (first class) air tickets. I would like te remind you that the total air tickets covering the one year period amounted to Rs 1,307,654.

(iv) No mention has been made of the hospitality of the host country(ies) regarding hotel accommodation, cocktails, lunches and dinners and if any air ticket was prepaid i.e tickets already paid by the overseas organizers of the missions. When Mauritius hosts international conferences, we presume that star hotel accommodation is provided, commensurate with the status of the dignitaries.

(v) We would like to know, Hon Minister, whether a Governor of the central bank with such a tight work schedule can really afford to spend three weeks abroad on some missions and whether such a long stay is really justified.

We are confident, you will agree, that in view of the large number of people who claim to be very very important personalities, if we go by this rate ? Rs 4 millions per year per personality along with the opportunity of availing themselves with per diem amounting to Rs 2,997,829 covering a period of only 12 months in office the country is heading straight towards financial and economic bankruptcy in direct contradiction to the very mission entrusted to the Governor and that the Bank of Mauritius.

We would, therefore, be very grateful if the above information requested by YRTK could be made public or displayed on the web of the Government of Mauritius in a greater spirit of transparency and good governance.

I am sure, Hon Minister, you will agree, that tax-payers have a constitutional right to know how their money is being spent.

Thanking you in anticipation, on behalf of YRTK.

Pro. Raj Mathur President

Deenesh Kumar Gya Secretary