In Shadow Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs questions earlier today, Andrew Rosindell M.P., Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, demanded a number of answers from the Government regarding its ill thought-out and rushed deal with Mauritius to surrender the Chagos Islands.
Where is the money coming from? When will Parliament get to decide?
The Government have finally admitted to front-loading payments to Mauritius for their surrender deal, caving in to Prime Minister Ramgoolam’s demands since he took office in November. Yet they still refuse to disclose the amount or clarify which budgets will cover the lease, economic partnership and Chagossian trust fund. Why the secrecy? Will the Minister disclose the details now? Will he also confirm whether the statement from the Prime Minister of Mauritius is correct in saying that concessions have been made, including the loss of sovereign rights on Diego Garcia and of unilateral lease renewal provisions? When will this horrific deal finally come to Parliament, and what time will be provided to debate it? Or, better still, why does the Minister not dump the deal completely and keep Chagos British?
Andrew Rosindell M.P., Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
