
Film Rebate Scheme: Rs 66 million paid to Alan Govinden for "Prisoners of Paradise
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam addressed concerns about the Film Rebate Scheme, emphasizing the need to avoid past abuses, particularly in a context of budgetary constraints. He cited the case of the late Alan Govinden, an associate of former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who received Rs 66 million for the film "Prisoners of Paradise" after a tax deduction of Rs 21.6 million. The Film Rebate Scheme, introduced in 2013, aims to position Mauritius as an international filming hub, stimulating local employment, tourism, and national visibility. It offers a 30% rebate on eligible local expenses, potentially rising to 40% for large-scale projects at least USD 1 million for a film or USD 150,000 per episode for a series. According to figures from the Economic Development Board EDB, for the financial year ending June 30, 2025, 14 applications were received, six projects approved, and Rs 102.1 million disbursed. For the year ending June 30, 2026, 11 applications were received, ten projects approved, and Rs 9.3 million disbursed. The Prime Minister clarified that disbursed funds do not solely reflect projects approved in the same year, as payments are staggered based on expenditure. To rationalize resource allocation and allow more productions to benefit, the Film Rebate Scheme guidelines will be amended to introduce a maximum reimbursable cap, aiming to prevent abuses seen under the previous government. Ramgoolam highlighted a change in the EDB's approach to managing the scheme, mo



