The need to facilitate the settlement of disputed road accident insurance claims and ease the financial burden on vehicle owners was highlighted by the Minister of Land Transport, Mr Osman Mahomed, following a consultative meeting he chaired today in Port Louis.

Representatives of the Ministry of Land Transport; the Ministry of Financial Services; the Motor Vehicle Insurance Arbitration Committee (MVIAC); the National Land Transport Authority; and the Financial Services Commission, amongst others, attended the meeting which focused on identifying ways to streamline procedures and accelerate the settlement of outstanding claims.

In a statement, Minister Mahomed explained that the MVIAC, a quasi-judicial administrative body operating under the aegis of his Ministry, is responsible for determining disputes relating to compensation following road accidents. He indicated that the Committee has successfully cleared some 1,635 cases that were pending for the period 2019 to November 2024. He nonetheless observed that around 1,040 cases were registered in 2025, with further applications continuing to be received in 2026.

The Minister pointed out that, under the existing procedures, the outstanding cases could take until the end of 2027 to be cleared. According to him, delays in compensation could create financial difficulties for vehicle owners, particularly those unable to afford repairs while awaiting settlement.

This meeting, he underlined, provided an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange views and put forward proposals aimed at simplifying procedures and improving the efficiency of the claims settlement process. Additional consultations will be held to examine the proposals and determine the way forward, with a view to facilitating the settlement of claims and providing timely assistance to affected vehicle owners, he added.

14 October 2026