The Bank of Mauritius issued a public notice responding to a media report on the allocation of its catering services contract, setting out the procurement steps followed and denying claims that the process was improperly redirected away from the former Second Deputy Governor. The Bank stated that it launched the tender in February 2025 and that the former Second Deputy Governor, Mr Gérard Sanspeur, approved the request for proposal and appointed an Evaluation Committee comprising four Bank staff and two external members. It said the Tender Committee, made up of five senior officers, reviewed the evaluation recommendation and submitted its report recommending appointment of the current service provider to the First Deputy Governor, Mr Rajeev Hasnah, on 5 May 2025 while Mr Sanspeur was on overseas leave from 2 May 2025 to 21 May 2025, consistent with an established continuity practice. The Board, consisting of seven members, approved the contract award on 13 May 2025, and the letter of award was issued on 23 May 2025 and signed by Mr Sanspeur.