3 Junior Ministers Evaluate Illegal Structure on Île-aux-Bénitiers

Authorities in Mauritius have responded to concerns raised by the Rivière-Noire District Council and local residents regarding an illegal construction on Île-aux-Bénitiers. In a recent visit to the island, three Junior Ministers—Véronique Leu-Govind, Joanna Bérenger, and Fabrice David—examined the situation firsthand.

Upon arriving at Île-aux-Bénitiers, the ministers discovered that the area was littered with waste.

Fabrice David, the Junior Minister for Agro-Industry, emphasized the ecological significance of the island, which is one of the 49 small islets surrounding Mauritius and is home to several endemic species.

“There is significant rehabilitation work to be done. We have a responsibility to bring about change.

Nature, climate, and marine life cannot speak for themselves; we must speak for them,” David stated.

Joanna Bérenger, the Junior Minister for the Environment, reiterated the importance of the island, classifying it as an “Environmentally Sensitive Area.”

She expressed a desire to revive the technical committee established in 2017 aimed at protecting the island’s natural habitat.

Véronique Leu-Govind, the Junior Minister for Arts and Cultural Heritage and the Member of Parliament for Constituency No. 14 (Savanne/Rivière-Noire), highlighted the frustrations of local residents and boaters who are being denied access to certain parts of Île-aux-Bénitiers.

“We have learned that some individuals are being charged Rs 500 to have a picnic with their families. Where is this money going? Additionally, the illegal construction

Source: Defi Media