Botanic Garden Shame: Calls for Leadership Change Amidst Neglect Scandal

The director of the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) Botanical Garden is facing urgent calls for removal following allegations that the historic site has fallen into a state of “shameful” disrepair.

Narendranath Gopee, president of the National Trade Union Confederation (NTUC), has demanded that Minister Boolell transfer the Trust’s director, Anjusha Durbarry, and return management of the garden directly to the Ministry of Agro-Industry.

The demand follows a site visit where the union leader reported being “shocked” by the dilapidated conditions of the landmark.

A “Blight” on National Reputation

The gardens, a cornerstone of the local tourism industry, were reportedly found strewn with dead leaves and litter.

Mr Gopee expressed personal “shame” after witnessing international visitors making disparaging remarks about the site’s upkeep.

“When visitors deplore the state of the garden, it becomes serious,” Mr Gopee stated. “It does no honour to our country, which promotes this site to attract tourists.”

Management and Outsourcing Failures

According to the NTUC, the crisis stems from a failure in management and a controversial shift toward outsourcing.

While the garden is funded through entrance fees, the NTUC claims the current leadership is unable to manage the situation effectively.

Maintenance duties were previously externalised to a firm called MauriFacilities; however, that contract has now expired, leaving a significant void in daily upkeep. Mr Gopee revealed that:

• Existing garden staff offered to maintain the grounds themselves in exchange for an allowance.
• Management reportedly ignored this proposal, leaving the site “dirty and poorly maintained.”
• Concerns were raised as early as June 2025 in meetings with Agro-Industry officials, yet proposed solutions were never implemented.

Insult to National Heroes

The outcry carries significant emotional weight, as the botanical gardens serve as the final resting place for two of the nation’s most prominent historical figures: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Sir Anerood Jugnauth.

Mr Gopee described the neglect as an affront to their memory, noting that these “great figures” now rest in an environment that fails to meet basic standards of cleanliness.

He concluded that the government must appoint a “person of calibre” to restore the site’s prestige and address the chronic staffing shortages currently crippling the landmark.

Source: Le Mauricien