Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Gaël Rangain
Published on 2024-03-04 08:00:51
The MV Peros Banhos docked at Port-Mathurin yesterday for its inaugural trip to this destination. The brand-new cargo ship, destined to serve the islands, arrived shortly before noon with Captain Neewoor at the helm.
In the true maritime tradition, MV Peros Banhos was welcomed by fishing boats and units of the National Coast Guard. Two tugs from the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA), Albion and Le Solitaire, accompanied the new ship to the dock to mark the event in grand style, all under the sounds of the Rodriguan sega drum. The ship was sprayed with water by firefighters and personnel from the Mauritius Port Authority for its baptism in Rodrigues, in the presence of hundreds of Rodriguans and tourists who braved the rain to come to Port-Mathurin.
“It is a historic day for Rodrigues. It is important that we provide Rodrigues and in general all the islands, with maritime means to transport goods and passengers. A good maritime connection has important advantages. Rodrigues has had days without sailings, weeks with no shipments. We panicked,” declared Chief Commissioner Johnson Roussety.
He expressed satisfaction that MV Peros Banhos will further strengthen the connection between the two islands. He also announced that the Master Plan for the development of the port is being updated to provide the island with a larger and more efficient port. He thanked the central government and Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, in particular, for this gift.
On his part, Blue Economy Minister Sudheer Maudhoo, present in Port-Mathurin, announced that 100 fishing kits have been allocated to Commissioner Louis Ange Perrine to be distributed to Rodriguan fishermen. “Two containers filled with equipment have arrived on board the Peros Banhos. Equipment for fishermen and octopus pickers. I also want to reassure the Rodriguan fishing community that there will be no problem with the Fisheries Act 2023. We are not doing anything against their interests. At the next national parliamentary session, the anomalies will be corrected so as not to penalize Rodriguan fishermen,” he made it clear.
Assistant Chief Commissioner Franceau Grandcourt explained that this project is in line with the regional government’s vision to improve maritime links between Mauritius and Rodrigues. “We hope that the minister can provide even more subsidies on the cost of freight for goods between our two islands to alleviate the Rodriguan population who pay much higher prices than in Mauritius. I thank him for what has already been done. The Rodriguan must come out as a winner because Rodrigues is indeed part of the Republic of Mauritius,” he said.
Furthermore, Dhunputh Khoosye, Chairman of the Mauritius Shipping Corporation (MSC), highlighted that a new cargo-passenger ship, similar to the Mauritius Trochetia, will soon be constructed to replace the current one that will retire in two years.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
