Oumar Kholeegan: “No hawkers area around Central Market”

Since his appointment as Lord Mayor of the City of Port Louis in June this year, Oumar Kholeegan has already implemented a few projects which have helped to consolidate the financial situation of the Council. His main challenge, as 2015 draws to an end, remains the management of hawkers who are invading the streets of the capital city, and to provide security to pedestrians and visitors during the festive season.

The Lord Mayor is back from Paris where he attended a world meeting of City Mayors in the context of COP 21 global climate change summit. More than a thousand mayors attended the conference held under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. The main theme was: “Waste Management.” News on Sunday took this opportunity to put a few questions to the Lord Mayor and raised the question concerning the proliferation of hawkers in Port Louis.

What was your contribution at the Paris meeting?

It was a huge gathering where I had the opportunity to meet Anne Hidalgo who knows Mauritius very well. I invited her to visit our island which she accepted and she looks forward to meet Mauritians as soon as her hectic schedule allows her to do so. At the meeting, I raised the question of Flood Disaster Management following the flash floods that hit the City in March 2013. At the end of the three day meeting (4-5-6 December), participants decided unanimously on the need to finance central governments to implement projects concerning the environment and better waste management. As for the council, we are in need of approximately Rs 17 million to buy new tools and equipment for the regular maintenance of drains.

What has been done since you are at the helm of the Council?

The very first thing I did when I took office was to cancel allocations given to socio-cultural groups for the organisation of festivals and we took to organise such festivals ourselves by bringing all such groups of a region under one roof. This resulted in a better participation of the population, less spending and bringing more happiness among the inhabitants who share such festivals. I also took the decision, after meeting all heads of department, to cancel overtime done by employees, as it was weighing too heavily on our finances. I set up a roster where duties are performed on an 8-hour basis by the same number of employees. Finally, I insist that all trade fees be paid to the municipality. These measures have helped consolidate our treasury. Consequently, this will help us implement a wider range of projects for the coming year.

What is your assessment of the organisation of ‘Port Louis by Light’ festival?

This three-night festival has been a success and I congratulate the organisers. The Council had regular meetings with the stakeholders and our employees helped make it a success. There is, today, a common wish that such an event becomes an annual occurrence until Port Louis manages to have another life after dusk.

Hawkers have literally invaded the streets. What are your decisions for the end of the year festivities? What will you do with the hawkers?

I have to tell you that the Municipal Council of Port Louis carried out a survey on the streets of the City to have an idea of the number of hawkers involved in commercial activities. There are around 3,000 more hawkers than in 2014. The Council has thus decided that 829 registered hawkers, who pay fees, will have to wear a badge. We have also decided to allow, for the coming festive season, 1,334 merchants who have been working in Port Louis over the past year. No other hawkers will be allowed on the streets. This decision is in line with a Cabinet decision taken on 20 November 2015 and which reads as follows: “Cabinet has agreed to the Municipal City Council of Port Louis being invited to consider the implementation of measures to better manage hawking activities in Port Louis during the end of year festivities, keeping in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court. The Municipal City Council of Port Louis would, inter alia, issue an identification badge to registered hawkers, as well as to those who regularly ply their trade in Port Louis during the festive period, and conspicuously install “No Hawking” signposts where necessary.”

What about Farquhar Street?

It seems that a ruling from the Supreme Court in 2006 was not complied with... Well, here, I should say that it is not only the responsibility of the municipality. Our inspectors alone cannot enforce the ruling. We fully need the support of the Police to maintain that the buffer zone – within a 500 metres radius from the market area – is respected. At times, we have been successful. But I have to tell you that as from this weekend, 11 December onwards, our inspectors and the Police will be in force around the Central Market to maintain the Court Order. This time, we will not budge. The Commissioner of Police has given me the assurance that order will be seen to be maintained. Contraveners are thus warned.

Have projects such as Ruisseau du Pouce, the Batterie De Caen and the covered bridge at Desforges street failed?

The Ruisseau du Pouce and the Desforges bridges are partly occupied and as for the Batterie De Caen, the former government took it back after protests from lobby groups for the preservation of our National Heritage. Regardless, the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipality of Port Louis are having regular consultations to house the hawkers at a defined place. It has thus been decided that the former Victoria Railway Station, which is a national monument, will be properly renovated and transformed into a hawkers’ area. Same will be done at the Immigration Square.

What are your projects for 2016?

We have already taken the decision for a few small projects as follows: construction of two funeral parlours at La Tour Koenig and at the former BAT complex, construction of municipal centres at Borstal and Pailles, the expansion of the Pailles cemetery, the creation of a synthetic football ground at Les Salines and we budgeted some Rs 8 million for the renovation of municipal kindergartens.