Pravind Jugnauth’s official visit to Rodrigues

The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Pravind Jugnauth, was on an a three-day official visit in Rodrigues in the context of the pre-budget consultations exercise for the forthcoming budget 2017/2018.

During the opening of the pre-budget consultations on Tuesday in the presence of the Chief Commissioner of Rodrigues Regional Assembly, Serge Clair at La Residence Port Mathurin, the Prime Minister expressed willingness to work for the advancement of Rodrigues. Pravind Jugnauth explained that the consultations are crucial for the preparation of the forthcoming budget, as they allow taking on board proposals and suggestions from the Chief Commissioner as well as other economic players of Rodrigues. “We must work together for the advancement of the two islands,” he said. 

On the same day, the Prime Minister chaired working sessions with leaders of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly, NGOs, economic operators, representatives of civil society and other social and economic organisations where several subjects related to the socio-economic development of Rodrigues were addressed. On the same day, Pravind Jugnauth visited the SME Park at Baie aux Huîtres to discover the new facilities for small-scale entrepreneurs on the island. 

On Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister attended the opening of the ‘pêche à la senne’ season on Pointe Coton Beach, followed by the inauguration of a Community School in Anse Quitor. Pravind Jugnauth highlighted the government’s aim to offer a better future to children through the new education reform. “We are in the same boat and we have to work together to make sure that we reach our destination,” he said. Later that day he launched an ICT BPO Center in Port-Mathurin.

Pravind Jugnauth shared that he chose Rodrigues for his first official visit as Prime Minister in order to demonstrate the special consideration that Mauritius has for Rodrigues. The Prime Minister highlighted that Rs 8.2 billion were granted to the ARR to ensure the implementation of development projects, of which 3.9 billion in 2015-16 and Rs 4.3 billion in 2016-17. The latter also listed the projects that required major investments, including Rs 389 million allocated to road infrastructure, Rs 283 million to education, Rs 141 million to management and improvement of water supply, Rs 84 million to agriculture, Rs 73 million to health services, Rs 60 million to social housing, and Rs 25 million to sports and recreation. “We have done a lot for Rodrigues in terms of financial support,” he said, adding that the discussions with the ARR during these two days made it possible to define the priority sectors for development namely computer science, fisheries, agriculture and tourism. 

The chief commissioner of the ARR did not hide his satisfaction with the pre-budgetary consultations with the Prime Minister and he welcomed the Prime Minister’s visit to Rodrigues. He uttered that the latter has understood the vision that the ARR has for Rodrigues.