Mauritius: The first ministerial meeting of the Task Force on the forthcoming Father Laval (Père Laval) pilgrimage was chaired today, by the Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the Lunch Room of the National Assembly in Port Louis.
Several representatives from Governmental institutions and the Sainte Croix parish were present to discuss and share their proposals regarding the advent of the pilgrimage. The aim was to ensure the Father Laval pilgrimage was held in the best possible conditions.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Louis Steven Obeegadoo; the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo; the Minister of Land Transport and Land Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Alan Ganoo ; the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy; the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, George Pierre Lesjongard; the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Kavydass Ramano ; the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation, Jean Christophe Stephan Toussaint; the Minister of National Infrastructure and Community Development, Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram; the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Darsanand Balgobin; the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal; and the Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Mr Avinash Teeluck, were present.
Other Parliamentary Private Secretaries, namely Dr Marie Christiane Dorine Chukowry; Rajanah Dhaliah; Dr Muhammad Ismaël Rawoo; and Serge Gilbert Bablee; as well as Members of Parliament, Subhasnee Luchmun Roy, Sandra Mayotte, and Joanne Tour, were also in attendance.
Addressing the Task Force, Prime Minister Jugnauth said that several representatives from different organisations are meeting today to organise the Père Laval pilgrimage, which will be held on 08 September 2023.
He pledged that Government will take on board the proposals raised by the various socio-cultural representatives so that the pilgrimage is held smoothly. He added that a site visit will also be held to take stock of all the arrangements being carried out.
During the meeting, Dr Husnoo listed the arrangements being made for cleaning, scavenging and lighting facilities. The Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services will also be on standby. The City Council of Port Louis will be responsible for cleaning drains and bare lands, painting of handrails, and providing lighting facilities.
The Tourism Authority will likewise carry out painting of the church and the Père Laval shrine.
Minister Ganoo highlighted that public transport facilities will be provided to pilgrims adding that buses will be available every 10 to 15 minutes till 2h30 in the morning. Buses from Curepipe, Vacoas, Quatre Bornes, and Rose Hill to the Victoria Urban Terminal and vice-versa will be provided. From Victoria Urban Terminal to St Croix, buses will also be made available.
Regarding Metro Express Ltd, services will be extended till 1 am on 09 September 2023 from Curepipe to Place D’Armes, Port Louis.
As regards public utilities, Minister Lesjongard informed that a team will be on standby on the eve and the day of the pilgrimage. The Central Electricity Board and the Central Water Authority will provide temporary supply and water tankers, respectively.
Minister Ramano stated that general cleaning, upgrading and embellishment will be carried out, and new gates will be constructed. For infrastructural works, the Road Development Authority will clean and slab levelling in several areas.
During the meeting, Minister Balgobin informed that Mauritius Telecom will provide internet facilities and telephone lines in the tents erected. A Traffic Watch facility will also be provided where one can view live traffic on one’s smartphone.
Minister Teeluck, for his part, said that provision of a marquis for the big mass will be made as well as big screens. He added that for the first time, reflective jackets for volunteers will be provided.
As for the Police Force, the representatives said that they will work according to the Plan made for the Père Laval pilgrimage. The site will be divided in five zones and the main objective is to ensure the security of the pilgrims.
As for Dr Jagutpal, he underlined that medical services such as SAMU and ambulances will be present. He called on the population to be vigilant especially as regards dengue adding that larviciding will be carried out. Food inspectors will also be present to check the quality of food that will be distributed, he underlined.
Père Sunnassee from the Sainte Croix parish, also present, said that the event is a national one and suggested that a case study be done as regards the relooking of the aisle of the Père Laval.
It is recalled that the death of Father Laval is commemorated on 09 September annually. Every year, on 08 September, men, women and children around the country, leave their houses and start on a long march to the shrine of Père Laval at Sainte Croix, where prayers are said.
Jacques-Désiré Laval (18 September 1803 – 09 September 1864) was a French Roman Catholic priest who served in the missions in Mauritius. He is known as the “Apostle of Mauritius” due to his tireless work in aiding the poor and ill.