馃嚥馃嚭MauritiusEast Africa
Indentured Labor Route Project: A historical overview and future aspirations
via Le Mauricien8 min read
The Indentured Labor Route Project ILRP aims to research and promote the history of indentured labor globally. The concept was first discussed in Mauritius in 2001 at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, leading to the proposal "Coolie Route-Crossing the Seven Seas." A central objective has been to establish an International Scientific Committee of professionals in various fields to undertake research and projects. The Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund AGTF, created in 2001, received authorization in 2004 to set up the ILRP. In 2006, Aapravasi Ghat became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the history of indenture gained official international recognition. The World Heritage Committee also recommended the inscription of the Indentured Immigration Archives on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, which occurred in 2015. International conferences in 2011 and 2014 further advanced the project, leading to resolutions for an International Committee and an Indentured Labor Global Database Initiative. In June 2014, the World Heritage Committee acknowledged Mauritius's efforts, and in October 2014, UNESCO's Executive Board supported the ILRP, to be housed at AGTF, following the model of the Slave Route Project. The ILRP involves creating national and regional committees in countries that experienced indenture. In January 2015, the Chairman of AGTF prioritized the ILRP's realization, with support from the Minister of Arts and Culture and the Prime Minister. This project seeks to enhance AGTF's pos
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
Must ReadThe Financial Crimes Commission FCC is investigating alleged mismanagement at Air Mauritius between 2020 and 2024, following a forensic report by Kroll Middle East Consultancy Ltd. The report, which was approved by the national airline's board, has been transmitted to the FCC, prompting the formation of multidisciplinary teams to analyze its findings. Sattar Hajee Abdoola, administrator of Air Mauritius during the period, and Ken Arian, former Chief Executive Officer of Airports Holdings Limited, are expected to be questioned regarding strategic decisions made. Formal summonses for Abdoola and Arian are anticipated at a later stage of the inquiry. The investigation will also involve current and former Air Mauritius officials, including Raja Buton, who served as Officer-in-Charge. The FCC is focusing on transactions related to aircraft sales, purchases, and leasing contracts during the airline's voluntary administration and its post-pandemic recovery. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam previously stated in the National Assembly that Air Mauritius incurred a net loss of approximately Rs 1.2 billion from the sale of four aircraft between 2018 and 2021. Ramgoolam also mentioned that "falsified and misleading Reports were submitted to the then Board in the full knowledge of two persons, namely, the former Chairperson of Airport Holdings Ltd, Mr Ken Arian, and the former Chief Executive Officer of Air Mauritius Ltd, Mr Ku膷ko, with the objective of justifying the purchase of an addition
Mauritius experienced an 8.4% decrease in tourist arrivals in June 2026, with 89,098 visitors compared to 97,273 in June 2025, according to Statistics Mauritius. This marks the first decline after a year of continuous growth. Despite this monthly drop, the first half of 2026 saw a 1.5% increase in tourism, with 668,471 arrivals compared to 658,909 in the same period of 2025. The Minister of Tourism, Richard Duval, attributed the June downturn to global factors, noting that other destinations like the Seychelles and the Maldives also saw significant decreases of 24.8% and 12% respectively. He suggested that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which impacts travel planning, and the start of the World Cup in June might have contributed to the decline. Minister Duval had previously indicated in February that the consistent monthly increases observed between April 2025 and April 2026 were unsustainable. He expressed confidence that the sector would overcome this challenging period, stating that authorities, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, and industry professionals are intensifying efforts to ensure 2026 surpasses 2025 in tourism performance.
Must ReadLALIT is calling on the Mauritian government, specifically Prime Minister Ramgoolam and Attorney General Glover, to be wary of being deceived by the United Kingdom regarding the Chagos Archipelago. The UK's military occupation of Chagos and Diego Garcia has been declared unlawful, and LALIT argues that Mauritius should not continue bilateral negotiations with an occupying power. LALIT suggests that the Mauritian government's current approach, which involves merely requesting a roadmap for the UK's ratification of the Chagos Archipelago Agreement, is insufficient. They highlight a veiled threat from Mauritius that its stance could be reviewed by September 2026, possibly referring to the UN General Assembly meeting, but LALIT believes this is too late given the UK's scheduling of a meeting after this date. LALIT urges the government to act before the August 9 deadline for submitting items to the UN General Assembly. LALIT proposes several actions: suspending Mauritius's signature to the bilateral agreement due to the UK's non-signature, lack of parliamentary vote, and the ineffectiveness of bilateral agreements in achieving decolonization; preparing a supplementary International Court of Justice case for guidance; preparing cases in international courts for reparations for 57 years of illegal occupation and for the forcibly removed Chagossians; organizing a formal government and opposition visit to the Chagos islands with Chagossian representatives and journalists; amending the