Public Services Minister Patrick Assirvaden declares critical drought situation at Mare-aux-Vacoas reservoir
via Le Mauricien4 min read
Public Services Minister Patrick Assirvaden has described the water situation in Mauritius as critical, following a visit to the Mare-aux-Vacoas reservoir. He noted the reservoir's extremely low level, stating the drought is worse than anticipated and has not been observed in over 120 years. The minister attributed the crisis to climate change, highlighting a significant rainfall deficit of 30% to 40% this year, equating to a shortage of 10 to 14 million cubic meters of water. Assirvaden has requested Lormus Jugoo of the Water Resources Commission to prepare an emergency plan, with water restrictions expected soon. Without intervention, reservoir levels could drop to between 22% and 23% by mid-June. He urged the public, farmers, and businesses to reduce water consumption. Mare-aux-Vacoas supplies approximately 80,000 subscribers in Vacoas and Plaines-Wilhems. Structural measures under consideration include increasing boreholes, exploiting groundwater, and studying desalination projects, particularly in the North, with a dam project at Rivière-des-Anguilles also being explored for 2029. Assirvaden emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent a more severe crisis and mentioned a new desalination plant in Rodrigues, set to produce 4,500 cubic meters of water, indicating a shift away from rain dependence.
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The London-based collective Kokoroko is set to perform in Mauritius on Saturday, following a regional tour that included Southern Africa and Reunion. Formed in London in 2014 by trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist Onome Edgeworth, Kokoroko has become a prominent figure in the contemporary Afro-jazz scene. The group aims to reconnect African diasporas with their musical roots, blending jazz, Afrobeat, and highlife into a warm and modern sound. The British Council is supporting the Institut français de Maurice in bringing Kokoroko to Mauritius on June 6. This initiative strengthens multilateral cultural cooperation between the UK, France, and Mauritius, promoting dialogue and mutual understanding. Naweid Fakeermahamood, Programme Manager for Cultural Engagement at the British Council, stated that Kokoroko's music reflects the openness and creativity they wish to promote. The project is also supported by Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels and Phoenix Bev, who aim to contribute to Mauritius's cultural development and enhance its appeal as a cultural destination. This collaboration between public institutions, international cultural actors, and private partners represents a new approach to artistic events, fostering an ecosystem of collaborations. The June 6 concert is the culmination of a regional tour and a starting point for new dynamics, forging connections between artists, audiences, and cultural visions. Anaïs Robert, Cultural Project Manager, highlighted that this pro
Must ReadMauritius will host a significant diplomatic and economic event next Wednesday, where the European Union and four Eastern and Southern African states—Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Seychelles—will officially conclude negotiations to deepen their Economic Partnership Agreement EPA. This follows over six years of discussions. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations, and Transparency, will visit Mauritius on June 10 to participate in the closing ceremony alongside trade ministers from the African nations. Representatives from the European Commission, the EU Delegation to Madagascar and Comoros, and government authorities will also attend, with Mauritius represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ritish Ramful. The conclusion of these talks marks the culmination of a process launched in October 2019, known as the Deepening Process, aimed at enhancing the existing EPA. The interim EPA, provisionally applied since May 2012, already links the EU with Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, and Zimbabwe, with Comoros joining in 2019. The new, expanded agreement will cover thirteen strategic areas, including trade in services, investments, rules of origin, trade facilitation, customs cooperation, agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights, competition policy, sustainable development, transparency in public procurement, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
At the Blue Economy Finance Forum BEFF in Monaco, Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-Industry and Blue Economy, advocated for blue finance, presenting Mauritius as a maritime power. He outlined the country's goal to double the blue economy's contribution to national GDP by 2036. Boolell highlighted Mauritius's vast maritime domain, including its Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ of nearly 3 million square kilometers, one of Africa's largest following the Chagos treaty. The minister emphasized moving beyond purely environmental discussions to focus on financial results, stressing Mauritius's ability to attract foreign capital through rigorous governance and innovative financial tools. He mentioned that the sovereign blue bond framework is designed to de-risk entry and amplify returns for long-term institutional investors, with legal stability being key to Mauritius's attractiveness. Science also guides Mauritius's strategy, utilizing artificial intelligence for fisheries management and developing marine biotechnologies. The upcoming Blue Economy Bill, to be debated in Parliament, aims to provide a predictable legislative framework. Boolell also noted Mauritius's pioneering role as the first country to ratify the historic BBNJ agreement on high seas biodiversity and its collaboration with Seychelles on shared continental shelf management. He concluded by inviting blue finance stakeholders to invest, stating, "The ocean is our common future. Investment is the bridge to achieve it. Let us
The Never Again Olive Resistance NAOR association, in partnership with La Pointe Centre d’Art in Tamarin, will host a cultural event titled "Make Art Not War – Fer Lar Pa Fer Dominer" on Saturday, June 13. This initiative aims to raise public awareness about the ongoing genocide in Palestine through various artistic expressions. Following a public conference on April 25 in Port-Louis, NAOR continues its awareness campaign with an event focused on art and dialogue. The event at La Pointe Centre d’Art in Tamarin will celebrate Palestinian culture and honor the resilience of Palestinians and populations in conflict zones, including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, and Iran. Organizers intend to highlight the fundamental human connections uniting these communities, emphasizing shared universal experiences like music, stories, traditions, and emotions such as love, joy, and suffering. The event will also draw parallels between Mauritius and these regions, noting similarities in lifestyles between Tamarin's fishing communities and historical realities, including situations in Gaza and the Chagos Archipelago. Organizers also aim to remind attendees of their often underestimated power to act, suggesting that individual and collective engagement can contribute to a more supportive and humanitarian-aware society. The evening will feature interventions, including a discussion on colonialism, Gaza, and the Chagos by Mauritian writer and activist Lindsey Collen, followed