Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Cargados Carajos known as the St Brandon Archipelago forms an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Mauritius and Government will seek legal solutions both at national and international levels to ensure that Mauritius and its citizens are the ones to benefit from the resources found within the Archipelago.
The Attorney General, Mr Maneesh Gobin, made this announcement, this afternoon, at a press conference held in Port-Louis, concerning the territorial integrity of St Brandon.
He stated that the grounding of the fishing vessel FV YU FENG near St Brandon has raised several questions as regards its territorial integrity. Government, he indicated, took note of the fact that it has no rights on St Brandon and this following a decision of the Privy Council in 2008.
The Privy Council, he added, retained that the Raphael Fishing Co Ltd has a permanent lease on St Brandon according to a notarial deed between the Colonial Government of Mauritius and the fishing company in 1901.
He observed that the Raphael Fishing Co Ltd has been occupying the island of St Brandon entirely since 1929, taking advantage of its resources, in exchange for a permanent subsidy of Rs 1 paid to Mauritius annually.
The Attorney General underlined that according to the Constitution, Mauritius includes the Islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega, Tromelin, Cargados Carajos and the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia and any other island comprised in the State of Mauritius.
“Government will see beyond the judgment of the Privy Council and explore all possibilities to make sure that it is the Republic of Mauritius and its citizens that benefit from fish and guano as well as other resources that are available in St Brandon”, he stressed.
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