Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Minister of the Blue Economy had brought forward the date of September 13 for the return of our compatriots to Agalega aboard the Mauritius Trochetia.
But as of yesterday, they were still waiting to be contacted by the “Outer Islands Development Corporation” for their quarantine to be carried out before their departure.
The ship has been there since Friday. On the work side, things are going much faster on the archipelago . . . The passenger cargo ship anchored in PortLouis on Friday, September 3, after more than four months of absence.
The Mauritius Trochetia had set sail for Sri Lanka on April 12 for repairs in dry dock. But, at the port of Colombo, the Covid-19 passed that way, infecting the majority (22) of the 28 crew members.
Crew which, in addition to Mauritians, includes two Malagasy, two Russians and a Ukrainian. It was only after the sick recovered that the Mauritius Trochetia was finally able to set sail for Port Louis.
Vaccine and quarantine Since his arrival on September 3, protocol had to wait 14 days, until its occupants completed their quarantine, before they could disembark from the boat. Then, so that the 42 Agaleans stranded in Mauritius, for almost eight months for some, can in turn embark on a return to their archipelago.
If the Minister of the Blue Economy and Fisheries, Sudheer Maudhoo, had advanced the date of September 13 for the return of our compatriots to Agalega aboard the Mauritius Trochetia, it is a fact that yesterday, they were still waiting to be contacted by the Outer Islands Development Corporation (OIDC) for their quarantine.
“Last Monday we were called to the OIDC office where we were given a letter. In it, we were only informed that we all needed to be vaccinated before the trip and that we will have to do 14 days of quarantine.
Except that no date has been communicated to us, “said Franco Poulay, one of the voices of the group of Agaleans stranded on the main island of the Republic.
He says that since the OIDC’s little glimmer of hope at the start of last week, families have left their luggage, including essentials for their livelihood, in a container at an OIDC warehouse in Pailles.
Container that will be embarked on the Mauritius Trochetia for the trip. “We are all uncertain as we are still not fixed on the date of departure, let alone the quarantine. These families find themselves embarrassed today, ”concludes Franco Poulay.
