The Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, chaired, this afternoon, at the Lunch Room of the National Assembly, in Port Louis, the first Ministerial meeting of the Task Force on the Father Laval (Père Laval) Pilgrimage 2022.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo; the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo; as well as other Ministers and Members of Parliament were present at the meeting.
Several representatives from Governmental institutions and the Sainte Croix parish were present to discuss and share their proposals as to the advent of the pilgrimage. The aim of this first meeting is to ensure that all arrangements are being made for the Father Laval pilgrimage to be held in the best possible conditions.
In a statement, Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted that the holding of this first meeting at this stage bore testimony of Government’s commitment to ensure that every necessary arrangement was being made so as to enable the pilgrimage to take place in good conditions. He expressed satisfaction that all relevant stakeholders from Government and from the Sainte Croix parish attended the meeting and were able to share their views concerning the ongoing works.
The Prime Minister emphasised the need to adhere to the sanitary protocols in force due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and added that Government would provide updated information regarding sanitary protocols in due course depending on the evolution of the situation locally. He also expressed hope that the protocols would soften in the future while conceding that it was difficult to forecast for sure if the situation would improve.
During the meeting, the different concerned authorities listed out the numerous arrangements which would be made for, namely: rehabilitation of roads; lighting facilities; mobile toilets and cleaning facilities; water tanks from the Central Water Authority; a shuttle service; provision of a generator from the Central Electricity Board; painting and embellishment works; upgrading of metal and wooden barriers; and provision of banners, amongst others.
It is recalled that the death of Father Laval is commemorated on 09 September annually. Every year, on 8 September, men, women and children around the island, leave their houses and start on a long march to the shrine of Père Laval at Sainte Croix, where prayers are said.
