A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday at Travessa House in Mer Rouge between the Seafarers’ Welfare Fund and the Mauritius Sailors’ Home Society. The objective is to provide seafarers with a place to relax before embarking on a long journey at sea.
On this occasion, the Seafarer’s Welfare Fund handed over a cheque of Rs 300 000 to the Mauritius Sailors Home Society in the presence of the Minister of Fisheries, Soudheer Maudhoo, Cardinal Maurice Piat and the presidents of the Seafarer’s Welfare Fund and the Mauritius Sailors’ Home Society, Afzal Delbar and Amrit Salandy respectively.
The Minister of Fisheries took the opportunity to ask the Mauritius Sailors’ Home Society to proceed with the acquisition of mattresses, beds, clothes, etc. for the seafarers. A health center will also be set up for the seafarers. He also requested that vans be acquired to enable seafarers to shop and visit the island. The Minister recalled that this is not a favor being granted to the seafarers because it is a question of contributions made available to them. He recalled that these contributions currently amount to about Rs 150 million in the bank.
Minister Maudhoo also highlighted the difficulties he encountered in signing the agreement due to the differing views of the various parties involved. Cardinal Maurice Piat, who was present at the event, pointed out that his struggle for the signing of the agreement lasted 25 years. Fortunately, the negotiations were successful. He stressed that in any case, the well-being of people must come first. The same principle must be adopted in the fight against Covid-19, as the country is going through « a serious social and economic crisis », he pointed out.
