The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, who is the Chairperson of the National Task Force for the Father Laval (Père Laval) pilgrimage, effected, this morning, a site visit at the shrine and the church of Father Laval in Sainte-Croix.
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; the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Mr Georges Pierre Lesjongard; the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation, Mr Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram; and the Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Mr Avinash Teeluck, were also present.
The objective was to take stock of the progress made in relation to the repair and embellishment works being undertaken in the shrine and the church. Members of the Task Force as well as representatives from Governmental institutions and socio-cultural associations were also present.
In a statement after the site visit, Prime Minister Jugnauth expressed satisfaction as regards the works being carried out, which are expected to be completed within the set timeframe. He congratulated all the stakeholders who are working as a team to ensure that the pilgrimage scheduled on 08 and 09 September 2022 takes place in the best possible conditions.
He recalled that Father Laval always advocated for unity adding that Government has adopted the same philosophy which is being translated through concrete actions.
Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted that after two years of restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pilgrimage will be able to take place this year in a ‘normal’ context after restrictions have been eased. He however urged the population to adhere to all sanitary precautions and to continue to wear masks.
He also made an appeal to the citizens to get inoculated with the second booster dose which will offer them with an additional protection against the virus. During the pilgrimage, a large number of people will be in contact with each other, and the risk of contamination will be greater. Hence the need to take appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, he added.
Every year on 08 September, men, women, and children from every part of Mauritius, leave their houses and start on a long march to the shrine of Father Jacques-Désiré Laval at Sainte-Croix, where prayers are said. The death of Père Laval is commemorated on 09 September each year.
