Due to the suspension of flights between Mauritius and Rodrigues, not only Rodriguans are stranded in Mauritius but SMF soldiers are also stranded in Rodrigues! These soldiers were sent to Rodrigues by their headquarters on 4 February for a tour of duty of 40 days and should have gone back by 16 March. In the meantime, the circumstances have changed. Mauritius was under lockdown. Most of them were not prepared to face winter in Rodrigues as they were supposed to have returned to Mauritius since several months. In this difficult situation, promises had been made to them in vain.
According to latest information, they will be going back in their country on 4 July. Some 36 of their colleagues are already under quarantine in a hotel in Grand Bay Mauritius. When the new team will land in Rodrigues on the 4 July, those stranded in Rodrigues will be leaving by the same return flight. The replacing team, which would have already undergone quarantine in Mauritius for 14 days, will be in auto-isolation in the SMF barracks at Terre Rouge for another seven days. The average citizen says, « It’s true that our own families are stranded in Mauritius. It is very disturbing. However, these people have families too in Mauritius! This is not fair for them either. In addition, if Medias and newspapers did not raise this issue, I gather that nothing would have been done for them. I feel happy that they are all going back to be with their families and children ».
