Mauritian papers highlight passage of cyclone on Rodrigues Island
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – The passage of the intense tropical cyclone ‘’Joaninha’’ on Rodrigues Island, with gusts of 165 kilometers/hours and reaching a peak of 184 km/hour, and causing huge damage to agriculture and the infrastructure on the island, dominated newspaper headlines in Mauritius this week.
‘’Agriculture in a state of emergency’’ was the main headline of Friday’s edition of the newspaper, ‘’le Mauricien’’, illustrating the damage caused to agriculture, which is the main stay of the economy on the island.
‘’There is not only that’’ as the corn fields are attacked by the Fall Army Worms, with dramatic consequences on agriculture which is in a state of emergency’’, writes the newspaper.
The newspaper also highlighted the visit made by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, leading a ministerial delegation, to see for himself the damage caused by the cyclone.
Mr Jugnauth promised ‘’financial assistance to Rodrigues populations in a bid to give them some hope".
About the Fall Army Worms, the newspaper writes that the immediate concern remains the devastating presence of that insect in the corn plants in Rodrigues.
‘’All farmers of corn, a major agricultural activity on the island, are affected by the spread of that worm. Among the measures proposed, one consists of the total destruction of all corn fields, without distinction, in an attempt to eradicate the worm’’, says the newspaper Le Mauricien which adds that: ‘’all indications are that the culture of corn will be banned for the two next harvesting periods in Rodrigues, that is to say until the end of this year’’.
In the same vein, the newspaper also says that the presence of the worms, which is considered by the international agriculture and bio-sciences center as threat for the world agricultural trade, also generated consequences in other sectors of the economy.
Air Mauritius cannot fly from or to Rodrigues until later date. The newspaper says that a very strict protocol for the movements between the islands is imposed by the phyto-health services.
As for the newspaper ‘’Le Defi’’, it reports that the Prime Minister realized that the inhabitants of Rodrigues are not yet safe from cyclones, especially with climate change. ‘’This is the reason it is urgent to review the government policy on social housing for Rodrigues and all Mauritius.
‘’Le Défi’’ adds: "But the priority for the Mauritian Prime Minister remains agriculture and cleaning in Rodrigues".
According to the newspaper, Jugnauth praised the efforts made and the solidarity showed within Rodrigues populations.
‘’They do not wait for help from authorities. I appreciate that positive attitude. Some people did not visit the refuge centers while those who went there return back home immediately’’, he added.
The Association of Parents of Mauritian disabled children (APEIM), through the newspaper, has appealed for solidarity within Mauritians in a bid to help handicapped children in Rodrigues and the Rodrigues populations affected after the passage of the intense tropical cyclone on the island.
According to Jocelyne Beesoon, director of the association, there are 260 handicapped children in Rodrigues who are now seriously affected by the cyclone.
‘’Those children need food stuffs and school material and babies also are in emergency need’’, she added. "We need cereals, powder milk, cacao, rice, hygiene and domestic products."
The Mauritian Red Cross has also appealed for help for the victims of the disasters.
-0- PANA NA/JSG/MSA/VAO 30March2019
