The relations between Mauritius and Great Britain are definitely in a bad way concerning the Chagos issue. The British under state secretary Bill Rammell has indeed added fuel to the flames. He seized the opportunity of his presence in Mauritius for the SIDS conference to visit the Chagossian community. Learning that the Mauritian government had cancelled the reservation of the Trochetia, which was to take Chagossians on a pilgrimage to the archipelago in April, he expressed his disappointment.

As expected, prime minister Paul Bérenger has flown off the handle. He said it was out of the question that a Mauritian ship should go to the Chagos under a British order.

The PM was really virulent towards the British government. The relations between the two countries were already far from cordial. This new conflict may sound the death knell for good diplomatic relations. This time, the Mauritian government does not look ready to give up the fight. “We don’t want to go before the International Court of Justice. But if the diplomatic deadlock goes on, we will be bound to take this track”, said Paul Bérenger, at his press conference on Saturday.

This is actually the reason for the PM’s refusal to accept that the Trochetia takes Chagossians to their archipelago. If the Mauritian government allowed that, it would mean that it implicitly recognises that the British have the authority to decide who can go or not to the archipelago. In this sense, the Mauritian authorities have escaped another British “trap”.

<B>Hauled over the coals</B>

The question is why do the British need a Mauritian ship for this trip to the Chagos while they have so many? Bill Rammell has finally decided that he will use another ship. But he says he doesn’t understand why the Mauritian government is so reluctant to lend its ship for a “humanitarian move”?

Is it one more way to get the Chagossians to side with them? He then added, “This is not a pretext but your government has invalidated the contract with the shipping company.” The Mauritius Shipping Company (MSC) has also been hauled over the coals. The PM said he didn’t understand why it had negotiated with the British without informing their parent ministry.

Although Mauritius says it still hopes that it will not be necessary to go before the ICJ, this looks compromised. Don McKinnon had requested an open discussion between both countries on Diego Garcia but this is far from being the case.

On the other hand, Bill Rammell still hopes the Mauritian authorities will change their minds about allowing the Trochetia to make the trip. This does not seem to be the main Mauritian concern for the moment. In a nutshell, the way ahead seems long before Mauritius and Great Britain reach a consensus on the issue.