Mr Anil Baichoo

The Minister of Environment

I would like to bring to your attention a matter of utmost importance. As you are fully aware our country is facing the epidemic ?CHIKUNGUNYA?. Your ministry and the ministry of Health and Safety are engaged in various campaigns claiming the duty of all citizens of Mauritius to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

Sir, it?s been two years since I phoned the District Council where I was advised to ask the counselor of Bonne-Mère for a plastic bin. Before the General Elections he told me to wait, please note that I?m still waiting as at to date. The new counselor advised that only 15 bins were received after village council elections in december 2005 and all of them were distributed to local retailers only.

Would you please tell me how we can live healthily when we must put our waste disposals in plastic bags which are usually the ?carrying bags? of dogs? It?s no use doing big cleaning campaigns for the media when all the rubbish stacked during the day is left to dogs for dinner. It is a shame particularly when the scavengers pick rubbish only on tuesdays and if such day is a public holiday they will come only tuesday next. I can tell you that the environment is not so beautiful to look at on these days.

I hope, Sir, that necessary actions will be done to ensure the residents of Bonne-Mère live in a healthy environment.

Mrs Joëlle ANTHONY