Dear Prime Minister

The Association des Riverains de la Falaise d’Anna has been heartened by the report in a saturday’s paper that the Cabinet had decided at its meeting on Friday the 29th October 2004 that there should be consultations with the residents and forces vives with regard to any developmental projects at Morcellement Anna.

This does not surprise us as we know of you unequivocal commitment for the protection of the environment and your sense of fairness and equity and as a man who believes in dialogue and consultations.

Morcellement Anna which spans from the Klondyke hotel to approximately Pointe-Moyenne is a very very sensitive area as the coastal line is made up of lava which is highly porous and which at all cost must be left under nature. The coast line itself is cliff lined, deep and host to many mammals and fish. Additionally many unique diving sites are located along this coast. The relation between the fishermen, divers and residents are very harmonious and each understands each other and the value of the unique natural cover which is host to rabbits, perdrix, many varieties of birds. This is one of the few places where all these nature’s creatures are living side by side.

From an ecological and environmental view point it would be very disastrous to destroy the equilibrium that has set in the region. It would be sheer madness to even think of putting up any clusters of houses or bungalows along the cliff. Ideally a buffer, that is, a zone of about 100 metre should be set to protect the recipient sea from any leacheate, nutrients or human activities along this most sensitive coastal are.

This is the last vestige of open space, nature endowed that exist and where all Mauritians can freely walk and enjoy and they do.

We would most welcome your visit to Morcellemnt Anna whence we can show you de “visu” this unique site and the damage which is being caused to the coast and the sea by unwarranted development. All works (built up) along this coastal area will bring more soil, dust and more runoffs to the sea and enhance the siltation of the lagoon and the sea and destroy fish habitat and adversely affect many people’s lives.

Human welfare is at the centre of sustainable development and when human residing in an area do not want an unwelcome development, the result can only be disastrous at ecological and social level.

We thank you for your understanding, Prime Minister and we know that you will take the above into consideration when next the Cabinet will discuss this project. The residents are unequivocally against any construction on the lava and frontage of the cliff.

Association des Riverains de la Falaise d’Anna