Comments by Minister Etienne Sinatambou provoke outrage

Following the Crisis Committee meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of the Environment, Etienne Sinatambou, uttered that the refugees in the shelter around the island would have to “eat biscuits and drink water until the cyclone is gone.” “We have made provisions to provide two liters of water per person and four packets of biscuits per day. Instead of giving a big packet of biscuits where a person cannot eat all, they will eventually become stale; we will provide four (small) packets of biscuits for each person. When hungry, he can eat one packet at 10:00am, a second one at 11:00am and another one at 2:00pm. If he is still hungry, he can then have the last one,” he uttered.

His statement incited indignation amongst many. The former President of the Republic, Cassam Uteem, said that he is revolted. “I am disgusted by the way refugees are treated, poor families who are going through difficult times in shelters. Refugees are not treated like this. What? Water and biscuits? It’s the way old prisoners were treated. How can we resort to such treatment of victimized people in 2018? Minister Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus has responded better, more humanly. Why not contact these hundreds of hotels that could have provided food? I repeat, Etienne Sinatambou has no right to treat refugees like this,” he exclaimed.

Father Maurice Labour General Vicar also commented on the Minister of Environment’s statement. “We cannot hurt twice those who are facing difficulties,” said Father Labor. He emphasized that we must not neglect the real problem. “We can call it a skid because we must not rub salt on the wounds of those already suffering with such words that reflect a certain contempt. This must not hide the real problem, which is the relocation of these squatters. It is high time to find a sustainable solution. It is a shame that a Minister uttered such words. ”

On her side, the Minister of Social Security recognised that there are shortcomings and said that if the protocol needs to be amended, it will be done: “Yes, there are some hiccups, but I’m on the ground and I made an appeal to the whole Mauritius and NGOs to help the disaster victims. I went in some shelters, we gave a dozen more mattresses, some volunteers brought macaroni, bread, tea, brioche, juice, water, we do not stay insensitive to the suffering of these refugees,” explained Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus.