New Cap Lelefan road officially opens |11 February 2014

Overjoyed residents of Cap Lelefan in the Au Cap district gathered by their new road on Saturday afternoon as the official opening took place.

Present at the ceremony were Parti Lepep’s central committee member for Au Cap, Professor Rolph Payet, community development and sports principal secretary Denis Rose, member of the National Assembly Murielle Marie, and new district administrator Doris Esther.

Cap Lelefan is situated between Reef Estate and Capucin. For many years the river and the lack of appropriate infrastructure meant that no cars could reach the upper region of Cap Lelefan, meaning not even ambulances and fire engines were able to reach people who were in need of help.

“For most it will promise a peaceful night’s sleep, and a feeling of security knowing that there is easy access to their homes,” said Professor Payet.

Rosie Marie is one of the residents who brought the project to the attention of officials like Professor Payet and her resilience along with a visit by President James Michel helped reassure her neighbours that they would in fact get their road.

Although the road took 10 years to be completed, residents attending the opening ceremony were grateful and excited.

Father David Alcindor of the Roman Catholic church attended the ceremony and gave a blessing for the new road, and prayed with the residents. The ceremony proceeded with the ribbon cutting by a resident Antoinette Laure-Marie, Minister Payet, PS Rose and MNA Marie.

Mrs Laure-Marie spoke of how difficult it was to travel to and from Cap Lelefan in her youth. Happy that this is no longer a major concern, she then thanked all those who have made it possible.

According to MNA Marie over R400,000 was spent on the construction of the road, and Professor Payet has urged residents to avoid blocking the one-lane road and also asked that the locals take the opportunity to keep the road clean, encouraging them to plant more.