Chagossians’ nostalgic trip to the land of their birth |28 May 2011

Both women were born on the island; Liza left before she was two years old and Anne Marie when she was seven, and have memories and family stories about life on the islands. It was the first time that either of them had been back and their stay included some time on Diego Garcia, the main island, where they visited the Old Settlement and local cemeteries and two days aboard a ship to tour the northern atolls of Peros Banhos and Salomon, where flowers were also laid at local graveyards on Ile Du Coin and Ile Boddam.

The trip, from March 29 to April 6, was organised and paid for by the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration, based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and reflects a wider commitment to having an open dialogue with the Chagossian communities. 

“It was very special to go back to Diego and the other islands and see places that I remember from growing up there when I was a child. Attending mass at the church where I was baptised was very emotional,” Anne Marie Gendron said of her visit.

“Also the beauty of the beaches and the ocean took my breath away and the fish was so fresh, we ate it every day! It was a great opportunity.”

“A lot of politics surround the islands,” Liza added, “but what was important for me was having the chance to visit and I hope that others get to share that same experience.” 

Speaking of the visit, Henry Bellingham MP, Minister for the Overseas Territories, said:
“I am pleased that we arranged for a small group of Chagossians from the UK and the Seychelles to visit the British Indian Ocean Territory. Although the Government will continue to contest the case brought by the Chagossians to the European Court of Human Rights on resettlement and compensation, we believe it is vital that we continue to engage with the communities and this visit is an important part of that commitment.

“The Government is very keen for such visits to continue and I hope to be able to offer more visits in the future including opportunities to take part in environmental projects ongoing in the Territory.”

Apart from Liza and Anne Marie, 10 other members of various Chagossian groups also made the trip.

Contributed