Barbarons boardwalk re-opened-Hotel pledges support for its upkreep |25 August 2006

During the re-opening ceremony, which took place on Wednesday at the Le Meridien Barbarons Hotel, a symbolic agreement was signed to formally establish a partnership between the hotel and the Department of Environment.

This partnership underlines an agreement by the hotel to maintain the boardwalk given its close vicinity to the tourism establishment and the fact that it provides an added outdoor activity to the tourists staying there.

The agreement was signed by the acting general manager of the Le Meridien Barbarons Hotel, Steve Delefortrie, and the principal secretary for Environment, Dr Rolph Payet.

Also present at the ceremony were the Minister for Environment & Natural Resources, Ronnie Jumeau; the acting director for National Parks and Forestry, Joseph Francois; the member of the National Assembly for Grand Anse, Waven William; the district's administrator Paul Labaleine; other officers from the Department of Environment; members of the WildLife Club of Plaisance Secondary School and other guests.

Initiated by the then National Parks and Forestry Section of the Division of Nature and Conservation in the Department of Environment, the Barbarons boardwalk was first constructed in the year 2000 as an extension of the Vacoa trail along the Dauban River.

The boardwalk, which leads into a mangrove habitat which provides shelter to an assortment of flora and fauna, was part of a larger project financed by the European Union through the Indian Ocean Commission.

Towards the end of 2002, the Forestry Section undertook minor repair work on the boardwalk as it started to show signs of deterioration. However after some time the structure had to be closed down for safety reasons.

As an initiative of the Department of Environment as well as the wish of the MNA for Grand Anse to see the boardwalk restored to its former glory, the department managed to secure the sum of SR216,000 from the government earlier this year to renovate the structure.

At the re-opening ceremony on Wednesday, Minister Jumeau reminded those present that the government alone cannot preserve the environment, but needs a helping hand from the private sector and other players in the community including the schools.
The minister said that these collaboration with the private sector, civil society and the district communities will continue. 

After the signing of the agreement, guests had the opportunity to use the boardwalk to view the different species of mangroves under the guidance of France Sophola, drainage management coordinator from the Wetland Unit.

During the guided tour, Mr Sophola reminded all the guests present of the importance of wetlands, such as their role as a filter for the ocean and as a protection of our fragile coastline from heavy storms.