President visits Mont Fleuri |14 September 2012

While hailing the strong community spirit that reigns in certain places, he has nevertheless deplored the impression of idleness and aimlessness that quite a number of young people seem to project, especially in the Corgat Estate area.

The visit to Mont Fleuri is part of Mr Michel’s plans to see for himself the work done by the different government departments and also visit the residents of the various districts.
 
Accompanying him yesterday were the Minister for Land Use and Housing Christian Lionnet, the principal secretary for community development and sports Denis Rose, Mont Fleuri member of the National Assembly Beguitta Jeanevol and district administrator Flavie Laporte.

President Michel was received at the district administration office, where he held a meeting with the district authorities and government representatives.

He then visited the nearby daycare centre, which belongs to the district but is run by Stella Marie on a rental basis.
 
Next was Latimie Bijoux of Rochon, who was most happy to see President Michel. Mrs Bijoux has benefitted from a house under the district small project scheme.

The re-development of Corgat Estate is a major project, spanning over five years, and Mr Michel saw for himself how the current community is and also how it will be when the project is completed.

Maria Bradburn of Corgat Estate – who is 75 years old and has lived in that community for over 25 years – also got a visit from the head of state, who then proceeded to Alda Vital’s house, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
 
Felix Arissol of Forêt Noire, at 70 years old, is also the beneficiary of a house under the district small project scheme with the renovation of a low-income house, which Mr Michel visited.

Rideau Road, which is part of the Forêt Noire community, is a road project whose first phase has been completed. Phase two is now ongoing, and Mr Michel was received by several residents of the area, who had merged to negotiate with landowners whom the road had crossed their land.

 
Egbert Valentin, Steve Nourrice, Jimmy Renaud and Mohammed Japha are neighbours who had come together to raise money to compensate the neighbours whom the road has encroached their land.

The delegation then moved to Kan Tobruk Housing Estate where they visited Elvis Renaud, who is a young father who uses the available space around his flat to grow crops which he then mostly shares with his neighbours and sometimes sells too.

The delegation also visited Michel Roucou, who had made many contributions to the promotion of community life at Kan Tobruk Housing Estate.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Mr Michel said he has seen for himself the developments in the district and also meet many people – especially the elderly – and that he has rekindled his ongoing contact with the residents.

“It has also saddened me to see many young people just roaming about at Corgat Estate, giving the impression that they are not employed, and are possibly getting involved in certain kind of activities not condoned,” he said.

“I think an effort should be made to restore some kind of order in that community, so that the residents here can live a decent life and contribute to their personal development and that of the country.”

President Michel added that he was happy to see there is a strong community spirit in certain places, such as those of Rideau Road coming together to work on getting access to a piece of land to build a road on, which will benefit not only themselves but many other people.

He also commended the efforts of Messrs Roucou and Renaud for their contributions to their community.

“In general, my visit has enabled me to see both the constraints and the progress of the district, and the projects planned for its development and for the well-being of the people.”
 
Our accompanying photographs show highlights of President Michel’s visit at Mont Fleuri on Friday.