Republic of Mauritius- Construction works to start soon for the Intercontinental Slavery Museum

The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, made this statement, yesterday, during a site visit conducted at the Ex-Military Hospital to take stock of the progress with regards the setting up of the Museum. Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted that the project will be implemented in phases as it comprises of various components.

In the first phase, he pointed out, that restoration works will be undertaken to store all the data on the slave route in the Indian Ocean and also to enable people to have access to the information so as to be familiar to the history of Mauritius. According to him, the project which forms part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Site must also include a mechanism to preserve these data.

He further underlined that he had several discussions with various heads of states from Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar and Senegal on their collaboration on the project to establish the slave route in the Indian Ocean towards Mauritius.

The setting up of the Intercontinental Slavery Museum, as recommended by the Truth and Justice Commission, at the Ex-Labourdonnais Military Hospital in Port Louis would have as objectives to give more visibility to slavery and the slave trade in the Indian Ocean, promote slave history, and emphasise the contribution of the African Diaspora in the world development.

The Museum will have as functions to: study slavery and slave trade in the Indian Ocean; gather, collect and preserve documents and oral history on slavery; create and preserve a catalogue of artifacts related to slavery; host a permanent exhibition and organise regular roving exhibition; and promote curricular development, scientific research, as well as the production of educational and pedagogical materials.