Bel Ombre

Social Study
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan
September 2006
Rose Hill
Republic of Mauritius
Malenn Oodiah Consultant Sociologist
Sandhya Teelock Consultant
Viren Vythelingum Junior consultant
Sandrine Sullivan Research assistant

Bel Ombre Social Development Plan September 2006
Acknowledgements
A number of persons and institutions, both public and private, have been helpful in the
preparation of the Bel Ombre Social Development Plan, by providing information and data,
and by sharing their views with us. In particular, we wish to thank:
The Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Agro-industry and fishing
The Ministry of Health
The Director and staff of the Central Statistical Office
The Association des Hoteliers et Restaurateurs de Maurice (AHRIM)
The Management and staff of the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre
The Management of Heritage hotel
The Management of Le Telfair hotel
The Management of Les Villas de Bel Ombre
and all the resource persons with whom we have had fruitful working sessions.
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Executive summary
The present report is the result of a study commissioned by the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel
Ombre, the main economic player in the Bel Ombre region. The company is directly and
indirectly linked to sugar related activities, tourism and Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS)
projects in the area.
Due partly to its topography, the south-western region stretching from Le Morne village to
Rivière des Galets has traditionally been an isolated area, and development, whether
economic or social, has not had as positive an impact as it has had elsewhere in the island.
Recent economic change – the closing down of textile factories and of Bel Ombre sugar mill
– has had adverse impacts on the populations of the area.
The study aims to propose a social development plan to fully integrate the populations in
the current and future development process. It intervenes three years after the region
experienced an important tourism development through the construction of three hotels and
a golf course. Further economic development is planned; and the social impacts of the
recent and coming development will be far reaching, both socially and geographically.
Key concepts
The BOSDP has been built around four key concepts, namely:
o Integrated development
o Sustainable development
o Social and spatial integration
o Social Development
Social and spatial integration is necessary if the social dimension of the development process
is to be taken into account in the region of Bel Ombre. In concrete terms, this means that
the physical development plan prepared in 2001 needs to be updated. A strategic perspective
needs to be adopted in thinking out land use plans as regards economic activity as well as
infrastructure and various public amenities.
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The Bel Ombre Social Development Plan
It is proposed that the implementation of the Bel Ombre Social Development Plan
(BOSDP) be done in three phases, spread over a total period of 5 years (October 2006 –
2011). Each phase having defined objectives. A detailed schedule of implementation will
however be decided at a later stage, once the report and the proposals made have been
studied.
The proposals are grouped under 17 headings, such as Employability, Infrastructure,

Education and Training, SMEs and SMIs, Health, Services, Environment. As a rough guide
to estimate the overall cost of the plan, an indication of the approximate cost of some
proposals has been given.
Financing
The implementation of Bel Ombre’s social development plan will need substantial financial
means. The partial financing of the social development plan must be thought of as an
investment to ensure the sustainability of the region’s businesses. Most of the initiatives
proposed will be undertaken in a partnership mode, with both public and private entities.
The social development plan has taken the authorities’ development policy into
consideration, and the application of the proposed plan relies heavily on an efficient public-
private partnership through the Empowerment Programme set up with the 2006-2007
national budget. The participation of the local community, through the action of social
entrepreneurs, plays an important part in the implementation of the BOSDP. On the State’s
side, financing may be made available through the special fund assigned to community
development to which hotel promoters have to contribute before hotels are operational.
Implementation
A plan has no meaning unless it is implemented. Successful implementation depend on a

series of prerequisites, amongst which, the will and commitment of all businesses in the
region to achieve it, the setting up of appropriate bodies to conduct the implementation
and the carrying out of the plan in a professional and efficient manner.
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Table of content
Introduction
1. The Project
1.1 The promoter
1.2 Terms of reference
1.3 The area
1.4 Duration and phases
2. The global, national and regional context
2.1 Socio-economic transition
2.2 A new economic and social model
2.3 The aftermath of sugar and land development
2.4 The case of Bel Ombre
3. Philosophy & Concepts

3.1 Integrated development
3.2 Sustainable development
3.3 Social and spatial integration
3.4 Social development
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4. Methodology and approach
4.1 Consultative process
4.2 Expectations and hopes : a critical analysis
4.3 A multi-disciplinary approach
4.4 Desk work
4.5 Qualitative surveys and analysis
4.6 Quantitative analysis
4.7 Monographs
4.8 Applied research
5. Current situation
5.1 Socio-economic profile of the zone
5.2 Profile of the VCAs and of households
5.3 Socio-economic evolution: sugar, textile and fishing
5.4 Hotels and IRS
5.5 Household income
5.6 The situation of women
5.7 Unemployment and precariousness
5.8 Education and training
5.9 Health
5.10 Exclusion
5.11 Crisis and social depression
5.12 Bel Ombre – closing down of the mill and restructuring
5.13 VRS 1 and VRS 2
5.14 Drugs & crime
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5.15 Environment
5.16 Leisure
5.17 Natural and historical heritage
5.18 Deficits, potentials and hope
6. Players and vectors

6.1 The State, the private sector and social development
6.2 Integration and social engineering
6.3 Levels of integration
6.4 Pairing and complementarity
6.5 Participation: social entrepreneurship
7. Social development plan

7.1 A global vision
7.2 Poles of development
7.3 Specificities and assets
7.4 Constraints and stumbling blocks
7.5 Three implementation phases
7.6 The initiatives proposed
8 Setting up
8.1 Prerequisites
8.2 Bodies and institutions
8.3 Drivers and doers
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8.4 Partnership: types and modes
8.5 Financing
8.6 Communication
8.7 Road map
Conclusion
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List of maps
• Map 1 : Map showing limits of Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre lands
• Map 2 : Map showing localities and villages in the area (Bel Ombre, St Martin, Baie
du Cap, Beau Champ, Rivière des Galets)
• Map 3 : Bel Ombre Master Plan – Phase 1
• Map 4 : Bel Ombre Master Plan – Phase 2
List of illustrations
• Illustration 1 : Screen shot of Bel Ombre Social Sensitivity Map
• Illustration 2 : Screen shot of Multimedia Map
• Illustration 3 : Screen shot of Multimedia Map showing a picture from the slide
show.
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List of appendices
Appendices
1 Resident population by sex - 1990-2000
2 Resident population by age - 2000
3 Total housing units occupied by private households, households and population
Currently employed population 12 years of age and over by geographical

4 district, major occupational group and sex
Private households for the selected Village Council Areas by income1 received
5 for the month of June 2000 - Census 2000
6 Educational attainment 1990 - 2000
7 Heads of households by marital status
8 Classification (ESOMAR) of heads of households by CSP - 2000
Total housing units, housing units occupied by private households, households

and population by geographical location and availability of water, electricity,
9 bath, kitchen, toilet
10 Resident population by geographical location and religious group - 2000

Relative Development Index (RDI) for whole of Mauritius, for Savanne and for
11 VCAs under study
12 RDI of localities by rank
13 Map of Relative Development Index (RDI)
14 National Tourism statistics (hotels, rooms, employment, revenue)
15 Employment in large establishments
16 National Sugar statistics
17 Sectoral contribution to GDP (Tourism, Manufacturing, Sugar, Services)
18 Fishing - regional statistics - MoA
19 Regional Tourism statistics (employment, no of rooms, projected figures)
20 Licences and registration by activity and district - 2005
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Appendices
21 Distribution of small production units by geographical district, 2002
22 Health information on the region - MoH
23 Education information on the region - MoEd
24 Monograph - Baie du Cap
25 Monograph - St Martin
26 Monograph - Bel Ombre
27 Monograph - Rivière des Galets

28 Bel Ombre - Employment figures
29 Bel Ombre - VRS information
30 PEJ - Training of 50 adults - Cost, Organisation
31 Stakeholders of the region of Bel Ombre
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Abbreviations
AHC Area Health Centre
AHRIM Association des Hôtelier et Restaurateurs de l’île Maurice.
AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
BOSDP Bel Ombre Social Development Plan
BOSE Bel Ombre Sugar Estate
CEB Central Electricity Board
CHC Community Health Centre
CSO Central Statistical Office
CWA Central Water Authority
EP Empowerment Programme
FED Fondation Espoir Développement
GDP Gross Domestic Product
IRS Integrated Resort Scheme
IVTB Industrial and Vocational Training Board
MoA Ministry Of Agriculture
MoED Ministry of Education
MoH Ministry of Health
NGO Non Governmental Organisations
NSS National Sugar Statistics
RDI Relative Development Index
SC School Certificate
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SEHDA Small Enterprises and Handicraft Authority
SME Small and Medium Enterprises
PEJ Projet Employabilité Jeunes
VCA Village Council Areas
VRS Voluntary Retirement Scheme
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Introduction
1. The present report is the result of a study commissioned by the Compagnie Sucrière de
Bel Ombre, the main economic player in the Bel Ombre region. The company is directly and
indirectly linked to sugar related activities, tourism and Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS)
projects in the area.
2. The study aims to propose a social development plan to integrate the populations in the
current and future development process. It intervenes three years after the region
experienced an important tourism development through the construction of three hotels and
a golf course.
3. Three months’ research on site has confirmed the first observations of an unhealthy
climate. The region’s populations take the developments that have taken place over the past
five years very badly. According to general belief, development has not benefited the region’s
inhabitants and is also excluding the populations socially and spatially. There is a dynamism
of poverty, exclusion and hopelessness that is growing in the region.
4. If nothing is done, this dynamism will keep on intensifying. At the moment, it reveals
itself under different forms but all show a trend of increasing deviant practices (such as
drugs, prostitution and burglary) and the resulting insecurity. The situation is difficult.
5. There is a dire need for integration in order to ensure the sustainability of the region’s
businesses, namely hotels and IRS. At this moment in time, there is a credibility deficit to
bridge. In order to ensure social peace, any development project must understand and
consider the social dimension as an investment.
6. The eight chapters successively deal with the project, the context and the national
situation, the philosophy behind the study, the process and methodology of the study, an
inventory of the region extending from Baie du Cap to Rivière des Galets via St Martin and
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Bel Ombre, the components of a social development plan for the next five years and the
methods and conditions required for its implementation.
7. For a better understanding of the study, we have included two maps of the region on CD.
The first map summarises all the social and environmental problems noted during the three
month long research. This map can also be used as a dashboard to monitor the proposed
development plan.
The second map is a multimedia tool: themed slideshows will help to know the different
localities of the region better.
Screen shots of the maps are presented at the end of Chapter 5.
We have purposely purged the report by confining data and other information into a
dedicated appendices volume.
8. The social development plan has taken the authorities’ development policy into
consideration. The application of the proposed plan relies heavily on an efficient public
private partnership through the Empowerment Programme set up with the 2006-2007
national budget.
9. A development plan is worthless unless implemented. We have presented what we believe

are the methods and conditions to achieve the implementation of the proposed action plan.
This report is a base on which those who will be in charge of monitoring the development
plan will have to build on.
10. Our research shows that there is real potential to reverse the trend and fill in the
credibility deficit that has developed in the region. It is possible to create conditions leading
to a synergy between the main stakeholders in order to achieve an efficient, fair and
sustainable socioeconomic development based on a key concept: social and spatial
integration.
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1. The project
1.1 The promoters
The Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre’s main activity until 1999 was the cultivation and the
milling of sugar cane. In June 1999, the company ceased its milling operations and the cane
produced in its factory area diverted to three other sugar factories. The company still grows
sugar cane on a large scale, but the serious problems facing sugar production caused it to
further diversify its economic activities. The Company owns around 4000 hectares of
freehold land in the south-west region of the island, of which a little over 1000 hectares were
under cane cultivation in 2004.
Under the aegis of the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre, a new touristic development was
initiated in the southern part of the island in 2003. This concerned the construction of hotels,
golf courses and luxury residential developments under the Integrated Resort Scheme, in a
zone extending between St Martin in the west and Beau Champ in the east, and inland
towards Frederica. To date, three hotels, namely Le Telfair Hotel, Heritage Hotel and
Movenpick Hotel, and the Golf du Château are operational in the area. Four additional sites
have been identified for hotel development, of which two have been allotted to Naïade
Resort and Temsa Resort. One IRS, the Villas de Bel Ombre, has been given the green light
by the authorities and works will start in the near future.
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1.2 Specifications
The Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre required this sociological study to:
1. Make an inventory of the Bel Ombre region with regards to:
• The socioeconomic and cultural profiles of populations and sub-

populations
• Their experiences and their conditions of living
• Their needs
• Their expectations and hopes
• The potential and constraints regarding a social and spatial integration
policy with respect to a social development plan of the area.
2. Propose a social development plan of the Bel Ombre region that integrates – in the short,
medium and long terms – the populations of the localities in the economic development
process over the next five years.
The recommendations would concern different aspects of the social dimension of

development: infrastructure and collective equipment, education and training, employability
and employment, support to micro, small and medium enterprises, welfare and leisure.
The study would also suggest the methods and conditions required for the implementation
of the proposed plan: bodies and organisations to be created, an implementation calendar
covering five years and financing means for the development plan.
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1.3 The area
The south western region of the island is generally mountainous. In some parts, slopes,
sometimes steep, run down towards the coast, leaving only a small strip of coastal flat.
Several rivers and rivulets running towards the south cross the region. The high grounds are
humid whereas the coastal areas are drier. In winter, winds blowing from the sea can be quite
strong. The coastline is varied, ranging from long stretches of sandy beaches to beaches lined
with wide areas of old lava flows.
The lands of the Compagnie sucrière de Bel Ombre spread from Bel Ombre to River des
Galets in a west-east direction, and inland towards Valriche. A large portion of those lands
are covered in natural vegetation (forests). See Map 1.
However, according to the terms of reference of the study, the villages and localities
concerned by the social development plan proposed are Baie du Cap, Choisy, St Martin, Bel
Ombre, Beau Champ and Rivière des Galets. Together, they make up a population of around
5000 inhabitants. See Map 2.
Cane cultivation aside, the economic activities of the area are fishing, fruit growing (mainly
bananas), small retailing and recently, tourism. A lime factory and a stone crushing plant are
also present in the area.
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1.4 Duration and phases
The social development plan will cover five years: from September 2006 to September 2011.
It will be in three distinct phases and will include a clearly defined program for the rolling out
and realisation of the initiatives as well as the necessary assessment and follow-up tools.
Phase 1 – October to December 2006 : Set up and first initiatives
Phase 2 – January 2007 to December 2007: Launch and implementation of some initiatives
and realisation of others.
Phase 3 – January 2008 to January 2011: Realisation of initiatives started in 2007, launch of
other initiatives, and consolidation of initiatives already launched.
The detailed launch program of initiatives is found in Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.
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Map showing limits of Compagnie
Sucrière de Bel Ombre
Map 2 : Map showing villages and localities in the area
2. The global, national and regional context
2.1 Socioeconomic transition
The country’s economy is in transition due to the restructuring of traditional pillars (sugar
and the export processing zone). The end of the sugar protocol and the multi-fibre
agreement has stimulated this move. Since the sugar industry’s revenue will decrease by 36%
in the next three years, it must pursue and accelerate its restructuring process. The export
processing zone is also under review. Over the past three years, it has witnessed a
contraction of its workforce by more than 30 000 jobs. On the social side, the economic
transition has brought a rise in unemployment and poverty. Women are particularly affected
by unemployment. ICT and the seafood hub have yet to achieve their potential. In the
meantime, hopes for employment creation in the short-term rest on hotels, tourism, the
Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) and small and medium enterprises.
2.2 A new social and economic model
The country is searching for a new model of economic development in order to survive in a
global environment where the national economy must operate without protection. The
model based on three pillars – sugar, export processing zone and tourism – can not ensure
national development. The key axis on which the new economic and social model are the
socio economic model, the development of small and medium enterprises, empowerment
and the opening up of the country in order to attract foreign capital and know-how.
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2.3 The aftermath of sugar and land development
According to the National Development Strategy (2003) of the Ministry of Housing and
Lands, by 2020 between 14 000 and 19 000 hectares of land under cane cultivation will have
been put to other uses. Several sugar companies have chosen the Integrated Resort Scheme
(IRS) as a new development opportunity by devoting a mix of agricultural and hitherto
marginal lands to IRS projects . In its development strategy, the present government has
placed high hopes on IRS. These luxury residential zones developed to the tune of an
investment of Rs 118 billion will radically transform the face of the national territory. The
expansion of hotel and related infrastructure to accommodate 2 million tourists by the year
2015 will also have a significant impact on the physical aspect of the island. From a country
where land has been used mainly for agriculture, we are moving towards a type of
development where land is increasingly being used for property development (luxury
residential development) and for the leisure industry.
2.4 The case of Bel Ombre
As far back as 1997/1998, the new management of the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre
started to address the problems facing the sugar sector. After closing down the sugar mill
in 1999, it worked on a project to radically change its business orientation towards
tourism, leisure and property development (hotels, golf courses, eco-tourism, luxury
residential development). Three hotels and a golf course are operational to date and the
other projects will materialize in the next three years. Initiatives have also been
undertaking regarding agricultural diversification (crops other than sugar cane and
farming).
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3. Philosophy and concepts
The thinking on the problematics of development in the world – including reflection in

international organisations such as the World Bank – is in full swing. Moreover, it is said that
economic growth must be quality growth. This means that the development process must
integrate the social and environmental aspects in order to be sustainable. According to this
new development philosophy, economic players must assume their share of responsibility to
ensure quality growth. The sustainability of their businesses is at stake. The concepts which
are at the base of the present study are integrated development, sustainable development,
social and spatial integration and social development.
3.1 Integrated development
The terms of reference of the study include proposals for a socio-spatial integration of the
inhabitants of the area concerned by the restructuring of economic activities in the region. It
is therefore useful to briefly state what is meant by “integration”, “socio-spatial integration”,
social development and a related term, “sustainable development”.
Exclusion, job insecurity, marginalisation, and social ills become a scourge when economic
development is not accompanied by social development or is synonymous with job losses
and unemployment. Those who are left on the touchlines find themselves in a situation
where access to the basic necessities of life and to essential services such as education and
health becomes a sore problem. Their self-esteem and self-confidence are diminished and
their family unit weakened.
The challenge in development today is how to integrate the social and the human aspects
better in its process. The concept of integrated development originates from a simple idea
full of common sense, whereby development must benefit the whole population, socially and
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economically. According to this concept, the role of development is two-fold, one, to satisfy
the basic needs of the population (clothing, food, housing, work) and two, to give each
person the chance of reaching a better quality of life.
By commissioning the present study, the Cie Sucrière de Bel Ombre has adopted a
responsible and sensible approach. A private company can, without taking over the role of
the State, contribute to the promotion of integrated development by fully taking on its
corporate social responsibility. The implementation of the proposals contained in this report
could be an excellent way for Bel Ombre to contribute in a tangible way to a development
process that is based on an integrative approach.
3.2 Sustainable development
Sustainable development is development that satisfies present needs without compromising

the ability of future generations to respond to their own needs (Brundtland report, 1987).
This definition implies:
• the taking into account of long term issues in the present time
• the coupling of ecological issues with social issues
• the need to act before developmental problems arise.
The main objective of sustainable development is to reconcile the different aspects of

economic, social and ecological development.
When sustainable development is to be achieved, economic growth that is sustainable and

durable, and specific measures to eliminate poverty are called for.
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Sustainable development is also concerned with the protection of the environment and the
conservation of eco-systems. This cannot be done without the full participation of the
populations concerned, and therefore requires a strategy that aims to solve at the same time
problems linked to poverty, development and environment.
3.3 Social and spatial integration
Social and spatial integration is a form of integration that aims to ensure that local
populations benefit from opportunities created by economic development in a given area.
To achieve this, local employment is encouraged, the physical and social distance from the
labour market is reduced, proper access to goods and basic services (health, roads, public
transport, communication, culture) and to proper education and training is promoted,
neighbourhood shops and services are encouraged, local initiatives and micro-credit schemes
are supported.
It is the direct opposite of a ghetto-type development where a breakdown of the tools for
socialisation, such as employment, education, health and communication, leads to a
dislocation of the collective social identity.
Through social and spatial integration, a zone where unemployment is rife and populations
are pushed out to the fringe of society or debarred access closer to the centre can become a
place for social progress.
3.4 Social development
The concept of social development, as defined by James D. WOLFENSOHN, president of

the World Bank Group, has also guided us during the preparation of the Bel Ombre Social
Development Plan. According to him, social development can be defined thus :
« A better quality of life for the poor calls for a rise in income: an objective that can only be attained through
economic policies and institutions that are at the same time strong and conducive to sustainable growth.
Guaranteeing higher incomes and a better quality of life for the greatest number of people requires far more :
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greater and fairer chances of getting an education, of finding a job, of benefiting from better health care and
nutrition, of living in a cleaner environment, of benefiting from an impartial legal system and judiciary, and of
enjoying larger civil and political rights, institutions that are trustworthy and transparent, and a rich and
diversified cultural life.
Poverty-stricken women and men throughout the world have strongly stressed how important the issues of
dignity, of respect, of security, of gender and men-women relationships, of the environment, of health and of
social integration, are to them, in addition to matters of material well-being.”
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4. Methodology
4.1 Consultative process
The study has been centred on consultations and discussions with all the parties concerned –
the promoters, the different populations of the region, resource persons, and social workers.
Through targeted individual interviews and focus groups, it has been possible to identify
more clearly the concerns of the various people affected, and the populations have been able
to share their needs, aspirations, expectations, and suggestions, etc. Throughout the study,
emphasis was on dialogue and listening.
All this has enabled us to analyse and understand, with a due sense of objectivity, the social
changes that are at work in the region.
Through this exercise it has been possible to:
• collect ideas and suggestions;
• understand the different logics and forces at work;
• identify the supporters of the project and the potential sources of opposition to it;
• establish a network of contacts;
• to start an information database.
All of which will be useful for the study and during the implementation phase of the project.
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4.2 Expectations and hopes: a critical analysis
During the one-on/to-one and group interviews - involving a representative sample of the
different categories of the population of the villages in the Bel Ombre area – the interviewed
persons expressed their grievances, expectations and hopes in relation to their region’s
current and future development.
Any analysis of the interviews must include three basic parameters:
• The historic background: populations mistreated over the centuries who live in a
region that has known no industrial or tourism developments and has remained
entrenched on itself.
• The significant deficits in infrastructure and equipment
• The recent radical changes brought by the development process: the transition from
an agricultural economy to one based on tourism has shattered the way of life in the
region’s villages.
The state of mind seeing government or private sector aid as the means to solve problems
exists on a national level but it is particularly present here. It is partly due to “promises” of
politicians and, to a lesser extent, of the private sector in relation to the positive impact of
the region’s development since 2001 on the villagers’ lives.
An analysis of the hopes and expectations of the region’s populations reveal four
categories of persons:
• Those who are hopeless or depressed
• Those who feel isolated or deceived or consider themselves as victims.
• Those who are sensible
• Those who are impatient and dreamers who want everything straight away
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The hopes and expectations can be grouped under three main categories
• Employment and training
• Searching opportunities to work with the region’s major businesses.
• Habitat, basic infrastructure and various collective equipment
On the whole, the populations expect more from the private sector than from the public
sector – the State and local government. The dominant state of mind is to be aided. In
general, the interviewees rarely mention their duties or what they could and should do at
their level in order to achieve their hopes and meet their expectations.
The region’s economic players have reached a consensus: there is a will to see what can be
done to integrate the populations in the development process and how. If the “promises”
have not been delivered, it is not because of a lack of will or for want of trying. The causes
of failure are deeper and stem from a problem of cultural unsuitability between the villagers
and the new businesses – state of mind, attitude, values, behaviour, work and effort culture,
discipline etc.
All the businesses are thus up for a social development plan that would bring about
integration – it is and it will be “in our interest”. However, they are unanimous in saying that
the villagers need to play ball and accept to look after themselves for the plan to be
successful. It is a fundamental problem that needs to be solved. “We are ready to assume our
social responsibility. We must see how we can help the villagers develop their abilities so that they can be
partners in the region’s development.” they point out.
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4.3 Multi-disciplinary approach
In order to conduct a comprehensive study of the region and of its populations, we have
adopted a multi-disciplinary approach. The socio-economic situation in the region has
therefore been drawn following research that covered sociological, economic, psycho-
sociological, and, to a lesser extent, geographical and historical aspects.
4.4 Desk study
Concurrently to the field work conducted, a desk study was undertaken to establish the
socio-economic context at the national, regional and local levels. Reports from ministries,
national statistics (CSO), past studies by various organisations and research centres, as well
as press articles on the region were examined in detail. Several issues were studied:
• Living conditions : housing, health, income, leisure
• Employment
• Education and training
• Social issues
• Economic activities: present, past and future
• Infrastructure: equipment for general use (social centres, football pitches, etc.)
• Access to services (CEB, CWA, telephone, banks, health).
The desk study was useful in establishing a comparison between the socio-economic context
at local level and at national level, in order to be able to evaluate the “merits’ of feelings of
the populations gathered during field work.
This research was also essential to support the proposals made.
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4.5 Qualitative surveys and analysis
As set out at the beginning of this chapter, a series of targeted interviews and focus groups
were conducted with the inhabitants of the region. They were carried out during the period
June to August 2006 by a team of professional interviewers.
Qualitative surveys are very useful in that they make possible an analysis of the perception
that people have of their own socio-economic environment. They also bring to light their
needs and expectations with respect to quality of life and to development in general.
Four in-depth interviews were carried out with key persons in the area. Twenty-nine persons
living in Baie du Cap, Bel Ombre/St Martin, and Rivière des Galets were also interviewed. In
addition to those interviews, nine focus groups were organised. Each focus group brought
together about ten people in order to gather their views on a list of topics. The topics
covered in the interviews and focus groups included changes in the region, employment,
economic activities, living conditions, leisure (sporting, amusement and cultural), social and
community centres, education, training, access to healthcare, general services, basic
infrastructure, social problems, physical environment. From the information obtained
through these focus groups, it became possible to draw up a full picture of the problems
encountered by the inhabitants and to determine their needs and expectations.
The following focus groups were organised : with members of the Centre Communautaire
de Baie du Cap; with beneficiaries of the VRS living in Bel Ombre/St Martin; with young
unemployed persons holding a School Certificate, Higher School Certificate or a tertiary
qualification; with women who are heads of households; with retrenched women workers
from the Free Zone; with squatters at Camp aux Prunes; with the Forces Vives of Bel
Ombre/St Martin; with the Groupe Bénévole Bel Ombre/ St Martin; and with fishermen of
the region.
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Meetings were also held with managers of hotels and with human resource managers in the
region. These provided useful quantitative and qualitative information. Data was also
collected from businesses operating in the region.
On-site observations completed the information thus gathered.
4.6 Quantitative analysis
From these interviews and focus groups it has been possible to tabulate a list of “problems
and needs”. By processing this list through an analysis chart, it has been possible to establish
the frequency of complaints, needs suggestions and ideas expressed. Data from this chart has
therefore lead to a quantitative analysis out of a corpus of qualitative information. Results of
the analysis are used to determine the components of the action plan and establish the
priorities regarding its implementation
4.7 Monographs
Four monographs were drawn up by a person from outside the region but who knows the
region very well for having been in the field for the past ten years. These monographs of
Chamarel, Baie du Cap, St Martin/Bel Ombre and Rivière des Galets provide extremely
useful information about the economic activities of the region, the living conditions of its
inhabitants, the various problems encountered them, the social ills present, the physical
environment, services provided or lacking, problems posed by a lack of infrastructure, etc.
As an outsider who knows the region well and is well aware of what is going on in the lives
of the people and of the changes they have to face, he makes a vivid and rich description of
these localities and of their inhabitants. Part of the information provided by the monographs
is not found in official figures or reports, because the latter do not collect or publish such
detailed information about a locality. Monographs are thus a valuable source of information.
31
4.8 Applied research
The end result of the study being the drawing up of a social development plan, we have
privileged applied research. Our aim was to pick up the major trends and dominant
dynamics without losing ourselves in the search for scientific precision of/of the qualitative
and quantitative data gathered. At the implementation stage of the approved development
plan, some parts of the study may be examined in such detail necessary to enable efficient
action.
32
5. Current situation
5.1 Socio economic profile of the zone
Economic activity in the region is essentially agricultural, the developments in tourism being
still at an early stage.
Sugar cane constitutes the main crop cultivated. The factory area of Bel Ombre was spread
over nearly 11 000 hectares, from Petite Case Noyale to Rivière des Galets, and included
lands of other sugar estates of the region. However, not all of it is covered in sugar cane
fields. Upon the closure of Bel Ombre mill in 1999, milling operations were transferred to
Saint Aubin, St Félix and Médine sugar factories. Other agricultural products include palm
trees, bananas, and vegetables. Deer and fish farming are present, on an extensive scale for
the former and a small scale for the latter. Bel Ombre sugar estate employed a total of 996
persons in 1996 (of which, 661 agricultural labourers) and a total of 407 persons in 2006 (of
which, 300 agricultural labourers). Monkey rearing for sale to overseas laboratories, which
has been an expanding business, is carried out at Frederica.
Sea fishing has traditionally been an important activity in the region. The number of
professional fishermen registered at the Baie du Cap Fisheries Post has steadily decreased
from 142 in 1996 to 102 in 2005 (the total number of registered fishermen for island of
Mauritius in 2005 is 2300). Catch data for landing stations under the jurisdiction of that
fisheries post (that is St Martin, Baie du Cap I & II, and Baie du Jacotet) reveal that between
2000 and 2004, the amount of fish caught increased from 37 098 to 40 761 kg, before
decreasing to 40 002 kg in 2005.
Tourism activities include hotels, golf courses, luxury residential development under the IRS
(these are more fully described later) and eco-tourism. The whole south west region has in
recent years been equipped to cater for tourists wishing to discover the island’s natural
inland attractions – forests, mountains, waterfalls, rivers, fauna, flora etc.
33
No textile factory is present in the region under study; the nearest ones are in St Félix and
Chemin Grenier. The Ste Marie stone crushing plant and the lime factory in Baie du Cap
provide a few opportunities for employment.
5.2 Profile of the VCAs and of households in the area
A socio-economic study of the VCAs (Village Council Areas) of Bel Ombre and Baie du Cap
and of the village of Rivière des Galets was conducted. A VCA is an administrative area, and
is used in compiling data in official surveys. The VCA of Bel Ombre includes St Martin, and
that of Baie du Cap encompasses Choisy. Administratively, Rivière des Galets belongs to
Chemin Grenier VCA; official census figures for that village by itself are therefore not
available to the public. It is also to be noted that between the 1990 and the 2000 Census
surveys, some VCA boundaries shifted, including those of Bel Ombre and Baie du Cap, thus
making comparisons between those two periods difficult.
The profiles of the villages of the area have been drawn from official figures and information
gathered, monographs produced and field work carried out.
The villages
Bel Ombre VCA had 2407 inhabitants (590 households) and Baie du Cap VCA 2205
inhabitants (554 households) in 2000. Inhabitants of Rivière des Galets numbered around
450 in 2005.
The inhabitants of the villages are mainly labourers working in sugar cane fields of the
various sugar estates of the region (Bel Ombre, Choisy, Staub etc.), fishermen, retail
tradesmen. Some engage in market gardening and fruit growing; many are unemployed.
Community services include a Community Health Centre (dispensaire), a post office, a police
station and a Social Centre in Baie du Cap; a Village Hall in Bel Ombre; a Community
Centre in Rivière des Galets. There is no bank (nor ATM) and no pharmacy in any of the
villages.
34
Government pre-primary schools are present in all three villages, and there is one primary
school in Baie du Cap (St François d’Assises RC) and one in Bel Ombre (Bel Ombre Govt
School).
In terms of public infrastructure, the inhabitants face two major sets of problems: those
posed by the roads and those arising from a lack of an appropriate water drainage system:
narrow main roads, lacking in pavements and hand rails at several places; drains that do not
carry off rain water effectively. Public transport is also defective, the bus service is few and
far between, and there is no proper bus terminus and no taxi stand at Baie du Cap for
example.
The inhabitants have to go to Chemin Grenier to shop for groceries and other household
commodities because there is no market or big retail shop in any of the villages.
Living conditions
The vast majority of households are owner-occupied (82 % in Bel Ombre and 92% in Baie
du Cap). The houses in the EDC housing estate in Rivière des Galets were acquired from
the State by the present occupants some years back. 73% of households are built of concrete
in Bel Ombre VCA, and 64% in Baie du Cap. The rest is built with iron sheets, many of
these are very shabby.
The households in these two VCAs compare unfavourably with the national average
regarding availability of basic facilities in the households, as the table below shows :
35
Table 1 : Availability of facilities in households
Availability Availability
Availability of Availability of
Area of toilet of bathing
water supply kitchen
facilities facilities
54% inside
35% are 74% inside the
Bel Ombre VCA Piped water (99%) the
pit latrines household
household
47% inside
68% inside the
46% are the
Baie du Cap VCA Piped water (88%) household
pit latrines household
(1,3% none)
(1% none)
76% inside
National average 9% are 88% inside the
Piped water (99%) the
(excluding Rodrigues) pit latrines household
household
Source : CSO - 2000 Housing and Population Census
An interesting and meaningful measure of social development in a given area is the Relative
Development Index (RDI) compiled by the Central Statistical Office (CSO). The CSO
describes RDI as follows: “The Relative Development Index (RDI) is a composite index that measures
the relative achievement of sub-regions of the country in dimensions of development. (…) The ranking of the
administrative areas according to the indices can be used in targeting areas for studies on poverty and
deprivation, and in identifying priority areas for integrated development.” A more detailed explanation
of the RDI is given in Appendix 11 of the report.
36
The RDI table for the republic of Mauritius lists 145 areas (VCAs, municipal wards and the
island of Rodrigues). The table below is a summary of figures that are relevant to the study:
Table 2 : RDI by rank
Case Island of
Bel Ombre Baie du Chamarel Le Morne
Noyale Rodrigues
VCA Cap VCA VCA VCA
VCA
RDI Rank
(over 145 130 143 137 141 145 144
areas)
RDI 0.603 0.5437 0.5815 0.5655 0.4264 0.4779
5.3 Socio economic evolution: sugar, textile, fishing
Sugar
For some time now, the cost of production of sugar in Mauritius has brought to question the
competitiveness of Mauritian sugar (Brazil has a cost of production that is about 4 times less
that of Mauritius). The centralisation of sugar factories was one of the means devised to
improve the efficiency of the sugar industry, and it is in this context that the decision to
close Bel Ombre mill was carried out in 1999. Since then, the sugar industry has had to face
other major changes: the end of protected markets for sugar and a sharp drop (-36% over a
period of a few years) in the price of that commodity on the European market. The number
of people employed in large sugar cane establishments (excluding manufacturing of sugar)
has dropped from 15,500 employees in 2003 to 13,800 in 2005.
Bel Ombre Sugar Estate was the main source of employment in the region of Bel Ombre.
The employees were given the possibility of retiring according to the VRS, and the VRS
scheme was applied in April 2002.
37
Textile manufacturing
The dismantling of the multifibre agreement in the textile industry meant that countries like
China are no more subject to trade restrictions in the US and the European Union.
Companies, which no longer have the competitive advantage of free market access, in
Mauritius, are moving out to countries where the cost of labour is relatively low. In the
region, several textile factories have closed down in recent years, including Novel Garments
and Summit Textiles, resulting in job losses, mainly among women. One large textile factory
is still operating in St Félix.
Table 3 : Job losses in 2004 in the EPZ
Total employment creation 6499

Total employment loss 16100
Net loss* 9601
* Male 1767 and female 7834 Source: CSO
Fishing
Fish is less abundant in the lagoon in the region of Bel Ombre, as it is elsewhere around the
island. Furthermore, the fishermen in the region complain that tourists and leisure boats
destroy their fish traps, and that the lime factory at Macondé pollutes the lagoon.
The number of registered fishermen for the district of Savanne in 2004 was 187, over a total
of 2,300 for the whole island. Fish catch for fish landing stations under the jurisdiction of
Baie du Cap fisheries post is as follows:
Table 4 : Fish catch in the region

Fish catch Fishermen registered at
Baie du Cap Fisheries Post
(kg)
2004 40 761 100
2005 40 002 102
Source: Ministry of Agriculture
38
Job losses in large sectors such as sugar cultivation and manufacture and textile
manufacturing are the cause of a high unemployment rate in the region, since they have not
been compensated by employment in other sectors, such as tourism. The reasons put
forward for not hiring local people were lack of proper training and/or required
qualifications or their age – they were considered to be too old.
5.4 Hotels and IRS
In 2005, 761 063 tourists visited Mauritius compared to 718 861 in 2004, representing a
5.6% increase. The government is expecting that this positive trend will continue and is
planning to accommodate 2 million tourists by 2015. Consequently, the number of hotels
and the total room capacity has to increase to match the expected arrivals.
It is planned that the region of Bel Ombre / St Félix will become a key tourism zone in
Mauritius. Three hotels are operational in Bel Ombre and three more are on track. The golf
course of Bel Ombre, open since 2004, is associated to the three hotels. Three other hotels
are also under construction in St Félix. The Masterplan for the proposed development of Bel
Ombre Estate includes an ambitious project of 300 private luxury villas, a second golf
course, sites for other IRS projects, a commercial village, eco-tourism projects at Frederica,
proposed residential areas and proposed sites for new hotels or hotel extensions.
39
Hotels operational in Bel Ombre are:
• Le Telfair with 158 rooms and 279 employees
• Heritage with 160 rooms and 399 employees
• Mövenpick Resort & Spa with 181 rooms and 340 employees
As for the hotel projects in Bel Ombre, they are:
• Naïade Resorts with 200 rooms and an estimated 394 direct employment and
789 indirect employment
• Temsa with 200 rooms and an estimated 394 direct employment and 789
indirect employment.
• Accor hotel.
There are presently 355 rooms in Bel Ombre and when all the hotel projects materialize, the
number of rooms will more than double (approx. 790), and the number of employees will
increase by at least 800. According to its EIA report, the Villas de Bel Ombre IRS is
expected to generate around 300 permanent jobs.
5.5 Household income
The “Housing and population Census 2000” shows that out of 287 701 households in
Mauritius, 26% earned less than Rs 5000; the figures for Bel Ombre VCA and Baie du Cap
VCA are 32% and 33% respectively. Households earning less than Rs 7500 per month
amounted to 56% in Bel Ombre VCA and 59% in Baie du Cap.
40
Table 5 : Household income in Bel Ombre VCA and Baie du Cap VCA
Household income (Rupees) in 2000

Number of 10000-
VCA Households <2000 2000-4999 5000-7499 7500-9999 20000+ Not stated
Bel Ombre VCA 590 5% 27% 24% 17% 20% 7%
Baie du Cap
VCA 554 6% 27% 26% 19% 17% 5%
These figures can be explained by the high proportion of persons engaged in low-income
earning occupations in the villages. To the labourers, fishermen and factory workers who
constitute the major share of employed persons in the region, must be added households
where money comes from odd jobs, pensions (old age or otherwise), households headed by
women (who earn less than men).
These 2000 figures must in 2006 be even more alarming, with households losing one, or
more, income earner(s). Several persons interviewed explained how a family lost about a
third to half of its income through the laying off of women in textile factories. Some
families, headed by women, lost their sole breadwinner. The difficulty to make ends meet for
these families is becoming even worse, as with other low-income earners, because of the
rising cost of living.
5.6 The situation of women
A significant proportion of women in the area face serious problems – lack of formal
education, unemployment, and poverty and its associated ills.
The level of education of the women in the region is low. In Baie du Cap, 52% of the female
population aged 15-44 had only a primary level education in 2000; the percentage for Bel
Ombre was 55% and 37% for Chemin Grenier. A high percentage of women is illiterate.
41
In 2000, out of the population of 870 women and girls aged 12 and above in Baie du Cap
VCA, 540 (62%) were not currently active; of these, 377 were housewives and the rest were
not working because they were studying, disabled or retired. For Bel Ombre VCA where the
female population aged 12 and above stood at 949, the percentage of those not currently
active was 62%, most of them (389), as in Baie du Cap, being housewives. Between 18-20%
of households in those two villages were headed by women, most of them being widows.
Since 2000, the women in the region have been hit by the closing down of textile factories in
the region, where many of them worked. Bel Ombre sugar estate itself saw its female
workforce decline from 164 in 2000 to 50 in 2006. Several families lost either the sole
breadwinner or one of its income earners.
Many unemployed women expected to find jobs in the hotels of Bel Ombre. Their hopes
were crushed when they were made to understand that they were not trained for the job or
overage, or both. They deeply resent having dug out money from a meager household
budget for transport to and from the hotels “for nothing”. They feel they have been taken
for a ride by politicians and the promoters of the tourism development in the region.
Some of them have tried to start producing handicrafts and other goods (decorative objects,
pickles etc.) in the hope of selling them to the hotels, tourists passing by or other villagers,
and occasionally they offer their products for sale on the football ground of St Martin. They
do not have much success. Among them, some are aware that they do not have the
necessary skills to produce goods that will suit the likes of tourists and hotels, to market their
produce, or to deal with potential buyers. They express the need not only for training but
also for “someone whom they can turn to for advice and guidance” so that they can get out
of the very difficult situation they are in. Some women have tried finding work as household
help in Rivière Noire, but prospective employers are discouraged by the cost of transport to
and from the place of work. There are instances where women have accepted to pay for
their transport even though it means being left with only Rs 1500 at the end of month.
Unemployement coupled with a rising cost of living leave many families quite distraught.
42
An indication of the difficult social condition in the region is the start of prostitution and the
rise in drinking among young girls and women. Prostitution is evidenced in Le Morne and is
practised less widely and more covertly in the other villages. Teenage pregnancy is also a
cause for concern.
Women in the villages indicate that there is a severe lack of leisure activities and facilities for
them. Those that are available at the community centre in Rivière des Galets for example are
not suitable because during the afternoon, the community centre is too crowded with men.
5.7 Unemployment and precariousness
The unemployment rate in the region of Bel Ombre is on the rise after the closing down of
the sugar factory and several textile industries. Lacking proper training, a lot of people are
struggling to find a job. The locals thought that, with the development of tourism, they
would find jobs, but the 3 hotels in Bel Ombre have not drawn their employees from the
nearby villages. Moreover, except for the hotels, there are no other economic activities, in
the region, likely to provide jobs to people. Some people are forced to work on contracts or
on a daily basis for a meagre wages.
CSO figures for 2000 indicate that the employment ratio for Baie du Cap was 0.69, and that
of Bel Ombre was 0.55. Since the 2000 Census Survey, there have been job losses in the
sugar industry and in textile manufacturing. The unemployment rate in Mauritius has risen
steadily since 1991 to reach 10.2% in 2003, representing about 54 400 unemployed. In 2005,
the unemployment rate was 9.6%.
Unemployment and low income contribute to creating a sense of precariousness. Some

people who had subscribed loans when they were working still have to pay for them. Many
families must borrow money from friends or relatives, or rely on credit facilities given by
local shops to pay for food and other household necessities.
43
The majority of the local people interviewed during field work, think that unemployment is
the number one problem in the region, and that alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution,
robberies and depression in the region are connected to it.
5.8 Education and training
The inhabitants of the region have a low educational level, as the table below indicates:
Table 6 : Educational attainment in 2000 (Census 2000)
Population aged
Primary Form I - V but not Passed SC or
between 15 and 44
level passed SC equivalent and above
Bel Ombre VCA 53% 32% 11%
Baie du Cap VCA 53% 31% 9%
Note : The remaining percentages being made up of those having only a pre-primary education or no education
at all.
CSO figures (2000 Census) further reveal that 13 % of the population aged 18 years and
over in Baie du Cap have an educational level equivalent to or above School Certificate level;
the percentage for Bel Ombre is 17%.
The primary enrolment ratio was 0.7 in Baie du Cap; i.e, 70% of children aged from 5 to 12
attended primary school in 2000. 90% of the children in Bel Ombre aged from 5 to 12 were
enrolled in primary school in the same year. Secondary enrolment ratio (i.e children aged 12
to 19 years) stood at 0.5 in Baie du Cap and 0.45 in Bel Ombre. The success level at the CPE
exams in Bel Ombre Govt. School has dropped in recent years to reach 36% in 2005, and
the school has consequently been classified as a ZEP (Zone d’Education Prioritaire) school.
This classification enables children to benefit from a special attention, but it carries a social
stigma. The primary school of Baie du Cap also has a low success rate in the CPE exams.
A quite large number of children cannot go to school because their parents lack money to
pay for lunch at school or the necessary material, such as copy books, etc…
44
Illiteracy is widespread in the localities and it exists even among those who have attended
primary school. Literacy rate is the number of literate persons aged 12 years and over. A
person is considered literate if he/she can, with understanding, both read and write a short,
simple statement on his or her every day life in any language. Creole was considered as a
language for this purpose in the Census survey. While Baie du Cap and Bel Ombre have an
illiteracy rate of 0.5 and 0.4 respectively, Chamouny and Chemin Grenier have an illiteracy
rate of 0.3.
Training
Only a few students are able to attend vocational training courses (IVTB, Hotel School) as
they live far from the training centres (such as Ebène) and cannot afford the daily cost of
transport. The IVTB centre at Surinam offers limited seats and courses. Adequate access to
training opportunities ranks high in the list of needs of the inhabitants of the region. Some
are however ready to point out that even with education and training young people find it
difficult to find jobs in the region. This sometimes leads them to lose faith in the education.
5.9 Health
Provision of adequate health care and threats to health are among the serious problems
faced by the inhabitants of the region. The Community Health Centre (CHC) in Baie du Cap
caters for the inhabitants of Choisy, St Martin and Bel Ombre as well. As a CHC, it has no
dental clinic nor gynaechologic unit, is closed after 4 p.m and during week ends. A doctor is
available either in the morning or in the afternoon, but not the whole day. Area Health
Centres (AHC), such as the one in Chemin Grenier, provide for dental and gynaechologic
care, close at 6 p.m and are open Saturday mornings. As a health centre attended by people
from other villages than those of Baie du Cap, the CHC should normally have AHC status,
but this not the case. Access to the CHC is difficult for old and sick people because it is
located on a narrow, steeply sloping side road. Furthermore, there are no ambulances in the
region, which means that in urgent cases, the inhabitants need to go to Chemin Grenier
AHC or Souillac hospital by their own means – by bus or taxi, which involves an expense of
at least Rs 100.
45
Living conditions are favourable to the outbreak of diseases. The surroundings are in many
places unclean - cooking and bathing are in several instances done in unhygienic conditions,
pools of stagnant water and pit latrines are numerous, inadequate and ineffective drains
cause flooding, mangy dogs are free to stray... Chikungunya struck many inhabitants during
the outbreak of the disease in the beginning of 2006 and the inhabitants dread the arrival of
the next summer season. Malnutrition associated with poverty and a lack of education
together with the bad living conditions described above, are conducive to a poor state of
health in the area, especially among women and children.
AIDS, a result of sharing syringes, sexual relations without protection, and prostitution, as
well as health problems related to heavy drinking are on the rise.
Another existing health threat is related to the presence of asbestos in some houses in the
housing estate in Rivière des Galets. According to the inhabitants of Rivière des Galets, the
authorities are aware of the danger but nothing has been done about it. The houses
concerned are now the property of their occupants.
5.10 Exclusion
The region studied can be considered as one where social exclusion exists. Although social
exclusion can be measured by a series of objective criteria (for example, level of income and
access to jobs, education and services) it is also a question of perception and of a sense of
belonging. Generally, families hit by social exclusion have a feeling of being separate from
the rest of society; from their point of view, they are not part of the society they “live” in. To
them, the progress made in various fields has not reached them – they feel excluded from
what is going on around them. In the Bel Ombre region, several families share this feeling:
“Kuma dir nu andeor map nu.” (“It is as if we had dropped off the map, as if we do not
exist.”); “On dire nu pa fer parti sa sosiete Moris la nu.” (“It is as if we are not part of
Mauritian society.”)
46
Unstable jobs (seasonal, on a day-to-day basis etc.) cause people to live from hand to mouth
and because they offer no security, they do not permit medium or long term plans to be
made. In social exclusion zones, there is a relative concentration of this type of jobs.
5.11 Crisis and social depression
The region’s populations live badly, very badly even, the current development which has
taken place in the area over the past five years. The general belief is that development has
not been beneficial to the region’s inhabitants but is also excluding them socially and
spatially. None of the promises made in the context of the construction of the three hotels
and the gold course has been kept. An analysis of the interviews – which has been confirmed
in the field – reveals signs of social depression within the region’s populations. This
dejection is an intensified variation of the social climate which exists on a national level and
which has been amplified by the effects of the 2006-2007 budget. The social climate is
unhealthy with a deep feeling of abandonment among most of the villagers. There is a cruel
need for integration in order to ensure the sustainability of the region’s businesses – hotels
and IRS. Any move that is perceived as some kind of lip service will only worsen the
situation
5.12 Bel Ombre – Closing-down of the mill and restructuring
The socio economic life of the Bel Ombre and St Martin villages – and the region’s other
villages albeit to a lesser extent – revolved around the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre
until the closing down of the sugar mill. The closing of the factory and the reorganization of
the company’s activities has disrupted the socio economic tissue of the region’s villages. This
has had a deep impact on the inhabitants’ daily lives, their values, their vision of the world
and their mentalities. The restructuring of the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre has
generally been perceived as being motivated by some logic where human considerations have
no place. The employees of the company sense that they are losing everything and that are
not part of any development or future equation. But they have hopes and expectations for
47
their children. The staff and workers believe that there has been a communication
breakdown within Bel Ombre over the past five years.
The fact that it has taken four years for the beneficiaries of the VRS Scheme to obtain
satisfaction has intensified the feeling of insecurity within the employees of the Compagnie
Sucrière de Bel Ombre, especially as they know there is a second VRS in the pipeline. All the
problems encountered by the company have deeply influenced the region’s social climate.
Somewhere, the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre has crystallized all the problems, even
those for which it is not directly or indirectly responsible.
5.13 VRS 1 and VRS 2
The dispute between the 90 ex-employees of Bel Ombre and the Compagnie Sucrière de
Bel Ombre concerning the site identified for lots which should have been allocated as
part of their VRS package of 2001 has lasted more than four years. A solution has
fortunately been found at last. As the VRS2 is scheduled for April 2007, it is crucial for
the human dimension of the habitat not to be discarded. It should be taken care of at the
time of allocating the lots.
5.14 Drugs and crime
The emergence and the development of drugs consumption are undoubtedly one of the
region’s main problems - after the high unemployment rate with which these are partly
linked. Drugs consumed range from soft drugs to hard drugs (including glue sniffed by the
younger ones). Drugs are sometimes consumed in the open but mostly in hiding, of course.
In Bel Ombre, syringes have been found in the village hall yard during a cleaning up exercise.
The inhabitants identify the drug peddlers when police raids houses and eventually proceeds
to arrests.
48
The drugs problem is well and truly present throughout the region. Sometimes, the
inhabitants talk about it openly and mention precise locations (like Camp Ramjuttun in St
Martin for example. But most of the time, they mention it discretely. The same applies to
prostitution (juvenile and adult) which has appeared in the region. Alcohol consumption is
widespread. This social ill, which has a national dimension, affects men and, to a lesser
extent, women.
All these social ills are linked to the difficult conditions of living prevailing in most of the
region. Unemployment, poverty, insecurity, breaking of the social and/or family fabric and
hopelessness are factors that motivate the consumption of addictive substances (illegal drugs
and alcohol) and lead to deviant practices.
The crime rate is also cause for concern. An indication is the increasing number of burglaries
and muggings – including those that have occurred on the Bel Ombre golf course and in
Morcellement Gambier in Le Morne during the last months. Small thefts (linked to the
difficult living conditions) must be separated from the work of « professional » thieves.
However, independently of the magnitude of their actions, the fact is that they constitute a
source of insecurity for the region’s inhabitants, including those of hotels and future luxury
villas.
5.15 Environment
A visitor’s first impression when going through the region is the contrast between the hotels
and the villages. In many parts along the way from Baie du Cap to Bel Ombre, the coastal
road is narrow and the beach is badly kept, especially in the village of Bel Ombre. On
arriving near the entrance to the hotels the landscape changes, a wide new road sets the
scenery: a magnificent golf course on one side and three fresh hotels on the other side.
Defective drains in Baie du Cap and St Martin and Bel Ombre are the cause of flooding
during heavy rains, resulting in major inconveniences for the inhabitants. Muddy water also
flows into the sea and the shallow lagoon then stays dirty for several days. In some areas
49
near estuaries, especially that of St Martin, the sand has taken a brownish tint due to the
presence of mud mixed with the sand. The estuary of St Martin rivulet is silted and is also
obstructed by mangroves and this also causes flooding.
The public beach of Baie du Cap is subject to erosion, filao (casuarina) trees are nearly
completely uprooted. The fishermen in the region hold the lime factory responsible for
polluting the lagoon at Baie du Cap.
Stray dogs are another sore sight in the region.
Stagnant water and poor housing conditions in the region are favourable to disease
outbreaks, including chikungunya.
5.16 Leisure
Sports and leisure, which can be a way of getting rid of stress and letting off steam, is
severely lacking in the region. For instance, the football pit of St Martin is shared among
more than 2000 inhabitants of both Bel Ombre and St Martin and only a few villagers can
use the village hall of Bel Ombre, where there is a single pool table. Like the football pitch,
the volley-ball playground is deprived of lighting. In Rivière des Galets, 450 inhabitants have
to share a basket-ball and a volley-ball playground; those amongst them who want to play
football must go to Chamouny, where priority is given to the inhabitants of that village.
It has been put forward by many locals that the lack of leisure in the region is closely linked
to the rising number of alcoholics and drug addicts, especially among the youths. Some of
them strongly believe that the lack of leisure infrastructures and sport facilities leads
adolescents to take alcoholic drinks and drugs as a hobby. Adult men and women also
complain of a lack of leisure activities and facilities, especially the women. Courses on
handicraft, cookery and sewing would be welcome in the community centres, like it is done
in Rivière des Galets. However, the times at which these are made available should be taken
into consideration so that women can really attend them. They should be available during
the day as well as in the afternoon and during the evening.
50
The beach and the sea are prised sites of leisure. They are places where people traditionally
go for picnics, where children play, and the men fish. The beaches where the inhabitants can
have free access have shrunk in size since the construction of hotels and will be further
reduced with the building of other hotels. On top of this, the public beaches available are
not equipped with even the barest of amenities – a public toilet for example.
5.17 Natural and historical heritage
The south coast from Le Morne to Rivière des Galets has particular features that make it
quite unique. The rocky cliffs of Macondé and the road that winds its way along it for
example are a major attraction for both local and overseas tourists. As are the wild beaches
further east, along Pointe aux Roches, and the cobble beach at Rivière des Galets. Fossil reef
formations are present along the coast at Baie du Cap, Beau Champ and Bel Ombre;
together with that at Port Louis, these constitute the older of the two generations of that
type of beach found in Mauritius. Inland, forest and mountain reserves are home to a
varied, and sometimes rare, fauna and flora. Bassin Blanc crater lake, spectacular waterfalls
and the 24-coloured earth site are also much visited.
On the tiny Ilot Sancho off Ste Marie (which is made up of a fossil reef type material), an old
anchor and canon are to be found, and historical research on that presence may be of some
interest.
Largely owing to its topography, this part of the island, and its inhabitants, had for long
evolved in near isolation. Road transport was slow and the Savanne railway line to Souillac
was the last to be built (1878). A special feature of the means of transport in the south and
south east regions was transport by coasters – small sailing vessels carrying travellers and
goods, mainly sugar. Even with the development of the road and railway network, coasters
were almost as much in use in the 1920’s as in the 1850’s. The last coaster to carry sugar
from the South to Port Louis was one belonging to Bel Ombre, in 1950. The Bel Ombre
Wharf is one of the rare visible testimony of those times still standing. The project to house
51
a historical museum at Bel Ombre Wharf is therefore a worthwhile one. The Château Bel
Ombre is another interesting historical heritage to be found in the region.
5.18 Deficits, potentials and hope
On the whole, the region suffers from many important drawbacks. However, research shows
that there is a real potential to reverse the trend and fill in the credibility deficit that has
developed. We can create the conditions leading to a synergy between the main stakeholders
for an efficient, fair and sustainable socioeconomic development based on the key concept
of socio-spatial integration.
52
IIlustration 1 : Screen shot of Bel Ombre Social Sensitivity Map
IIlustration 2 : Screen shot of opening screen of Multimedia Map
IIlustration 3 : Screen shot of Multimedia Map showing a picture from the slide show
6. Players and vectors

On a national level, the Mauritian society has been blocked for more than a decade because
its main social players practice « scapegoatism »: “It’s their fault”. The society also suffers
from a crisis affecting the majority of its elite. This crisis is about seeking refuge in virtual
bubbles, feeling cosy in a lazy comfort zone and denying reality thus resulting in an inability
and lack of will to see the global picture and the medium and long term interests.
All this has bred in the population a dangerous sense of populism made up of defiance
against the elites and the authorities and a mentality of wanting everything now which is
strengthened by a culture of laziness.
Fortunately, in the past few years, some economic operators and members of the elite have
started to be aware of the issue. This is illustrated by a more or less concrete move aiming to
contribute to the dismantling of the social blockages. This move is crucial for the current
development process. It needs to be consolidated and be more widespread.
In some businesses, there is, at management level, an institutional capacity and an availability
of drivers and doers. Together with the appropriate knowledge, methods and discipline, this
pairing can make a development vision materialise within a global strategy. The
implementation of any social development plan, be it at a national or regional level – can not
disregard this aspect in order to identify the players/vectors of change and development.
It is the case for Bel Ombre. Since 1997/1998, the new management of the Compagnie
Sucrière de Bel Ombre has adopted a visionary approach by taking the necessary decisions to
face the problems affecting the sugar industry. The closing of the factory and tourism
development form part of these decisions.
Bel Ombre has wanted to manage this change in a spirit of dialogue, consultation and
consensus be it with its employees – staff and workers – or with the populations of nearby
villages. Three years after the 2003 meeting and now that it is starting a new development
phase with the Villas de Bel Ombre project, we see the same move and the same will to
dialogue and consult (the 2006 meeting). This is confirmed by the recent initiatives:
organisation of a music day and establishment of a consultative body regrouping businesses
and grassroots organisations.
53
Up to now, the interviews with members of the board, management and staff of the
Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre as well as those of the region’s businesses have revealed a
vision of development that needs to be enriched, a sensitivity that needs to be clarified and a
will that needs to be sustained. A human potential exists at the operators’ level as well as that
of other stakeholders.
The preconditions to achieve a social development programme clearly exist. In fact, there is
no reason for it to fail, as long as it is given the means to achieve its ambitions.
6.1 The State, the private sector and social development
In the development process, the State and the private sector have their own roles and
responsibilities. For some time now, the relationship between the State and the private
sector/businesses is being reviewed in the context of the reflection on good governance.
The key notion is the social responsibility and corporate citizenship of a business. The
concept of social responsibility has more to do with giving a sense of responsibility than
encouraging a donation philosophy. However, we should guard against a real drift, or a
corruption of the idea even, where the State would choose the easiest way out by giving up
its responsibilities and ceasing to assume its role.
The partnership between the State and Bel Ombre in the recent development illustrates the
current situation. While the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre has kept its promises –
construction of three hotels and a golf course – the two components of the region’s
development that were under the State’s responsibility (creation of a public beach and a
museum) are still due. The Rs 25 million contribution per hotel site, or a combined total of
Rs 50 millions to 75 millions to date, should have been used for community development,
but have instead been utilised to finance the construction of new roads. The region’s
populations do not know these facts and blame the hotel promoters rather than the
Government for the use of these funds. Some believe the hotels never contributed any
money.
54
The private sector should be aware of a possible drift where it would be asked to substitute
itself to the State. However, the private sector should safeguard its interest in the short,
middle and long term vis-à-vis a State which is not assuming its responsibilities, and a public
administration full of prejudice, defects and important deficiencies. One should be aware
that the social climate will worsen. With the resulting problems, businesses will be the
biggest losers.
6.2 Integration and social engineering
The concept of integration is at the very basis of the development philosophy that has
guided the drawing up of the social development plan. The integration of the present and
future populations in the development process in the area requires a fully-fledged plan of
social engineering. The aim of such a plan is to ensure that the populations in the region
will be able to participate actively in, and benefit from, the development process by
devising ways to reach a matching of their capacities and possibilities with the
opportunities the development of the region presently offers and will offer in the near
future – providing appropriate training being one of these ways.
6.3 Levels of integration
The populations of the region have different characteristics as regards age group, gender,
education background, professional background, and social background. On account of this
diverse socio-economic profile – and of the social and economic situation of the region –
the Bel Ombre Social Development Plan needs to have a multi-tiered approach, with each
tier corresponding to a target population with specific needs. This is a must if the practical
application of the integrated development approach is to work. Four levels of integration are
required:
• Integration of those who are living on the fringe of society
• Integration of first-job seekers
55
• Conversion of those who have been laid off or pensioned off : VRS beneficiaries,
retrenched workers from the free zone;
• Promotion of initiatives aiming to develop micro-enterprises and SMEs.
6.4 Pairing and complementarity
The BOSDP comes at a time when the country is searching for a new economic and social
model in order to ensure its future development. At the national level, one of the
instruments used to craft this model is the Empowerment Programme (EP) and its seven
components which all lead towards an integrated socioeconomic development.
The seven segments of the Empowerment Programme are:
• Land for social housing and small entrepreneurs
• Employment creation programs based on training and professional reorientation
• Programs dedicated to unemployed women
• Creation of five tourism villages
• Creation of nine villages for small and medium enterprises
• Setting up of a programme to promote outsourcing
• Support to the emergence of new entrepreneurs and to small and medium

entrepreneurs
The Empowerment Programme (EP) advocates a synergy and a partnership between the
State and the private sector in all economic activities: agro-industry, industry and tourism.
Real possibilities therefore exist for a real pairing of the State’s actions via the EP and those
of the private businesses at the national and regional levels as far as they are complementary.
To a large extent, the BODSP is a regional version of the EP. The EP has been informed,
through the chairman and some members of its steering committee, of the present study and
its main recommendations. They have shown real interest in discussing ways of creating a
56
partnership for the BODSP. As soon as the project is finalised and approved by the
operators/partners, it would be ideal to organise a work session with members of the EP in
order to establish a modus operandi for a partnership.
6.5 Participation: social entrepreneurship
The integration of the region’s populations in the development process implies their
active participation in this development. There is already some will to participate which
translates itself through non-governmental organisations – the NGOs – and the « forces
vives ». It is necessary to empower civil society, organisations and associations that want
to work for its well being in order to optimise this participation. One way to create this
empowerment would be to initiate a social entrepreneurship development program.
Social entrepreneurship is a reality in many countries and has given positive results. In
real terms for the Bel Ombre region, this should translate itself in the identification,
selection and training of a few people who have the potential to become social
entrepreneurs. This initiative is strategic: in the long run, the social entrepreneurs will
become pillars of the social engineering required to perform social integration at different
levels of integration, and particularly those categories that need a more intense degree of
accompaniment.
Just as entrepreneurs change the face of business, social entrepreneurs act as the change
agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss and improving systems, inventing new
approaches and creating sustainable solutions to change society for the better. However,
unlike business entrepreneurs who are motivated by profits, social entrepreneurs are
motivated to create “social value” and improve society. Despite this difference, social
entrepreneurs are just as innovative and change oriented as their business counterparts,
searching for new and better ways to solve the problems that plague society.
Social entrepreneurs are mission-driven, strategic, resourceful and results-oriented. Quite

simply, they are solution-minded pragmatists.
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7. Social development plan
The socioeconomic development plan of the Bel Ombre region relies on:
• A vision of the region’s development as held by the company commissioning this

study;
• A development philosophy advocated by the authorities and enunciated by the

authorities in the 2006-2007 budget, including the establishment of the
Empowerment Program;
• The needs and expectations of the populations of the relevant area, that includes the
following villages: Baie du Cap, St Martin, Bel Ombre and Rivière des Galets;
• The current and future economic development – hotel development and luxury
residential development;
• The region’s assets and potential as well as its inherent deficiencies, constraints and
mental blocks.
The proposed plan covers a period of five years and consists of three distinct phases that are
linked together. It has many components corresponding to different levels of social
integration for different categories of the region’s population.
7.1 Global vision
The region of Bel Ombre is being transformed into an important regional and national
centre of tourist and luxury residential property development. The transformation currently
taking place, and ensuing development, will have repercussions that will spread outside the
limits of the four villages and of the region concerned by the study to reach Chemin Grenier
and Chamouny.
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Social and spatial integration is necessary if the social dimension of the development process
is to be taken into account in the region of Bel Ombre. In concrete terms, this means that
the physical development plan prepared in 2001 needs to be updated. A strategic perspective
needs to be adopted in thinking out land use plans as regards economic activity as well as
infrastructure and various public amenities. This perspective has to include the coastline so
as to have a harmonious, well balanced and optimised plan that caters for the present and
future needs of the different users of the region.
7.2 Promising development sectors
The challenge any such plan has to meet is to define an approach to physical development
that integrates all components in a way to cater for the different needs of the population,
regional-wise and national-wise, as regards land utilisation in the region of Bel Ombre.
Tourism
The tourism sector is fast expanding in the region. Despite harsh international competition,
the tourism and the hospitality industry in Mauritius are buoyant sectors, and will remain so
provided appropriate means to ensure their continued existence are taken.
Integrated Resort Scheme
The Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) is a programme devised by the Mauritian State to create
new investment avenues and job opportunities. Bel Ombre is already engaged in this sector,
with the Villas Bel Ombre project which should start by the end of 2006 and be completed
by 2008/2009, and with a second IRS project.
Small and medium enterprises
The potential for job creation by increasing the number of SMEs has yet to be realised. The
Government has taken a number of steps to reduce the separation that traditionally exists
between the fields of activities of SMEs and that of large enterprises. On account of the
59
presence of hotels and IRS in the region of Bel Ombre, there definitely is a potential for the
development of SMEs – through outsourcing contracts for example -, and with the support
of the policy and measures of the Small Enterprise and Handicraft Authority (SEHDA).
Fishing
There is a large fishing community in the region and the non-traditional fishing sector does
hold a future. To give a boost to this sector, the government has adopted a policy and taken
concrete measures as regards training and financing to support fishermen.
Agricultural diversification
Agriculture, in all its diversity, will still remain an important sector in the years to come, even
though it loses its pre-eminence. Bel Ombre will continue to cultivate sugar cane. It should
expand its project of agricultural diversification with market gardening as an important
component by increasing the land devoted to it. The cultivation of these plots could be
carried out by Bel Ombre and small farmers. There exist fruit and palm tree plantations in
the region; an extension of these, as well as crop diversification could be at the start of a
transformation chain of crops into juices, fruit jelly, jam, pickle and so on. IRS villas would
also represent a significant outlet for ornamental plants and flowers. Jobs created would in
priority go to VRS recipients, thus making their occupational conversion easier.
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Bel Ombre is already well engaged in deer farming, and this activity is to be maintained.
Forestry is already part of Bel Ombre’s activity, and there could be scope for its growth with
the development of related activities – undertaken by the company and/or other parties,
such as sawmilling, construction and furniture making. Bel Ombre could maintain, and
eventually increase the tapping of its managed forest. Moreover, such a forest can become an
attractive recreational spot for the population.
Eco-tourism and inland tourism
The region of Bel Ombre holds, in addition to its coastline, several tourist assets that are still
under-exploited. Indeed, the numerous rivers, waterfalls and other magnificent natural spots,
as well as its geographical position, constitute an important potential for an optimal
development of eco-tourism.
7.3 Specificities and assets
The Bel Ombre area has certain assets which makes it a potential model for an integrated
socioeconomic development satisfying the interests and expectations of all stakeholders of
the region. To develop this potential, one should prevent oneself at focusing on the negative
aspects which need to be analysed in a clinical manner, without prejudice or first
impressions. One of the challenges of the social development plan is to combat the feeling
of dejection that has spread in the region by bringing back hope through concrete initiatives
which would be sustainable in the long run by putting the emphasis on the up and coming
generations.
With respect to the human scale of its villages and populations, the recent, current and
future development in the Bel Ombre region allows the design and realization of a realistic
and concrete social development plan. There is a real reason to believe that concrete results
can be obtained in the short, medium and long terms provided there is a follow-up, an open
minded approach and some flexibility in doing the inevitable adjustments and reorientations.
61
7.4 Constraints and stumbling blocks
One should not underestimate in any way the restrictions and blockages that loom over the
realization of the BOSDP. Thus, a realistic approach needs to be adopted. It demands the
following:
• Not to underestimate in any way the restrictions and blockages – whether general or
peculiar to the region – in the realization of the social development plan or for some
of its components.
• Not to look for and use excuses as a diagnosis of everything that has not been done
over the last three years and difficulties that will emerge during the implementation
of the BODSP.
• Not to make promises that will not be fulfilled but to explain that development does
not rhyme with an aid policy.
• Not to expect an overnight change in the behaviours, mentalities and values of

populations that history has mistreated and unstructured.
7.5 Three implementation phases
The social development plan will consist of three distinct phases. During the first phase, that
will last four months (October 2006 to January 2007), the immediate measures proposed in
the interim report submitted on the 2nd of July will have to materialize. The bodies and
structures for the implementation of the BODSP will have to be set up.
The concrete initiatives of this phase aim to send strong signals to the region’s inhabitants
and businesses: Bel Ombre means business when it comes to their commitment and social
responsibility towards the region’s population. These initiatives will help to:
• Fill in the credibility gap and restart from zero.
• Show in a concrete way that we want to start again on solid ground – no promises
but concrete actions.
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• Create the conditions for a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders.
• Pull in positive forces within the populations to create participation and construction
dynamics while isolating the resistant forces.
These initiatives will facilitate the setting up of the necessary bodies and structures which
should be finalized and be operational at the end of January 2007.
It is during Phase 2, which will last a year (February 2007 to January 2008), that the BODSP
will really be launched with the following program:
• Consultations in order to discuss and define the partnership means with different
stakeholders for different initiatives of the social development plan.
• Starting up initiatives that will able to bear results in that same phase.
• Preparing other projects that will bear results in the medium term
• Setting up a structure for the follow-up and assessment of the initiatives taken
Phase 3 – February 2008 to January 2011
After an assessment of initiatives taken, work done and adjustments made during the first
two phases, the social development plan should reach cruising speed during this third phase
with the implementation of “heavier” but strategic components.
7.6 The initiatives proposed
The table below lists the proposals for the social development plan of the region of Bel
Ombre. It also contains information on the level of importance (indicated by stars), the
phasing, the approximate cost and the responsibilities under which each proposal may or
should fall.
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The proposals have been prioritized according to their importance, each proposal being
assigned a level from 1 to 3. This allocation has been made according to three criteria,
namely, the seriousness of the problem it seeks to solve as experienced by the
inhabitants; its importance in the process of integrated and sustainable development; and
a broader and enriched concept of development.
It is to be pointed out that the initiatives presented below are proposals that need to be
discussed and enriched before a final decision can be made about them.
The proposals have been grouped under 17 headings, as follows:
1. Employability and training (*)

2. Micro-enterprises – handicraft (*)
3. SME – SMI (*)
4. Agriculture (*)
5. Development of social entrepreneurship (*)
6. Infrastructure and public amenities (*)
7. Services
8. Education (*)
9. Housing
10. Exclusion (*)
11. Public health and hygiene
12. Leisure
13. Environment (*)
14. Embellishment (*)
15. Law & Order
16. Communication
17. Miscellaneous
Notes on those marked with an asterisk (*) are given at the end of the table.
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Key
BO - Compagnie Sucriere de Bel Ombre
CC - Consortium Civil society/Community
CG - Central Government
EP - Empowerment Programme
LA - Local Authorities
NGO-Non Governmental Organisations
OEO-Other Economic operators
PC- Private Consortium
Level
By
of Start Cost
Due date which
impor- date (Rs)
body
tance
Initiatives to be taken
1 Employability and training
1.1 Hardware
Creation of a training school
and a hotel school in the EP, PC, 25
region ** CG millions
1.2 Software
Provision of training in the EP, PC
hospitality trade ***
Provision of training to
fishermen and people who EP, PC
work on an irregular basis
(seasonal workers etc.) ***
Provision of proper support
and counselling to the
PC, NGO
unemployed in order to help
them find jobs ***
Recycling of beneficiaries of
the VRS in order to help them EP, PC
find a job or undertake an
income-generating occupation ***
Micro entreprises -
2 Handicrafts
2.1 Support and counselling
Provision of a support
programme to micro-
enterprises engaged in
handicraft production ** EP, PC 1 million
2.2 Production space
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Creation of a "Maison de
l'artisanat" * PC, EP
2.3 Market - outlet
Finding outlets for handicraft
products NGO, PC
2.4 Financial support
Provision of financial help for
the starting up of micro * EP, PC
enterprises
3 SME-SMI
3.1 Support and counselling
Provision of support to the EP, PC,
*
creation of "Tables d’hôtes" OEO
3.2 Production space
Creation of a small SMI village * CG,EP,PC
Provision of financial help for
the starting up of micro
entreprises * EP
4 Agriculture
Erection of an irrigation dam 30
at Bel Ombre ** CG, PC millions
A boost to non-sugar
agricultural production
through the allocation of land
for the development of small
scale farming ** BO
Revision of the métayage

contracts of Bel Ombre SE so
as to make access to interline
cultivation possible ** BO
OEO, EP,
Creation of a plant nursery * CC
Development of social
5 entrepreneurship
Spotting of social NGO, CC,
entrepreneurs ** EP, PC
Initiating innovative projects,
such as the setting up of a
network of trained young
people to help sick people at NGO, CC,
home * EP, PC
66
Initiating a competition at the

University of Mauritius to
promote the development of
social entrepreneurship in the PC, CG,
region of Bel Ombre * EP 50 000
Infrastructure & Public
6 amenities
6.1 Infrastructure
Construction of pavements
(especially near schools and 10
where the road is narrow ) *** CG, PC millions
Construction/Upgrading of
drains to appropriately carry
off rain water to prevent
flooding in the areas
concerned *** CG, PC
Proper lighting of coastal road
from Baie du Cap to Bel PC, CG,
Ombre ** LA
Lighting of side roads in St
Martin and Bel Ombre for
more safety ** CG, LA
Building of a proper causeway
to replace the radier at
Macondé ** CG
Landscaping in localities
affected by erosion *** CG
Landscaping and provision of
public amenities at Bel Ombre
and Baie du Cap public PC, GG,
beaches *** LA 5 millions
CG, PC,
Construction of public toilets ** LA 500 000
6.2 Health
Building of a new hospital in
the region or upgrading and
extension of Souillac Hospital ** CG
Creation of a Community
Health Centre or Area Health
Centre at Bel Ombre ** CG
6.3 Transport
October- December-
Building of bus shelters * 06 06 PC 300 000
Installation of a bus stop near
Camp aux Prunes ** CG
67
Make Baie du Cap

Community Health Centre CG, LA,
more accessible to vehicles * PC
Installation of one or two taxi
stands in the region * CG
Building of a proper bus
terminus at Baie du Cap * CG
Creation of more parking
space near the public beaches
of the localities * CG, PC
Adequate road signs in the
vicinity of Baie du Cap ** CG
Widening of the bridge
between Ste Marie et Rivière
des Galets * CG
6.4 Local Government
Fitting out of proper premises

where the village council of CG, LA,
Baie du Cap can meet (it now PC, OEO
does so in a building without
water or toilets) *
6.5 Services
Extension of the post office * CG 2 millions
Building of a proper police
station at Baie du Cap * CG 3 millions
Opening of a filling station * OEO 4 millions
Setting up of a bank and
ATMs at Baie du Cap, Rivière
des Galets, Bel Ombre * OEO
Opening of a day nursery in EP, PC,
Bel Ombre/Saint Martin ** CC
Opening of a pharmacy in Bel
Ombre and Baie du Cap * OEO
6.6 Commerce
Erection of a commercial
zone including a market fair in
the region * PC,OEO 5 millions
Give new life to the « Bazar
Ombrelle » stall * PC, LA
Opening of a supermarket in
Bel Ombre / Baie du Cap * OEO
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7 Services
Opening of counters at Baie
du Cap post office for the
payment of electricity and
water bills as is the case in the
majority of post offices in the
island ** CG
Give Area Health Centre
status to the Baie du Cap
Community Health Centre (so
as to provide dental and
gynaecological services) *** CG
Provision of an ambulance
service ** CG
Provision of a larger variety of
medicine at Baie du Cap
Health Centre ** CG
Ensure that buses servicing
the line run more frequently
and regularly ** CG
Get more taxis to run in the
region * CG
Creation of an information CG, PC,
centre * LA
8 Education
8.1 Hardware
Creation of a library in the

region, which will also provide
multimedia material and be
equipped with computers * PC 3 millions
Opening of a pre primary
school at St Martin ** OEO,CG
Creation of a computer centre
in the region * PC,OEO
8.2 Software
Literacy and numeracy courses
for illiterate adults and young NGO, PC,
people ** CC
Sex education courses for NGO, PC,
young men and girls ** CG
IT courses for young people NGO, PC,
and adults * CG
69
Provision of an Alliance
Française branch in Baie du OEO,
Cap * NGO
Offer books to the under-
stocked library of the primary PC, OEO,
school at Baie du Cap ** CG
9 Housing
Providing a solution to the
housing problem of the
squatters of Camp aux Prunes
by either giving them title
deeds to the land they are
presently occupying, or
rehousing them on a more CG, PC,
appropriate site *** EP
Providing an adequate and

safe access to the homes of
those living on the steep
slopes near St François
d’Assises church by building CG, PC,
an access road and/or steps *** LA
Provision of land for social
housing *** EP, PC
Removal of asbestos from
houses containing it *** CG, PC
10 Exclusion
Sensitization and
10.1 infrastructure
Organisation of talks in Bel

Ombre to raise awareness on a
number of subjects that would
contribute to a change in the
population's outlook and
mentality. For example, talks
to raise parents' awareness to NGO, CC,
the importance of education *** PC, OEO
Sensitization of young people

on the subject of
drugs/alcoholism/AIDS by NGO, CC,
appropriate institutions *** PC, OEO
Setting up of a rehabilitation
centre, especially for young PC, CG,
delinquents *** NGO, CC
70
Setting up of a centre to treat

persons addicted to drugs and PC, CG,
alcohol *** NGO, CC
Creation of a fund to fight
against poverty and exclusion *** PC
11 Public health and hygiene
Taking appropriate measures
to eliminate mosquitoes in the
region to fight against
chikungunya, including the PC, OEO,
cleaning up of areas of NGO, CC,
stagnant water *** LA, CG
Sentisization campaign on CG, PC,
chikungunya *** LA
Improvement of sanitary CG, LA,
conditions in the region *** PC
Advice on dental health and
infant care at Baie du Cap
community health centre *** CG
Carrying out of a well-thought
out plan to neuter stray dogs
in the region *** NGO, PC
12 Leisure
12.1 Sports & Culture
Creation of a health track * PC, LA
Establishing a swimming zone
at Bel Ombre public beach * CG, LA
Creation of a museum at Bel
Ombre * CG, PC
12.2 Infrastructure
Building of a multipurpose
area * PC, OEO
Installation of lighting,
changing rooms, seats and
adequate fencing at the
football ground of St PC, OEO,
Martin/Baie du Cap * CG, LA 500 000
Creation of a leisure centre for
indoor and outdoor games * CG, PC
Setting up of children's
playgrounds at Baie du Cap,
Bel Ombre, St Martin and LA, CG,
Rivière des Galets * PC, OEO
71
Construction of a swimming CG, LA,

pool in the region * PC
Construction of a gymnasium CG, LA,
in Bel Ombre * PC
Training and leadership
12.3 institutions
NGO, PC,
Setting up of a music school * CG
Setting up of a football school NGO, PC,
(for about 40 young persons) * LA
Setting up of a women's NGO, PC,
centre in Bel Ombre * CG
Giving new life to the scout
movement in Bel Ombre/Baie
du Cap * NGO, PC
Setting up of a recreation NGO, PC,
centre for senior citizens * CC
12.4 Activities
Organisation of end of year
fêtes on the same day in the
villages of Baie du Cap, St
Martin, Bel Ombre and
Rivière des Galets * PC
Organisation of family
activities in the community NGO, CC,
centres of the region * LA, PC
Organisation of an additional
number of recreational and
educational activities in the NGO, CC,
community centres * LA, PC
13 Environment
13.1 Coastal erosion
Taking appropriate measures
to prevent further coastal
*** CG
erosion at Baie du Cap and
Bel Ombre
13.2 Marine pollution
Finding a suitable agreement

with the lime factory near *** OEO,CG
Macondé to stop pollution of
the sea in its vicinity
72
13.3 River management
Cleaning of the estuary of St

Martin rivulet to remove *** CG, PC
silted up sand and soil and the
overgrown mangrove
14 Embellishment
Creation of poster posting
zones to eliminate ** LA, PC 400 000
unauthorized posting up
Initiate a "Anou fleurir nou PC, LA,
**
vilaz" programme CG, CC
General embellishment of the PC ,LA

environment, giving special **
,CG
attention to the "waterfront"
15 Law & Order
Ensuring law enforcement as
regards hours of sale of
alcohol by retailers of rum and
liquor *** CG
More police patrols *** CG
Ensuring the watchfulness of
the coast guards as regards law
encroachment *** CG
16 Communication
Setting up of a direct
communication line between
the fishermen and the PC, CC,
hotels/authorities *** NGO
17 Miscellaneous
Upgrading of all viewpoints (4 CG, PC,
sites) * LA 500 000
Organisation of social
activities to promote mutual
aid/self help amongst the CC, NGO
villagers ** ,PC
Give a boost to the "syndic"
concept in the various
"morcellements" * CC, NGO
Setting up of a "Cellule
d’écoute" ** PC, NGO
Reopening of the fish landing
station at Bel Ombre * CG 1 million
73
Notes :
a) Employability and training
The region’s primary problem is unemployment – which revolves around the issues of
employability, mismatching and training. These problems should therefore be addressed in a
concrete and efficient manner. Two aspects of the Empowerment Program (EP) include
training: recycling training and training of women. Hotels and IRS are current and future
sectors in the region. It is therefore about offering programmes/ appropriate training
programmes. A non-exhaustive list of possibilities exists:
Fast training for some jobs that could be done in partnership with the Projet Employabilité
Jeunes (PEJ) of Beachcomber’s Fondation Espoir & Développement (FED).
A more classic training in the context of the regional hotel school. There has already been a
first initiative to identify and select candidates. Bel Ombre could offer part-sponsorships
together with the EP.
Training via the State’s policy of training people for hotel jobs.
b) Micro enterprises
The actual and current development will create opportunities for small and medium
enterprises to sell their products and services to the region’s big businesses. In handicraft,
agro-industry and trade, there is potential which can only be materialised through the
establishment of a market-maker link. This programme could be inspired from the
handicraft micro enterprises pilot project of the FED that is currently being run.
The creation of a handicrafts house (other than the one which will be created in the region’s
tourist village) in the commercial zone proposed elsewhere in this development plan and the
financing of a person to develop the market-maker link between the craftsmen and the
operators will enhance the chances of these micro enterprises to succeed.
74
This programme can work with three aspects of the EP: the support to micro enterprises
through support and counselling to micro enterprises producing handicrafts, support to
women and the creation of tourist villages which would be outlets for local producers.
c) SMEs
The region’s businesses, namely the hotels and IRS, would wish to outsource some of their
services in order to focus on their core activities. The hotels and IRS also need raw materials
to run their businesses. It is thus in the hotels’ and local businesses’ interests that small and
medium enterprises that could provide these services and supply these raw materials be
encouraged. A space where these enterprises can operate could be integrated in some way
near the site which has recently been identified for the Beau Champ VRS.
These propositions also work with some aspects of the EP.
d) Agriculture
Non-sugar agriculture is a promising sector that can be exploited by small and medium
enterprises. It is recommended to encourage, support and accompany the development of
existing and new small agricultural businesses to produce fruits, vegetables and other quality
foodstuffs for hotels and IRS. The « zone Doguet » would be the ideal place to relaunch
non-sugar agriculture with the creation of new small and medium sized farms.
e) Social entrepreneurship
The participation of the region’s population – they will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the
social development plan – is one of the pre-requisites for the success of the proposed plan.
In order to have an effective participation that conforms to the philosophy behind the social
development plan, it is necessary to launch a programme to develop social entrepreneurship
programme in order to identify and select a dozen of social entrepreneurs among the so-
called social activities in the region. These social entrepreneurs will be the pillars of the
75
whole social development plan for the region. The help of an expert/consultant will be
required to put this initiative in place.
f) Infrastructure and public amenities
The region’s villages have serious problems as far as infrastructure and collective equipment
are concerned. This makes the inhabitants’ lives hard, very hard even. Solutions to these
problems must be found soon. Some of the identified problems are the State’s responsibility
while others can be solved by private public partnerships via the Empowerment Programme
- with the help of the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre through the donation of land.
Certain problems can be solved by the region’s other businesses as part of their corporate
citizenship and social responsibility programmes.
g) Education
Education is the key to the solving of a lot of problems. Investment in education must start
right from pre-primary level. Parents’ support is crucial to the success of any action in this
field. Values have to be learned. Intervention must occur at the level of hardware as well as
software. The proposed initiatives affect many sub-populations – the educated and the
uneducated populations. It is a field where results can be seen in the long term.
h) Exclusion
The creation of a fund is recommended. It should be complementary to the government’s

action in the fight against poverty and exclusion. This fund should be managed by the
BODSP according to a philosophy based on the fundamental principle that it is better to
teach someone how to fish rather than just giving him a fish. The fund should finance
initiatives that do not fall under other proposals, such as the creation of a listening and
information centre, an information and prevention campaign against alcohol/drugs/aids
together with the appropriate organisations, the setting up of a detox and rehabilitation
centre for youngsters.
76
i) Environment & embellishment
The region, with its characteristic topography, is prone to serious environmental problems
that should be addressed by the relevant authorities. Future developments will exert further
pressure on the environment whether it’s inland or on the beach. It is necessary to sensitize
the authorities – namely the Ministry of Environment – about the urgency of an action plan
to combat coastal erosion in this part of the country. The ambitions of boosting tourism
and luxury villas in the region also require an embellishment policy for the area.
77
8. Set up, implementation and follow-up
8.1 Prerequisites
The social development plan, which could be known as the Bel Ombre Social
Development Plan (BOSDP) is a real enterprise. Its preparation, setting up, launch and
evolution should obey the same rules as the ones applied to a business. Due to its social
dimension and complexity – the number and variety of stakeholders as well as parameters to
master - it is in some way harder to realise than a business. A professional approach
practised with the required discipline is imperative to ensure its success. The appropriate
logistics are also necessary.
8.2 Bodies and institutions
The first condition required to achieve the desired change is the will and the commitment of
the region’s economic players under the aegis of the Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre
which has interests in some of these businesses. It is important to ensure the active
participation of all current and future businesses in the region.
The establishment of a Steering Committee comprising representatives of businesses that

are partners of the social development plan and a member of the two relevant district
councils (the area between Baie du Cap and Bel Ombre is under the jurisdiction of the Black
River District Council while Rivière des Galets is under that of Grand-Port Savanne) is the
first concrete step in the setting up of the plan. A chairman will preside over this Steering
Committee. The inclusion of a representative of the steering committee of the
Empowerment Programme on the Steering Committee of the BOSDP is recommended.
78
The Steering Committee’s main duties will be to:
• Define the general course of action
• Decide on the priorities
• Monitor the follow-up of the Social Development Plan’s implementation
• Act as a facilitator and coordinator for the plan’s implementation
The realisation of the BOSDP is a full-fledged enterprise. A separate entity - providing the
basic resources totally dedicated to its implementation - is needed. The most appropriate
legal status for this entity will need to be found. The bare necessities: a director and two
assistants – one will look after the financial affairs while the other will be in charge of
communication and public relations. The director should report to a body consisting of
representatives of the region’s businesses that are financing the action plan.
The Steering Committee and the Director of the Bel Ombre Social Development Plan
(BOSDP) will be responsible for suggesting bodies and consultation/dialogue fora where the
region’s stakeholders will meet to initiate and develop various partnerships.
We recommend the setting up of an Advisory Council.
8.3 – Drivers & Doers
The success of the plan will depend on finding the right persons for the right places. For the
Bel Ombre social development plan, the right chairman of the Steering Committee will need
to be found. He will be the driver while the right director of the BODSP will be the doer.
Choosing the chairman of the steering committee is crucial. To ensure sustainability, he/she
should ideally be able to chair the steering committee for the next five years. That person
should have a good grasp of the region’s history as well as its socioeconomic and cultural
79
stakes of the region. He should also have the trust of the project’s initiator, the Compagnie
Sucrière de Bel Ombre, and other partners in the region. He will be the driver.
It would be preferable for the director to be someone from the region or who knows the
area and its problems well. He should be able to take initiatives and have the trust of all the
stakeholders.
He should also have the necessary abilities to make things move and produce concrete
results in the deadlines fixed by the implementation calendar. He should be close enough to
the populations that will be called upon to participate in and benefit from the action plan.
However, he should also be able to distance himself in order to be fair and objective and not
be oversensitive, and veer towards assistanceship. While having a real social consciousness
and being close to the region, he should have the necessary qualities to initiate and manage
efficiently in order to achieve the set targets and expected results.
This person is a rare breed. There are two or three persons in the region who have the
above-mentioned profile. Identifying and recruiting this person is the highest of priorities.
Once in place, he/she will be responsible for the recruitment of two assistants and the
conversion of the social development plan into an action plan under the supervision of the
Steering Committee chairman.
8.4 Partnerships: types and modes
The social development plan will be realised through different types of partnerships implying
two or more stakeholders, depending on the different components of the plan. The modes
of these partnerships will need to be defined beforehand.
An efficient partnership requires more than a shared wish or vision. A real will and
commitment is necessary but all partners – especially the NGO’s – have the appropriate
ability, knowledge and means to ensure they can assume their respective duties.
80
Adopting a realistic approach means that this has to be taken on board for the
implementation of the social development plan. The director of the BODSP will have to
assess the deficiencies of the partners and propose ways and means to optimise their
participation. The entrepreneurship development program will be a precious instrument for
the population’s active participation.
The implementation calendar found in Chapter 7 includes the types of partnerships that
should be developed for all the initiatives and components of the social development plan.
8.5 Financing
Le partial financing of the social development plan must be thought of as an investment to

ensure the sustainability of the region’s businesses. It is about contributing to the creation of
a sound environmental and social climate. It is has nothing to do with a donation philosophy
but it has all to do with empowering social responsibility. The social budget must be
integrated with due respect in any enterprise’s budget. A social environment undermined by
worsening social ills (like criminality, drugs and prostitution) impacts or will impact
negatively on the running and development of any business. This is more relevant to
businesses such as hotels or IRS projects as they are sensitive to image and the impressions
of their potential clients.
The implementation of Bel Ombre’s social development plan will need substantial financial
means. Some components rely solely on the State for financing. Others may be financed
through a public private partnership via the Empowerment Program due to a convergence
of objectives. An important part of the plan will need to be financed by a consortium made
up of the region’s businesses that have enlisted themselves as partners of the social
development plan.
81
Theoretically, the region’s villages should have obtained between Rs 50 million and Rs 75
millions since 2001 for community development from the three existing hotels, namely
Heritage, Le Telfair and the former Voile d’Or. It seems that this sum has been used for the
construction of the new road. We need to make sure that history does not repeat itself with
the next three projects in the pipeline: the Rs 75 millions that will be contributed should be
used to fund community development, in other words, the region’s social development. If
the IRS promoter is also obliged to contribute Rs 25 millions, a fund of Rs 100 will be
available for the region’s social development.
The social development plan will require a total investment of approximately Rs 150 million.
This estimation excludes heavy infrastructure that is under the responsibility of the State. If
we take it that the Empowerment Program’s mission is to establish a national social
development plan, we can think that a regional plan that is complementary could attract a
contribution of 50% - at least for the components that imply a public private partnership.
The other half, which amounts to Rs 75 million, will be invested over five years. This is
equal to an annual participation of Rs 15 million from current and future economic players
who will be enlisted partners of the plan. The current ones are the Compagnie Sucrière de
Bel Ombre, the Villas de Bel Ombre, Heritage, Le Telfair, Movenpick, Accor, Temsa, and
Naiade hotels.
The initiator of the social development plan will have to take the lead and convince the
region’s other economic players of the relevance of the social development plan to the
region while focusing on the benefits they could reap from it. Once the principle is agreed
upon, the financial arrangements and the modes of participation for all partners will need to
be sorted out.
82
8.6 Communication
It is not necessary to insist on the importance of communication in today’s society, especially

with the media’s ever-growing influence on opinion making. Right from the start, the social
development plan must integrate communication as a strategic function during all the phases
and steps, from the setting up to the implementation via the launch.
Communication being a profession, we must turn to the right skills in this particular field in
order to work on a communication plan: design, strategy and all the components to touch all
the targeted audiences directly and indirectly concerned with the project, vectors, etc.
8.7 Road map
The main steps leading to the launching of the Bel Ombre Social Development Plan are
given hereunder.
1. Submission of five copies of the report to the management of the Compagnie sucrière
de Bel Ombre, of the Villas de Bel Ombre, of the Le Telfair, and of the Heritage.
2. Setting up of the Implementation committee
1. Study of the Plan by the promoters and feedback to the author
2. Work session on the feedback and decisions on the The Way Forward
3. Nomination of a Steering Committee and of its Chairman
4. Decision about the legal and administrative entity
5. Hiring of a director
6. Setting up of the BOSDP office
7. Drawing up of a partnership Protocol with a view to transform the Social

Development Plan into a Business Plan.
8. Official launch of the Social Development Plan.
83
Conclusion
The region of Bel Ombre – as defined for the purpose of the present study - is in urgent
need of a social development plan as an essential component of the economic development
of the region. The study undertaken has revealed the problems, needs, wants, expectations
and wishes of the different players concerned by the development of the region – the
population of the villages, the various businesses, and the more or less organised “forces
vives”.
The study has opted for a holistic approach supported by a new way of looking at the
relationship between the economy and society in the development process. It is possible to
breathe a new dynamism into development in the region, and turn the region into a show
case that could be a source of inspiration for players in other areas of the country. This can
be achieved because the population concerned is not too large, and provided an approach
full of the will power and realism necessary for the fostering of vital synergies among the
different players is adopted.
What is at stake with the implementation of the social development plan proposed goes well
beyond the Bel Ombre region. It is no less than the quality and durability of the country’s
new development model.
84
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 1
Resident population by sex
1990 2000
Mauritius 1022456 Mauritius 1143069

Male 510676 Male 566056
Female 511780 Female 577013
Savanne 60841 Savanne 66356

Male 30444 Male 32787
Baie du Cap VCA 3999 Baie Du Cap VCA 2205

Male 1968 Male 1130
Chemin Grenier VCA 14327 Chemin Grenier VCA 11782

Male 7267 Male 5817
Note : Bel Ombre not a VCA in 1990 Chamouny VCA 4647

Male 2336
Female 2311
Bel Ombre VCA 2407

Male 1205
Female 1202
Source : CSO
Source : CSO
BO - List of Appendices
Appendices
1 Resident population by sex - 1990-2000
2 Resident population by age - 2000
Housing units occupied by private households, households and
population by geographical location and number of households per
3 housing unit
Currently employed population 12 years of age and over by geographical
4 district, major occupational group and sex
Private households for the selected Village Council Areas by income
5 received for the month of June 2000 - Census 2000
Resident population by educational attainment for Savanne District, age
6 and sex - census 1990
Resident population 2 years of age and over for the selected Village
6a Council Areas (VCA) by educational attainment, sex and age - Census
2000
Classification of Heads of Household by major occupational groups
7
(ESOMAR)
Heads of private households by marital status for the selected Village
8 Council
Total housing units, housing units occupied by private households,
households and population by geographical location and type of toilet
9 facilities
Total housing units,housing units occupied by private
households,households and population by geographical location and type
9a of water supply year 2000
households,households and population by geographical location and
9b availability of electricity,2000
households(1),households and population by geographical location and
9c bath
9d avaibility of domestic water tank/reservoir, 2000
9e availability of kitchen(2),2000
10 Resident population by geographical location and religious group - 2000

11 Relative Development Index - 2000 Housing and Population Census
11a Relative development index for small areas - Census 2000
11b Relative Development Index - VCA
11c Map of Relative Development Index (RDI)
12 National Tourism statistics (hotels, rooms, employment, revenue)
13 Existing hotels and future projects in the region of Bel Ombre
Employment in large establishments by industrial group and sex, March
14 2004 - March 2005
Cie Sucrière de Bel Ombre ltd - EVOLUTION NOMBRE
15 D'EMPLOYES (1996 - 2005)
16 National Sugar statistics
17 Fishing - regional statistics - MoA
12/14/2006
BO - List of Appendices
Appendices
18 Fishing methods - 2004
Licences and registrations by activity and district as at June 2005 -
19 Electricity, Gas and Water Supply
Distribution of small production units by geographical district, CEA 2002,
19a Republic of Mauritius
Currently employed population 12 years of age and over for the selected
19b Village Council Areas (VCA) by industry (section) - Census 1990
20 List and location of health infrastructures-districtof Grand-Port Savanne

Resident population 2 years of age and over by educational attainment,
21 age and sex - census 1990
22 Monography - Baie du Cap
23 Monography - Bel Ombre/St Martin
24 Monography - Rivière des Galets
25 Monography - Chamarel
26 Bel Ombre Sugar Estate - VRS
27 VRS - Place of living of beneficiaries
28 Budget for training
12/14/2006
Resident population by age, 2000
Total <1 1 to 4 5 to 9 10 to 14 15 to 19
Mauritius 1143069 18128 72607 101500 93848 97573
Savanne 66356 1051 4272 6083 5504 5599
Baie Du Cap VCA 2205 30 141 189 192 216
Bel Ombre VCA 2407 37 169 220 240 255
Chemin Grenier VCA 11782 196 814 1044 932 977
Chamouny VCA 4647 79 296 412 370 390
20 to 24 25 to 29 30 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49
Mauritius 107318 91046 97046 99654 88307 76409
Savanne 6306 5065 6100 6182 4944 3992
Baie Du Cap VCA 215 159 183 192 169 129
Bel Ombre VCA 242 196 203 180 141 152
Chamouny VCA 490 332 418 416 374 297
50 to 54 55 to 59 60-64 65+ not stated

Mauritius 55724 39270 32056 72469 114
Savanne 3176 2155 1872 4045 10
Baie Du Cap VCA 95 89 62 144 "-
Bel Ombre VCA 108 87 53 124 "-
Chemin Grenier VCA 596 387 321 758 1
Chamouny VCA 201 155 139 277 1
Source : CSO
Housing units occupied by private households, households and population by

geographical location and number of households per housing unit
Country, Districts, Municipal Wards

or Village Council Areas Total Number of households per housing unit
Three or
One Two more

ISLAND OF MAURITIUS
Occupied housing units 268917 252587 12869 3461
Households 289170 252587 25738 10845
Population 1132439 1003561 90793 38085
ISLAND OF MAURITIUS - Urban
Households 130918 119241 8324 3353
Population 498716 458076 28828 11812
ISLAND OF MAURITIUS - Rural
Households 158252 133346 17414 7492
Population 633723 545485 61965 26273
SAVANNE DISTRICT-wholly rural
Households 16818 13982 2092 744
Population 65486 55755 7195 2536
Baie du Cap VCA
Households 554 501 50 3
Population 2254 2053 192 9
Chemin Grenier VCA
Households 3008 2448 396 164
Population 11779 9852 1359 568
Bel Ombre VCA
Population 2414 2159 191 64
Chamouny VCA
Households 1209 1019 150 40
Population 4646 4020 484 142
Source : CSO
Currently employed population 12 years of age and over by geographical district, major occupational group and
sex
Legislators,senior Technicians and Service workers Skilled

Total officials and Professionals associate Clerks and shop sales agricultural and
managers professionals workers fishery workers
Mauritius 455246 14555 13335 39377 38610 62571 15223

Male 302947 11361 9261 22829 17192 44758 13550
Female 152299 3194 4074 16548 21418 17813 1673
Savanne 27378 289 312 1628 1326 2996 995

Male 17836 245 239 954 719 2383 867
Female 9542 44 73 674 607 613 128
Craft and Plant and machine

related trade operators and Eementary
workers assemblers occupations not stated
mauritius 88453 81628 100793 701
Male 75853 43687 64015 441
Female 12600 37941 36778 260
Savanne 5065 6440 8314 13

Male 4156 2875 5390 8
Female 909 3565 2924 5
Source : CSO
Private households for the selected Village Council Areas by income1 received for the month of June
2000 - Census 2000
Household income for the month of June (Rupees)
VCA & Sex Total 2000- 7500- 10000-
<2000 5000-7499 15000-19999 20000+ Not stated
4999 9999 14999
Bel Ombre VCA 573 28 160 141 99 73 26 17 29

Baie du Cap VCA 553 32 152 146 103 62 23 9 26
Chamouny VCA 1,203 56 271 297 210 172 58 45 94
Chemin Grenier VCA 3,013 184 750 761 423 426 152 103 214
Note:
1 - Income refers to total cash income in rupees received from all sources for the month of June 2000
Source : CSO
Resident population by educational attainment for Savanne District, age and sex - census 1990
Educational attainment
Country, Island, Primary Secondary
Sex and Total Nil Std I - VI
Age (in years) & but not Passed CPE Forms Forms IV - V Passed SC Passed HSC Not
Preprimary passed I - III but not or or equivalent stated
CPE passed SC equivalent and above
Savanne District
Both sexes
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,451 12,060 25,792 3,406 5,531 6,503 3,904 1,159 96
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,253 3,221 32 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,758 542 5,210 - - - - - 6
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,621 88 3,735 218 2,344 229 - - 7
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,330 102 1,594 286 836 1,919 494 84 15
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,390 187 2,068 441 700 1,636 963 379 16
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,511 300 2,356 570 617 1,342 1,005 301 20
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,357 403 2,384 608 413 627 699 216 7
35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,323 607 2,050 520 280 365 398 101 2
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,453 759 1,724 364 180 217 166 34 9
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,463 852 1,143 184 97 88 83 11 5
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,254 1,085 949 63 47 51 48 9 2
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,773 877 803 34 11 10 25 10 3
60 - 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,771 998 701 42 3 11 7 7 2
65+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,194 2,039 1,043 76 3 8 16 7 2
Male
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,239 4,401 13,361 1,633 2,897 3,745 2,332 819 51
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,614 1,600 14 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,933 260 2,670 - - - - - 3
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,383 48 1,943 117 1,147 124 - - 4
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,669 50 833 110 374 1,008 241 43 10
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,305 84 1,022 188 346 889 518 248 10
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,353 124 1,129 215 325 782 556 211 11
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,803 133 1,134 278 265 373 451 165 4 1

35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,156 152 901 249 191 264 311 87 1
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,662 166 832 211 129 168 128 28 -
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,144 205 607 118 70 77 55 9 3
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,074 340 568 41 35 42 37 9 2
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 903 299 532 28 11 5 19 7 2
60 - 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . 822 316 458 30 2 7 3 6 -
65+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,418 624 718 48 2 6 13 6 1
Female
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,212 7,659 12,431 1,773 2,634 2,758 1,572 340 45
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,639 1,621 18 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,825 282 2,540 - - - - - 3
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,238 40 1,792 101 1,197 105 - - 3
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,661 52 761 176 462 911 253 41 5
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,085 103 1,046 253 354 747 445 131 6
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,158 176 1,227 355 292 560 449 90 9
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,554 270 1,250 330 148 254 248 51 3
35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,167 455 1,149 271 89 101 87 14 1
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,791 593 892 153 51 49 38 6 9
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,319 647 536 66 27 11 28 2 2
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,180 745 381 22 12 9 11 - -
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 870 578 271 6 - 5 6 3 1
60 - 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . 949 682 243 12 1 4 4 1 2
65+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,776 1,415 325 28 1 2 3 1 1
Source : Ministry of Education
2
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 6a
Resident population 2 years of age and over for the selected Village Council
Areas (VCA) by educational attainment, sex and age - Census 2000
VCA,
Sex and Total Nil Primary Forms I - V Passed SC Not
Age (in years) & but not (or equivalent ) stated
Preprimary passed SC and above
Bel Ombre VCA
Both sexes
15 - 29 693 12 330 261 89 0
30- 44 524 33 315 131 45 0
Baie du Cap VCA
Both sexes
15 -29 590 14 262 241 71 2
30 - 44 544 46 345 117 36 0
Source : Ministry of Education

Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Annex 7
Classification of Heads of Household by major occupational groups (ESOMAR)
Chef de Pample Rivière du Plaines

Maurice Port-Louis Flacq Grand Port Savanne Moka Black River
famille mousses Rempart Wilhems
AB 9% 8% 8% 7% 5% 4% 4% 16% 7% 8%
C1 20% 22% 19% 18% 15% 15% 16% 26% 18% 16%
C2 30% 34% 31% 32% 31% 29% 27% 29% 29% 31%
DE 40% 37% 42% 44% 49% 52% 53% 29% 47% 44%
Heads of private households by marital status for the selected Village

Council
Marital status
VCA & Sex Total Single Married Widowed Divorced / Other and
Separated Not
stated
Bel Ombre VCA

Both Sexes 481 19 388 59 15 0
Male 402 16 372 9 5 0
Female 79 3 16 50 10 0
Baie du Cap VCA

Both Sexes 506 18 368 91 27 2
Male 405 16 363 13 13 0
Female 101 2 5 78 14 2
Chamouny VCA
Both Sexes 871 20 687 134 30 0
Male 724 19 679 20 6 0
Female 147 1 8 114 24 0
Chemin Grenier VCA

Both Sexes 2483 70 1956 366 90 1
Male 2049 54 1910 54 31 0
Female 434 16 46 312 59 1
Total housing units, housing units occupied by private households, households and population by geographical location
and type of toilet facilities
Country, Districts, Municipal Wards Total Type of toilet facilities
or Village Council Areas Flush toilet connected to Pit latrine Other including Not stated
Sewerage system Absorption pit Septic tank Water seal Other none
not shared shared not shared shared not shared shared not shared shared not shared shared
ISLAND OF MAURITIUS
Total housing units 288344 52646 6731 173338 13495 14494 599 7420 2631 12260 3604 826 300
Occupied housing units 268917 48992 6564 164394 13323 9764 580 7133 2602 11656 3548 344 17
Households 289170 51674 6778 178348 14323 10162 627 7870 2763 12539 3718 351 17
Population 1132439 197449 23485 714643 52633 38136 2255 31254 10037 48254 13335 899 59
ISLAND OF MAURITIUS - Urban
Households 130918 48947 6383 63074 3873 3469 239 1779 693 1585 752 112 12
Population 498716 186359 21977 244356 13776 12954 819 6829 2446 6142 2681 341 36
ISLAND OF MAURITIUS - Rural
Households 158252 2727 395 115274 10450 6693 388 6091 2070 10954 2966 239 5
Population 633723 11090 1508 470287 38857 25182 1436 24425 7591 42112 10654 558 23
SAVANNE DISTRICT-wholly rural
1
Households 16818 27 1 12330 1309 156 36 662 286 1546 437 28 0
Population 65486 101 2 48965 4678 582 154 2513 1010 5837 1588 56 0
Baie du Cap VCA
Households 554 1 0 253 2 38 0 29 2 223 0 6 0
Population 2254 3 0 1103 7 156 0 114 6 856 0 9 0
Chemin Grenier VCA
Households 3008 1 0 2255 310 6 0 106 49 202 77 2 0
Population 11779 6 0 9054 1092 30 0 377 170 764 279 7 0
Bel Ombre VCA
Households 590 0 0 330 52 1 0 84 14 72 37 0 0
Population 2414 0 0 1359 192 4 0 343 57 300 159 0 0
Chamouny VCA
2
Households 1209 2 0 874 143 1 0 43 17 92 37 0 0
Population 4646 11 0 3451 513 3 0 147 60 332 129 0 0
(1) Excluding 30 homeless households with a population of 35
(2) A toilet is considered as being shared if it is used by occupants of more than one household unit
3
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 9a

households,households and population by geographical
location and type of water supply year 2000
Mauritius Total Piped water Tank Wagon Well/River

Total housing units 288344 284651 130 112
Households 289170 286180 133 96
Population 1132439 1122095 518 387
Savanne district
Total housing units 16044 15605 "- 23
Occupied housing units 15270 14913 "- 16
Households 16818 16450 "- 17
Population 65486 64268 "- 66
Baie du Cap VCA

Total housing units 568 493 "- "-
Occupied housing units 527 466 "- "-
Households 554 493 "- "-
Population 2254 2041 "- "-
Chemin Grenier VCA

Total housing units 2813 2750 "- "-
Occupied housing units 2699 2644 "- "-
Households 3008 2949 "- "-
Population 11779 11591 "- "-
Bel Ombre Social Developmenet Plan Appendix 9b

households,households and population by geographical
location and availability of electricity,2000
Availability of electricity
Total available not available not stated
Mauritius
Households 289170 286744 2367 59
Population 1132439 1124372 7837 230
Savanne District
Households 16818 16680 133 5
Population 65486 65090 384 12
Baie du Cap VCA

Total housing units 568 532 36 "-
Occupied housing units 527 502 25 "-
Households 554 529 25 "-
Population 2254 2170 84 "-
Chemin Grenier VCA

Population 11779 11696 71 12
Bel Ombre VCA

Population 2414 2403 11
Chamouny VCA
Population 1466 1464 2 "-
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 9c

bath
Availability of bathing facilities

bathroom inside bathroom outside
total
housing unit housing unit none not stated
Maurituis
total housing units 288344 221720 27837 2151 364
occupied housing units 268917 205124 43468 1508 17
households 289170 218945 46422 1566 17
population 1132439 857391 192525 4886 52
Savanne District
occupied housing units 15270 10987 4152 131 "-
households 16818 12088 4593 137 "-
population 65486 46151 17493 368 "-
Baie du Cap VCA

households 554 263 285 6 "-
population 2254 1159 1084 11 "-
Chemin Grenier VCA

households 3008 2141 532 27 "-
population 11779 8534 1992 66 "-
Bel Ombre
occupied housing units 553 298 255 "- "-
households 590 318 272 "- "-
population 2414 1304 1110 "- "-
1)excluding 30 homeless households with a population of 35

Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 9d

avaibility of domestic water tank/reservoir, 2000
total
available not available not stated
Mauritius
total housing units 288344 110031 178131 182
occupied housing units 268917 99624 169218 75
households 289170 105234 183857 79
population 1132439 407692 724468 279
Savanne District
households 16818 3757 13059 2
population 65486 15109 50373 4
Baie du Cap VCA

total housing units 568 98 470 "-
occupied housing uunits 527 93 434 "-
households 554 102 452 "-
population 2254 464 1790 "-
Chemin Grenier VCA

households 3008 853 2154 1
population 11779 3482 8296 1
Bel Ombre VCA

occupied housing units 553 95 458 "-
households 590 103 487 "-
population 2414 437 1977 "-
Chamouny VCA
occupied housing units 1107 323 784 "-
households 1209 351 858 "-
population 4646 1419 3227 "-
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 9e

households(1),households and population by geographical
location and availability of kitchen(2),2000
(1)excluding 30 homeless househlods with a population of 35

(2)A kitchen is considered as being shared if it is used by the occupants of
more then one housing unit
Total Inside Outside None Not stated

Mauritius
Total housing units 288344 256188 29239 2572 345
Occupied housing units 268917 238975 28201 1931 50
Households 289170 255904 31228 1987 51
Population 1132439 1002805 124241 5207 186
Savanne District
Occupied housing units 15270 13362 1800 107 1
Households 16818 14720 1990 107 1
Population 65486 57458 7771 253 4
Baie du Cap VCA

Occupied housing units 527 355 165 7 "-
Households 554 375 172 7 "-
Population 2254 1601 635 18 "-
Chemin Grenier VCA

Households 3008 2618 370 20 "-
Population 11779 10309 1408 62 "-
Bel Ombre VCA

Occupied housing units 553 410 143 "- "-
Households 590 437 153 "- "-
Population 2414 4167 653 "- "-
Chamouny VCA
Total housing units 1139 995 130 14 "-
Households 1209 1066 135 8 "-
Population 4646 4136 498 12 "-
Resident population by geographical location and religious group - 2000
Other and not

Total Buddhist/Chinese Christians Hindu Islam stated
Mauritius 1143069 8149 344967 584983 195939 9031
Savanne 66356 418 14481 38251 12485 721
Baie du Cap VCA 2205 8 1204 983 "- 10
Bel Ombre VCA 2407 5 1397 999 6 "-
Chamouny VCA 4647 15 693 3821 101 17
2000 Housing and Population Census
Relative Development Index
1. Introduction
The Relative Development Index (RDI) is a composite index that measures the relative
achievement of sub-regions of the country in dimensions of development. Variables
included in the construction of the index are limited to those derived from housing and
population censuses, these being the only sources of comprehensive data at sub-regional
level.
A set of RDIs for administrative regions, namely Municipal Wards and Village Council
Areas, and for the Island of Rodrigues was first constructed and published in 1996. The
indices were computed based on data collected at the 1990 Census and according to the
methodology of the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP).
A new set of indices for these areas has been worked out using the 2000 Census data and the
results are presented in this paper. For comparison purposes, all variables that were used in
the construction of the previous indices have been included while the computational
methodology has been modified slightly. The methodology is described in Section 2 and the
results are given in Section 5.
1
2. Methodology
(a) Variables used
Variables used in the computation of the index are:
i. % of households having piped water,

ii. % of households having electricity,
iii. % of households having flush toilet,
iv. % of households living in dwellings made of concrete,
v. % of households having one or more rooms used for living purposes per
person,
vi. % of households who own their dwelling,
vii. % of population aged 18 years and over having at least School Certificate or
equivalent educational attainment,
viii. primary enrolment ratio,
ix. secondary enrolment ratio,
x. literacy rate of the population aged 12 years and over,
xi. employment rate of the population aged 12 years and over,
xii. % of the employed population in occupational groups 1,2 and 3 of the
International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO), i.e. legislators,
senior officials and managers; professionals; and technicians and associate
professionals.
The values of the variables for each of the 145 areas (20 Municipal Wards, 124 Village
Council Areas and Island of Rodrigues) listed in alphabetical order are shown in Table 1
(pages 7-12). Definitions of variables used are given at Appendix I (page 29). A map of the
Island of Mauritius showing the location of wards and villages in coded forms is at Appendix
II (page 30) while a description of these codes is given at Appendix III (pages 31-33).
(b) Calculation of the index
A development index (Hij) for each area is first calculated based on the methodology used
for the HDI. If Xij is the value of the development variable i for the area j, then the
development index Hij for area j based on variable i is defined as
Hij = (Xij – Min Xij)/(Max Xij – Min Xij)
where Min Xij is the minimum and Max Xij is the maximum value of Xij over all j areas for
the years 1990 and 2000.
For example: Let us consider the development variable X11: % of households with piped
water for Albion VCA.
(i) X11 = 96.9388.
2
(ii) Min X1j for the years 1990 and 2000 = 60.9444
(iii) Max X1j for the years 1990 and 2000 = 100.00
(iv) Development index H11 = (96.9388 – 60.9444) / (100.00 – 60.9444) = 0.9216
The minimum and maximum values used in the calculation of the previous set of indices
published in 1996 were specific to 1990; indices thus derived gave the relative position of
areas, or ranking, between the best and worst performers of that particular year. Over time,
the achieved values of the development variables change across regions and so will the
maximum and minimum values, so that a region may register a drop in its development
indices (Hij) in spite of improvement in components of development (Xij) over time. To
enable comparison over time, the methodology has been slightly modified in this paper: the
minimum and maximum values are defined over the period of comparison, and not at each
point in time separately. Thus, since we are comparing performance between 1990 and 2000,
the minimum (or maximum) value for a given development variable is the minimum (or
maximum) of all values of the variable, for all areas and for the years 1990 and 2000.
The index Hij can take a value between 0 and 1, where index values near 0 indicate the least
developed areas and index values near 1 indicate the most developed areas with respect to
variable i. The Relative Development Index (RDI) for each area is obtained as a simple
average of the values of the development indices (Hij) over all variables.
The National Development Index is finally computed as the average of the relative
development indices over all areas weighted by population size.
3. Limitations of the Relative Development Index
(a) Variables included in this exercise had to be limited to those available from censuses,
given that the census is the only source of disaggregated data at small area level. Some
important aspects of development such as health, longevity and access to various services are
unfortunately not covered.
(b) Furthermore, some of the variables included, particularly those relating to living
conditions and education, are inter-correlated and may be superfluous. Also, equal weighting
or importance has been given to selected variables in the calculation of the RDI. The
methodology used may therefore not best summarise the available information. However,
actual values of the variables as well as the corresponding index values given in Table 1
(pages 7-12) and Table 2 (pages 13-18) allow the use of other combinations and weightings.
(c) The index values only give an indication of the relative development of areas and can
only be used to rank areas. No significance should be attached to the values of the index.
4. Uses of the Relative Development Index
The ranking of the administrative areas according to the indices can be used in targeting
areas for studies on poverty and deprivation, and in identifying priority areas for integrated
3
development. Furthermore, performance of the various areas in terms of development can

be assessed over time and results can be used in the evaluation and monitoring of
development programmes.
5. Results
The values of development indices Hij of each of the twelve variables and the 145
administrative areas for year 2000 are shown in Table 2 (pages 13-18), together with the
relative development index for each area. Table 3 (pages 19-22) shows the areas ranked in
descending order of development as measured by the relative development index as well as
their population size at Census 2000.
The 1990 RDIs have been re-computed according to the modified methodology and
comparisons presented in this paper are based on the new indices. A comparative table of
the 1990 and 2000 RDIs for each of the 145 areas is given in Table 4 (pages 23-26) while
Chart I (page 27) shows the geographical distribution of these areas according to RDIs
scored. Areas have been grouped into five main categories; areas presented in the chart are
shaded according to these groupings from light to darker shades, indicating high to low level
of development. It must be pointed out that the charts should be interpreted in conjunction
with population density maps given in Chart II (page 28 ).
The main findings are given below.
(a) Town of Q. Bornes – Ward 2, Town of Q. Bornes – Ward 1 and Town of B. Bassin/R.
Hill – Ward 4 ranked at the top of the 2000 RDI ranking, and Le Morne VCA, Island of
Rodrigues and Baie du Cap VCA at the bottom.
(b) As in 1990, areas with low RDI rankings were mostly located in the East, South and
West of the Island of Mauritius.
(c) Areas with high RDI rankings comprised mostly the densely populated urban wards.
However, there are also some urban wards with low development rankings.
(d)Some rural areas were among the top performers. These are Moka VCA (rank 9), Long
Mountain VCA (rank 10), Camp Thorel VCA (rank 11), Flic-en-Flac VCA (rank 14) and
Poudre d’Or Hamlet VCA (rank 15).
(e) During the period 1990-2000, about 10 administrative areas improved their rankings by
25 or more, the most important ones being Albion VCA, Tamarin and Mare La Chaux
VCAs.
(f) Conversely, during the same period, some 10 administrative areas lost 25 ranks or more.
Among them, are four of the six wards of Port-Louis, namely Wards 2,3,4 and 5.
It should, however be pointed out that all of these regions scored higher RDIs in 2000 than
in 1990. This indicates that the rate of progress during the period 1990-2000 had been
unequal among areas.
4
(g) From Table 4 (pages 23-26), we see that the overall level of development, as measured by
the national development index had improved in 2000. The national development index
stood at 0.7313 in 2000 against 0.6110 in 1990.
(h) In 2000, all the 145 areas scored higher RDIs than in 1990, in spite of poorer
performance by most areas with respect to employment.
The administrative area showing the largest absolute increase in RDI value is Albion VCA
(+0.2785) which jumped to rank 55 in year 2000 from rank 134 in 1990. During the period
1990-2000, Albion VCA improved its scores in all components of development, except
employment. Albion VCA was followed by Tamarin VCA (+0.2232) and Mare La Chaux
VCA (+0.2155).
Lowest increase was registered by St Aubin VCA (+0.0017), which in 2000 scored lower
index values with respect to room occupancy, education level and employment compared to
1990. St Aubin fell to rank 101 in year 2000 from rank 15 in 1990. Le Morne VCA (+0.0228)
and Grand River South East VCA (+0.0490) were the next two areas scoring lowest RDIs in
2000.
It should be pointed out that improvement in the urban wards where RDIs were already
high was relatively small (about 0.1000 or less) during period 1990 – 2000.
(i) Progress in performance over time can also be seen from Table A and Figure 1 given
below.
Table A - Distribution of areas by RDI values, 1990 and 2000
In 2000, 10 out of the 145 areas scored RDI values of 0.8000 or higher compared to only 1
in 1990; 76 scored between 0.7000 and 0.7999 in 2000 compared to 10 in 1990 while 46
scored between 0.6000 and 0.6999 in 2000 compared to 41 in 1990.
5
Figure 1: Distribution of areas by RDI values, 1990-2000
The number of areas scoring RDIs between 0.5000 and 0.5999 decreased drastically to only
11 in 2000 from 62 in 1990. Only two areas scored less than 0.5000 in 2000 compared to 31
in 1990.
These two areas are Le Morne VCA and Island of Rodrigues which scored RDIs of 0.4264
and 0.4779 respectively; together, they accounted for about 3% of the total population
(37,000) in 2000. Comparatively, the thirty-one areas scoring less than 0.5000 in 1990
accounted for about 11% of the total population (115,000).
APPENDIX I
DEFINITIONS
Household A household is either a person living on his own and making his own
provision for food and other essentials for living, or a group of two or
more persons, whether related or not, living together who make common
provision for food or other essentials for living.
Literacy rate A person is considered literate if he/she can, with understanding, both
read and write a short, simple statement on his or her every day life in any
language. At the Census, Creole was considered as a language.
Literacy rate is the number of literate persons aged 12 years and over per
100 persons aged 12 years and over.
6
Primary enrolment Primary enrolment ratio is enrolment in primary schools per 100 persons
ratio aged 5 – 11 years.
Secondary Secondary enrolment ratio is enrolment in secondary schools per 100

enrolment ratio persons aged 12 – 19 years.
Employment rate Employment rate is the number of employed persons per 100 active
persons where active persons are defined as those who are currently
employed and those who are currently unemployed.
The currently employed population consists of all persons aged 12 years

and over, who during a reference week held a job.
The currently unemployed population consists of all persons aged 12 years

and over, who did not hold a job during the reference week, and took
active steps to look for work or set up a business anytime during the four
weeks ending with the reference week, and were available for work during
the reference week
SOURCE : CSO
7
Bel Ombre Social Development Appendix 11a
Relative development index for small areas - Census 2000
Rank in
Relative
Resident descending
development
Municipal Ward or population order of
index 1
Village Council Area Census relative
2000 development
index
Case Noyale VCA 1,319 0.5655 141
Baie du Cap VCA 2,205 0.5437 143
Le Morne VCA 1,143 0.4264 145
1 Index value 0 implies least development; index value 1 implies highest development
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 11b
Relative Development Index -VCA
Relative
development
Country, Municipal Ward/ Values of Hij based on index
Village Council Area % of households
living in dwellings with 1 or more % of owner-

with with flush of concrete rooms per occupant
with piped water electricity toilet walls/roof person households
Baie du Cap VCA 0.584 0.8494 0.4889 0.6073 0.5187 0.9185
Bel Ombre VCA 0.8394 0.9661 0.6186 0.7087 0.5314 0.8254
Case Noyale VCA 0.6228 0.9059 0.6011 0.5989 0.6435 0.9018
Chamarel VCA 0.8751 1 0.3887 0.6732 0.6596 0.8709
Le Morne VCA 0.3931 0.415 0.4447 0.371 0.5044 0.8532
Rodrigues Island 0.6395 0.8195 0.2397 0.658 0.5366 0.9225
Literacy
% population aged 18 years Secondary rate of % employed in
& over with educational Primary enrolment enrolment population ISCO groups
level>=SC ratio ratio aged 12+ 1,2,3
Employment rate
0.1294 0.7101 0.5022 0.4971 0.6862 0.033 0.5437
0.1683 0.917 0.4484 0.6184 0.5468 0.0537 0.6035
0.0458 0.8658 0.3047 0.497 0.7569 0.0413 0.5655
0.0614 0.8274 0.5108 0.5736 0.4982 0.0385 0.5815
0.1678 0.2903 0.3599 0.4759 0.654 0.1871 0.4264
0.1853 0.5373 0.5096 0.448 0 0.2385 0.4779
1
Bel Ombre Development Plan Appendix 11c
Map showing geographical distribution of administrative areas by RDI values:

National Tourism statistics
Purpose of visit 2004 2005 % rise

Holiday 653,818 692,084 5.9
Business 24,970 24,621 -1.4
Transit 25,055 27,790 10.9
Conference 5,446 5,543 1.8
Sports 1,327 1,372 3.4
Other & not stated 8,245 9,653 17.1
Total 718,861 761,063 5.9
Year Hotels Rooms Beds % Occupation

2002 95 9,623 19,597 -
2003 97 9,647 19,727 63
2004 103 10,640 21,355 63
2005 99 10,497 21,072 63
Gross Tourism Receipts
Year Arrivals Room nights Receipts

(Rs millions)
2002 681,648 6,769 18,328
2003 702,018 6,952 19,415
2004 718,861 7,119 23,448
2005 761,063 7,537 25,704
Employment in Tourism
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Establishments
Hotels 14,601 15,503 16,096 16,853 19,226

Restaurants 1,269 1,252 1,719 1,623 1,809
Travel and Tourisme 3,652 3,974 4,045 4,137 4,342
Total 19,522 20,729 21,860 22,613 25,377
Existing hotels and future projects in the region of Bel Ombre
No. Of No. of
HOTEL No. of Beds
Staff rooms
Le Telfair 279 158 321
Voile D'Or Resort &
340 181 367
Spa
Heritage 399 160 325
EXPECTED HOTELS IN THE SOUTH AND EST.

EMPLOYMENT
Est Direct Est Indirect

Hotel Promoter No. of Rooms No. of Beds
Employment Employment
1Bel Ombre Integrated Project Naiade Resorts 200 406 394 789
2Bel Ombre Integrated Project Temsa 200 406 394 789
3Bel Ombre Integrated Project FAIL (Pristine) 40 81 79 158
4St Felix Integrated Project Hotel Site 1 Spa on the shore 77 156 152 304
5St Felix Integrated Project Hotel Site 2 New Co. (not yet confirmed) 0 0 0
6St Felix Integrated Project Hotel Site 3 St Felix Worldwide Resorts 224 455 442 883
7Southern Investment Southern Investment Ltd. 50 102 99 197
TOTAL 791 1606 1560 3120
Employment in large establishments by industrial group and sex, March 2004 - March 2005
1
Provisional
1
March 2004 March 2005 Diff. (March 05 - March 04 )
Industrial group Both Both Both
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Sexes Sexes Sexes
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 19,080 4,031 23,111 18,244 3,800 22,044 -836 -231 -1,067
Sugarcane 12,035 2,787 14,822 11,246 2,557 13,803 -789 -230 -1,019
Other 7,045 1,244 8,289 6,998 1,243 8,241 -47 -1 -48
Mining and quarrying 115 102 217 88 94 182 -27 -8 -35
Manufacturing 46,484 55,231 101,715 44,427 48,193 92,620 -2,057 -7,038 -9,095
Sugar 2,260 22 2,282 2,213 21 2,234 -47 -1 -48
EPZ products 26,098 48,625 74,723 23,901 41,258 65,159 -2,197 -7,367 -9,564
Other 18,126 6,584 24,710 18,313 6,914 25,227 187 330 517
Electricity, gas and water 2,780 152 2,932 2,830 150 2,980 50 -2 48
Construction 14,780 553 15,333 11,943 581 12,524 -2,837 28 -2,809
Wholesale & retail trade; repair of motor
vehicles,motorcycles, personal and household goods 12,710 5,447 18,157 12414 5677 18,091 -296 230 -66
Wholesale & retail trade 11,051 5,136 16,187 10,778 5,348 16,126 -273 212 -61
Other 1,659 311 1,970 1,636 329 1,965 -23 18 -5
Hotels and restaurants 14,505 3,971 18,476 16,258 4,777 21,035 1,753 806 2,559
Transport, storage and communications 14,609 3,192 17,801 14,793 3,257 18,050 184 65 249
Financial intermediation 4,302 3,192 7,494 4,648 3,753 8,401 346 561 907
Insurance 1,224 1,010 2,234 1,554 1,161 2,715 330 151 481
Other 3,078 2,182 5,260 3,094 2,592 5,686 16 410 426
Real estate, renting and business activities 8,184 4,210 12,394 9,376 5,019 14,395 1,192 809 2,001
Public administration and defence; compulsory social 30,371 8,367 38,738 30,823 8,724 39,547 452 357 809
Education 10,836 10,495 21,331 10,997 11,205 22,202 161 710 871
Health and social work 6,262 5,865 12,127 6,456 6,148 12,604 194 283 477
Other services 4,359 1,232 5,591 4,557 1,384 5,941 198 152 350
Total 189,377 106,040 295,417 187,854 102,762 290,616 -1,523 -3,278 -4,801
Cie Sucrière de Bel Ombre ltd - EVOLUTION NOMBRE D'EMPLOYES (1996 - 2005)
Cadres Ouvriers non-agricoles Ouvriers agricoles Total

Année Grand Total
hommes femmes hommes femmes hommes femmes surveillants hommes femmes surveillants
1996 41 8 241 4 471 190 41 753 202 41 996
1997 39 8 254 4 432 185 41 725 197 41 993
1998 38 6 250 4 432 185 40 720 195 40 955
*1999 38 6 246 4 419 179 38 703 189 38 930
2000 29 6 101 4 411 154 39 541 164 39 744
2001 26 6 91 4 387 135 35 504 144 35 683
*2002 22 6 70 4 286 67 18 378 77 18 473
2003 18 5 66 4 271 41 17 355 50 17 422
2004 18 5 66 4 267 41 17 351 50 17 418
2005 18 5 66 4 267 41 17 351 50 17 418
2006 18 5 64 4 259 41 16 341 50 16 407
Notes:
(a) Statistiques compilées au 1er janvier de chaque année
*(b) 1999 - arrêt des activités usinières et centralisation sur Saint Aubin, Saint Félix et Médine
Date officielle de fermeture:21 juin 1999 - tous les 153 employés de la Compagnie Usinière de Bel Ombre Ltée se
retirèrent de service selon le "Blue Print" sur la centralisation dans l'industrie sucrière
*(c) 2002 - Application du VRS - Date effective:4 avril 2002 - 204 employés se retirèrent volontairement selon les
provisions de SIE Act 2001
Bel Ombre Social Developement Plan Appendix 16
Sugar Industry - Field statistics, 2004 - 2005
2004 2005 1
Ownership Area Cane Area Cane
Yield (tonnes Yield (tonnes
harvested produced harvested produced
per hectares) per hectare)
(hectares) (tonnes) (hectares) (tonnes)
Estate 28,022 2,350,322 83.87 28,937 2,393,984 82.73
Metayers 1,013 48,540 47.92 1,039 49,642 47.78
Planters 40,664 2,881,507 70.86 38,857 2,540,376 65.38
TOTAL 69,698 5,280,370 75.76 68,833 4,984,003 72.41
¹ Provisional
Note: Total may not add due to independent rounding.
Sugar Industry - Factory statistics, 2004 - 2005
Details Unit 2004 2005 1

Tonnage of canes crushed tonnes 5,277,137 4,980,713
Extraction rate (commercial sugar
recovered as a % of cane) % 10.85 10.44
Average polarisation degrees 98.5 98.5
tonnes per
Average yield of sugar 8.21 7.60
hectare
Average tonnes of cane per
tonne of sugar tonnes 9.22 9.58
Production of sugar " 572,316 519,816
- White " N.A N.A
- Raw " 572,316 519,816
- Special " N.A N.A
Production of molasses " 155,763 145,875
¹ Provisional
Bel Ombre Social Development plan Appendix17
Fisher landing station wise - Baie du Cap fisheries post
Fish landing station 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
ST MARTIN
BT & LINE 27 22 20 20 19 19 22 28 33 32
BT 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - -
LINE 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3
BT LINE & C.NET 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 - - -
BAIE DU CAP II
BT & LINE 19 17 17 13 13 17 17 19 20 17
BT 6 6 6 3 3 1 1 - - -
LINE - - - 1 1 1 1 1 - -
BT - LINE - C/N - - - 1 1 - - - - -
G.NET 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3
L.NET 15 14 - - - - - - - -
BAIE DU CAP I
BT & LINE 28 23 23 27 27 30 29 23 27 19
BT 1 1 1 - - - - - - -
LINE 6 6 6 9 8 9 8 12 2 14
BT LINE - C/N 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 - - -
BAIE DU JACOTET
BT & LINE 20 17 17 21 16 10 10 11 12 13
BT - - - 1 1 1 1 1 - 1
LINE 3 3 3 - - - - - - -
BT - LINE - C/N 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 - - -
TOTAL 142 131 109 114 108 105 106 111 100 102
Catch Data for landing station under jurisdiction of Baie

du Cap Fisheries Post
Fish landing station 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

BAIE DU CAP I COCO 17146 16658 14590 11676 14852 16675
BAIE DU CAP II 11146 12250 10043 11924 12009 10949
ST MARTIN 8554 8111 12526 13688 11541 9435
BAIE DU JACOTET 252 0 491 2835 2359 2943
TOTAL/Kg 37098 37019 37650 40123 40761 40002
Fishing methods - 2004
Le nombre de pêcheurs enregistrés auprès du ministère de la pêche en 2004 était de 2307, alors qu’en 2003 ils étaient 2383.
Catégories de pêcheurs traditionnels en 2004
District Filet Casier Ligne Ligne et Harpon Total

casier
Port louis 0 20 65 45 0 130
Pamplemousses 6 13 159 173 1 352
Riv.du Rempart 33 20 68 294 1 416
Flacq 39 13 37 192 31 312
Grand Port 37 22 55 412 2 528
Savanne 6 8 31 137 5 187
Black River 52 19 107 185 19 382
Total 173 115 522 1438 59 2307
Permis de Bateau en 2004
District Pêche Bateau de Pêche au Bateau semi Autres Total

traditionnelle plaisance Gros industriel
Port louis 162 89 0 0 0 251
Pamplemousses 325 600 3 0 0 928
Riv.du Rempart 417 272 1 0 55 745
Flacq 395 237 2 0 28 662
Grand Port 554 434 2 0 46 1036
Savanne 106 53 0 1 0 160
Black River 367 499 3 0 0 869
Total 2 326 2184 11 1 129 4651
Licences¹ and registrations by activity and district as at June 2005² - Electricity, Gas and Water
Supply
Number
R.Rempa
P - Louis
B - River
P/Wilhe
Savanne
G - Port
NSIC Activity All districts
Pamp.
Moka
Flacq
ms
rt
40 & 41 Electricity, Gas and water 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 4
Licences¹ and registrations by activity and district as at June 2005² - Construction

Number
P/Wilhems
R.Rempart
P - Louis
B - River
Savanne
G - Port
Pamp.
Moka
Flacq
4520 Construction 144 381 63 46 49 67 41 11 31 833
Licences¹ and registrations by activity and district as at June 2005² - Hotels and Restaurants
Number
P/Wilhems
R.Rempart
P - Louis
B - River
Savanne
G - Port
Pamp.
Moka
Flacq
Total 705 1,440 684 808 301 806 621 288 431 6,084
55101 - 55109Hotels and boarding houses 24 62 72 140 0 40 37 2 67 444
55201 - 55202Restaurants 68 159 72 99 12 87 40 11 76 624
55203 Bars 173 460 242 301 135 347 275 136 136 2,205
55204 - 55209Canteens and other eating places 440 759 298 268 154 332 269 139 152 2,811
¹ Adjusted - some activities are both licensed and registered. To avoid double counting such activities are included under registrations only.
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 19 a
Distribution of small production units by geographical district, CEA 2002, Republic of Mauritius
Rupees million
Port- Pample- Riviere du Grand Plaines Black
Industrial activity (NSIC Rev 3) Flacq Savanne Moka Rodrigues Total
Louis mousses Rempart Port Wilhems River
TOTAL 13,678 6,223 7,164 9,676 5,222 2,393 23,271 3,713 2,235 1,692 75,267
D. Manufacturing 1,823 897 686 1,325 1,180 639 3,603 749 415 542 11,859
F. Construction 938 - 938 1,876 469 - 3,752 - - 270 8,243
Wholesale & retail trade; repair of
G. motor vehicles, motorcycles, 6,046 2,840 2,668 3,412 1,689 901 9,241 1,718 905 559 29,979
personal and household goods
H. Hotels and restaurants 1,146 844 969 469 511 124 803 357 257 116 5,596
Transport, storage and
I. 1,980 1,123 1,350 1,757 1,008 494 2,870 524 407 87 11,600
communication
J. Financial intermediation 52 13 9 - 9 - 34 - - 13 130
Real estate, renting and business
K. 735 118 159 130 35 39 669 7 35 16 1,944
activities
M. Education 317 71 93 96 29 36 558 44 57 39 1,341
N. Health and social work 197 45 62 128 48 18 550 22 - - 1,069
Other community, social and
O. 444 272 230 483 245 142 1,191 292 159 50 3,507
personal service activities
Bel Ombre Social Development Plan Appendix 19b
Currently employed population 12 years of age and over for the selected Village Council Areas (VCA)
by industry (section) - Census 1990
Industry ( section )
Agriculture, Electricity,
Wholesale Financing
hunting, gas and Transport, Communit
& retail insurance,
VCA Total forestry & Manufact water storage & y, social & Not
trade, Real estate
fishing, uring supply and communi- personal stated
Hotels & & business
Mining & Constructio cations services
restaurants activities
Quarrying n
Bel Ombre VCA 848 363 329 35 44 12 2 61 2
Baie du Cap VCA 940 425 265 54 92 14 4 85 1
Chamouny VCA 1,759 605 665 129 69 64 23 204 0
Chemin Grenier VCA 4,302 1,143 1,679 401 293 171 41 573 1
List and location of health infrastructures-district

of Grand-Port Savanne.
GRAND PORT/SAVANNE
1. Region IV- Jawaharlall Nehru hospital.
2. Mahebourg hospital.
3. Souillac hospital.
4. Area health centres:

i) Rose-Belle
ii) Mahebourg
iii) Tyack
iv) Chemin Grenier.
5. Community health centres.

i) Baie du Cap
ii) Camp Diable
iii) Cluny
iv) Grand-Bois
v) Grand sable
vi) Mare d’Albert
vii) Mare Tabac
viii) New Grove
ix) Nouvelle France
x) Old Grand Port
xi) Plaine Magnien
xii) Professor Cerene(Chamouny)
iii) Riviere des Creoles
xiv) Riviere du poste
v) St Hubert
xvi) Trois boutiques.

Resident population 2 years of age and over by educational attainment, age and sex - census 1990
Island of Mauritius
Both sexes
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . 982,964 162,553 430,911 43,858 105,975 117,074 82,544 36,451 3,598
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 53,355 52,986 369 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 98,454 9,554 88,730 - - - - - 170
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 108,392 930 58,447 4,118 40,200 4,460 - - 237
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 93,213 1,374 28,079 3,357 15,316 31,399 10,750 2,648 290
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 99,478 2,186 32,598 4,509 12,093 23,080 15,340 9,337 335
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 103,027 3,369 34,991 6,306 11,983 22,040 16,338 7,604 396
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 91,403 4,579 36,685 6,922 9,098 13,098 14,476 6,255 290
35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 79,579 7,335 34,957 6,484 7,118 8,910 10,131 4,366 278
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,146 8,883 26,189 4,505 4,562 6,260 5,940 2,552 255
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,321 9,996 19,290 2,504 2,445 3,769 3,607 1,520 190
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,866 11,864 17,024 1,260 1,397 1,898 2,291 935 197
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,235 10,874 15,620 985 767 899 1,382 527 181
60+ 85,495 38,623 37,932 2,908 996 1,261 2,289 707 779
Male
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 490,675 60,215 217,936 21,198 55,569 64,667 46,259 22,841 1,990
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,859 26,680 179 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,011 4,902 45,023 - - - - - 86
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 54,708 497 30,168 2,065 19,697 2,141 - - 140
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,231 669 14,679 1,443 7,642 16,016 5,297 1,317 168
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,784 1,004 16,815 1,988 6,027 12,000 7,738 5,023 189
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 52,451 1,379 16,881 2,596 6,643 11,903 8,362 4,457 230
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,603 1,415 16,763 3,006 5,273 7,745 8,166 4,083 152
35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,437 1,859 15,832 3,114 4,315 5,654 6,368 3,144 151 1
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,457 1,943 12,101 2,421 2,785 4,182 3,999 1,880 146
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,219 2,418 9,575 1,489 1,463 2,573 2,440 1,164 97
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,892 3,351 9,398 754 780 1,218 1,552 744 95
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,219 3,292 8,857 594 452 559 912 446 107
60+ 37,804 10,806 21,665 1,728 492 676 1,425 583 429
Female
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 492,289 102,338 212,975 22,660 50,406 52,407 36,285 13,610 1,608
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,496 26,306 190 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,443 4,652 43,707 - - - - - 84
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 53,684 433 28,279 2,053 20,503 2,319 - - 97
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,982 705 13,400 1,914 7,674 15,383 5,453 1,331 122
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 48,694 1,182 15,783 2,521 6,066 11,080 7,602 4,314 146
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 50,576 1,990 18,110 3,710 5,340 10,137 7,976 3,147 166
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,800 3,164 19,922 3,916 3,825 5,353 6,310 2,172 138
35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,142 5,476 19,125 3,370 2,803 3,256 3,763 1,222 127
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,689 6,940 14,088 2,084 1,777 2,078 1,941 672 109
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,102 7,578 9,715 1,015 982 1,196 1,167 356 93
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,974 8,513 7,626 506 617 680 739 191 102
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,016 7,582 6,763 391 315 340 470 81 74
60+ 47,691 27,817 16,267 1,180 504 585 864 124 350
Savanne District
Both sexes
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58,451 12,060 25,792 3,406 5,531 6,503 3,904 1,159 96
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,253 3,221 32 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,758 542 5,210 - - - - - 6
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,621 88 3,735 218 2,344 229 - - 7 2
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,330 102 1,594 286 836 1,919 494 84 15
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,390 187 2,068 441 700 1,636 963 379 16
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,511 300 2,356 570 617 1,342 1,005 301 20
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,357 403 2,384 608 413 627 699 216 7
35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,323 607 2,050 520 280 365 398 101 2
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,453 759 1,724 364 180 217 166 34 9
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,463 852 1,143 184 97 88 83 11 5
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,254 1,085 949 63 47 51 48 9 2
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,773 877 803 34 11 10 25 10 3
60 - 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,771 998 701 42 3 11 7 7 2
65+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,194 2,039 1,043 76 3 8 16 7 2
Male
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,239 4,401 13,361 1,633 2,897 3,745 2,332 819 51
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,614 1,600 14 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,933 260 2,670 - - - - - 3
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,383 48 1,943 117 1,147 124 - - 4
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,669 50 833 110 374 1,008 241 43 10
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,305 84 1,022 188 346 889 518 248 10
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,353 124 1,129 215 325 782 556 211 11
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,803 133 1,134 278 265 373 451 165 4
35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,156 152 901 249 191 264 311 87 1
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,662 166 832 211 129 168 128 28 -
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,144 205 607 118 70 77 55 9 3
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,074 340 568 41 35 42 37 9 2
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 903 299 532 28 11 5 19 7 2
60 - 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . 822 316 458 30 2 7 3 6 -
65+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,418 624 718 48 2 6 13 6 1 3
Female
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,212 7,659 12,431 1,773 2,634 2,758 1,572 340 45
2 - 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,639 1,621 18 - - - - - -
5 - 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,825 282 2,540 - - - - - 3
10 - 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,238 40 1,792 101 1,197 105 - - 3
15 - 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,661 52 761 176 462 911 253 41 5
20 - 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,085 103 1,046 253 354 747 445 131 6
25 - 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,158 176 1,227 355 292 560 449 90 9
30 - 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,554 270 1,250 330 148 254 248 51 3
35 - 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,167 455 1,149 271 89 101 87 14 1
40 - 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,791 593 892 153 51 49 38 6 9
45 - 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,319 647 536 66 27 11 28 2 2
50 - 54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,180 745 381 22 12 9 11 - -
55 - 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . 870 578 271 6 - 5 6 3 1
60 - 64 . . . . . . . . . . . . 949 682 243 12 1 4 4 1 2
65+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,776 1,415 325 28 1 2 3 1 1
4
Baie du Cap
Il n’y a point de développements à Baie-du-Cap. Laval Bézéguy, travailleur social, ancien

président de l’association parents d’enseignants de l’école primaire et également membre
très influent de la paroisse de Baie-du-Cap réunissent plusieurs volontaires pour former
les forces_vives de la localité. L’objectif : faire pression sur les promoteurs touristiques de
la région. Les habitants de Baie-du-Cap considèrent qu’ils n’ont rien eu suite aux
développements touristiques à Bel-Ombre. Ils se disent ne pas comprendre pourquoi les
hôtels n’ont pas tenu leurs promesses.
Education
Un des hôtels de Bel-Ombre aurait aidé l’école primaire (confessionnelle avec 280 élèves
primaires et 45 enfants maternelles) uniquement une fois. La paroisse qui est responsable
de cette école compte aménager trois nouvelles salles de classes. Il a une bibliothèque qui
manque de livres et la salle informatique n’est pas utilisée faute de professeur. La
direction de l’école avait fait une demande auprès du conseil du district de Rivière-Noire
pour agrandir l’école maternelle, mais en vain. Le taux de réussite aux derniers examens
du CPE était de 52%.
Il y a peu d’étudiants qui poursuivent des études professionnelles ou pré professionnelles

car ils résident loin de la ville. Ils n’ont donc pas de grandes qualifications. Il y a
uniquement ceux dont leurs parents ont les moyens de payer les frais de transport ou
ceux qui ont un proche vivant dans les villes qui arrivent à avoir une formation après les
études secondaires. Le centre IVTB de Surinam a des places et des cours limités.
Santé et infrastructures publiques
Il n’y a pratiquement aucune facilité dans la localité. Elle est dotée d’un dispensaire qui se
trouve dans une ancienne maison louée par le gouvernement qui a été transformé par la
suite. Son emplacement est très peu accessible aux véhicules et aux personnes âgées. De
plus, il est éloigné de la route principale. Pendant de grosses pluies, l’enceinte du
bâtiment est boueuse et il n’y a aucun endroit pour se réfugier car la cour n’est pas assez
grande. Le service offert est également limité. Le dispensaire n’a pas un cabinet dentaire
ou encore d’autres services que les autres « grands » dispensaires pourvoient aux
1
habitants. Le dispensaire de Baie-du-Cap est fréquenté par les malades de Choisy, Baie-
du-Cap, St-Martin et Bel-Ombre. Normalement quand un centre de santé accueille les
malades de plusieurs villages, le ministère de la Santé lui donne la statue de «Area health
centre », c’est-à-dire, qu’il est ouvert tous les jours jusqu’à 18 heures avec un peu plus de
service notamment la gynécologie et la dentisterie, à des séances régulières et aussi
d’autres services. Or, il s’avère que le dispensaire de Baie-du-Cap n’a pas cette statue. Il
est fermé l’après-midi à 16 heures, mais il n’est pas ouvert pendant les week-ends. Le
médecin n’y passe qu’une demi-journée. Les malades doivent alors se rendre au centre de
santé de Chemin-Grenier ou à l’hôpital de Souillac. Ils dépensent au minimum Rs 100
pour le bus et un peu plus pour le taxi.
Le dispensaire de Baie-du-Cap.
Le poste de police de Baie-du-Cap est également dans un bâtiment qui a fait son temps.
Il est situé dans un vieux local construit avec l’aide de la propriété de Bel-Ombre en
1960. Il doit être démoli complètement puisque les policiers travaillent dans des
conditions déplorables. Ils n’ont même pas un parking. Le gouvernement cherche à
loueur un nouveau bâtiment. Les gardes côtes occupent aussi un bâtiment loué par l’Etat.
Le bureau de poste mérite aussi d’être revu. Il est aussi dans un vieux bâtiment en tôle
datant les années 60. La plupart de bureau de poste de Maurice accepte le paiement des
factures d’eau et d’électricité, celui de Baie-du-Cap ne le fait pas. D’ailleurs, les facteurs
desservent toute cette région jusqu’à Bel-Ombre.
2
La poste de Baie-du-Cap.
Concernant les achats, Baie-du-Cap tout comme Bel-Ombre n’a pas d’endroit pour des
achats. Il n’y a que des boutiques «du coin » pour des «commissions». Ils doivent se
rendre à Chemin-Grenier pour acheter les légumes ou d’autres produits qu’ils n’ont pas à
Baie-du-Cap. Le conseil du village avait identifié un terrain jouxtant un ruisseau dans la
localité sur lequel il voulait construire une foire de légumes et aussi aménagé des étals
pour que les femmes puissent vendre des produits artisans. Mais il n’a pas eu le soutien
du gouvernement ni du conseil du district.
Le centre communautaire du village est le seul bâtiment public où les groupes des jeunes
et les associations se rencontrent pour des réunions et des cours de formation. L’espace
est très restreint. Il fait office de bibliothèque avec quelques livres dans une vitrine.
Même le conseil du village n’a pas un endroit pour leurs réunions. Ils se rencontrent dans
un bâtiment vétuste sans eau ni toilettes mis à leur disposition par la propriété Ramphul à
Choisy. Le gouvernement a identifié un terrain pour la construction d’un centre
polyvalent après le bureau des gardes côtes. L’ancien ministre Alan Ganoo avait procédé
à la cérémonie de la pose de la première pierre à la veille des élections, mais il n’a pas eu
de suite.
Le radier Macondé est le point de passage pour ceux qui quittent Bel Ombre, St-Martin,
et Chemin-Grenier pour rallier Le Morne. Le radier est impraticable pendant le raz-de-
3
marée et le mauvais temps. Les voyageurs sont obligés de faire un détour par la route
Choisy-Chamarel.
Le radier a chaque inondation.
Baie du Cap a un terrain de volley-ball nouvellement construit et un terrain de football.

Mais ils ne sont pas éclairés. Donc, les jeunes s’entraînement que pendant une heure en
rentrant du travail. La clôture du terrain de football est inefficace. Le ballon atterrit
souvent dans un champ juste à côté créant une tension entre les footballeurs et le
propriétaire du terrain.
D’ailleurs, il y a un manque de loisir pour les jeunes. Ils doivent toujours attendre les
fêtes de fin d’année ou la fête de l’Indépendance pour que le conseil du village organise
des activités lucratives. Le groupe Naïades a ouvert une école de musique au Morne pour
les jeunes de ce village, de Case-Noyale et ceux de La Gaulette. Un tel projet sera
bénéfique aux adolescentes de Baie-du-Cap, de St-Martin et de Bel-Ombre.
La plage de Baie-du-Cap qui aurait pu être un lieu de loisir pour les jeunes si elle avait des
bancs, d’un boulodrome ainsi que des kiosques. La plage aurait pu un excellent endroit
pour que les touristes et les Mauriciens de passage se dégourdissent les jambes ou un
pique-nique. Les automobilistes s’arrêtent à peine à cause de l’absence des facilités
comme des coins de grillade, des bancs, des kiosques et d’un parking. Il y a un grave
4
problème d’érosion sur la plage de Baie-du-Cap. Un grand nombre de filaos a déjà été
déraciné.
L’érosion sur la plage de Baie-du-Cap.
Les pêcheurs n’ont pas un débarcadère pour la peser des poissons. Ils disposent leurs
prises sur le sable ou sur l’herbe sans aucune hygiène. Ils souhaitent avoir des tables en
béton et avec des robinets pour se rincera près une journée de pêche.
Par ailleurs, les pêcheurs affirment que leurs prises ont considérablement baissé ces
derniers temps. Ils montrent du doigt l’usine de la chaux qui se trouve à Macondée. Selon
eux, l’eau de cette usine descend dans la rivière en face pour ensuite polluer la mer. Les
pêcheurs rencontrent aussi des problèmes en hiver. Une partie du lagon est peu profonde
alors pendant la marée basse leur bateau s’échoue au sec. Il y a 96 pêcheurs
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professionnels (Baie-du-Cap, St-Martin et Bel-Ombre) enregistrés au ministère de la

Pêche. Cyrano Entresol est le meneur du groupe.
Baie-du-Cap n’a pas un terminus adéquat et d’un taxi stand. Ils s’arrêtent tous sur la plage
publique. D’ailleurs, l’absence de parkings tous les longs de la route empêche les gens de
passages de s’arrêter pour aller à la plage. Les chauffeurs de taxi de Baie-du-Cap ne
voient pas d’un bon œil que leurs confrères de Chemin-Grénier garent sur cette plage.
Concernant la route, il n’y a pas des panneaux adéquats. Le service offert par le transport
public laisse à désirer. Les habitants espèrent qu’il y ait un bus desservant Baie-du-
Cap/Port-Louis ou Baie-du-Cap/Curepipe. Ils doivent se rendre à Chemin-Grenier ou à
Quatre-Bornes pour se rendre dans ces villes. Il y a eu aussi des plaintes enregistrées
auprès de la National Transport Authority. Les parents reprochent à certains autobus de
ne pas prendre des écoliers et des étudiants.
Pas de parking adéquat à Baie-du-Cap
Il y a un véritable problème de drains à Baie-du-Cap. Ils sont mal conçus ou ils sont
absents. Dans certains endroits où ils existent, ils ne sont pas recouverts représentant un
danger pour les piétons. Il y a aussi trois drains principaux dans le village qui provoquent
des inondations dans la localité pendant des pluies torrentielles. Ils avaient été construits
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par le défunt MURD qui a d’ailleurs fait l’objet d’une enquête. Dans le lieu dit Contour
Brune, une trentaine de famille, des anciens squatters, vivent sur un lopin de terre. Ils
n’ont aucune route encore moins des drains. Mais le pire se trouve un peu plus loin dans
le parage de l’église de St-François d’Assises. Une vingtaine de familles vivant sur un
terrain pentu (un peu plus de 45°) pratiquement au flanc d’une montagne loin de la route
principale. Egalement des anciens squatters dont leur situation a été régularisée à la fin
des années 90, ils n’ont aucune route d’accès pour rentrer chez eux. Ils ont dû improviser
de marche avec des morceaux de bambous et des planches pour se déplacer. Lors d’un
enterrement, il a fallu une chaîne humaine pour descendre le cercueil. Il semblerait que
les autorités ne sont pas pressées pour leur venir en aide. Des représentants du
gouvernement et ceux du conseil du district ont visité ce coin à plusieurs reprises mais
sans aucune suite. Autrefois, l’église permettait aux habitants d’emprunter un sentier sur
sa propriété pour se déplacer, mais pour faire pression sur le gouvernement, l’église a
interdit aux habitants de servir le passage en face de l’église. De plus, il y a eu des
éboulements récemment qui avaient endommagé une maison en tôle.
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Pas de route pour cette famille qui habite sur un terrain

pentu. Ils sont nombreux dans cette situation.
Le chômage est un gros problème dans la région. De ce fait beaucoup de personnes

dépassant la quarantaine sombre dans l’alcoolisme. Alors que les moins jeunes qui sont
au chômage préfèrent passer leur temps à bord de la mer pour passer le temps. Tous les
signes laissent croire que tôt ou tard ils emboîteront le pas des aînés.
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St-Martin/Bel-Ombre
Le chômage est le plus grand problème de ces deux villages et leurs habitants sont les
plus déçus après l’ouverture des hôtels à Bel-Ombre. Ils comptaient beaucoup sur ces
hôtels pour avoir de l’emploi, mais ils disent avoir été menés en bateau. La drogue et
l’alcool ont fait leur apparition dans ces régions. Tout récemment, des conseillers du
village ont défriché un terrain à l’arrière du village hall, ils ont ramassé quelques seringues.
Un groupe de chômeurs n’ayant pas fait des études secondaires ont déjà sombré dans
l’alcool et la drogue, malgré qu’ils n’ont même pas 35 ans. Lors d’une rencontre avec eux,
ils affirment avoir des difficultés pour trouver des emplois dans la région. Ils affirment
être prêt pour faire n’importe quels métiers.
Cependant, pour avoir un peu de sous, ils pêchent illégalement ou font des menus
travaux. Il leur arrive même de demander de l’argent à des proches. Mais ils ne reçoivent
pas souvent l’aide des parents alors la tentation de voler est très grande en voyant des
touristes circulant dans la localité ou sur la plage. Quelques-uns d’ailleurs le disent
ouvertement qu’ils récupèrent des boules de golf dans des bassins pour les revendre aux
touristes. Ils volent des noix de cocos ou leurs voisins pour vendre leurs butins avec des
touristes ou des étrangers. Ils profitent même qu’une personne soit inconsciente sous
l’influence de l’alcool pour la voler. La police confirme d’ailleurs qu’il y a un peu plus de
cas de cambriolage dans la localité depuis quelques temps. Beaucoup n’ont pas été à
l’école secondaire. Ils habitant la région de Bel-Ombre et St Martin. L’alcoolisme est très
présent dans la cité CHA.
Même ceux qui ont une bonne éducation ont des problèmes pour avoir du travail. Ils
n’ont pas de l’expérience, disent les hôteliers. Cette situation décourage d’autres jeunes
qui sont au collège. En 2004, le ministère des Droits de la femme, sous le programme de
l’International funds for agricultural development avait financé une formation pour une
trentaine de jeunes à l’école hôtelière d’Ebène. Les cours des bases concernaient la
cuisine, le house-keeping et la restauration. Ces jeunes pensaient qu’ils allaient trouver de
l’emploi toute de suite, mais ils n’avaient même pas été engagée comme stagiaire à
l’ouverture mais ils avaient préférer engager des personnes habitant le Nord, Curepipe et
même Mahébourg. Cette situation avait découragé d’autres jeunes à suivre des cours dans
l’hôtellerie. Parmi la trentaine des jeunes qui avaient bénéficié ces cours, quelques-uns ont
trouvé du travail dans les hôtels du Morne et peu à Bel-Ombre. D’autres ont changé
carrément des filières. C’est une de plus grande déception de Bel-Ombre/St-Martin.
Les jeunes ont aussi des difficultés pour se déplacer jusqu’à Ebène pour des cours des
formations en hôtellerie car le centre est trop éloigné de Bel-Ombre. L’IVTB a déjà une
école à Surinam, mais les cours touchent que le house-keeping et une partie de la
restauration. Si ce centre est doté de moyen nécessaire, les jeunes de Bel-Ombre/St-
Martin y pourront avoir une formation. Le Rotary club de Rivière-Noire a aussi un projet
pour construire une école de formation dans le tourisme à La Gaulette. Il a déjà eu un
terrain en cadeau, il ne manque que les finances. Il cherchera l’aide de l’école d’Ebène
pour dispenser des cours aux jeunes de la région Sud-Ouest.
Les enfants de Bel-Ombre/St-Martin fréquentent l’école gouvernement de primaire de la

localité qui comptent 201 écoliers au primaire et 51 enfants à la maternelle. C’est une
école tombant dans la Zone Education Prioritaire. Le taux de réussite aux derniers
examens du CPE était 36.4%. Les adolescents fréquentent les collèges de Chemin-
Grenier. Une partie de l’école est en rénovation.
Il semblerait que le manque de loisir affecte aussi les jeunes. Les deux villages profitent
d’un seul village hall. Mais il n’offre pas assez d’activité. Il n’y a qu’une table des billards.
Il est souvent bondé et ne satisfait plus les habitants. Le terrain de volley-abll est dans un
état déplorable sans aucune infrastructure alors que le terrain de football n’est pas éclairé.
L’ancien conseil du village avait fait une demande aux hôtels pour installer des
projecteurs, mais ils n’ont jamais eu de réponse. C’est une des raisons qui ont poussé les
villageois de dire que les hôtels ne tiennent pas leurs promesses. «La direction nous
snobe », disaient-ils. Les filles ont moins d’activité que les garçons. Elles n’osent pas venir
au village hall les après-midi car elles ne se sentent pas à l’aise. Ils n’ont que des cours des
coutures et de l’artisan pendant la journée. Il n’y a rien pour elle les week-ends. Il y a eu
tout récemment le lancement d’une équipe de football féminine, mais le terrain de
football n’a pas de vestiaire pour que les filles puissent se changer. Les volleyeurs de leur
côté se rendent à Baie-du-Cap pour jouer. Mais priorité est accordée aux habitants de
Baie-du-Cap. Il en est de même pour les basketteurs. Tout laisse croise que le manque de
loisir et le chômage font beaucoup de mal à la jeunesse de la région. Ces choses
courantes que les jeunes passent leur temps à boire à la tombée de la nuit. Et c’est
souvent la bagarre. Quelques boutiques vendent des boisons alcoolisées à des heures
interdites.
Les pêcheurs de leur côté voulaient se recycler comme skipper. Ils affirment que les
hôtels ne les ont pas pris. Il y a d’autres qui veulent échanger leur carte de pêcheur contre
un permis de pleasure craft pour pouvoir naviguer avec des touristes. Les jeunes avaient fait
une demande auprès des autorités pour un permis de beachhawker afin de travailler
devant ces hôtels, ils affirment que ces derniers ne les ont pas soutenus préférant que des
marchands de Mahébourg.
D’autres part, plusieurs habitants rapportent que les employés responsables de sécurité
sur les plages les empêchent de marcher librement sur le sable. Les pêcheurs de leur côté
affirment ne pas pouvoir ramasser des appâts en face des hôtels.
Il y a un problème de transport dans ces villages. Les bus passent à un rythme irrégulier.
Il y a quelques taxis collectifs et des taxis marron. Malgré la construction des hôtels, il y a
peu des habitants de l’endroit qui ont eu une patente de taxi. La plupart de chauffeurs
sont de Souillac, de Surinam ou de Rivière-des-Anguilles. Les autobus refusent également
de prendre des retraités ou des étudiants. De plus, ils sont encore moins réguliers
pendant les heures creuses. Les arrêts d’autobus n’ont pas un abri. Même ceux dans les
parages des hôtels n’ont pas d’abri. Les voyageurs sont à la merci des intempéries.
Un arrêt d’autobus non loin des hôtels.
A part, la nouvelle route construite avec l’aménagement des hôtels, la route traversant
Bel-Ombre/St-Martin n’a pas été améliorée. Elle n’a pas de passages pour piétons et ni
des trottoirs. Les piétons, surtout les écoliers, risquent à tout moment un accident
d’autant plus que des camions chargés des cannes à sucre circulent beaucoup sur cette
route pendant la coupe. L’étroitesse de la route principale de St-Martin peut aussi
occasionner des accidents. C’est l’endroit où l’absence de trottoirs se fait le plus sentir.
Les piétons sont souvent «coincés» entre un muret et les véhicules.
De plus, les drains sont mal construits. A St-Martin, une eau boueuse traverse la route
principale pour se jeter dans la mer pendant la pluie. Le sable a perdu toute sa couleur.
Certains coins sont aussi inondés à St-Martin. A Bel-Ombre, c’est la cité EDC qui est le
plus affecté à chaque fois qu’il y a des grosses pluies. Les maisons sont souvent inondées.
La raison de cette inondation est simple. L’eau quitte le lit d’un ruisseau à côté de la cité
pour remonter un drain mal conçu, jusqu’aux maisons. Les autorités sont au courant de
ce problème, mais pas de mesures concrètes. D’ailleurs, quelques ruelles ne sont pas
éclairées faute de lampadaires.
La cité EDC lors d’une inondation.

Tout comme Baie-du-Cap, Bel-Ombre/St-Martin n’a pas des infrastructures adéquates.
Les habitants doivent quand même se rendre à Baie du Cap pour les services postaux ou
médicaux. Mais pour les achats, ils se rendent à Chemin Grenier. La construction d’un
complexe commercial avec un supermarché et des emplacements qui pourraient être

loués au gouvernement changera beaucoup de choses. D’ailleurs, les touristes ainsi que
les futurs résidants des appartements de luxe pourraient aussi en profiter. Les locaux
pourraient avoir une pharmacie, un médecin, un bureau de poste, une banque en autres.
La construction d’un marché de légumes et des objets artisanats serait bénéfique pour les
habitants.
Ce marché d’artisan pourrait être loué aux femmes entrepreneurs de la région pour
écouler leurs produits aux touristes. Il y a plusieurs femmes regroupées au sein des
associations féminines. Ils ont la plupart une formation pour confectionner des objets
décoratifs. Quelques-unes ont tenté de vendre leurs produits aux hôtels, mais cela n’a pas
marché. D’ailleurs, le gouvernement, avec les promoteurs touristiques, avait promis
d’embellir la plage de Bel-Ombre, mais ce projet n’a jamais pu être réalisé. La plage est
dans un état triste. L’herbe a poussé. Et elle n’a pas des toilettes. Cette plage est devenu
un excellent endroit pour que les toxicomanes se droguent ou encore un coin pour les
alcooliques. Embellie avec des kiosques, des bancs et des lampadaires, elle serait un
excellent lieu de détendre pour les touristes ainsi que les habitants.
La plage de Bel-Ombre est mal entretenue.

Rivière-des-Galets
Rivière-des-Galets est un village qui compte environ 450 habitants. Lors d’un recensement
en décembre dernier, des travailleurs sociaux ont découvert qu’il y a environ 110 personnes
qui ont un travail fixe. Les autres sont des pêcheurs ou des laboureurs. Le chômage est l’un
des plus gros problèmes de ce village. A la fermeture de certaines usines de textiles, un bon
de femmes ce sont retrouvées au chômage. Toutefois, la plupart de salariés travaillent
toujours dans des usines à Chemin-Grénier ou à Surinam. La fermeture de St-Félix et de Bel-
Ombre a eu aussi un effet négatif sur le chômage. Les pêcheurs du village affirment qu’ils
n’ont plus accès à la plage de St-Félix. Ils disent craindre qu’à l’ouverture des hôtels, les
activités nautiques aient un mauvais effet sur leurs prises.
Le chômage semble avoir influencé plus les adultes que les jeunes. Beaucoup des adultes
chômeurs ont un penchant pour l’alcool. Même les pêcheurs dépensent en partie de leur
argent dans des boissons alcoolisées. Les jeunes sont des potentielles victimes de la drogue et
de l’alcoolisme. Le village n’a pas d’activités pour les occupés. Malgré que Rivière-des-Galets
possèdent deux équipes de football, les footballeurs doivent se rendrent à Chamouny pour
jouer au foot. Bien souvent les habitants de ce village leur disent que c’est un terrain qui
appartient à Chamouny et qu’ils n’ont pas priorité. Les footballeurs préfèrent jouer au
football sur le terrain de volley-ball appartenant au centre communautaire. D’ailleurs, le
terrain de volley-ball n’est pas éclairé la nuit et il est alors utilisé que le week-end. Le basket-
ball est aussi un sport pratiqué par les jeunes, mais il n’y a aucun endroit approprié. Alors il
suffit que des marquages et deux paniers sur le terrain de volley-ball pour pouvoir pratiquer
le basket-ball. Les moins jeunes, c’est-à-dire, les enfants n’ont aucun espace de loisir. Il n’y
aucun espace vert ou jardin d’enfant digne de ce nom dans la localité.
Le centre communautaire est un des rares endroits qui organisent des activités récréatives
occasionnellement. Le responsable du centre met quand même des jeux à la disposition des
jeunes. Ce village compte d’ailleurs beaucoup d’écoliers et d’étudiants. Ils doivent se rendre à
Chemin-Grénier car il n’y a aucune école primaire ou secondaire à Rivière-des-Galets.
L’unique école maternelle compte une vingtaine d’enfant. Le centre communautaire possède
un ordinateur hors usage. Le village n’a pas un coin de lecture.
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Les femmes de ce village profitent uniquement des activités organisées pendant la journée,
c’est-à-dire, des classes de coutures, cuisines ou artisanats. Mais elles n’arrivent jamais à
pratiquer certains jeux car l’heure que ces divertissements sont disponibles, les après-midi, le
centre est fréquenté par des hommes. Même si le centre organise souvent des causeries sur
les maladies, les femmes sont peu intéressées. Elles cherchent plutôt des sessions d’aérobics
ou du yoga.
Concernant les infrastructures routières de Rivière-des-Galets, elles sont plus ou moins

bonnes. Cependant, il n’y a pas de drains dans ce village. Le pont qui est entre St-Marie et
Rivière-des-Galets nécessite d’être agrandi. Il est difficile pour deux voitures de le traverser
en même temps. Ce village n’a aucun taxi. Les personnes qui tombent malade la nuit doivent
compter sur la générosité d’un bon Samaritain pour se rendre à l’hôpital de Souillac si aucune
ambulance n’est disponible.
Le cimetière du village est aussi en mauvais état. Le village a un crématoire en ruine.
La poste, le dispensaire et la police sont à Chemin-Grénier.
Le village est souvent sous l’eau pendant les périodes pluvieuses et également à chaque raz-
de-marée. C’est surtout les maisons au bord de la mer qui sont souvent envahies par l’eau de
mer à la marée-haute. Les houles ont d’abord causées de gros dégâts sur la plage. Et
maintenant, ils envahissent certaines propriétés. Il y a même eu certaines familles qui se sont
réveillées pendant la nuit pour se retrouver pied dans l’eau. Il faut que les autorités placent
des énormes pierres au bord de la plage pour d’une part combattre l’érosion et d’autre part
empêcher que l’eau de mer envahisse certaines maisons. La cité EDC est aussi une source de
danger pour la santé des personnes qui y résident. Ces maisons sont non seulement dans un
piteux état, mais elles sont construites en partie avec de l’amiante. Cette cité compte environ
64 maisons. Les résidants ont fait plusieurs demandes au gouvernement pour enlever cette
matière de leur maison, mais en vain. Ils sont déjà devenus propriétaire de ces maisons.
La mer de Rivière-des-Galets non loin du Beau-Champ est réputée pour la pratique du surf.
Mais c’est aussi une zone dangereuse pour la baignade ou pour des surfeurs peu
expérimentés. Le courant circule à la surface de l’eau et comme sous l’eau. De plus, le fond
de la mer est couvert des cailloux. Un surfeur qui heurte le fond peut perdre connaissance et
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être emporté par le courant. Il y a déjà eu des noyés dans ce coin. La plage est quand même
belle, mais sans infrastructures. La pelouse mal entretenue décourage des pique-niques. Un
peu plus loin de Rivière-des-Galets, à Ste-Marie, un îlot attire bien le regard. Peu de personne
sait qu’il est en «corail » et qu’il y a un canon et un ancre sur cette masse. Tout laisse croire
qu’un bateau de guerre français ou anglais s’était écrasé sur cet îlot pendant une tempête.
Une fouille archéologique sous-marine peut bien apporter des réponses.
Contacts
Louis Stellio Bawanee (conseiller) 522 0620
Pottee Poteegadoo (association féminine) 622 6222/6225314
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Chamarel
Chamarel est village le moins peuplé de la région sud-ouest avec environ 600 habitants. Il
compte une école primaire confessionnelle, ayant 77 élèves avec un taux réussite de 61%
aux derniers examens du CPE et également une école maternelle. La localité est certes
éloignée de Bel-Ombre, mais beaucoup de terrain l’entourant appartient à la propriété de
Bel-Ombre. De plus, beaucoup de ses habitants ont travaillé à l’ancien établissement
sucrier et d’autres continuent de travailler sur les terres de Bel-Ombre notamment dans
les champs de cannes et aux terres de sept couleurs. Bien que Chamarel soit situé loin de
la côte de Bel-Ombre, il a beaucoup d’atout qui mérite d’être développée dans divers
domaines. Ces développements pourraient générer pas mal d’emplois pour les jeunes qui
ont un bagage académique aussi bien pour ceux qui n’ont pas fait de grandes études.
Le village a été très longtemps négligé à cause de sa position géographique. Ce n’est qu’à
partir de l’an 2000 que le gouvernement MMM/MSM a vraiment pris conscience que ce
village a du potentiel. Il avait préparé un plan intégral des développements. Ce projet
consiste la construction de nouvelles routes, des drains, d’un amphithéâtre, d’une
boutique artisanale, d’un centre polyvalent, l’ouverture de tables d’hôtes et l’aide aux
personnes à travers du Trust funds.
La plupart de ces projets n’ont jamais été réalisés. Il y a eu certes la construction d’un
centre d’artisan qui est un éléphant blanc. Les ministères du Tourisme et celui des Droits
de la femme avec le soutien du Trust fund for the integration of the vulnurable group
avaient financé la formation des femmes dans l’artisanat. Le ministère de Coopérative
avait crée une société ayant comme présidente Nella Maglou. Elle avait regroupé toutes
les femmes ayant eu une formation dans l’artisanat Elles devaient exposer leurs produits
dans ce centre géré par la National Handicraft Promotion Agency. Ce projet n’a pas
marché. Il ne vend pas de produits faits pas les femmes de Chamarel comme c’était
initialement prévu. Il devait aussi avoir un deuxième bâtiment à l’arrière du centre où les
femmes allaient confectionner leurs œuvres. Le centre vend que des produits des artisans
étrangers au village. De plus, il ne marche pas. Les chauffeurs de taxi qui passent devant
le bâtiment n’arrêtent pas devant le centre pour que les touristes achètent ses produits.
Comme c’est un bâtiment géré par le gouvernement les chauffeurs n’obtiennent aucune
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commission sur les articles que les touristes achètent! Il n’y a que Nella Maglou qui arrive
à vendre ses œuvres tant bien que mal aux touristes.
Au début du projet gouvernemental à Chamarel, il était prévu qu’il aurait qu’environ six
tables-hôtes proposant des plats locaux et gérés uniquement par des habitants du village.
Pendant les premières années, les tables-d’hôtes marchaient très bien. Mais peu à peu, il y
a eu des restaurateurs étrangers qui s’y sont implantés, leur faisant concurrence. Ils ont
ouvert des restaurants qui n‘ont rien à voir avec les tables-d’hôtes. Cet état de choses
cause quelques tensions dans le village. Les propriétaires de tables-d’hôtes n’acceptent
guère leur venu puisqu’ils n’ont pas les moyens financiers de rivaliser avec eux. De plus,
les restaurants offrent une commission de Rs 300 à Rs 500 aux taxis (dépendant du
nombre de clients) alors que les tables-d’hôtes n’ont pas le moyen financier pour le faire.
Il est étonnant que la plupart de ces restaurants aient eu leur permis alors qu’ils ont un
parking restreint. Il existe une douzaine des restaurants et tables d’hôtes.
Ce ne sont là que quelques projets que le gouvernement ait pu réaliser. Le village a

toujours beaucoup de manquements.
Terrain de football
Chamarel qui compte deux équipes de football n’a pas un terrain de football proprement
dit. Le seul terrain de football fait l’objet d’un litige en cour entre Bel-Ombre et un
certain Grisèle depuis plus de dix ans. De ce fait, le conseil du village n’a pas le droit de
donner un seul coup de pioche sur le terrain qui est pratiquement sans pelouse, mais
recouvert des cailloux. Le terrain de football de Chamarel se trouvait autrefois sur un
terrain appelé Caro-Lascar appartenant à Bel-Ombre. La propriété a repris son terrain par
la suite pour planter de la canne transférant le terrain de football à l’endroit où il est
actuellement. La propriété avait déclaré que c’est son terrain. Or quelques années plus
tard, Grisèle est venu réclamer ce terrain. Depuis 1994 l’affaire traîne en cour. Les
footballeurs ne peuvent pas inviter des équipes avoisinantes car elles refusent d’évoluer
sur ce terrain couvert de terre. Le conseil du village avait négocié avec un propriétaire
terrien pour avoir un lopin de terre dans l’espoir d’aménager un terrain de football, mais
le gouvernement n’a pas voulu soutenir les conseillers dans leurs démarches. Et tout
récemment, le conseil avec la somme de Rs 300 000. Il voulait acheter une portion de
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terre avec Bel-Ombre pour le transformer en terrain de football, mais il a préféré

l’investir pour transformer des sentiers boueux en route praticable.
Le terrain de football de Chamarel.
Routes
Les routes de Chamarel sont trop étroites avec le nombre de véhicules qui passent dans
le village pour se rendre aux Terres de sept couleurs. De plus, en période de coupe, les
tracteurs tirant des bennes risquent de blesser les enfants. Le village n’a pas assez des
trottoirs avec des mains courantes. Les écoliers sont obligés de marcher au bord de la
route. L’absence de drains cause aussi des inconvénients. Il suffit qu’une trompe d’eau
tombe sur les montagnes pour que le village se trouve sous la flotte. Il faut donc des
drains pour canaliser toute l’eau dans les rivières. Il y a plusieurs familles qui vivent dans
des endroits isolés à Chamarel, de surcroît, dans des bas-fonds. Il existe que des sentiers
pour rendre chez eux. Les cas d’urgence notamment quand il y a un malade ou un
enterrement les habitants se trouvent dans des situations difficiles pour atteindre la
route. C’est pour cette raison que le conseil du village louera le service d’une pelleteuse
pour que le sentier soit accessible. Une dizaine de ruelle nécessite d’être déblayée.
3
Transport public
De plus, le transport public laisse à désirer. Le bus passe pratiquement chaque heure
pour aller à Chemin-Grénier ou à Quatre-Bornes. Les habitants doivent souvent marcher
jusqu’à Case-Noyale pour prendre le bus. Ils font aussi de l’auto stop.
Les étudiants comptent sur le transport public pour se rendre au collège à La Gaulette ou
à Chemin-Grénier. La plupart des adolescents fréquentent des écoles secondaires
(académique ou professionnel.) Après leurs études, ils trouvent de l’emploi dans
l’hôtellerie alors que d’autres sont au chômage. Chamarel compte une école primaire de
80 élèves gérée par l’Eglise. Les enseignants viennent de Quatre-Bornes ou Vacoas. La
seule école maternelle du village est dans une partie du village hall, le seul bâtiment
accessible à tout le monde pour des activités sociales. C’est ainsi que l’espace du bâtiment
est restreint. Le village hall est utilisé pour des jeux récréatifs, comme bibliothèque et
aussi comme salle d’informatique. Bien souvent des activités sont annulées faute
d’espace. L’étagère de cette bibliothèque manque beaucoup d’ouvrage alors qu’elle
possède trois ordinateurs achetés par le conseil du village. Mais il n’est pas connecté à
l’internet.
Santé
Les malades se soignent au dispensaire du village qui est ouvert de lundi au samedi, mais
le médecin vient que pendant une demi-journée pour des jours spécifiques. Un infirmier
est toujours en permanence dans le local. Les malades graves doivent quand même se
rendre à l’hôpital de Souillac ou à Candos. Ils se rendent de fois aussi au centre de santé
de Rivière-Noire, mais ce dernier offre un service limité.
4
Emploi
Depuis la fermeture du sucrier de Bel-Ombre, il y a des chômeurs à Chamarel. Les jeunes

qui n’ont pas eu de la chance de poursuivre des études secondaires cherchent de l’emploi
dans des hôtels tout comme ceux qui ont un bagage académique. Bien souvent ils restent
au chômage. Les développements de certains facteurs peuvent générer beaucoup
d’emploi pour les habitants de Chamarel ainsi que ceux de Baie-du-Cap.
Agriculture
Il n’y a pas que les champs de cannes qui poussent à Chamarel. Son climat permet une
vaste culture variée. Plusieurs personnes cultivent des fruits et des légumes d’une manière
peu professionnelles et les résultats sont impressionnants. Bel-Ombre pourra lancer dans
la production des fruits et des légumes pour les hôtels de la région ainsi que pour le
marché national et international. De plus, il pourra produire des jus des fruits et des
confitures avec des fruits produits dans les vergers qui seront éventuellement créés avec
le label de Bel-Ombre. Les jus locaux sont très appréciés dans les hôtels car ils sont plus
frais.
• La banane
La banane est sans doute le fruit le plus cultivé à Chamarel. Elle est plantée par des
propriétaires terriens ainsi que par des particuliers. Ces derniers vendent en gros des
bananes vertes aux marchands locaux qui le mettent sur le marché local en le «dopant »
avec des produits chimiques. Bel-Ombre pourra créer un centre de traitement moderne
pour traiter les bananes afin de les distribuer dans les hôtels de l’île. L’avantage avec les
autres marchands, ce centre de traitement devrait respecter les normes sanitaires. Le
secteur touristique est grand consommateur de banane. Il pourra aussi acheter des
bananes avec les autres planteurs pour être traitées.
5
• L’Ananas
Ces dernières années, la culture d’ananas prend de l’ampleur dans le village. Beaucoup de
planteurs ont abandonné la canne à sucre. Le climat est approprié pour ce fruit. Il n’y a
en ce moment qu’Ocean Tropical Fruits (OTP), à Trou-D’eau-Douce et Rajesh Haulkory,
Camp de Masque Pavé qui possèdent les équipements nécessaires pour les traitements
d’ananas à Maurice. Ils sont les principaux distributeurs d’ananas dans la région de l’est et
aussi dans certaines grandes surfaces. Ils exportent même leurs produits. L’ananas
pourrait aussi être utilisé pour la fabrication de confitures locaux et du jus.
• Fraises et Framboises
La température fraîche de la région semble aussi être appropriée pour la culture des
framboises et des fraises. Un propriétaire terrien et un particulier se sont lancés dans la
culture de fraises. Le particulier cultivant la fraise sur un lopin de terre restreint avec des
méthodes artisanales récolte des fraises pendant six mois de l’année (pendant l’hiver
jusqu’au décembre). Il vend ses fruits avec des particuliers et aussi avec des marchands.
Fraise produite à Chamarel.
6
Les fraises cultivées d’une façon peu professionnelle chez un particulier
• D’autres fruits
Le climat est aussi approprié pour d’autres fruits. Bien sûr, les fruits pourraient être
distribués sur le marché local et aussi pour la fabrication de confiture et la production de
jus. Les fruits sont la mangue, la goyave, la goyave de chine, certains agrumes, le fruit de
la passion, la banane, le letchi et la papaye. Le seul danger pour ces fruits sont des
chauves souris.
• Légumes
L’endroit semble être bon pour une serre. Il existe certains bas-fonds qui sont à l’abri des
vents.
• Aquaculture
L’élevage des poissons d’eau douce (beri-beri) et des camarons marche très bien dans ce
village. Les ruisseaux de Chamarel sont remplis de camarons que les enfants pêchent
pour vendre aux touristes. Des beri-beris sont également présents dans les cours d’eau.
C’est un signe que les ruisseaux ne sont pas pollués. C’est un incident qui a introduit ces
7
espèces dans les rivières. En effet, un certain Monsieur Lagesse vivant dans les
montagnes du village a construit des bassins dans lesquels il nourrisse des poissons et des
camarons. Or, lors du passage d’un cyclone, le niveau d’eau avait monté et beaucoup
parmi se sont retrouvés dans la rivière. Il est très facile d’élever camarons et beri-beris à
Chamarel. L’expérience est plutôt concluante chez Robert Lecordier, un retraité qui
possède un large lopin de terre. Il a creusé des bassins dans sa cour pour ensuite
introduire des camarons et des beris-beris qu’il a demandé aux jeunes gens du village de
pêcher dans les rivières. Au bout des quelques mois le nombre a multiplié. Il les nourrit
avec des poissons séchés qu’il achète dans la capitale. Il n’a pas besoin d’alimenter les
bassins en eau puisqu’il les a fait à côté d’une source d’eau et non d’une rivière réduisant
ainsi que le risque de débordement. Toutefois, il a quand même clôturé les bassins car la
nuit les camarons tentent de quitter l’eau et aussi pour les protéger des anguilles d’eau
douce (l’ennemie de camarons). En période de pluie, les anguilles quittent les terrains
marécageux pour ramper sur le sol afin de chercher des endroits où il y l’eau et la
nourriture.
8
Un camaron pêché dans les ruisseaux de Chamarel.
Touriste vert
La région Plaine-Champagne-Chamarel a plusieurs parcours de randonnées qui méritent

d’être exploités. Il y a le sentier qui quitte Pétrin traversant le Macabée pour terminer à
Trois Bras à Rivière-Noire. Il y a aussi un sentier qui passe par la Plaine Champagne pour
sortir à Bel-Ombre. Mais le plus connu est celui qui mène sur le Piton de la Petite-
Rivière-Noire. Les randonneurs passent par un sentier à côté du view-point du Gorge de
la Rivière-Noire pour atteindre le sommet. Ils doivent redescendre par le même parcours.
Alors qu’autrefois il redescendait vers un autre chemin qui sortait à l’arrière de l’église de
Ste-Anne, Chamarel. Mais depuis qu’un certain Couacaud a acheté un terrain à l’arrière
de l’église (qui appartenait à Bel-Ombre), ce sentier est fermé au public. Donc il est
difficile d’avoir accès à la montagne à partir de Chamarel. Les habitants plus
particulièrement les conseillers du village souhaitent que ce sentier soit ouvert aux
touristes qui passeraient plus de temps dans le village. Si le monsieur Couacaud ne veut
pas que le sentier passe sur son terrain, il existe un passage en face du restaurant Le
Chamarel peu connu qui nécessite d’être défriché. Il y a d’autres parcours des randonnées
que seuls les natives du village connaissent notamment des parcours à travers le bois et
au bord des rivières. L’un des parcours qui ne sont pas très connu demeure celui qui
conduit au pied de la chute de la Cascade Chamarel. Certaines personnes ont descendu
cette rivière jusqu’à l’embouchure se trouvant à Macondé. Tous ces parcours des
randonnées pourraient être exploités pour des touristes avides de la randonnée. Donc la
9
randonnée pourrait être exploitée. Il suffit de former de guides qualifiés pour conduire
des touristes. Ils pourront aussi les emmener cueillir des fruits sauvages et aussi faire un
pique-nique en pleine nature. Pour ce qui est de la randonnée vers Macondée, le parcours
pourrait être terminé par une balade en kayak. Toujours pour le tourisme vert, des chalets
pourraient être loués aux randonneurs qui souhaitent rester quelques jours à la montagne.
Deux conseillers du village Rico L’intelligent et Edmond Séraphine ont beaucoup songé
sur la formation de jeunes de Chamarel pour guider les touristes. Ils voulaient demander
de l’aide au ministre du Tourisme. En passant, les touristes voulant chasser pourraient le
faire sur le chassé de Bel-Ombre qui se situe à Case-Noyale.
10
CIE Sucrière de Bel Ombre Ltd
Voluntary Retirement Scheme
Category No of employees Cash Compensation

(Rs)
Male above 55 62 24, 369,713.30
Female above 50 53 11, 888,816.80
Male below 55 56 9, 715,965.82
Female below 50 28 2, 172,141.41
staff 5 3, 548,259.79
TOTAL 204 51, 694,897.12
Voluntary Retirement Scheme
No of employees Cash Compensation (Rs)
Category A 122 37, 342,251.10
Category B 87 11, 967,815.35
All other cases

including staff 5 3,548,259.79
TOTAL 214 52,858,326.24

VRS-lieux de résidence
(Selon les feuilles de demandes d’adresses retournées
par les bénéficiaires du VRS)
• Bel Ombre/St Martin-41

• Baie du Cap-10
• Beau Champ-1
• Riviere des Galets-7
• Chemin Grenier-46
• Chamouny-3
• Surinam-1
• Riambel-2
• Curepipe-1
• Vacoas-1
• Quatre-Bornes-1
• Chamarel-5
• Case Noyale-1
Budget pour la formation de 50 jeunes a Bel Ombre
Frais Généraux – Cours externes : Bethléem, Amit… Rs50,000

- Intervenants Externes : K. Bissoonauth, N. Dwarka, PILs Rs 30,000
- Salaire formateur : Rs 100,000
Frais pour la période de stage –Rémunération/ stipend Rs 500,000- Repas
Rs 250,000
- Uniforme Rs 100,000
- Autre (loyer, transport, papeteries, jus, biscuits) Rs 150,000
TOTAL Rs 1,180,000
Coût par élève : Rs 23,600
1
Comment le stage s’organise ?
• Déjà après 3-6 semaines de cours les Directeurs de Ressources Humaines, et les Chef
de Département seront appelées a venir faire une causerie avec les jeunes pour leur
faire découvrir les métiers de l’hôtellerie et aussi pour parler aux jeunes de leur
parcours et leur donner envie de faire ce métier.
• A la 10eme semaine de cours des minis entrevues seront organisées qui concerneront
les jeunes, les chefs de département, le DRH et le responsable de la formation. Ce
sera aux chefs de dept et DRHs qui ils veulent dans leur dept.
• 12eme semaine du cours débute les stages, c'est-à-dire vers début novembre et dure 2
mois et demi. Il n’y a pas de cours durant cette période, excepte les 2 premières
semaines de stage pour voir leur adaptation. L’hôtel donne le transport, les repas et
l’uniforme (qui peut être de seconde main, bien entendu).
• Le jeune sera en stage en fonction du shift de l’hôtel et dépendant de son roster fait
pas son CDD.
• Il y aura un suivi une fois par semaine entre le CDD,le jeune et le responsable de la
formation.
• Evaluation écrite un mois après : (voir les faiblesses du jeunes,les points a améliorer,
ses points forts…)
• Evaluation écrite 2 mois après : (Voir s’il y a eu amélioration s’il y en avait le besoin.
• Apres les 2 mois et demi de stage, si le jeune est bien apprécie par son CDD, ses
collègues, les clients et pour son travail- lui proposer de prolonger son stage ou s’il y
a des postes vacants, pourquoi pas lui donner sa chance. S’il n’y a pas de postes
2
vacantes, le jeune peut continuer son stage jusqu'à ce qu’il y en ait ou jusqu'à la fin du
cours.
• Toute cette partie ne dépend que de l’hôtel et du jeune. Nous nous arrangeons pour
qu’ils puissent être en cours et en même temps en stage.
• Les cours reprennent en janvier pour finir en avril 2007.

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Bel Ombre

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Social Study

Bel Ombre Social Development Plan

Sandrine Sullivan Research assistant

The Ministry of Education

o Social and spatial integration

The Bel Ombre Social Development Plan

The proposals are grouped under 17 headings, such as Employability, Infrastructure,

A plan has no meaning unless it is implemented. Successful implementation depend on a

1.2 Terms of reference

1.3 The area

1.4 Duration and phases

2. The global, national and regional context

2.1 Socio-economic transition

2.2 A new economic and social model

2.3 The aftermath of sugar and land development

2.4 The case of Bel Ombre

3. Philosophy & Concepts

3.2 Sustainable development

3.3 Social and spatial integration

3.4 Social development

4. Methodology and approach

4.1 Consultative process

4.2 Expectations and hopes : a critical analysis

4.3 A multi-disciplinary approach

4.4 Desk work

4.5 Qualitative surveys and analysis

4.6 Quantitative analysis

4.8 Applied research

5.2 Profile of the VCAs and of households

5.3 Socio-economic evolution: sugar, textile and fishing

5.4 Hotels and IRS

5.5 Household income

5.6 The situation of women

5.7 Unemployment and precariousness

5.8 Education and training

5.11 Crisis and social depression

5.12 Bel Ombre – closing down of the mill and restructuring

5.13 VRS 1 and VRS 2

5.14 Drugs & crime

5.17 Natural and historical heritage

5.18 Deficits, potentials and hope

6. Players and vectors

6.2 Integration and social engineering

6.3 Levels of integration

6.4 Pairing and complementarity

6.5 Participation: social entrepreneurship

7. Social development plan

7.2 Poles of development

7.3 Specificities and assets

7.4 Constraints and stumbling blocks

7.5 Three implementation phases

7.6 The initiatives proposed

8.2 Bodies and institutions

8.3 Drivers and doers

8.4 Partnership: types and modes

8.7 Road map

• Map 1 : Map showing limits of Compagnie Sucrière de Bel Ombre lands

• Map 3 : Bel Ombre Master Plan – Phase 1

• Map 4 : Bel Ombre Master Plan – Phase 2

• Illustration 1 : Screen shot of Bel Ombre Social Sensitivity Map

• Illustration 2 : Screen shot of Multimedia Map

3 Total housing units occupied by private households, households and population

Currently employed population 12 years of age and over by geographical