Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change |16 September 2020

Minister impressed with projects on La Digue

The Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Wallace Cosgrow, conducted a series of visits on La Digue last Friday.

First he witnessed the signing of an memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Seychelles National Parks Authority (SNPA) and two private businesses (Domaine L’Orangeraie and Patatran) at Belle Vue Restaurant.

Under this new collaboration, the private sector will adopt and manage the nature trails.

In his welcoming remarks, the chief executive of SNPA, Selby Remy, thanked all the sponsors. He reiterated that they have a strategy to develop other trails on other islands to ensure the security of hikers as their safety is very important.

“There are no official trails on La Digue. There have been several reports of tourists getting lost. Thus, we have noticed that it is very important that we manage those trails to an acceptable standard. With the financial help we’ve gained from ETF (Environment Trust Fund), we have established the trail to the same standards as those on Mahé, with the sign board and indicators on display all along the trail,” said Eric Sophola, SNPA’s senior park officer.

The delegation had the opportunity to visit Nid D’Aigle, one of the most used trails on La Digue and one which is well known among hikers.

Following the journey by foot, Minister Cosgrow proceeded to the La Digue landfill, located at L’Union Estate, where he witnessed for himself the waste management project.

Chief executive of the Land Waste Management Agency (LWMA), Flavien Joubert, stated that the landfill on La Digue is much smaller than those on the two main islands (Mahé & Praslin) therefore the amount of waste collected is on a lower scale. This has made it possible for the classification of different waste materials.

“We’ve managed to complete the treatment plant system that collects all the water from the landfill, and create a diversion which prevents water from the mountains to enter the landfill,” said Mr Joubert in an interview.

“We have managed to improve access to the landfill and the minister will notice the improvement of the work done on the La Digue landfill which can now accommodate waste for the next eight to ten years. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the volume of waste entering the landfill has reduced therefore this gives us time work on certain minor issues till everything goes back to normal,” he added.

Last but not least, the minister visited two drainage projects funded by the European Union and Global Climate Change Alliance plus (GCAA+). One is located at L’Union – Basen Kannar – and the other near the hospital.

The two drainage projects which are ongoing are aimed at reducing flooding which is a common occurence on La Digue.

“I was greatly impressed with all the projects on La Digue especially the drainage projects, which are ongoing. We are planning to implement three additional drainage projects once we have solved certain matters. In general the aim is to connect all internal drainage systems on La Digue,” said Minister Cosgrow.

The minister was accompanied by the two principal secretaries of both Environment and Climate Change, the chairman as well as other members of ETF board.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of Minister Cosgrow’s visits on La Digue.

Contributed