In the National Assembly   Authorities to step up effort to raise standard of trails, engage with Lemuria to resolve beach access |06 April 2022

Following last week’s  incident during which a foreign visitor lost his life on a trail to Anse Georgette on Praslin, the concerned authorities is stepping up effort to raise standard of different trails and in this particular case engage with Lemuria to resolve the public beach access as soon as possible.

The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, said this in the National Assembly yesterday morning.

He was answering an urgent question by MNA for Grand Anse Praslin Wavel Woodcock on the matter.

Hon. Woodcock wanted to know what measures are being taken to ensure trails are well demarcated and maintained, actions being taken against establishments that block access to public beaches to prevent a repeat of such fatal incidents.

With regard to the recent tragedy, Minister Joubert said unfortunately he cannot comment on what could have contributed or led to the fatal incident because a police investigation is still ongoing as well an autopsy procedure for the deceased which the result has not yet been made known.

He also informed Assembly members that to date no investigation and a close study of the terrain have been carried out to determine what could have contributed to the death of the individual.

“So we cannot really establish if the site itself is a threat to the safety of visitors or if there are other contributing factors which have led to the tragedy,” Minister Joubert pointed out.

He noted that measures which the government is planning to put in place following the incident include meeting with the police as soon as it completes its investigation in the case to assess all improvements that need to be made in the area, meet with the proprietors of the trail to discuss and put in place the necessary protective measures, meet with everyone managing  nature trails on private properties on both Praslin and La Digue so as to ensure they adopt the same standards to reduce risks for visitors.

With regard to the question if his ministry is planning to take any action with establishment owners who deny members of the public access to beaches like Anse Georgette, Minister Joubert stressed that the trail at Anse Georgette is in fact an attempt to resolve the beach access problem. He further added that following recent talks on the issue with the proprietors, it has been found that the area has potential for the development of a smaller site and trail starting behind the hotel’s security gates and going along its boundary down to Anse Georgette which is expected to be less strenuous compared to the bigger trail which begins at the bus stop at Mont Plaisir.

“This is a matter that we will be pursuing with the hotel authorities to ensure visitors have an easier access option to reach Anse Georgette especially following the recent fatal incident,” Minister Joubert stated.

Meanwhile Minister Joubert noted that the trail where the unfortunate and sad incident happened during which a foreign visitor to our country lost his life, is not managed by the government but is found on the property of the Lemuria resort and a certain Mr Savy.

He went on to point out that there was a proposition dating since 2013 between the proprietors and the government to develop a trail which would help visitors get access to Anse Georgette. He said the proposition was expected to have addressed the access problem which has existed since the Lemuria resort was built.

He noted that part of the same trail from Cherimont to Anse Lazio is being managed by the government through the Land Waste Management Agency (LWMA) and it is well kept and pose no threat to the safety of visitors.

Meanwhile Minister Joubert has highlighted that in the new planning regulation 2021, there are clear provisions that allow the government and not his ministry to use its power and create an access to the beach where there is a need.

He noted that in such case his ministry will work closely with the ministry responsible for planning, the attorney general’s office to try and resolve these problems.

In a supplementary question Hon. Woodcock insisted that this is not the first time that visitors got lost or lost their lives on trails and the problem is not new. He asked why an exercise is not immediately conducted to identify all difficult trails and put up the necessary demarcations and information boards to better inform and guide visitors in a safe manner.

He further noted that the Physical Planning Bill 2021 obliges private proprietors who have   enclosed and prevent public access to beaches to provide an access and additionally provides for the authorities to fine an establishment up to R1 million if it refuses to provide the beach access.

“For many years now Lemuria has been playing tough and defying the authorities on the issue and there is an urgent need for the authorities to address the situation once and for all as the people of Praslin are frustrated by the situation,” Hon Woodcock stated.

On these points Minister Joubert said they have already conducted a survey of those trails and work is ongoing to raise the standards of these trails but these will be stepped up.

With regard to access to the beach he said his ministry will engage with Lemuria and will also seek legal advice especially in view of the new provisions under the law, in order to find a solution once and for all to the problem and allow visitors easy access without any restrictions  to the beach.   

Marie-Anne Lepathy