Minister Mondon visits community projects in south Mahé |07 March 2020

Designated Minister, also minister responsible for the department of local government, Macsuzy Mondon, led a small delegation on a visit to various community projects in Takamaka and Anse Aux Pins yesterday morning.

Minister Mondon’s visit focused on the progress in regards to the construction of the day care centre in Takamaka and another at Anse Aux Pins, which are both close to completion.

The aim of the minister’s visit is to ensure efficient follow-up and on site evaluation of the implementation of these ongoing projects.

It is also in line with the department’s newly established policy on the construction and maintenance of government owned child care centres, approved by the Cabinet of ministers on December 26, 2019.

Minister Mondon expressed that she is satisfied with the progress and work that have been done on the Anse Aux Pins and Takamaka day care centres, both of which are expected to be handed over to the department of local government before the end of March.

“After all the procedures have been completed with the day care operators, we are hoping to open the day care centres in the second quarter of the year. There are some adjustments and issues that need to be dealt with but nothing major that might delay the projects,” Minister Mondon confirmed.

The new Takamaka day care centre is a project being undertaken by Neils Construction at a total cost of R6.5 million and is about 95% completed. It will be able to cater to around 60 infants and toddlers.

External ground works such as fencing, concrete and paving to access road are amongst some of the remaining tasks.

Once the new day care centre is completed, the department of local government is planning to make use of the present day care centre as an atelier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the district. The department is further planning to construct a new playground for the district near the building.

With 90% of the construction work already completed, the Anse Aux Pins day care centre is being constructed by Chris Builders which holds a contract costing around R3.3 million.

The centre at Anse Aux Pins will be able to hold around 80 children.

Construction on the centre started in October 2018 and was initially due to be completed in July 2019 but was unable to because of additional works.

According to Minister Mondon, both day care centre have been conceptualised and built using a new model provided by the Institute for Early Childhood Development (IECD) to meet the required standards for early childhood care.

“This model will be applied to all other day care centres that will be constructed in the future,” Minister Mondon highlighted.

The amenities available include sleeping areas, play and learn areas, kitchen, toilets and bathroom, and sick bay.

“With the President’s recent announcement that government will provide R750 per child in day care, we are appealing to day care operators to not hike up their prices. We are providing this contribution to assist parents and it would not be fair on them to increase their fees,” Minister Mondon further added.

To note, construction works on two other day care centres in Glacis and Grand Anse Praslin have already been completed and it is also hoped that these day care centres will open their doors to their communities either in the first or second quarter of this year.

With four day care centres either completed or to be completed in the first quarter of 2020, the department of local government has already met its target to construct at least three day care centres each year.

Another six day care centres are in the pipeline for the districts of Roche Caïman, Grand Anse Mahe, Persévérance, English River, Cascade and Les Mamelles through a grant from the Indian government.

Minister Mondon also took the opportunity to tour the Anse Aux Pins community centre which has been under major renovations since October 2019, at a cost of approximately R1.1 million.

The works comprised replacing the roofing tiles, toilet repairs, stage repairs and painting of the interior and exterior walls.

The official re-opening of the centre has been scheduled for March 21.

The minister concluded her meeting at the home of the Moïse family whose house was severely affected by extreme windy weather on February 6 wherein their entire roof came out.

Although the department of local government has helped the family with new roofing, Marjorina Moïse noted that she is in need of further help since the rain ruined all of her family’s belongings, from clothes to furnishing to electrical gadgets.

The accompanying photos taken by our photographer Louis Toussaint show Designated Minister Mondon and her delegation on the visits.

Elsie Pointe