black river urban profile - mauritius

8/12/2019 Black River Urban Profile - Mauritius

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MAURIIUS:

BLACK RIVER URBAN PROFILE

INSER PICURE


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Copyright United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), 2012

All rights reservedUnited Nations Human Settlements Programme publications can be obtained from

UN-Habitat Regional and Information Offices or directly from:

P.O. Box 30030, GPO 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.

Fax: + (254 20) 762 4266/7

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: http://www.unhabitat.org

Tis Mauritian report and project was prepared and managed by S. Suntah Ag. Deputy Chief own and CountryPlanning Officer, National Focal Point for Mauritian Urban Profiling, Ministry of Housing and Lands; Yan Hookoomsing Coordinator Analyst, office of UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius; Vijay Bangaroo Head of Planning Department,

Municipal Council of Beau Bassin-Rose Hill; K. L. Santokhee Head of Planning Department, Municipal Council of PortLouis; M. Bundhoo Planning Officer, Municipal Council of Port Louis; Ashwini Rughoodass Welfare Officer, BlackRiver District Council; C. Rughoobur Director of Statistics, Mauritius Statistics; K. Pang Kin Lam Project Officer,Ministry of Housing and Lands; N. Seenauth Principal Planner, Ministry of Housing and Lands; K. Jayeprokash PoliceSergeant, Police Headquarters, Police Planning Reform Unit; Y. Hosenally Head of Planning Department, Black RiverDistrict Council; A. Ghoorah Environment Officer, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development; MaryCoopan Local Government Facilitator, Gender Links; Soobhany Sarah B.G. National AIDS Secretariat, Prime MinistersOffice; F. Moothia Project Coordinator, National Empowerment Foundation; K. Moutou Analyst, Ministry of Financeand Economic Development; Pynee A. Chellapermal Director General/Consultant, Alternet Research and Consulting;Kirsten Koop Consultant, University of Grenoble; Dr. J. Claude Lau Ti Keng Associate Director/Consultant,Alternet Research and Consulting; Lindsay Morvan Managing Director/Consultant, Alternet Research and Consulting;Vahy Ravoajanahary Consultant, Alternet Research and Consulting; K. Valaydon Programme Manager, NationalEmpowerment Foundation; P. Boojharut Protection Officer, Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development, and FamilyWelfare; and N. Tannon echnical Manager, National Housing Development Company.

Tis report was also managed by Kerstin Sommer, Joseph Guiebo, Antoine King, Claude Ngomsi, and Florence Kuria inNairobi.

HS Number: HS/044/12EISBN Number: (Series): 978-92-1-132023-7ISBN Number: (Volume) 978-92-1-132459-4

DISCLAIMER

Te designation employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of anyopinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory,city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or regarding its economic systemor degree of development. Te analysis, conclusions and recommendations of the report do not necessarily reflect theviews of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the Governing Council of UN-Habitat or itsMember States. Tis document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. Te views expressedherein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.

Excerpts from this publication may be reproduced without authorisation, on condition that the source is indicated.

Photo credits: UN-Habitat

ACKNOWLEDGEMENSDesign and Layout: Florence Kuria


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FOREWORDS 5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7

BACKGROUND 10

LAND TENURE AND MANAGEMENT 12

GOVERNANCE AND URBAN PLANNING 14

INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC URBAN SERVICES 17

MUNICIPAL REVENUE COLLECTION 21

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 22

GENDER 26

SECURITY 28

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION 30

PROJECT PROPOSALS

LAND TENURE AND MANAGEMENT 33

GOVERNANCE AND URBAN PLANNING 34

INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC URBAN SERVICES 35

MUNICIPAL REVENUE COLLECTION 36

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 37

HOUSING AND DEPRIVED AND VULNERABLE AREAS 38

GENDER 39

SECURITY 40

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION 41

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAURIIUS:BLACK RIVER URBAN PROFILE

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME


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FOREWORDS

According to

research publishedin UN-Habitats1flagship report, TeState of the WorldsCities 2010-2011,all developingregions, includingthe African,Caribbean andPacific states, willhave more peopleliving in urban thanrural areas by theyear 2030. With

half the worldspopulation already living in urban areas, the challengeswe face in the battle against urban poverty, our quest forcities without slums, for cities where women feel safer,for inclusive cities with power, water and sanitation,and affordable transport, for better planned cities, andfor cleaner, greener cities is daunting.

But as this series shows, there are many interestingsolutions and best practices to which we can turn. Afterall, the figures tell us that during the decade 2000 to2010, a total of 227 million people in the developingcountries moved out of slum conditions. In otherwords, governments, cities and partner institutions have

collectively exceeded the slum target of the MillenniumDevelopment Goals twice over and ten years ahead ofthe agreed 2020 deadline.

Asia and the Pacific stood at the forefront of successfulefforts to reach the slum target, with all governmentsin the region improving the lives of an estimated 172million slum dwellers between 2000 and 2010.

In sub-Saharan Africa though, the total proportionof the urban population living in slums has decreasedby only 5 per cent (or 17 million people). Ghana,Senegal, Uganda, and Rwanda were the most successfulcountries in the sub-region, reducing the proportions ofslum dwellers by over one-fifth in the last decade.

Some 13 per cent of the progress made towards theglobal slum target occurred in Latin America and theCaribbean, where an estimated 30 million people havemoved out of slum conditions since the year 2000.

Yet, UN-Habitat estimates confirm that the progressmade on the slum target has not been sufficient tocounter the demographic expansion in informalsettlements in the developing world. In this sense,efforts to reduce the numbers of slum dwellers areneither satisfactory nor adequate.

1 UN-Habitat - United Nations Human Settlements Programme

As part of our drive to address this crisis, UN-Habitat

is working with the European Commission and theBrussels-based Secretariat of the African, Caribbeanand Pacific (ACP) Group to support sustainable urbandevelopment. Given the urgent and diverse needs, wefound it necessary to develop a tool for rapid assessmentand strategic planning to guide immediate, mid andlong-term interventions. And here we have it in theform of this series of publications.

Te Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme is basedon the policy dialogue between UN-Habitat, the ACPSecretariat and the European Commission which datesback to the year 2002. When the three parties met atUN-Habitat headquarters in June 2009, more than 200

delegates from over 50 countries approved a resoundingcall on the international community to pay greaterattention to these urbanization matters, and to extendthe slum upgrading programme to all countries in theACP Group.

It is worth recalling here how grateful we are that theEuropean Commissions 9th European DevelopmentFund for ACP countries provided EUR 4 million (USD5.7 million at June 2011 rates) to enable UN-Habitatto conduct the programme which now serves 59 citiesin 23 African countries, and more than 20 cities in sixPacific, and four Caribbean countries.

Indeed, since its inception in 2008, the slum upgradingprogramme has achieved the confidence of partners atcity and country level in Africa, the Caribbean and inthe Pacific. It is making a major contribution aimedat helping in urban poverty reduction efforts, as eachreport in this series shows."

I wish to express my gratitude to the EuropeanCommission and the ACP Secretariat for theircommitment to this slum upgrading programme. Ihave every confidence that the results outlined in thisprofile, and others, will serve to guide the developmentof responses for capacity building and investments inthe urban sector.

Further, I would like to thank each Country eam fortheir continued support to this process which is essentialfor the successful implementation of the ParticipatorySlum Upgrading Programme.

Dr. Joan ClosExecutive Director, UN-Habitat


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It is a real pleasure

for the BlackRiver DistrictCouncil, which isthe youngest of alllocal authorities inMauritius, to beassociated with thisinitiative by UN-Habitat to profileour council area.Black River hasduring recent yearsseen fast-growingurban migration,

which is having asignificant impact on its socio-economic situation anddevelopment. However, it is acknowledged that BlackRiver is still the least densely populated district of thecountry.

While the numerous Integrated Resort Scheme (agovernment initiative to promote investment in resortsand upmarket residential properties) projects in BlackRiver are improving their immediate environment,they are also creating a tremendous rise in the priceof private property in the district. During the sameperiod, Black River has also witnessed the establishmentof quite a number of squatter settlements, with all

the accompanying environmental constraints anddifficulties.

Te ongoing urban growth will definitely present

challenges related to sustainable governance and servicedelivery at the council and national level.

Given the situation, we believe that this urban profilingof Black River has come at the right moment. It willdefinitely enable both the national and local authoritiesto take stock of and develop the appropriate skills toset up the relevant frameworks to face these challenges.

We wish to thank the Minister of Housing and Lands,who took the brilliant initiative of including Black RiverDistrict in this UN-Habitat project. We hope to gainvaluable experience from the project in order to be ableto deliver services that meet the highest expectations of

our local citizens.

Krishna Rutnee

Chairman, Black River District Council


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

BACKGROUND

Te Mauritius urban profiling consists of an accelerated,action-oriented assessment of urban conditions,focusing on priority needs, capacity gaps, and existinginstitutional responses at local and national levels.Te purpose of the study is to develop urban povertyreduction policies at local, national, and regionallevels, through an assessment of needs and responsemechanisms, and as a contribution to a wider-rangingimplementation of the Millennium Development Goals.Te study is based on analysis of existing data and aseries of interviews with all relevant urban stakeholders,including local communities and institutions, civilsociety, the private sector, development partners, and

others. Te consultation typically results in a collectiveagreement on priorities and their development intoproposed capacity-building and other projects, allaimed at urban poverty reduction. Urban profilingis being implemented in many African and Arabcountries, offering an opportunity for comparativeregional analysis.

In Mauritius, Black River is one of the districts selectedas a pilot project under the urban profiling programme.For this purpose, an analysis of the following sectorshas been undertaken: land tenure and management,governance and urban planning, infrastructure andbasic urban services, municipal revenue collection, localeconomic development, housing and deprived andvulnerable areas, gender, security, and environment,climate change, and urban disaster risk reduction.

LAND TENURE AND MANAGEMENT

Despite the dry climate of Black River District, MedineSugar Estate has been an important sugar producer inthe region for decades. Most of the land in Black RiverDistrict is private (freehold and leasehold), and MedineSugar Estate owns a large amount of land in the district.Te state land in the district is solely managed by theMinistry of Housing and Lands, which also controls

the squatter settlements through its Squatting Unit.Te unit had surveyed 183 squatters in Black Riveras of September 2011 and intends to relocate most ofthem. Since the rapid development of Integrated ResortScheme and new private commercial property projectsin the district, the prices of properties in the region haveskyrocketed. Tis situation is causing a lot of concernamong the district councillors and other policymakers,as it makes it very difficult to identify land for socialhousing and recreational projects for the citizens.

Tese realities have forced the poor to squat on land indistrict villages; many of the squatters do not know thatthis land has been earmarked for purposes other than

housing. An appropriate policy should be elaboratedfor the poorest in the society, allowing the setting up

of a cadastral system to facilitate state and private land

identification and the introduction of a transparentsystem for the allocation of state land.

GOVERNANCE AND URBAN

PLANNING

Te local authorities in Mauritius fall under theresponsibility of the Ministry of Local Government andOuter Islands. Te provisions of the Local GovernmentAct 1989 and 2007 (as amended) govern the existingcouncils of the local authorities. Te Ministry ofLocal Government and Outer Islands has control over

certain key decisions such as the yearly approval of thebudget of the district council. Te Local GovernmentService Commission, which is an independent body,is responsible for the appointment of staff and for theefficient discharge of the functions of the local councils.

Te district and village councils have very restricteddecisional and financial autonomy, as the Mauritianadministration is highly centralized. Regional planningand land allocation are all managed at the national levelby the respective ministries and institutions.

Tere is a need for the setting up of a multi-sectoralcommittee comprising representatives of the BlackRiver District Council, Ministry of Housing and

Lands, corporate social responsibility foundations,police, National Empowerment Foundation, and civilsociety organizations. Also required is advocacy formore autonomy for the Black River District Councilthrough a revision of the Local Government Act.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC

URBAN SERVICES

Te mandate of the Black River District Council withregard to basic urban services does not include sanitation,water and electricity. Tese services are managed by the

central government through the Ministry of Energyand Public Utilities. Te Central Water Authority,operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Energyand Public Utilities, manages the supply of water.Tere remain more than 100 households living in non-concrete houses who do not have access to piped water.

Te Central Electricity Board is a parastatal bodywholly owned by the Government of Mauritius underthe aegis of the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities.Te board is the sole organization in charge of thetransmission, distribution and supply of electricity tothe population. Trough the National EmpowermentFoundation, poor families receive assistance in getting

connected to the electricity network.


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Te most important function of the district council

is to offer services that promote the social, economic,environmental, and cultural well-being of theinhabitants. It is, therefore, important for the districtcouncil to offer all inhabitants access to basic urbanservices.

MUNICIPAL REVENUE COLLECTION

Municipal revenue is collected through business licensesand fees, building permits, and user charges. However,municipal revenue also depends on the economicactivities in Black River District, such as tourism.

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In comparison to other districts, Black River hasmore employment in the service industry (specificallythe hospitality industry, or hotels and tourism)and construction than in manufacturing and trade;employment in agriculture, meanwhile, is comparablewith other districts. Tis pattern reflects the characterof the district it is largely rural, dominated by sugarcultivation, with some industrial ventures in the northand expanding tourism activities, mainly along thecoast.

Despite three decades of development in the country,some areas of the district have not benefited fromgrowth, and poverty has continued to increase in theselocalities. Black River is one of the districts which stilldo not have a regional market fair.

It is highly recommended that a campaign encouragingthe small and medium enterprises of Black RiverDistrict to seize opportunities be introduced into thenational budget. In addition, more must be done toestablish a regional market fair in Black River.

HOUSING AND DEPRIVED AND

VULNERABLE AREAS

Black River has experienced high populationgrowth, resulting in uncontrolled squatter settlementdevelopment. Te district council covers many of thesepoverty-stricken settlements, which are characterizedby lack of planning, rapid urbanization, poorinfrastructure, and a shortage of basic services suchas water, sanitation, and electricity. Many squattersfeel the brunt of the natural hazards that affect thecountry every year. However, the council has nospecial budget for the improvement of these illegalsettlements. In collaboration with the NationalEmpowerment Foundation, the Ministry of Housingand Lands is responsible for constructing low-costhousing for the poor.

GENDER

At the national level, the Government of Mauritius through the Ministry of Gender Equality, ChildDevelopment, and Family Welfare has committeditself to the principles of gender equality. Consequently,a National Gender Policy Framework has beendeveloped and provides the broad operational strategiesand institutional arrangements for achieving genderequality.

In spite of aggressive campaigns for gender equality overthe years and some positive efforts, there is still roomfor lots of improvement. In the Black River DistrictCouncil, for instance, there are only 2 women amongthe 16 councillors (who represent the 16 villages of thedistrict).

Te district council has not developed a specificgender framework and consequently does not have agender unit per se, but gender issues are integrated toa certain extent throughout its policy formulation. Ithas a strong partnership with Gender Links, which isa regional network very active in the Southern AfricanDevelopment Community region.

Te district council must support the involvementof women through various measures, includingprogrammes for equal opportunity in employment forthe growing number of executives and professional and

specialized workers.

SECURITY

Te proliferation of squatter settlements in Black RiverDistrict over the last ten years has resulted in morevisible deprivation in the district area, which in turnhas created insecurity and fear among the citizens.Te police department, however, has put much effortinto security through regular community policingcampaigns.

Te social disparities in areas such as Flic en Flac, which

is a high touristic town, seem to have caused an increasein thefts and burglaries. However, since the installationof closed-circuit television cameras in April 2009, policehave reported a reduction of more than 70 percent inthe number of thefts in Flic en Flac.

Tere is a need to give more visibility to communitypolicing through information and awareness-raisingprogrammes, and partnership with the districtcouncil must be upgraded. Inhabitants also have abad perception of the police force, believing it to bea repressive force and not a service. Efforts should bemade to change this image, but also to develop trustbetween the community and the police.


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ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE

AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTIONTe environment and climate change are developmentalissues that have an impact on the lives of people at alllevels. Remedial measures cannot be confined to thenational level, but must also be translated into rules andregulations at the district and local level.

Climate change and natural disasters (e.g. rising sealevels, storm surges and increasing dry spells) poseserious threats to urban infrastructure, settlements, andfacilities, and thus to inhabitants and their livelihoods.

Black River District, being constituted mainly of

coastal villages, is permanently exposed to the riskof floods caused by tidal surges. Currently, there

is no dedicated budget at the district level for

natural disasters. Each stakeholder provides relevanttechnical support according to their expertise. Asenvironmental issues become more complex, thereis a need to impart knowledge on environmentalconcepts and a comprehensive understanding of thevarious international environmental agreements andconventions, as well as how to integrate the provisionsof these conventions at the local level. In this context,capacity development programmes for variousstakeholders, including the political class, should beimplemented.


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BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

Te Mauritius urban profiling consists of an accelerated,action-oriented assessment of urban conditions,focusing on priority needs, capacity gaps, and existinginstitutional responses at local and national levels.Te purpose of the study is to develop urban povertyreduction policies at local, national, and regionallevels, through an assessment of needs and responsemechanisms, and as a contribution to wider-rangingimplementation of the Millennium Development Goals.Te study is based on analysis of existing data and aseries of interviews with all relevant urban stakeholders,including local communities and institutions, civilsociety, the private sector, development partners, and

others. Te consultation typically results in a collectiveagreement on priorities and their development intoproposed capacity-building and other projects, allaimed at urban poverty reduction.

Urban profiling is being implemented in many Africanand Arab countries, offering an opportunity forcomparative regional analysis. In Mauritius, the urbancentres of Port Louis, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, and BlackRiver have been selected as an urban profiling pilotproject. Once completed, this series of studies willprovide a framework for national and local authoritiesand urban actors, as well as donors and external supportagencies.

METHODOLOGY

Urban profiling consists of three phases:

Phase one consists of rapid profiling of urbanconditions at national and local levels. Te capital city,a medium-sized city, and a small town are selectedand studied to provide a representative sample ineach country. Te analysis focuses on nine importantthemes: land and tenure management, governanceand urban planning, infrastructure and basic urbanservices, municipal revenue collection, local economicdevelopment, housing and deprived and vulnerableareas, gender, security, and environment, climatechange, and disaster risk reduction. Information iscollected through standard interviews and discussionswith institutions and key informants, in order to assessthe strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats(SWOs) of the national and local urban set-ups. Tefindings are presented and refined during city andnational consultation workshops, and consensus isreached regarding priority interventions. National andcity reports synthesize the information collected andoutline ways forward to reduce urban poverty throughholistic approaches.

Phase twobuilds on the priorities identified through

pre-feasibility studies and develops detailed capacity-building and capital investment projects.

Phase three implements the projects developed

during the two earlier phases, with an emphasis onskills development, institutional strengthening, andreplication. Tis report presents the outcomes of PhaseOne of the urban profiling in Black River.

URBAN PROFILING IN BLACK RIVER

Urban profiling in Black River is one of four similarexercises, the other three conducted in Port Louis, BeauBassin-Rose Hill, and nationally. Each urban profile ispublished as a separate report.

Black River representatives participated in the

national and district council consultation processes, apartnership platform co-developed with the Ministryof Housing and Lands and national and internationalnon-governmental organizations (NGOs). Te aim is todevelop options for formal inter-agency collaborationin order to create a coordination body integrating awide range of urban stakeholders in a single responsemechanism.

STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT

Tis report consists of:

1. a general background of the urban sector in BlackRiver, based on the findings of the Black Riverassessment report, a desk study, and interviews. Tebackground includes data on administration, urbanplanning, economy, the informal and private sectors,urban poverty, infrastructure, water, sanitation,public transport, energy, health, and education.

2. a synthetic assessment of six main areas governance,urban security, slums and shelter, gender and HIV/AIDS, environment, and land in terms of theinstitutional set-up, regulatory framework, resourcemobilization, and performance.

3. a SWO analysis and an outline of priority project

proposals.

THE BLACK RIVER DISTRICT COUNCIL

Black River District is the longest and third-largestdistrict in the Republic of Mauritius. Located in thewestern part of the island, it spreads over an area of346 square kilometres. It has a population of about74,572. Te Black River District Council was setup on 1 October 1989 and is the youngest of all thelocal authorities of the country. Prior to its creation,Black River District was under the jurisdiction andadministration of the Moka/Flacq and Grand Port/

Savanne District Councils. Te Black River Districtarea extends from Pailles village (south of Port Louis)down to Bel Ombre village (near the southern tip of the


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island). Te district comprises of 16 village councils,

most of which are located at the foot of the Black Rivermountain range or along the south-western coast ofMauritius.

Due to its poor, rocky soil, little importance was givento this part of the country when sugar plantationsconstituted the basis of the Mauritian economy.However, the touristic value of this coastal region hassince been fully recognized. Besides high- and middle-class hotels, some Integrated Resort Scheme projectshave been initiated in the area. Te Integrated ResortScheme is an initiative of the Government of Mauritiusand the sugar industry to promote investment inresorts and upmarket residential properties. Te

schemes projects include high-standard resorts andspacious gated communities for non-citizens. Tisrecent development, combined with the multiplicationof new residential areas for the Mauritian upper class,profoundly changes the social and economic structureof the region. Black River had been a relatively deprivedarea until recently, with a low rank in the governments

Relative Development Index. Te Village Council

Areas of Le Morne and Baie du Cap in Black RiverDistrict were among those with the lowest RelativeDevelopment Index scores in the 2000 Housing andPopulation Census of the Central Statistics Office. Terecent arrival of high-income households risks fosteringsocial polarization.

Te Ministry of Education and Human Resourcessolely manages free primary and secondary education inMauritius. Tere are 18 primary schools, four secondaryschools and one pre-vocational school in Black RiverDistrict. Te district council is not at all involved in theimplementation of education policies in its jurisdiction.Out of the 30 Zone dEducation Prioritaire primary

schools in the country, five are in Black River District.Tese are primary schools classified as priority schoolsby the Ministry of Education and Human Resourcesdue to their low level of success (less than 40 percent)in the Certificate of Primary Education examinations,which are conducted at the end of six years of primaryeducation.


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Land has always been a very sensitive issue in Mauritius,since most land is owned by the descendants of slaveowners, who until recently were running most of the

sugarcane farms and factories in Mauritius. Sugar canehas long been the main export product of Mauritius, butthe dry climate of Black River District caused it to playa less significant role in the sugar industry. However,Medine Sugar Estate has been an important sugarproducer in the region for decades. Most of the land inBlack River District is private (freehold and leasehold),and Medine Sugar Estate owns a large amount of landin the district.

Te state land in the district area is solely managed bythe Ministry of Housing and Lands, which also controlssquatter settlements through its Squatting Unit. Tisunit had surveyed 183 squatters in Black River as of

September 2011 and intends to relocate most of them.With the rapid development of Integrated ResortScheme and private commercial property projects inthe district, there has been a vertiginous rise in the priceof properties. Tis situation is causing a lot of concernamong the district councillors and other policymakers,as it makes it very difficult to identify land for socialhousing and recreational projects for the citizens.

INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP

Te National Development Strategy provides astrategic framework for national land use planning

under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing andLands.

LAND TENURE AND MANAGEMENT

Te Outline Planning Schemes are regional plansfor district councils, providing a framework forlocal authorities to plan, shape, and control the use

of land within their area; the municipality translatesthe national strategy to the local level.

Te district council issues Building and Land UsePermits for any project relating to infrastructure inthe district area.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Te state has put in place a regulatory framework at thenational level for land use and development in orderto ensure that development priorities are taken intoconsideration. In 1994, the National Development

Strategy came into force, valid up to 2020. One of themain objectives of the plan was to provide a nationalframework for the formulation of local councilsOutline Schemes and development and environmentalcontrol criteria for the effective monitoring of physicaldevelopment and environmental management atlocal level (National Development Strategy, Vol 1,Development Strategy and Policies).

Under the own and Country Planning Act 1954and Local Government Act 2003 (as amended),any landowner requires a Building and Land UsePermit for development of their land. Te intentionis to create better places for people to live, work andenjoy themselves. In fact, the permit helps ensure thatdevelopment will comply with the provisions of theBuilding Act, own and Country Planning Act 1954


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(Outline Schemes), and Planning Development Act

2004 (planning policy guidance).

Any party that feels aggrieved with regard to a decisionof a local authority may appeal to the own and CountryPlanning Board. Subject to the ministers approval, theboard may confirm, vary, or revise the local authoritysdecision.

PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Te Black River District Council has no controlover projects earmarked by the Ministry of Housingand Lands in its jurisdiction. An example is the

relocation of squatters. Te expansion of private commercial and

recreational property projects in the district area isworsening access to land for social housing.

In the absence of an operational national informationsystem relating to land, it is difficult for the poor toseek support for access to land for housing purposes.Tere is no transparent criteria for poor land seekers.Tere is still no proper cadastral land record in theBlack River District area, and this affects futureplanning for optimal land use.

Most of the time, the poor are forced to squat on

land in district villages. Very often, they do notknow that this land has been earmarked for purposesother than housing. Up to now, government policyhas been to undertake a social survey prior to anylegalization related to the situation of the landless. AsMauritius is a small island, land is limited and veryoften the landless are delocalized to other regions.Appropriate policies must still be elaborated for thepoorest in the society.

Te district council should not be confined to aregulatory role in the district area but should beconsulted as a stakeholder when land is allocatedwithin the district boundary. Any land development

will have an impact on the existing infrastructure ofthe district. Councillors, civil society organizations,and other inhabitants should have the opportunityto express their opinions about these developments,irrespective of their nature. Tis approach willassist the district council in coping with the newdevelopments and servicing newcomers.

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

Te Building and Land Use Permit and trade feesremain the main source of revenue for the municipality.With the implementation of new policies relating

to land management and the setting up of the LandAdministration Valuation Information ManagementSystem, the municipality requires additional financial

AGREED PRIORITIES

Setting up of a cadastral system to facilitate stateand private land identification

Introduction of a transparent system forallocation of state land

LANDTENURE ANDMANAGEMENTNO.1

Project proposal Page 33

Strengthen and improve the citycouncils financial management

and human resources, as well as capacity-building

programmes for its staff by both Mauritian and foreigninstitutions. Te National Empowerment Foundationis working closely with corporate social responsibilityfoundations to motivate these private companies toprovide land and assist in the funding of social housingprojects.


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GOVERNANCE AND URBAN PLANNING

Te local authorities in Mauritius fall under theresponsibility of the Ministry of Local Government andOuter Islands. Te provisions of the Local Government

Act 1989 and 2003 (as amended) govern the existingcouncils of the local authorities. However, Mauritius,being a Small Island Developing State moving towardsa modern state, has adopted a centralized system ofgovernment, hoping for efficiency and efficacy. In theprocess, the local authorities have been granted lessautonomy in managing their affairs. Instead, the Ministryof Local Government and Outer Islands exercises controlover certain key decisions: yearly approval of the budgetof the district council, funds for capital projects and anannual grant (which must meet certain conditions) tocomplement the revenue of the council.

Te district council and other local authorities are not

allowed to receive grants from foreign sources withoutthe approval of the responsible minister. Mauritius haswitnessed over the past two decades the creation ofcertain government departments and parastatal bodieswith the relevant financial resources to either provideservices or address social problems within the districtcouncil area activities that could have been entrustedto local authorities. Te National Development Unitsrole in the construction of certain rural infrastructure isa case in point.

In addition, the district council has no power to hire,fire or promote its staff. Tis is the prerogative of theLocal Government Service Commission, which is an

independent body responsible for the appointment ofstaff and the efficient discharge of the functions of localcouncils. Te administrative head of the council, the

chief executive, works for two institutions: the Ministryof Local Government and Outer Islands, to whom s/he is accountable and the district council where s/he

operates.

Te duties and responsibilities of the Black RiverDistrict Council are nevertheless wide-ranging:

Making regulations under the Local GovernmentAct for the proper functioning of the district, suchas Black River District Council (Collection andDisposal of Refuse) and Amendment Regulationsof 2008

Ensuring that laws are being abided by in the districtarea

Development and maintenance of basic

infrastructure (cleaning of roads and drains; streetlighting; childrens park)

Provision and maintenance of community-basedinfrastructure and amenities (reducing floodingareas; ensuring the proper drainage of water throughthe construction and maintenance of drains;provision of traffic signs and proper road marking;maintenance of rivers, squares, and open spaces)

Maintaining healthy conditions in the council area(control of pollution in all its forms; solid wastecollection; creation of a salubrious environment)

Development and management of publiccommercial and social infrastructures (managementof public kindergatens; provision of recreational


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facilities; organization of sports activities)

Determining physical planning activities

Allocation of Land Development Permits and otherpermits

Determining revenue-raising schemes

It is within this policy framework that the Black RiverDistrict Council operates and fulfils its duties. Underthe Representation of the People Act, 16 councillors areelected through the first-past-the-post system for a termof 5 years. Each village elects 12 councillors and theelection is conducted by the Electoral Commission basedon an electors list. In turn, the elected village councillors

nominate one councillor to be their representative atthe district council level. Te village council nomineeselect a president and vice-president of the districtcouncil for a period of one year. Te execution of thedistrict duties (as indicated above) is carried out underthe supervision of a chief executive who is responsiblefor the management and administration of the day-to-day affairs of the council. Te administration is dividedinto different departments.

INSITUTIONAL SET-UP

Te district and village councils have very restricted

decisional and financial autonomy, as Mauritianadministration is highly centralized. Regional planningand land allocations are managed at the national levelby the respective ministries and institutions. Te districtand village councils have the right and obligation toformulate, approve, and execute their budget, subjectto the approval of the Minister of Local Governmentand Outer Islands (Local Government Act 1989).

Te district council holds meetings under thechairmanship of the president on a quarterly basis, afterthe meetings of various committees. Te councillorshave four standing committees: Finance, Works andPlanning, Public Health, and Welfare. Te committees

ensure that key issues are considered in sufficient depthbefore decisions are taken. Standing orders govern thecommittee meetings, which are chaired by a chairpersonduly appointed by the council.

Te Chief Executives Department is responsible forthe management and administration of the day-to-day affairs of the district council. Te administrationhas six departments with the relevant staff. Tecouncil collaborates with various stakeholders inthe implementation of its projects and in the supplyof services: the National Development Unit, whichoperates under the aegis of the Ministry of PublicInfrastructure, Land, ransport, and Shipping; the

corporate social responsibility foundations andcommunity organizations in the district area; andnational organizations. Te Permit and Business

Monitoring Committee of the council set up under

Section 97 of the Local Government Act of 2003holds regular hearings to consider applications fordevelopment.


LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1989 AND 2003

(AMENDED)

Te Local Government Act 1989 provides a widescope of development and service related action forthe district council to engage in. Under this Act, the

minister may intervene if the council fails to carryout any of its duties, by entrusting the responsibilityto another party. However, the council has to bear thecosts. As indicated above, some of the key decisions ofthe district council are subject to the approval of theMinistry of Local Government and Outer Islands.

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1954

Under this Act, the Black River District Council is theplanning authority for the district as covered by theOutline Scheme 1985 (prepared under this Act). Noperson within the district can carry out developmenton land without prior approval of the District Council.

BUSINESS FACILITATION (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS)

ACT 2006

Under this Act, the ways, methods, and timing bywhich the planning systems operate have undergoneseveral changes. Tese changes include, among others:

ransforming the development and buildingpermits into a single Building and Land Use PermitIntroducing economic activity clusters: residential,commercial, industrial, services, installation ofmotors, excision and subdivision of land

Reducing delays in the permit approval process andabolishing the rade Licence

Implementing provisions of the Planning PolicyGuidance 2006

THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT 2002

Tis act is the main legislation for the protection andmanagement of the environmental assets of Mauritius.

Tese acts and regulations define the duties and powersof village and district councillors. However, there is a

need for a revision of the legal framework in which thecouncil operates. Te council requires more autonomy,in terms of both human and financial resources.


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Te district councillors enjoy considerable autonomyand have the legitimacy to fully play their role as theelected representatives of their constituents. Duringregular council meetings, councillors can question thechairman on the councils decisions and progress inimplementing policies, and developing activities in thecouncil area. Performance can only be measured againstcompliance and time frames. Up to now, the districtcouncil has not set performance targets and indicators.

Te Local Government Act 1989 and 2003 (as amended)makes provision for any member of the public in thedistrict council area to attend the local council meetingsand raise questions about any matter of public interest.Te same law allows the inhabitants of the villagesto question the validity of the district accounts. Teaccounts of the district council are subject to an internalaudit, while an external audit is conducted by theNational Audit Bureau, an independent body. A copyof the accounts can be accessed at the district counciloffices. Unfortunately, the inhabitants do not exercisethis right very often, perhaps because they are not awareof their rights, or because they lack confidence.

Many NGOs and community-based organizationsare very active in Black River. CARIAS, a Catholicorganization, supports people in extreme povertythrough basic food and clothes supplies. Fond dAide

au Logement is an NGO helping the inhabitants ofBlack River secure decent housing through microcredit.Many firms operating in the region have set upcorporate social responsibility foundations to supportsocial empowerment projects that target people livingin extreme poverty. But there is need for a strongpartnership between the non-state actors and the BlackRiver District Council.


o achieve the objectives it has set and to respondadequately to the needs of Black River inhabitants,

the district council should have adequate financialresources. It depends too much on revenue fromthe central government, which comes in the formof a grant from the Ministry of Local Governmentand Outer Islands and represents 77 percent ofthe councils total revenue. Te remaining revenuecomes from levies, licences and other fees such asthose related to scavenging and advertising (DistrictCouncil Magazine, 6th Edition, 2010).

More than 70 percent of the total expenditure of the

council is dedicated to staff costs, thus limiting thepossibility of independently implementing relevantprojects that respond to the needs of the districtpopulation. Te National Development Unit adepartment of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure,Land ransport, and Shipping carries out almost allthe infrastructural projects of the district.

Te government grant for 2010 was USD 4.8 million,while the total district council budget was almost USD6.2 million. Te councils budgeted own revenue (tradefees, permits, advertising, etc.) for 2010 amounted tojust over USD 1 million. Meanwhile, some corporatesocial responsibility foundations are developing

sustainable partnerships with NGOs and community-based organizations for the implementation ofpoverty reduction projects in the region. Indeed, theGovernment of Mauritius has established a policy withthe overall objective of mandating registered companiesto pay 2 percent of their book profit to programmesthat contribute to the social and environmentaldevelopment of the country.

AGREED PRIORITIES

Setting up of a multi-sectoral committeecomprising representatives of the BlackRiver District Council, Ministry of Housingand Lands, corporate social responsibilityfoundations, police, National EmpowermentFoundation, and civil society organizations

Advocacy for more autonomy for the Black RiverDistrict Council through revision of the LocalGovernment Act

GOVERNANCE ANDURBAN PLANNINGNO. 1

Project proposal Page 34Street lighting for blind spots inBlack River District


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Te mandate of the Black River District Council withregard to basic urban services does not include sanitation,water and electricity supplies. Tese are managed by

the central government through the Ministry of Energyand Public Utilities. Te council does, however, providescavenging services, a major statutory duty of all localauthorities in Mauritius.

WATER SUPPLY

Te Central Water Authority, operating under the aegisof the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, managesthe water supply in Black River District. Within thedistrict, more than 100 households living in non-concrete houses do not have access to piped water.La Ferme, one of the countrys six main reservoirs, issituated in Black River District.


Te Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities is the parentbody for the management of water resources. TeWater Resources Unit is responsible for the assessment,management, development, and conservation of waterresources.

Te Central Water Authority is a subsidiary bodyresponsible for potable water distribution. Its mainfunction is to control water resources. Section 20

of the Central Water Authority Act of 1971 makesthe authority the sole supplier of water for domestic,commercial, and industrial purposes in Mauritius.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND BASIC URBAN SERVICES


Te Central Water Authority Act of 1971 provides

for the creation of the authority and its dutiesand powers regarding the supply of potable waterfor different purposes and the development,management and conservation of water resources.

Te Groundwater Act 1970 details how aquifers areto be managed.

Te Environment Protection Act 2002 providesfor the protection of water resources (includingstandards for water).


Mauritius has reached a stage where almost the wholepopulation now has access to piped potable water.According to the 2000 Housing and Population CensusSurvey, 99.6 percent of the population have access topiped potable water within their premises. But climatechange has created water stress. Te current droughtin the country illustrates the situation quite well.Despite this, water is sold to Mauritian consumersat a reasonably cheap rate. Mauritius is also facing awater management challenge, as about 50 percent ofits water distribution network is obsolete. According torecent figures from the Ministry of Energy and PublicUtilities, about 50 percent of water is wasted due toleakage in the distribution network. Consequently, theCentral Water Authority cannot ensure 24-hour waterservice everywhere in the country.


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Te Central Water Authority, under the aegis of theMinistry of Energy and Public Utilities, gets all therelevant resources from the central government todevelop the water supply network around the country,including in the Black River District area.

ELECTRICITY

Te Central Electricity Board is a parastatal bodywholly owned by the Government of Mauritius underthe aegis of the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities.Te board is the sole organization in charge of the

transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity tothe population. Trough the National EmpowermentFoundation, poor families receive assistance to getconnected to the electricity network. In the context ofthe Maurice Ile Durable strategy, the government hasalso embarked on a new initiative to provide each familybenefiting from a social housing programme with asolar water heater, so as to reduce the dependency ontraditional electricity sources.

Around 80 households still do not have electricity inthe Black River District area. Most of them are squatterswho do not have a proper title deed that would allowthem to apply for an electricity supply connection from

the Central Electricity Board. Tey thus use candles forlighting at night.

THE INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP

As a parastatal body, the Central Electricity Boardsbusiness is to prepare and carry out developmentschemes with the general object of promoting,coordinating and improving the generation andtransmission, distribution and sale of electricity inMauritius.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK Te Electricity Act of 1939 (amended 1991)

Te Electricity Regulations of 1939

Te Central Electricity Board Act 1964


Electricity consumption in Mauritius has risensharply in recent years. Between 1991 and 2000, theannual increases in electricity consumption reachedabout 9 percent. Te countrys economic growth and

improved standard of living have necessitated massiveinvestments in the energy infrastructure. Mauritiusstill depends heavily on oil, coal and bagasse. However,

there is a need to shift more to renewable energy, and

the Central Electricity Board is currently trying todiversify in that direction by encouraging small powerproducers to sell any surplus energy they have to theboard. Having a mixed source of energy is part of theMaurice Ile Durable vision. Tough a great majorityof the population of Black River District is connectedto the Central Electricity Board network, there are stillsome households that live without electricity supply.Tese are mainly squatters who are either waiting forthe Ministry of Housing and Lands to regularize theirhousing situation or simply awaiting eviction becausethey are considered illegal.


Up to now, consumers have been paying for theelectricity service provided by the Central ElectricityBoard while the government has shouldered the capitalinvestment required to respond to the growing powerneeds of Mauritian society.

New investments are required in the green energysector. Public-private partnerships must be encouragedin order to mobilize additional investment. In thiscontext, the Maurice Ile Durable Fund, which was setup to support new projects in renewable energy andenergy efficiency, can be useful.

Encouraging the Black River District Council to usethe rooftops of its buildings to install solar panels forelectricity production is in line with the Maurice IleDurable vision. Tis will contribute to reducing theelectricity bill of the district council.

SANITATION AND REFUSE

COLLECTION

Provision of scavenging services is a major statutoryduty of the council. Te scavenging services include:

Refuse collection

Cleaning of drains

Mowing

Spraying of herbicides and weeding

Sweeping of roads

Cleaning of rivers, rivulets, and canals

Te scavenging services of the Black River DistrictCouncil are fully contracted out. A monthly scavengingfee is claimed from all businesses and other economic

operators, but the service is free for residential premises.Te Wastewater Management Authority is the soleprovider of sanitation services. However, only a few


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localities are connected to the sewerage network in

Black River District. Most of them use individual septictanks, which are regularly emptied by the wastewaterlorries of the Wastewater Management Authority andother private wastewater carriers.

Tese lorries in turn empty their contents at the sewagetreatment stations. Te government is planning toextend the network to other unconnected areas shortly.Te Health Department of the Black River DistrictCouncil monitors the scavenging services in the districtarea.


Te Wastewater Management Authority, operatingunder the aegis of the Ministry of Energy and PublicUtilities, is entitled to develop and manage the entirenational sewerage network.


Wastewater Management Act 2000

Black River District Council (Collection andDisposal of Refuse) Regulations


Tere are only a few localities covered by the WastewaterManagement Authoritys network, and there is a needfor greater investment by the central government in thefast-developing Black River District.


Te Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities

Te National Development Unit

OTHER BASIC URBAN SERVICES

Te most important function of the district councilis to offer services that promote the social, economic,environmental, and cultural well-being of theinhabitants of the district. Tis is one of the mainjustifications for the existence of local authorities.


Te Black River District Council is structured intosix departments that cover the various services offeredto citizens, and each department is headed by a chiefofficer.

Te council is made up of nine committees, which

ensure that key issues are considered in sufficient depth

before formal council decisions are made. Deliberationsduring committee meetings are governed by standingorders and are overseen by a chairman duly appointedfor that purpose.


Te responsibilities and duties of the district councilare organized according to the provisions of the LocalGovernment Act of 1989 and 2003 (as amended). Tecouncil holds meetings on a regular basis, and the actestablishes a statutory quarterly meeting.


Te district council provides a variety of services toinhabitants:

Abatement of nuisance

Drains

Fairs and markets

Green spaces

Library

Refuse collection

Street lighting

Permits and licences

Tese services are administered by professional staff ofeach department concerned. Te elected councillorsusually hear grievances from their constituents and passthem on to the relevant department. More formally,councillors and the general public can raise questionson the efficiency of the various services at councilmeetings.

Despite the professionalism of the council, servicedelivery in certain cases is not effective due to a shortageof staff and a lack of discipline on the part of theinhabitants. Littering in public places is an example.

Each village has a certain amount of infrastructurefor meetings and cultural and sports activities.Unfortunately, the district council is not responsiblefor all of this infrastructure, as other bodies such asthe Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Sugar IndustryLabour Welfare Fund, and village councils have theirown. Tere is no coordination and each institutionoperates its infrastructure on its own. Tis situation leadsto the duplication of activities and underutilization offacilities. Tere is a need to consider the co-management

of these facilities with the local inhabitants and todevelop more synergies and complementarities in theprogramming of activities.


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Te financial affairs of the district council are conductedin accordance with the Local Government Act 1989and 2003 (amended).

Te main sources of income are:

Grants

rade fees

Permits and rentals

AGREED PRIORITIES

Identification of district zone boundaries andprovision of name plates for streets

Survey of road access in the district area

Improvement of street lighting in the district area

Upgrading of some of the district villages (e.g.Flic en Flac and amarin) to the status of towns

INFRASTRUCTUREAND BASIC URBANSERVICESNO. 1


Identification of village zoneboundaries and streets in BlackRiver District


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UECOLLECTION

MUNICIPAL REVENUE COLLECTION


Te Local Government Act 1989 and 2003


Te direct revenue collection of the Black River Districtrepresents less than 25 percent of its budget. Tis situationdoes not allow the council to engage in high-levelinfrastructural projects in its area. According to the LocalGovernment Act 1989 and 2003, the district councilis required to prepare yearly accounts at the end of thefinancial year to be submitted to the Director of Audit.


Te main source of revenue for the Black River

District Council remains the central government grant.Application of the tenant tax would allow the council toimprove its revenue.

Te main revenue of the Black River District Councilis the central government grant, which amounted toUSD 4.8 million in 2010, representing more than 75percent of the 2010 budget of USD 6.2 million. Te

amount of this grant is subject to the approval of theMinister of Local Government and Outer Islands. TeLocal Government Act of 1989 and 2003 stipulatesthat in each financial year there may be paid to a localauthority a grant of an amount calculated according tosuch formula as may be prescribed by the Minister.In 2010, the remaining USD 1.4 million was collectedfrom trade fees, Building and Land Use Permits,advertising fees, and other sources.

It is quite unfortunate that, unlike towns, a districtcouncil cannot apply tenant tax. With the fast-growing number of Integrated Resort Scheme projects,commercial centres, and luxurious private properties in

the district area, there would have been very substantialrevenue that the council could have collected throughtenant tax. Tis would definitely improve its financialsituation and help the council to initiate by itself moreinfrastructural projects that could develop the area andbenefit inhabitants.

THE INSITUTIONAL SET-UP

Te Finance Department of the Black River DistrictCouncil, headed by the principal accountant, isresponsible for the financial administration of thecouncil, and thus the collection of all receivables and

the accounting thereof.

AGREED PRIORITIES

Upgrading of some of the district villages such asFlic en Flac, Bambous Village and amarin to thestatus of towns

MUNICIPAL REVENUE

COLLECTIONNO. 1


Revenue generation andcollection programme


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In comparison to other districts, Black River hasmore employment in the service industry (specificallythe hospitality industry, hotels and tourism) andconstruction than in manufacturing and trade.

Employment in agriculture, meanwhile, is comparablewith other districts. Tis pattern reflects the characterof the district it is largely rural, dominated by sugarcultivation, with some industrial ventures in the northand expanding tourism activities, mainly along thecoast.

It has a very long coastline, a dry climate, vast expansesof undeveloped land that are still wild in character, andsome areas of outstanding natural beauty. Because of itsscenic attributes, the district has attracted keen interestfrom real estate promoters looking for prime sites forIntegrated Resort Scheme and Real Estate Schemedevelopments. Te region is experiencing the highest

increase in property development projects in Mauritius,with Integrated Resort Scheme projects and numerousresidential developments attracting an importantupper-middle class population.

Despite three decades of development in the country,some areas of the district have not benefited fromgrowth, and poverty has continued to increase in theselocalities.

As employment in the sugar industry and with export-oriented manufacturers is decreasing, due to boththe mechanization and decline of these activities, thepopulation have got more jobs in the service sector.

However, the new employment opportunities createddirectly or indirectly by the tourism industry andIntegrated Resort Scheme projects are mostly for

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

unskilled labour, e.g. servants, cleaners, guards, andgardeners. Tese jobs are not well paid and are oftenunstable, as they are more prevalent during the tourismseason and are dependent on the number of tourists

that visit. Whereas the job creation in the region couldbe interpreted as positive, it presents the risk of mostlyadding to the poor working class.

Existing development approaches at the national levelmay not be appropriate for these regions, and alternativepaths must be envisaged for a large part of Black RiverDistrict. Te concepts of sustainable development andsustainable livelihoods are being promoted to respondto the development challenges and issues in theseregions in particular.


Te Small and Medium Enterprises DevelopmentAuthority (SMEDA) is responsible at the nationallevel for the promotion and development of smallenterprises in Mauritius, under the aegis of the Ministryof Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives.

Te National Empowerment Foundation is responsibleat the national level for promoting and assisting in thedevelopment of small businesses and micro-enterprisesthrough an empowering process and accompanimentof poor and vulnerable groups.

At the district level, there is no local institution to

facilitate such processes. Te district council has amandate to collect trade fees and regulate informalbusinesses and hawkers within the boundary of thedistrict.


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DEVELOPMENT


THE SMALL ENTERPRISES AND HANDICRAFT

DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT 2005

Te district council is responsible under the LocalGovernment Act 2003 (as amended) and throughthe Small Enterprises and Handicraft DevelopmentAuthority Act to deal with the allocation of permitsthrough a special mechanism known as the Permits andBusiness Monitoring Committee.

BUILDING AND LAND USE PERMIT

Te Building and Land Use Permit helps to ensure thatdevelopment in Black River District complies with theprovision of the Building Act, the own and CountryPlanning Act 1954 (Outline Planning Schemes), andthe Planning Development Act 2004.

BUSINESS FACILITATION ACT 2006

Te Business Facilitation Act mainly targets investors inIntegrated Resort Scheme projects and the offshoresector. It aims at providing a new legal frameworkthat would allow businesses to start operations onthe basis of self-adherence to comprehensive and

clear guidelines. Te authorities would facilitatebusiness activities and the acquisition of propertiesby foreigners, enable small enterprises to start theirbusinesses within three working days and check forcompliance by exercising ex post control.

PLANNING POLICY GUIDANCE

Te Permits and Business Monitoring Committeeshall have regard to the Planning and PolicyGuidance to determine an application from asmall enterprise. As per provisions of the BusinessFacilitation Act, applications from a small and mediumenterprise/handicraft business should be processedwithin three working days.

AGREED PRIORITIES

Campaign to encourage the small and medium-sized enterprises of Black River District to seizeopportunities introduced in the national budgetto improve the sector

Construction of regional market fair in BlackRiver

LOCALECONOMICDEVELOPMENT

NO. 1


Construction of a regional market

fair in Black River

PERFORMANCE AND

ACCOUNTABILITYTe Black River District Council has been very muchinvolved with the Le Morne Heritage rust Fund andother community organizations in order to enhanceliving standards in the village of Le Morne with theproject entitled Improving the Livelihood and Welfareof Artisanal Fishermen and Other Coastal Communitiesin Le Morne Village.


Te Decentralized Cooperation Programme supportedby the European Union has been very supportive toeconomic empowerment initiatives in Black River.

It is necessary to have an effective coordinatingmechanism among the Small Enterprises and HandicraftDevelopment Authority, National EmpowermentFoundation, Black River District business community,and local NGOs in order to accompany the poor whowant to be involved in microenterprises.


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REAS

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HOUSING AND DEPRIVED AND VULNERABLE AREAS

Tere are several squatter settlements in Black River,spread throughout the district from Bambous in

the north to Le Morne in the south. Most of thesesettlements are found on state land and are mainlyoccupied by very low-income households. A field surveyduring a site visit indicated that there are around 270squatters in Black River District.

Te Squatting Unit of the Ministry of Housing and Landsplans to relocate most of them; some are considered tobe illegal squatters and will simply be evicted. A surveyin 2005 identified a number of squatters in the region.Te then government agreed to either regularize theirtenure situation or relocate them to an alternative siteif need be. However, all other squatters identified afterJuly 2005 are considered illegal and are under threat of

eviction. Most do not possess a proper title deed thatwould allow them to securely occupy their living place.

Tere is also a housing estate in Grande Rivire Noirewhere about 100 houses built in the early 1960s aredilapidated, with the occupiers living in extreme poorconditions. Some of these houses even have asbestospanels, which are a real threat to the health of theinhabitants. Te philosophy behind the Ministry ofHousing and Lands housing projects has been a rooffor all. But the poor and the vulnerable require morethan a roof. Tere is a need for social accompaniment,through the assistance of community workers and civilsociety organizations, which would allow for effective

integration.

Te district council does not have any mandate forthe upgrading of houses. Its mandate is confined to

the maintenance of certain infrastructure such asroads and green spaces; the provision of scavengingservices; putting in place sanitary measures against theproliferation of rodents; and the provision of streetlighting.

Te responsibility for improving living conditions inslums rests with the Ministry of Housing and Landsthrough the National Housing Development Companyand the National Empowerment Foundation throughits Community Empowerment Programme.


Te National Empowerment Foundation isresponsible for providing socio-economicempowerment programmes that target the poorand engaging in certain types of social housingprogrammes through its Community EmpowermentProgramme.

Many civil society organizations and corporatesocial responsibility foundations provide support tothe people in Black River living in poor conditions.

Tere is a need to clarify the institutional set-upin terms of responsibilities and duties relating to

social housing programmes in order to give morecoherence to the human settlement policy.


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As the beneficiaries have to make monthly contributionsto the National Empowerment Foundation andNational Housing Development Company, who act intheir respective sectors as the regulatory body for socialhousing programmes, the beneficiaries have to makesome legal commitments for the repayments.

PERFORMANCE AND

ACCOUNTABILITY

Te repayment of loans remains a major problemfor certain poor families. Up to now, the NationalEmpowerment Foundation has been flexible in dealingwith bad payers. Tere have not been any drasticmeasures such as penalty fees or eviction; instead, thebeneficiaries have been given time to pay back the loan.

Te Black River District Council, as the local authorityof the area and as a stakeholder, should be associatedwith any new social housing project in the districtarea. As manager of the districts infrastructure andamenities, the district council should have additionalresources to help it cope with the needs of newcomers.As no advance provision is made, the arrival of newinhabitants very often exerts additional pressure ondistrict infrastructure such as recreational facilities,

kindergartens, and meeting places. If not enoughattention is paid to these issues, it can create tensionbetween the newcomers and those who have been inthe area for a long time.


Tere are some corporate social responsibilityfoundations in Black River that support the districtcouncil to uplift and improve the socio-economicsituation of the inhabitants through variousempowerment projects.

Te government, through agencies such as the NationalEmpowerment Foundation and the National HousingDevelopment Company, is facing serious challenges asit responds to the housing needs of the very poor. As the

latter very often have unstable jobs and, consequently,

irregular income, this category of people cannot benefitfrom the existing housing schemes. Such situationsvery often lead to squatting or sharing of houses, andovercrowding is often the result. Indeed, overcrowdingis a critical issue in certain housing estates and squattingareas of Black River District.

Business foundations in the private sector now have theopportunity to engage in national housing programmesfor the poor in order to address the housing needs ofpoor and vulnerable groups. However, the privatesector and their civil society partners should have moreautonomy in developing the housing programmes.

AGREED PRIORITIES

Avoid relocating squatters living in low-riskzones

Avoid allocating land to squatters in marshyzones

HOUSING AND

DEPRIVED ANDVULNERABLE AREASNO. 1


Improving living conditionsof inhabitants of Cit EDC,Grande Rivire Noire


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At the national level, the Government of Mauritius,through the Ministry of Gender Equality, ChildDevelopment, and Family Welfare, has committed itselfto the principles of gender equality. A National GenderPolicy Framework has been developed, providingthe broad operational strategies and institutionalarrangements for achieving gender equality. Eachsector, including the local authorities, has to beresponsible for the development of their own policy.Indeed, the domestication of the framework at all levelsis a challenge in itself.

GENDER EQUALITY AT THEDISTRICT COUNCIL LEVEL

In spite of aggressive campaigns for gender equality overthe years and some positive results, there is still roomfor improvement. In the Black River District Council,for instance, there are only two women among thesixteen councillors representing the sixteen villages ofthe district.

Gender Links, an international NGO involved invarious womens empowerment initiatives, collaboratesclosely with the district council, with a particularemphasis on womens leadership and representation in

GENDER

politics and decision making. Te organization has beenvery active in the setting up of Women in Networking,which has developed a dual-gender network inMauritius on gender issues. Women in Networkinghas also set up Women in Politics, which is providingtraining to female members of national political partiesin Mauritius on leadership and political issues.


Te Ministry of Gender Equality, ChildDevelopment, and Family Welfare is the lead ministry

on gender issues, with specialized departments suchas the Child Development Unit and the NationalWomens Council; a new integrated strategy forgender, child development, and family welfare isunder preparation

Te National Womens Council, set up by an Actof Parliament in November 1985, ensures thatgovernment policy and action meet the needs ofwomen at the grass-roots level

Te National Women Entrepreneur Council was setup in 1999 to promote womens entrepreneurship

Strengthening Values for Family Life, October 2010


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NATIONAL GENDER POLICY FRAMEWORK

Te National Gender Policy Frameworks goals aregender equality and womens empowerment. It has beendesigned as an overarching framework that providesthe guiding principles, broad operational strategies,and institutional arrangements for achieving genderequality at the national level.

PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

ACT 1997

Te Protection from Domestic Violence Act wasenacted in May 1997 to protect spouses againstdomestic violence. It aims at reducing and preventingdomestic violence and at ensuring that where suchviolence occurs, there is effective legal protection.

SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT 2002

Tis Sex Discrimination Act promotes equalopportunity despite sex, race, marital status, religion,origin, or disability and prohibits discriminationon those grounds, particularly in employment,

education, admission to private clubs, and provision ofaccommodation, goods, services, and facilities.

NATIONAL PENSIONS ACT 1987

Te National Pensions Act was amended in 1987 toremove the discrepancy between men and womenconcerning the payment of a lump sum to the survivingspouse should the insured person die before 60, theofficial retirement age.

JURY ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED)

Te Jury Act was amended in 1990 to enable womento sit as jurors.

PERFORMANCE AND

ACCOUNTABILITY

Te Black River District Council has not yet developeda specific gender framework and consequently doesnot have a gender unit per se, but gender issues areintegrated to a certain extent into its policy formulation.It has a strong partnership with Gender Links, which isa regional network very active in the Southern African

AGREED PRIORITIES

Involvement of men in the campaign againstdomestic violence

Sensitization of parents on subtle discriminationagainst girls in the family

Advocacy to have women in decision-makingpositions

GENDERNO. 1


White Ribbon Project campaignagainst domestic violence,targeting men

Development Community region. Regular workshops

on gender issues are organized at the district council,in collaboration with Gender Links and with theparticipation of various stakeholders. Te GenderLinks national campaign against domestic violence, forinstance, was also carried out in Black River in 2011.

Te district council celebrates International WomensDay each year, with the participation of civil societyorganizations and the Ministry of Gender Equality,Child Development and Family Welfare. For betterparticipation in planning activities and councilmanagement, women must also get involved in thedistrict council, where they are confined to menialjobs. Te district council can support the involvement

of women in the administration through variousmeasures, including programmes for equal opportunityin employment for the growing number of executivesand professional and specialized workers.


Te Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development,and Family Welfare provides financial and technicalsupport for relevant gender equality promotionactivities, with the participation of Gender Links andvarious local NGOs.

Te NGOs, in partnership with the district council, canbe called upon to contribute to data collection at thelocal level and to develop new outreach programmes.


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SECURITY

Te proliferation of squatter settlements in BlackRiver District over the last ten years has resulted inmore visible deprivation in the district area, which hascreated insecurity and fear among residents. Tough thedistrict council has no real mandate on the issue, it hasalways heeded social demands for better and safer livingconditions. Moreover, the police department, whichoperates under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence andHome Affairs managed by the Prime Ministers Office,has increased its community policing efforts. Securityservices are also provided by private security firms. Tesocial disparities in areas such as Flic en Flac, which is ahighly touristic area, may have caused a proliferation of

thefts and burglaries. However, since the installation ofclosed-circuit television cameras in Flic en Flac in April2009, police have reported a more than 70 percentreduction in the number of thefts in the town.

Te high number of road accidents in Black RiverDistrict has also raised much concern. Te improvementof the main roads and the development of IntegratedResort Scheme projects and resort hotels have increasedthe flow of vehicles through the region over the pastten years. In 2009, the Plaine Wilhems/Black Riverregion recorded nine fatal pedestrian and nine fatalrider accidents (Digest of Road Traffic and Road AccidentsStatistics of 2009, Central Statistics Office). Tisplaced the region first in rider fatalities and second in

pedestrian fatalities among all the districts of Mauritius.In comparison, Port Louis, the political and economiccapital of Mauritius, recorded 11 fatal pedestrianaccidents. In addition, the juvenile delinquency rate inMauritius, though it dropped slightly to 5 percent in2010 from 6 percent in 2009, is still on the high side.Te rate was 3.2 percent in 2006.


Te Mauritius Police Force has developed the MauritiusIntelligence Model, an intelligence framework based on

a scientific and a proactive approach to policing. It is adecision-making model that describes the requirementsfor the successful management of crimes and other lawenforcement problems.

Community policing is one of the pillars of the NationalPolicing Strategic Framework. A permanent platformfor regular meetings and consultation has been set-upwith members of the district council, which is one ofthe community policing stakeholders.

Te Crime Prevention Unit of the Mauritius PoliceForce, which has a mission statement geared towardssensitizing the public on crime prevention issues andpromoting a sense of awareness, is very active in BlackRiver District.


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AGREED PRIORITIES

Sensitization campaign on crime prevention

Installation of security lights in high-risk andremote zones

Proper maintenance of infrastructure such asroads and metal gratings

Reconciling partnerships with the police whileguaranteeing respect for the private life ofinhabitants

SECURITYNO. 1


Community policing in primaryand secondary schools in BlackRiver


Te Police Act, which was passed in 1974, has beenamended several times to include solutions to newpolicing and security challenges. It defines the dutiesand powers of the police force and Commissioner ofPolice, as well those of the National Security Service. Italso regulates security and property protection services.Te Prime Ministers Office oversees the functions ofthe Mauritius Police Force.

PERFORMANCE AND

ACCOUNTABILITY

Community policing has become a core aspect ofmodern policing. Te process is meant to transformthe police force into a service-led organization.In this context, the police force encourages localresidents to nominate community representatives toact as coordinators and liaisons between the policeand the community. However, community policing inMauritius is still in its infancy.

Tere is need to give more visibility to communitypolicing through information and awareness-raising programmes. Partnerships with districts andmunicipalities must be upgraded. Some mayors haveinitiated a regular consultation on security and safetyissues.

In addition, inhabitants have a bad perception of thepolice force, viewing it as a repressive force and not aservice. Efforts should be made to change the image,and also to develop trust between the communityand the police. Tis process, which should be a multi-stakeholder one, must have a focus on dialogue, imagebuilding, and development of trust, without excludinginformation dissemination.


Te Mauritius Police Force is well supported and has adecent budget for the human and technical resourcesneeded for proper service delivery. Approximately USD700 million was allocated to the Mauritius Police Forcein the 2011 national budget for the following threeyears.


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Environmental health and climate change are

developmental issues that have an impact on the livesof all people. Remedial measures cannot be confined tothe national level but must also be translated into rulesand regulations at the district level and in local areas. Inthis context, the Environment Protection Act 2007 (asamended) is the reference framework for environmentalprotection and management. Te objective of the act isto achieve built environment through smart growthcharacterized, among others, by quality architecturedesigns, aesthetically pleasant surroundings with greenspaces and recreational facilities for all inhabitants.

Climate change and natural disasters (e.g. rising sealevels, storm surges and increasing dry spells) pose

serious threats to urban infrastructure, settlements andfacilities, and thus to inhabitants and their livelihoods.Black River District, being constituted mainly of coastalvillages, is permanently exposed to the risk of floodscaused by tidal surges.

Te following is a selection of national targets relevantto local authorities:

Local authorities will provide free advisory serviceson design and architecture in accordance with thePlanning Policy Guidance.

Develop and implement a community beautificationprogramme in all districts of the republic, inpartnership with the private sector, communityorganizations and the Rodrigues Regional Assemblyand local authorities.

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE ANDDISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Rationalize urban practices to enhance the

environment (including better drainage systemsand refuse collection, as well as greening of theenvironment and the creation of more parks andgardens as vital temperature-regulating factors).


ENVIRONMENT COORDINATION COMMITTEE

Te Environment Coordination Committee wasestablished under Section 14 of the EnvironmentProtection Act of 2007.

Te committees responsibilities include the following:

Ensuring that information is shared among theenforcing agencies (including local authorities),the Department of Environment, and other publicdepartments so as to develop a better understandingof environmental issues and problems relating toenforcement of environmental laws

Ensuring compliance with and implementation andenforcement of any directive given by the Ministerof Environment and Sustainable Development inrelation to coordinating the administration and

enforcement of environmental law among thevarious enforcing agencies


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Te Government of Mauritius has set up a Climate

Change Division in the Ministry of Environmentand Sustainable Development. Te division has beenoperational since 1 March 2010, with the followingcore duties:

Developing a climate change mitigation andada

black river urban profile - mauritius

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