Access to Ile aux Cerfs and Trou Viré islands will soon become payable

Visitors of  Ile aux Cerfs and Trou Viré islands will be charged a fee of Rs 10 to meet the cost of management and security. The pilot project will eventually be extended to Ilot Gabriel, Flat Island and Ile aux Bénitiers.

The decision is taken assure the protection of the outer islands and to reinforce the security of tourists and all those who visit those islands. Barbecue will be banned on these islands.

“Ile aux Cerfs will be closed for two weeks after Easter. The island generates Rs 500 million with 350,000 visitors and as such there is a need to protect it. There are big barbecue operators at Ilot Margenite and they will all be asked to vacate the place,” said Bodha.

He added that legislation will be reviewed to resolve constraints faced by tourists who are victims of crimes. In that vein, aspects such as investigation, prosecution and judiciary will be reinforced to prevent hotels from hiding cases of larceny and assault and to channel victims to the police.

“There are constitutional problems and I had meetings with the commissioner of Police Dhun Ishwar Rampersad and my ministry has been working closely with the Attorney General, the Chief Justice and Queen’s Counsel James Guthrie to find a suitable legislation to put a stop to the problem faced by tourists and provide solutions,” he said.

He announced a new enforcement agency which will be managed by the Tourism Authority to look after the security of tourists and shoulder the emergency response service.

The 10-member-unit will be headed by Busgeet, former police chief of the Eastern division.

They will inspect traders’ licence and will cover the island with three permanently posted in regions such as Trou d’Eau Douce. Moreover he announced that the speed of leisure-crafts will be controlled to prevent accidents at sea.