On this international consumer’s day, there’s another reason to celebrate, at least for us Mauritians. This date will ever be remembered, as the first visit of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
“Fantastic… fantastic.” These were the first words Desmund Tutu uttered as he and wife Leah set foot ashore from MV Explorer at around 11.30 am local time (07.30 UT). The archbishop is “thrilled to be here” and “proud of the spirit of tolerance and peaceful coexistence of different cultures”.
During his brief stay he will pay courtesy visits to the Head of the State and the Government and attend a religious function at St James Cathedral in Port Louis.
The dignitary will leave on Saturday.
Mauritian residing in Rodrigues, Amanoola Khayrattee (pen name Alfa King) is contributing writer and journalist to La Gazette Mag de l’océan indien and This Week News Mauritius.
Retired, former meteorological cadre, trade unionist and OSH consultant, Amanoola has written for in-house union and other journals, publications and magazines. He runs two blogs since 2007: “Alfa King Memories”, and “Le Journal d’Alfa King”. When he is not reading or writing, he is on a 10+ km daily hike in anticipation of his monthly trails.
Amanoola may be reached at [email protected].