VZCZCXRO3763
RR RUEHJO
DE RUEHPL #0089/01 0781153
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191153Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4478
INFO RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3024
RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 0793

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT LOUIS 000089 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
NAIROBI FOR KIRSTEN BAUMANN, REDSO/ESA, AND RFMC 
JOHANNESBURG FOR RCO MICHAEL VEASY 
AF/EPS FOR TLDAVIDSON 
CA/OCS FOR RUTH BRANSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC AFIN EAID ECON EGOV MP
SUBJECT: RODRIGUES--LOW ON WATER, EMPLOYMENT, AND 
MOTIVATION-APPRECIATES U.S. HELP 
 
REF: (A) 2008 Port Louis 097 (B) 2008 Port Louis 368 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  Conoff traveled to Rodrigues to provide consular 
services to American citizens, meet with the Chief Commissioner, and 
view progress on a community project partly funded by an Embassy 
Self-Help Grant.  Slow going on the construction side of the 
community project, as well as high unemployment and environmental 
concerns, were the main topics covered in various discussions.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) Rodrigues, an island dependency of Mauritius, sits 560 km 
east of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, putting it 2500 km from 
continental Africa, 3500 km from India, and 5000 km from Antarctica. 
 It measures 8 miles by 11 miles and has an estimated population of 
around 40,000, mainly Catholic Creoles.  Rodrigues suffers from high 
unemployment and tough environmental conditions, depending mainly on 
tourism, agriculture, and handicrafts for its economy.  On the ferry 
service, available three times a month, it takes a day on the water 
to get from Mauritius to Rodrigues.  Depending on the season, there 
are between one and five flights a day between the two islands. 
Currently, there are two known American citizens living on the 
island. 
 
¶3.  (U) Conoff provided American citizen services on March 3, taking 
a passport application and discussing federal benefits procedures. 
One of the U.S. citizens in Rodrigues, resident on the island for 
around six years, serves as the head of the Rodrigues branch of the 
Mauritius Wildlife Foundation and as the warden for the island. 
Conoff took the opportunity to discuss warden responsibilities and 
provide her with updated contact lists and privacy act information. 
The other U.S. citizen owns a bed and breakfast and has been in 
Rodrigues for ten years. 
 
¶4.  (U) On March 3, Conoff visited the Creve Coeur Village Community 
Center, a project run by the Commite Villageois Creve Coeur (Creve 
Coeur Villager Committee) and partially funded by a Self-Help Grant 
from the Embassy.  Mr. Jean Maxwell Andre, head of the committee, 
gave Conoff a tour of the site, still under heavy construction, and 
showed the items purchased with the Self-Help Grant.  Mr. Andre and 
several committee members lamented the slow speed at which 
construction was occurring on the building itself, which is being 
funded by the Government of Rodrigues.  The items paid for by the 
Self-Help Grant are waiting in a locked room for when the building 
is completed.  The Committee members were appreciative of the 
Embassy's support and proud of the work they have been doing. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Conoff met with Chief Commissioner Johnson Roussety on 
March 4 and discussed the Creve Coeur project, of which Roussety was 
already aware.  When Conoff mentioned the villagers' concerns that 
the construction was moving very slowly, Roussety acknowledged the 
issue and blamed it on government workers.  He said that if it were 
possible to hire contractors, the work would have been much further 
along.  Roussety then promised to visit the site himself and to do 
what he could to move the work along. 
 
¶6. (U) The issue of environmental challenges came up at the meetings 
with the Creve Coeur committee, with Roussety, and with the U.S. 
citizen residents.  Roussety mentioned how Rodrigues has been one of 
the most active in implementing aspects of the Maurice Ile Durable 
(Resilient Mauritius) project put forth by the Prime Minister's 
Office (see refs A and B), stating that many Rodrigans have taken 
advantage of a program through which the government will subsidize 
solar panels for home use.  Andre, Roussety, and both U.S. citizens 
mentioned that water was the biggest issue for the island--including 
lost rainwater and drought.  Roussety said that a desalination plant 
was planned in the Creve Coeur area as one measure for combating 
this problem. 
 
¶7.  (U) Roussety also asked during his meeting about the possibility 
of Rodrigans going to the United States for study.  Conoff discussed 
the student visa process and mentioned the Public Affairs Office's 
Educational Advisor Office as a possible resource.  He reiterated 
his appreciation for the good working relationship shared by 
Rodrigues and the U.S. Embassy and his hope for further 
interaction. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment.  Rodrigues is renowned for its natural beauty and 
environmental take on life.  Without further resources, however, the 
island will have difficulties in providing for basic needs, such as 
fresh water.  Unemployment remains high and the motivation for 
higher education is lacking as many Rodrigans see few job prospects 
for college graduates and ask "What's the point?"  Post believes 
that projects like the Creve Coeur Community Center, which affects 
the lives of real people, is having a tangible, positive public 
outreach effect in Rodrigues and with some support can be a true 
 
PORT LOUIS 00000089  002 OF 002 
 
 
success.  The same Creve Coeur Village Committee has just been 
awarded a grant to build new water towers to keep emergency reserves 
of water for times of drought.  Post believes small projects such as 
these have won friends for the U.S. and will also make a significant 
impact on the future of Rodrigues.  End Comment. 
 
BLASER