SORRY IS NOT ENOUGH IN MAURITIAN SPILL
ON JULY 25, the Japanese ship, MV Wakashio, ran aground the coral reef off the eastern coast of Mauritius.
The vessel discharged more than 1 000 tonnes of oil into the island’s pristine lagoon including its Blue Bay Marine reserve.
The situation is critical because Mauritius is a biodiversity hot spot. But beyond the environmental consequences, there’s the human impact.
Oil spills have major social and health implications.
People exposed can suffer from liver damage, skin and lung disorders, increased cancer risk, reproductive damage and posttraumatic stress.
Responding to the crisis, Mauritius’ government temporarily closed schools and gave fishermen a small compensation. Citizens also admirably rallied to stem the oil tide.
Over the years, Mauritius has transitioned into a middle-income country, growing its financial, industrial, tourism and IT industries. But the ocean continues to be hugely important to many poorer Mauritians who rely on it for subsistence, culture and leisure.
It’s particularly important for vulnerable communities that live in villages along the coastline, most of whom are Creoles, the descendants of African and Malagasy people.
From the mid 17th to the 18th Century, the ancestors of Creoles were brought to Mauritius and forced into slavery. After the abolition of slavery in 1835, many Creoles settled in coastal villages.
When Mauritius attained independence in 1968, it remained a hierarchical society. It continues to be led by powerful Franco-Mauritian families and influential “high caste” Hindu Mauritians. Dynastic politics became the norm.
The oil spill highlights the plight of impoverished communities that live along the coastline, and policymakers must act on the recommendation of the report to address the inequalities in Mauritian society.
The areas most affected by the spill include the main town of the Grand Port District, Mahebourg, and seven other south-eastern villages.A Facebook group titled “Rivière des Creoles”, after a river in southeastern Mauritius, has shared images of oil-soaked mangroves, beaches and dead fish, and images of locals knee-deep in oil residue. This is but a snapshot of what these communities now grapple with.
Artisanal fishery is vital in providing employment opportunities and protein to over 4 000 households in the coastal regions.
The beaches and sea are also culturally important in Mauritius. Creole communities created the music and dance of the Sega. Traditionally performed on the beach, Sega music and dance still provides a reprieve from hard labour. Public beaches and lagoons are environmental and cultural assets.
The oil spill will be disastrous for these communities.My concern is that the spill will be especially disastrous for vulnerable coastal Creoles, not only because of immediate and long-term health implications, but because Creoles remain marginalised. They are at greater risk of not being assisted in instituting damages claims.
To ensure that the vulnerable coastal communities are protected, leadership response to the disaster must be transparent, co-ordinated, caring and swift.
Leaders must attend to the immediate effects of disasters and anticipate long-term consequences. Communities exposed to oil for example, need to be monitored to allow for early detection of exposurerelated harm.
The government, together with civil society, must also claim damages from the de jure (by right) owners of the MV Wakashio, who in turn must pay for the immediate and anticipated loss of ecological, economic, health and cultural benefits. Apologies are not enough.
| The Conversation