Introduction
A hidden treasure nested in the Indian Ocean was discovered mistakenly by Arab settlers as they were heading to India for the trade of spices. This small island had the Dodos as the only living creatures until the Dutch Settlers came and named it “Maurice” in honour of the Dutch Prince Maurice of Nassau. Mauritius acceded to its independence on 12th March 1968 and became a republic on 12th March 1992. Back then, many changes took place at different levels, from the natural landscape to the economic development, which started with the French settlers in 1715.
Colonial Foundations and the Road to Independence
The French settlers, namely Governor Mahé de Labourdonnais was the true architects of the development of the Mauritian economy, making it one of the most prosperous ports in the Indian Ocean, where many cargo ships transit every day, and a major producer of sugar cane. His legacy lies in the buildings he built, and which still exist today, namely the Government House and the Line Barracks (the headquarters of the police force).
Cultural Diversity and the Making of a Rainbow Nation
The Mauritian population comprises of different ethnic groups, namely the Indians, Muslims, Chinese, Creoles (African and Malagasy descendants), and Franco-Mauritians, all living together, which makes it a rainbow nation. Furthermore, it has its own local language, which is the “Kreol Morisien”, which is spoken by all segments of the population, despite English and French being the official languages. It is worth mentioning that the Mauritian cuisine is unique, like the mine frite, 7 carries, Briani, Rougaille poisson salé, and Alouda, to name a few.
Economic Transformation and Global Integration
Despite being a small island that is barely seen from the world’s lenses, Mauritius has made its way for 58 years. Now, it has well established banks, road developments, buildings, telecommunications, transportation (buses, luxury cars and trams), business deals with powerful economies like India, China, USA, France, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia and diversification of the Mauritian economy from a sugar production economy to a service economy (tourism, educational hub, financial hub, technological hub and retail). However, like all countries around the world, Mauritius does face some social ills like erosion of the purchasing power, which leads to high cost of living, disparity in the social groups, increasing poverty rate, increasing crime rates and road accidents, health issues (heart, cholesterol, and cancer), and illicit trafficking of drugs. Synthetic drugs are becoming a serious issue for Mauritius as many youngsters are being victims of such a vicious circle resulting to death, disruption in the family cells, violence, crime, and money laundering.
Conclusion
We may be a small island, but our homeland is our safe haven. Mauritius is known as being a peaceful place to live in; we have our beaches, beautiful hotels, beautiful natural sites (mountains, nature parks), and most importantly, the warmth of its inhabitants. We live in harmony, and each and every one is free to practice their own religion like Hinduism, Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism, Janisim and Bah’ai. Mauritius has survived through time and evolved beautifully from a developing economy to an emerging developed one. Being known as the Star and key of the Indian Ocean due to its strategic point is not a mere coincidence but the result of its continuous transformation.
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