Petit Verger Prison’s very first endemic plant nursey was officially opened by the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, the Honourable Kavydass Ramano, and the Australian High Commissioner, Dr Kate O’Shaughnessy, on 13 November. The project was funded through the High Commission’s Direct Aid Program.
The High Commission partnered with local NGO, Forena (Mauritius) who provided training in horticulture to detainees at Petit Verger prison, important skills to facilitate their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community once they are released. The endemic plant nursery, with a capacity of 1000 plants, will be used to support the Government’s tree planting efforts.
Speaking at the opening of the plant nursery, Australia’s High Commissioner to Mauritius said: “Australia was delighted to work with Forena and the leadership team at the Petit Verger Prison on this innovative project. Not is it helping detainees develop job-ready skills that reduce the likelihood of re-offending and re-imprisonment, it is also supporting Government efforts to combat climate change.”
The Australian High Commission awarded AUD10,000 (MUR 283,609) to Forena (Mauritius) in support of the endemic plant nursery project at the Petit Verger Prison.
The Australian High Commission is a long-standing partner of the Mauritius Prisons Service and local prison support NGOs. Past partnerships have included numeracy and literacy programmes, support for setting up a pastry unit and a self-care unit to prepare detainees at the Beau Bassin Women’s prison for their reintegration into society.
13 November 2020