The District Council of Black River

21/09/2026

🪔🙏 Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 – Regional Level Celebration 🙏🪔

The Black River Marathi Paawan Ganesh Mandir and the District Council of Black River, in collaboration with the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation, the Mauritius Marathi Cultural Centre Trust and the Marathi Speaking Union, had the pleasure of being associated with the Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 (Regional Level) celebration held on 17 September 2026 at the Black River Marathi Paawan Ganesh Mandir, Royal Road, Black River.

The celebration brought together members of the community in a spirit of devotion, cultural appreciation, unity and togetherness, providing an opportunity to honour Lord Ganesha and celebrate our rich cultural heritage.

The event was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest, the Honourable Mahendra Gondeea, O.S.K., Minister of Arts and Culture, along with other eminent personalities, the Chairperson of the District Council of Black River, Mr Kemraz Ortoo, Members of the District Council, members of the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation, the Mauritius Marathi Cultural Centre Trust, the Marathi Speaking Union, as well as members of other affiliated Marathi associations.

During the event, Mr Vasant Rao Saccaram, President of the Black River Marathi Paawan Ganesh Mandir, presented a shawl to Mr Kemraz Ortoo, Chairperson of the District Council of Black River. He also expressed his appreciation to the District Council for its support, including a grant of Rs 30,000 to the association and grants of Rs 5,000 to all Marathi associations affiliated with the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation.

The District Council of Black River is pleased to have been associated with this meaningful celebration and remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote cultural heritage, community participation and harmony.

🙏 May the blessings of Lord Ganesha continue to bring peace, prosperity, happiness and success to all.

🌺 Ganpati Bappa Morya! 🌺

19/09/2026

🌿🌊 CLEANUP CAMPAIGN – FLIC EN FLAC

“OPERASION ZERO DEPO” | WORLD CLEANUP DAY 2026

The District Council of Black River, together with the Village Council of Flic en Flac and the Force Vive de Flic en Flac, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, held an Official Ceremony on Saturday 19 September 2026 at Débarcadère, Flic en Flac, in the context of the Cleanup Campaign – Flic en Flac and World Cleanup Day 2026.

The ceremony brought together representatives of Government, Local Authorities, community organisations, partners and other stakeholders around a common objective: to promote environmental responsibility and collective action towards a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Flic en Flac.

The programme featured addresses by Mr Ben Rommaldawo, President of Force Vive de Flic en Flac; Mr Burny Wade, Chairperson of the Village Council of Flic en Flac; Mrs Sharon Inassee, Vice Chairperson of the District Council of Black River; and Mr Kemraz Ortoo, Chairperson of the District Council of Black River.

The ceremony was also graced by the presence of Honourable Shridhur Jugurnauth, MP, Honourable Balkrishna Babajee, MP, and Honourable Eileen Karen Lee Chin Foo Kune-Bacha, Junior Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change.

🌳 The official proceedings were followed by a tree-planting activity, symbolising the collective commitment of all stakeholders towards environmental protection, the greening of public spaces and sustainable community action.

♻️ The Cleanup Campaign commenced on 12 September 2026 and will conclude on 20 September 2026. To date, approximately 27 tonnes of waste have already been collected from the targeted areas of Flic en Flac.

The District Council of Black River conveys its sincere appreciation to all sponsors, partners and stakeholders whose valuable contributions have supported the successful implementation of this campaign.

🙏 Special thanks go to:

Hilton Hotel for its valuable support and contribution to the campaign;

La Pirogue Hotel for its valuable support and contribution;

Sofitel Mauritius L’Imperial Resort & Spa for its valuable support and contribution;

Villa Caroline for providing catering services during the campaign;

MYB CONSTRUCTION LTD for providing beverages for the working teams

Société de MARCO for its support towards the cleanup operations;

Ramiah Group for providing an excavator to assist with the removal of waste and debris;

UBP for providing two lorries for waste collection and transportation;

Atics Ltd and the Beach Authority for their valuable support and collaboration throughout the campaign; and

Maxiclean Ltd, the Council’s contractor, for its continued dedication, cooperation and usual support in this campaign and in the Council’s various cleanup and environmental initiatives.

The campaign will culminate at Falaise Anna, where substantial quantities of debris and waste have been dumped. The final cleanup operation will focus on clearing and restoring the area while reinforcing an important message: the protection of our environment and the cleanliness of our communities are a shared responsibility.

💚 Together for a Cleaner and Greener Flic en Flac.

15/09/2026

12/09/2026

Mauritius–Seychelles Cooperation Strengthened at the District Council of Black River

The District Council of Black River welcomed a delegation from the Republic of Seychelles for a follow-up meeting held on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the Council Room of the District Council of Black River.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Kemraz Ortoo, Chairperson of the District Council of Black River, and attended by Mr Denis Antat, Principal Secretary for Inner Islands Affairs and Community Delivery; Mrs Doris Kiwale, Director General of Community Affairs; and Ms Mary Bridget Sopha, District Administrator for Port Glaud.

Also present from the District Council of Black River were Mr Balmick Jeetun, Mr Ramma Atish, Mr Jean-Yves L’Onflé and Mr Arjoon Anandrao, District Councillors; Mr Seeparsad, Supervising Officer; and members of staff.

Representatives of the District Council of Savanne were also present, namely Mr Seeneevassen Narainsamy, Chairperson; Mr Toulouse Robert Brunel Eliser, Vice-Chairperson; Mrs S. Coonjan-Jugroop, Chief Executive; and Ms Deeksha Dyal, Senior Welfare Officer.

Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in areas such as education, scholarships, fisheries, farming, senior citizen programmes, local government administration, professional exchanges, sports and cultural activities.

Particular attention was given to a proposal by Mr Kemraz Ortoo for the award of two university scholarships, one for a male and one for a female student from Seychelles. Pétanque was also identified as an initial sporting activity through which friendly exchanges could be developed.

Mr Denis Antat highlighted the longstanding relationship between Mauritius and Seychelles and emphasised the importance of exchanging expertise in Council administration, capacity-building, service delivery and programme implementation.

Mrs Doris Kiwale spoke about Festival Kreol, a major cultural event organised at a high level in Seychelles, and highlighted its importance in promoting Creole identity, culture and regional exchanges.

It was also recalled that the first Twinning Agreement between the District Council of Black River and Anse Boileau, Seychelles, was signed in 2004 and renewed in 2024 for a further three years.

Similarly, the District Council of Savanne and the District of Port Glaud signed a Twinning Agreement on 31 May 2024, which has led to practical exchanges, including a Senior Citizens Exchange Programme.

The meeting concluded in a cordial atmosphere with the exchange of tokens of appreciation between the Mauritian District Council representatives and the delegation from the Republic of Seychelles, reflecting the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

10/09/2026

GANESH CHATURTHI 2026 – PROGRESS REVIEW MEETING AND CHEQUE REMITTANCE CEREMONY

The Chairperson of the District Council of Black River, Mr. Kemraz Ortoo, convened a third meeting on Monday, 7 September 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Room of the District Council of Black River, in connection with the forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 celebrations.

The meeting brought together representatives of the various associations affiliated to the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation and served as a progress review following the previous coordination meetings.

Discussions focused on the state of preparedness, arrangements being made for the celebrations, coordination among the different associations and stakeholders, as well as measures aimed at ensuring the smooth and successful conduct of the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities within the Black River District.

Representatives of the respective associations expressed their appreciation and satisfaction with the progress of the works and arrangements initiated by the District Council in preparation for the Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 celebrations.

The progress review meeting was followed by a Cheque Remittance Ceremony, during which financial contributions were officially handed over to the respective associations affiliated to the Mauritius Marathi Mandali Federation in support of their activities and preparations for the Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 celebrations.

Mr. Kemraz Ortoo reiterated the commitment of the District Council of Black River to supporting socio-cultural organisations and fostering close collaboration with the community for the preservation and promotion of our rich cultural traditions.

08/09/2026

🙏 PÈRE LAVAL PILGRIMAGE 2026 🙏
The Chairperson, Mr Kemraz Ortoo, together with the District Councillors and the staff of the District Council of Black River, warmly welcomes all pilgrims converging towards the Père Laval Shrine.
📅 Tuesday, 08 September 2026
🕔 As from 17.00 hrs
📍 Richelieu — Near Ste Antoine Club, opposite the Village Hall, in the vicinity of the bus stop.
May this sacred pilgrimage be a moment of faith, peace, devotion and spiritual renewal for all.
We wish every pilgrim a safe, peaceful and blessed journey towards Père Laval Shrine. 🙏✨

31/08/2026

Raksha Bandhan Celebration at the District Council of Black River

The District Council of Black River celebrated the Raksha Bandhan Festival on Monday, 31 August 2026, in the Council Room, in collaboration with the Brahma Kumaris Divine Family of Bambous. The occasion brought together councillors, members of the administration, staff and invited guests in a spirit of peace, harmony and unity.

In his address, the Chairperson reflected on the deeper meaning of Raksha Bandhan and highlighted the special bond that exists between each and every one of us. He emphasised that the celebration transcends religious boundaries and goes beyond family relationships. Its universal message embraces people of all faiths and backgrounds, reminding everyone of the shared values of love, mutual respect, care, solidarity and responsibility that unite humanity.

The Chief Executive, Mr D. Gopaul, also addressed those present and shared similar reflections on the importance of nurturing harmonious relationships. He underlined the need to preserve a sense of togetherness and mutual support, particularly in a world where peace and understanding remain essential to the well-being of society.

Sister Sangeeta, representing the Brahma Kumaris of Bambous, spoke about the spiritual significance of Raksha Bandhan and the importance of cultivating inner peace, especially in the present context. She explained that peace begins within each individual and can positively influence families, workplaces and the wider community. She further highlighted that the festival’s message is universal, reaching beyond differences in religion, culture and social background to strengthen the bonds shared by all human beings.

As part of the programme, Sister Sangeeta conducted a short session of silence and guided meditation. This peaceful moment allowed participants to pause, reflect and reconnect with the values of love, compassion and universal brotherhood embodied by the festival.

The celebration concluded with the traditional tying of rakhis, symbolising affection, protection, respect and the strengthening of human bonds. Cake was subsequently shared among staff members and guests, adding to the warm and convivial atmosphere of the occasion.

As a gesture of gratitude and appreciation, the representatives of the Brahma Kumaris received a small token from the Chairperson, the Chief Executive, Mr D. Gopaul, and Councillors Baptiste and Magdeleine.

The event served as a meaningful reminder that Raksha Bandhan is more than a religious or family celebration. It transcends religious, cultural and social differences and carries a universal message of peace, unity and shared humanity. It also provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships and promote mutual respect, compassion and harmony throughout the community.

26/08/2026

# # District Council of Black River Staff Receive First Aid Training Certificates

The District Council of Black River recently held a certificate handover ceremony for members of its staff who successfully completed a **First Aid Training Course** conducted by **St John Ambulance Mauritius**, an institution registered with the **Mauritius Qualifications Authority (MQA)**.

The certificates were presented to the participants by **Mr Kemraz Ortoo, Chairperson of the District Council of Black River**, and **Mr D. Gopaul, Chief Executive of the District Council of Black River**.

The training programme aimed at equipping employees with essential first aid knowledge and practical skills, enabling them to respond effectively and appropriately in the event of accidents, injuries or medical emergencies, whether at the workplace or within the community.

During the ceremony, the importance of first aid preparedness in ensuring a safer working environment was highlighted. Having trained personnel within the organisation enhances the Council's capacity to provide immediate assistance during emergencies while awaiting professional medical intervention.

The initiative also forms part of the District Council of Black River's commitment to **continuous staff development, occupational safety and capacity building**. By investing in such training programmes, the Council seeks to strengthen the competencies of its workforce while promoting a culture of safety and preparedness across its various departments.

The Council congratulates all staff members who successfully completed the training and acknowledges **St John Ambulance Mauritius** for its valuable contribution towards developing essential lifesaving skills among its employees.

16/08/2026

Inter-District Petanque Competition organised by The Association of District Council

16/08/2026

🔥 It’s ON! 🔥

The Inter-District Pétanque Tournament 2026 starts today! 🎯🇲🇺

Get ready for a great day of precision, concentration, teamwork and sportsmanship as the District Councils come together in the true spirit of friendly competition.

👏 Best of luck to all participating teams!
May the best team win — and above all, may the spirit of sport prevail!