GIS – 02 November 2025: A wreath-laying ceremony at the Lotus Monument situated at Antoinette Phooliyar, Barlow, to commemorate the 191st Anniversary of the Arrival of Indentured Labourers in Mauritius, was held this afternoon in the presence of the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and several Members of Parliament.
Wreaths were laid by Prime Minister Ramgoolam; the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Paul Raymond Bérenger; the Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Mahendra Gondeea; and other eminent personalities.
Antoinette Phooliyar, Barlow, is the camp where the first indentured labourers were brought to work in the sugar plantations of Ex-Antoinette Sugar Estate.
A first batch of 36 Bihari indentured labourers arrived from Calcutta, India, and settled in Mauritius in 1834. The village Antoinette Phooliyar serves as a tribute to these workers and as a testament to Mauritius’s role in the ‘Great Experiment’ of labour migration.
Earlier today a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Aapravasi Ghat UNESCO World Heritage Site to mark the 191st anniversary of the arrival of Indentured Labourers in Mauritius.
The 2nd of November, a national public holiday, is a very important day for many Mauritians as it is a solemn and significant time of remembrance of our forefathers’ struggles and contribution in shaping Mauritius’s identity, culture, and socio-economic landscape.
Government Information Service, Prime Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website: https://gis.govmu.org Mobile App: Search Gov
