Alitalia has sent a plane to fetch them.

Expecting to enjoy a beach holiday, 224 Alitalia passengers landed on Mauritius today.

Authorities said 20 of them from Veneto and Lombardy had to go into quarantine or turn around.

The areas are in northern Italy where five people have died of coronavirus that has sickened at least 200 since last Friday.

The flu-like disease that originated in China is spreading with some European doctors warning of a global pandemic.

There have been no deaths from coronavirus in Africa, but the World Health Organization says the continent is ill equipped to deal with it spreading there.

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Recent events at the International Court of Justice in the Hague and the United Nations General Assembly remind us there is another: Britain’s continued administration of the Indian Ocean Chagos Archipelago.

Holding sway over the empire upon which the sun never set, Britain began calling the shots on  developments in the Indian Oceans around Mauritius from 1814.

Before giving that country independence in 1968, Britain paid four million pounds for the Chagos Archipelago and called it the British Indian Ocean Territory

In the mid sixties it leased one of the islands, Diego Garcia to the United States.

The Pentagon build a strategically importnat military base there, secure in the knowledge that it has tenure until 2035.

At Washington’s behest, Britain moved the  1800-odd islanders  off their home. They have never been allowed to return.

This type of behaviour might have been generally accepted in a bygone era of colonial administration..

It does not wash today – certainly not from a  country that has long passed the twilight of its global power.

Britain has set aside 40 million pounds to assist the displaced Chagoans who are mostly in Britain, the Seychelles and Mauritius.

Still not good enough.

The matter was brought to the United Nations’ top court that found in February that Britain had acted illegally by hiving off the archipelago to continue its occupation. The ICJ ruled this should end as soon as possible.

In the General Assembly this week, an African-sponsored motion was passed by 116 votes to six giving Britain six month to get off Chagos.

Britain’s ambassador to the world organization Dame Karen Pierce said candidly that this would not happen.

Britain is determined to continue its control of Chagos at least until 2036.

Not surprisingly the United States was one of the half-dozen opponents of the resolution.

It reminded the international community that operations from Diego Garcia protect the region from terrorists and pirates. The base is also used for humanitarian purposes like reducing tsunami victims.

Diego Garcia is not used to house terror suspects  but it is used as a refueling stop in transitioning them from points of capture to places of incarceration.

It was also used for US bombing raids on Iraq and Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington 18 years ago.

Neither the ICJ ruling nor the UNGA resolution is binding.

General Assembly resolutions cannot be enforced.

However the strongly reflects international opinion.

Flying in the face of it brings into question Britain’s commitment to the multilateral system of  governance.

With its military power having waned, Britain, like most other countries, has to rely on moral clout.

Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth urged countries to support the General Assembly resolution, saying failure to do so would be endorsing colonialism.

He maintains the United States can lease its military base from his government, adding that Mauritius would find it deeply offensive if Washington did not regard it as a trusted security partner.

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Prime Minister of the Indian Ocean state Pravind Jugnauth said before the vote in the General Assembly that not supporting the call for Britain to quit would be an endorsement of colonialism.

ends intro

Britain’s chief envoy to the United Nations Karen Pierce says London is disappointed with the General Assembly vote but does not intend leaving the Chagos archipelago.

The resolution, sponsored by African states, was passed by 116 votes to 6 and calls on Britain to quit within six months.

The archipelago houses the important US military base on Diego Garcia that has been leased from Britain until 2036.

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High Commissioner Vijaye Lutchmun was speaking at the Mauritius national day reception  in Pretoria.

Maurtian chief envoy Vijaye Lutchmun thanks South Africa and the African Union for supporting  his country’s efforts to have the Chagos archipelago returned.

He called in a colonial vestige.

The International Court of Justice ruled last month that Britain was wrong to remove administration of Chagos from Mauritius in the 60s.

Inhabitants of  Diego Garcia were forced to quit their homes when Britain signed an agreement with the United States to build a military base on the island. 

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Opposition parties say he risks turning the successful Indian Ocean nation into a banana republic.

Anerood Jugnauth first became prime minister of Mauritius in 1982.

His latest spell at the helm began three years ago.

The 86-year-old says its time for new blood.

He’s handing the baton to his son Pravind who’s finance minister and leader of the island’s largest party, the Militant Socialist Movement.

He counters critics of the move saying Mauritius has a Westminister-style government where transferring power without holding an election is perfectly acceptable.

He cites the recent example of David Cameron stepping down  as British Prime minister for Theresa May.

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Power will transfer to opposition leader and ex-president Anerood Jugnauth.

Ends intro

Anerood Jugnauth and Navinchandra Ramgoolam have alternated posts since 1982.

However this is the first time veteran politician Ramgoolam has lost his own seat.

He says the electorate has made its choice and he I humbly accepts its decision.

Debate over constitutional reform – which would strengthen presidential powers — made the election one of the most crucial since the country gained independence from Britain in 1968.

Ramgoolam had wanted to run for the presidency.

As head of the SADC observation mission, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashebane says the election were peaceful, transparent, free and fair, and credible, thus reflecting the will of the people of Mauritius.

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The ruling Labour Party looks set to win majority support from the 936 000 eligible voters.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashebane’s heading the SADC election observation team in Mauritius.

The poll is expected to lead to increased powers being granted to the President who currently has a largely ceremonial role.

Whichever coalition run Mauritius after this elections will have to ensure a better distribution of wealth in what is arguably the most successful SADC member.

The mushrooming tower blocks in the capital Port Louis bear testimony to Mauritian expansion as an offshore financial centre.

However tourism, textile and sugar workers say they’re lagging behind economically.

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