After postponing his trip, François Bayrou arrived in Mayotte on Monday at the head of an imposing ministerial delegation. On this occasion, he promised an aid plan for the reconstruction of the archipelago called “Mayotte standing” after the devastating passage of Hurricane Chido, which will precede other longer-term measures.
“The Mahorais often have the feeling that what we bring them are assurances, beautiful words of solidarity in declarations but what they want is reality. […] After a day of dialogue, we will announce this evening a plan which will be called “Mayotte standing” which will allow “to provide rapid responses”, affirmed the Prime Minister, after a visit to a desalination plant in water.
A second phase, “a long-term plan”
“And then, there will be a second phase in a few months. It's a long-term plan. Because it’s not just about rebuilding Mayotte as it was. It’s about designing a different future for Mayotte,” he added. François Bayrou must speak to the departmental council at the end of his day of visits. The fate of Mayotte must be the subject of a special bill, which could be presented during the Council of Ministers scheduled for Friday.
The Prime Minister's plane landed on Monday at 5:40 a.m. local time (3:40 a.m. in Paris) at Mamoudzou airport. François Bayrou is accompanied by five ministers including two of the heavyweights of his government announced on Monday: Ministers of State Élisabeth Borne (Education) and Manuel Valls (Overseas). Valérie Létard (Housing), Yannick Neuder (Health) and Thani Mohamed Soilihi (Francophonie and International Partnerships), former senator of the island, are also traveling on the first ministerial plane, which transported 2.5 tonnes of equipment humanitarian aid, including water purification tablets and freight for dialysis patients.
2.5 tonnes of humanitarian equipment
Continuation of the delivery of aid, reconstruction, education and the inevitably disrupted return to school: the government's new measures are expected on the island, two weeks after the passage of Chido, which caused the death of 39 people and more than 5,600 injured, according to a report from the Mayotte prefecture published on Sunday.
Prime Minister François Bayrou experienced a first and intense controversy when he went to Pau, two days after the cyclone, to chair the municipal council of the city of which he has been mayor since 2014. The announcement of the composition of his government on Monday , a day declared of national mourning, was also criticized.
An open letter from collectives of Mahorese citizens
On site, groups of Mahorese citizens denounced in an open letter “the glaring insufficiency of the support measures” after the passage of the cyclone, and requested “a rapid and structured reconstruction plan”, the creation of a “solidarity fund exceptional” to compensate the victims, including the uninsured, and the “elimination of property taxes for the current year”.
The latest information on Mayotte
At the end of his visit to Mayotte, François Bayrou will travel to the island of Reunion, an important logistical base for aid to the archipelago, located 1,435 kilometers away, where he will continue his visit Tuesday morning before returning to metropolis.
