Dubreuil – A remote village in Mauritius
It is a small town located about 20 minutes drive from the nearest town almost in the center of Mauritius. With a population of 2,733 inhabitants, it is immersed in a totally rustic environment. In fact, the town is surrounded by forests and green vegetation.
Upon reaching the destination, the visitor’s gaze is focused on the old houses and their ancient architecture. Most of the buildings look abandoned and require extensive renovation. Since it is a humid region, the walls are covered with green moss on the outside. The streets are almost deserted as only a few residents own a vehicle. Even bus services are available at half hour intervals.
The main area is concentrated with a few shops and vegetable vendors. Regarding means of transportation, in addition to the services offered by the bus company, there are local taxis that travel from town to town and vice versa.
Like many other towns, this one also has a community center that can be considered as the meeting point of the towns. It is she with whom they meet to discuss their daily problems and how to address them. At the door, games such as carrom, dominoes, monopoly and other games are offered to young people. Residents also play sports such as soccer and volleyball, and tournaments are organized regularly. There are also outdoor activities where people come together to celebrate festivities and other important functions.
Regarding health establishments, the Ministry of Health has set up a dispensary where free medical attention is provided to the inhabitants. Most of the time people come to the center for minor ailments such as injuries, pain, malnutrition and skin problems. Prenatal care, vaccination and family planning programs are also carried out, however, the main disease suffered by the inhabitants is alcoholism. This is a serious scourge in the town.
The town also has a primary school to promote education for the benefit of the inhabitants. However, due to poverty, many parents cannot afford to send their children to school, even though education is free. The performance of the students is deficient since most of them do not receive the required family support in their home environment. Most of the workers are employed in the agricultural sector in the sugarcane fields and tea plantations. So far the town has produced very few intellectuals. With industrialization, a large proportion of the female labor force has sought employment in the textile and manufacturing sectors.
A few years ago a police station was opened in the town for the safety of the inhabitants. Previously all cases were handled by another nearby police station. With the increasing number of police cases, the police station plays a leading role in maintaining law and order in the locality. Very often cases of disputes, brawls, robberies and conflicts between villagers, especially under the influence of alcohol, are reported to the police.
As mentioned above, one of the main problems affecting the town is alcoholism. This situation dates back a long time. Previously, there was no proper entertainment for residents. The only way to entertain yourself was to have a few drinks with friends and colleagues. After returning home from work, most of the workers would gather in the shops to chat and drink, and even today, young people have been victims of this scourge. There really isn’t enough entertainment for the nth generation. Liquor stores are bustling with customers and open very late. In fact, it’s a very lucrative business in that corner of the country. In fact, this conjecture creates a multitude of social and family problems that result in domestic violence, divorce, and neglect of children, especially in education. Social workers are implementing awareness programs to inform victims of the serious impacts on health and social life.
One of the most striking features of the town is the presence of several kilometers of forests and green areas. In fact, from start to finish, the visitor’s gaze is drawn to the green of the vegetation. Here life passes quietly and since the residents are far from the madding crowd and noise pollution of large agglomerations and cities, it is an ideal place to practice sports such as jogging where the individual has the opportunity to breathe fresh air and enjoy of a sound healthy. The presence of rivers and dams enhances the beauty of the green belt. The rivers are rich in various varieties of fish, shrimp and crayfish. Many villagers earn their living by fishing.
After touring the village, the viewer glimpses a typical Mauritian rural region. The mentality, culture, behavior and way of life of the villagers are completely different from those in urban areas. So whenever you get a chance to come to Mauritius, don’t forget to visit this specific locality.