VISION cadre et l’ environnement qui vont encourager les initiatives, mais le moteur doit venir du privé car la mairie n’ a pas les ressources. C’ est le rôle du PLDI de rassembler le privé et les différents projets. Nous avons fixé trois grands objectifs: repeupler et revaloriser l’ espace public, protéger le patrimoine et lui donner une seconde vie, et célébrer la ville.
Détaillez-nous vos grands projets pour Port-Louis? Le chantier est immense. Dès cette année, nous lançons ' 10 000 arbres pour la ville ' en collaboration avec la mairie. Les enfants vont planter des arbres, notamment en centreville. C’ est un moyen de les connecter avec la nature et de créer un nouvel écosystème, avec des bancs, des éclairages. Des respirations vertes dans l’ esprit d’ un autre aménagement à venir: une balade piétonne sur le ruisseau du Pouce, du Champ de Mars au Caudan. Un chantier est aussi prévu au niveau des deux gares pour les transformer en espaces piétons reliant la mer et la ville. JC Decaux, notre partenaire, sera chargé du mobilier urbain. Côté technologie, il est prévu de mettre en place, avec Mauritius Telecom, 48 bornes Wi-Fi en libre accès. Une appli citoyenne liée au tourisme sera proposée pour profiter de la capitale. Il y aussi un projet de transformer les Casernes( déplacées à Highlands) en vaste campus numérique.
Qu’ en est-il de la réhabilitation du patrimoine? Le patrimoine de Port-Louis peut bien sûr avoir une seconde vie. Nous travaillons notamment sur un aménagement autour de la Jummah Mosque. Il y a des constructions magnifiques avec de très belles cours intérieures. Sont prévus notamment des espaces de co-working. Nous sommes en contact avec Microsoft et Ceridian, pour qu’ ils installent leurs bureaux. Il y a d’ autres idées d’ aménagement, notamment à Chinatown, mais c’ est compliqué; il faut être patient. Port-Louis est une vieille dame que l’ on ne peut pas bousculer! Ce qui reste des vieilles pierres forge pourtant l’ identité de la ville. Regardez ce qui se passe au niveau international. Le patrimoine, c’ est l’ objet d’ un retour à la ville. L’ identité des villes prend le dessus sur celle des pays. Maurice est un cas particulier. Port-Louis doit devenir une marque. En allant plus loin dans la réflexion, en résonnant en termes d’ échelle, je dirais que toute l’ île doit être considérée comme une seule ville, avec des quartiers, et un cœur névralgique: Port-Louis.
Vivrons-nous au cœur de Port-Louis prochainement? Le work-live-play, soit trois activités de base qui se passent au même endroit et connectées par des zones piétonnes ou cyclables, c’ est notre plus gros challenge. Pour cela, il faut faire revenir les jeunes dans le centre-ville. On a fait un inventaire des espaces non-utilisés qu’ on aimerait transformer en logements. L’ idée est de proposer du co-housing pour permettre aux jeunes de devenir propriétaires à bas prix. Si 5 000 jeunes s’ y installent, l’ impulsion sera créée et le pari de faire vivre Port-Louis sera gagné. Le moment est propice pour cela.
* PLDI: Port-Louis Development Initiative.
Gaëtan Siew, it’ s been 50 years since Mauritius gained independence, how has Port Louis evolved in your opinion? Port Louis was a real capital with inhabitants living and working in the heart of the city. Today, the city has lost its sparkle. This can be explained by some major events: the great epidemics, like malaria which historically depopulated the downtown area, the riots of 1968 associated to the independence of the country when many abandoned Port Louis to emigrate, and the number of tropical cyclones which hit Mauritius, especially Carol in 1960, impacting significantly the traditional Mauritian architectural style. The large concrete slabs became temporary roofs … waiting for the next generation to use this foundation for their future house. Our traditional architecture got lost along the way, no more stones or wooden houses, just a crumbling city. Traffic is a major issue. People no longer venture into the capital any more, weary of losing time while stuck in traffic.
The capital city is opening up to exciting new prospects. We hear a lot about urban development projects related to Port Louis Smart City. How is PLDI * involved? Indeed, Port Louis has real opportunity to shine. The introduction of the metro is very promising as it would improve connectivity between Port Louis and the rest of the island. Projects concerning the construction of theatres, the Caudan Arts Centre and the aquarium are just as important for the capital city. Our vision, together with the PLDI is to dig deeper and open up a global vision. The State provides a framework and environment to foster initiatives, but the moxie must come from the private sector as the city council does not have the necessary resources. It is up to the PLDI to unite the private sector with the various projects. We identified three main objectives: to repopulate and upgrade the public areas, to revamp and protect its heritage, and to celebrate the city.
Can you provide us with more insight into these big projects for Port Louis? The challenge ahead remains daunting. As of this year, we will launch‘ 10,000 trees for the city’ in collaboration with the city council in an attempt to bring children closer to nature and to create a new ecosystem, with benches and lights. Children will plant trees, in particular in the city centre. Green areas will pave the way for a future project: a pedestrian pathway along the‘ Ruisseau du Pouce’, from the Champ de Mars to the Caudan Waterfront. A makeover is also planned for both bus stations, to transform them into pedestrian areas, linking the sea and the city. Our partner JC Decaux will head up urban furniture. On a technological level, we have to install 48 free Wi-Fi terminals with Mauritius Telecom. A tourism-based citizen app will be available to help make the most of the capital. We also have a project of transforming the Barracks( moving to Highlands) into a big digital campus.
What about the restoration of our heritage? The heritage of Port Louis could do with a revamp. We are busy working on a project related to the Jummah Mosque. Wonderful buildings with beautiful indoor gardens can be found. We are in contact with Microsoft and Ceridian so that they set up their offices in the co-working spaces that we are developing. There are other developments in mind, such as in Chinatown, but it is tricky, we need to be patient. Port Louis is like an old lady that should not be rushed! Look at what is happening on an international level. Heritage is the key to the city’ s resurrection. The identity of the city supersedes that of a country. It is different for Mauritius. Port Louis must become a brand. While giving this more thought and focusing on the bigger picture, I would say that the whole island must be considered as one city, with districts, and at the very heart of it: Port Louis.
Will Port Louis become‘ the place to be’? Our biggest challenge is work-live-play, in other words, three interlinked concepts which can be accessed on foot or by bike. For this to be possible, it is necessary that young people return to the city centre. We have identified a list of unused spaces to be transformed into housing projects. The idea is to introduce a co-housing concept, allowing young people to become owners at affordable prices. If 5,000 young people move to the city centre, we will gain momentum and the goal of making Port Louis great again will be possible. It is high time for this to happen.
* PLDI: Port-Louis Development Initiative.
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