President James Michel has created a new funding body for La Digue island. It will raise funds and approve fund allocations for projects to develop the island.

The La Digue Trust Fund, which will be chaired by the principal secretary for Presidential Affairs, Mrs Lise Bastienne, and has six other members for a three-year period, is tasked with considering applications for funding assistance for development projects, as well as undertaking activities and investment as may be appropriate to generate revenue for the Fund.

"La Digue has great potential for development for socio-cultural and socio-economic activities and the new fund will speed up the funding process as well as act as a financial accountability and support mechanism for the La Digue Development Board and the L'Union Estate Board," said President Michel.

The Trust Fund will be partly financed from the profits of L'Union Estate, and from revenue raised through fundraising and other activities, and partly by government and private sector investments.

Projects that are developed and proposed by the La Digue Development Board will be submitted to the Trust Fund for consideration.

During his one-day visit to La Digue, the President met with Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sport, Mr Vincent Meriton, the Chairperson of the La Digue Development Board, Mrs Monica Figaro, the Chairperson of the L'Union Estate, Mr Gregoire Payet, and the Chairperson of the La Digue Trust Fund, Mrs Lise Bastienne, as well as the District Administrator Ms Barbara Barallon and the Member of the National Assembly for the Inner Islands, Ms Chantale Ghislain.

They discussed the coordination of work between the boards and the fund, and the roles each would undertake in the development of La Digue.

A new playground project was also discussed, and the site of the playground in front of the District Administration office was visited.


The La Digue Trust Fund Board

Chairperson - Mrs Lise Bastienne
Member- The District Administrator (ex-officio)-Ms Barbara Barallon
Member- The Member of the National Assembly for the Inner Islands (ex-officio)- Ms Chantale Ghislain
Member- Mr Michel Madeleine
Member- Mrs Ranie Jeanne
Member- Mr Patrick Payet
Member- Mr Ansley Constance

The objects of the trust fund are to:
(a) receive and raise funds for the development of La Digue
(b) receive and consider applications for funding assistance for projects aimed at the development of La Digue
(c) undertake such activities and investment as may be appropriate to generate revenue for the fund
(d) approve funding for projects aimed at the development of La Digue


The President has also appointed the Board of L'Union Estate, for a three-year period.

L'Union Estate Board:
Chairperson-Mr Gregoire Payet
CEO-Mr Keddy Nibourette
Member- Mrs Monica Figaro
Member- Mr Antoine Marie-Moustache
Member-Ms Benjamine Rose
Member-Mr Jean-Paul D'Offay
Member- Mr Sebastien Pillay


President has appointed the La Digue Development Fund Board
for a period of three years.

La Digue Development Board:
Chairperson- Ms Monica Figaro (Chair)
Member- The District Administrator (ex-officio)-Ms Barbara Barallon
Member- The Member of the National Assembly for the Inner Islands (ex-officio)- Ms Chantale Ghislain
Member- Mr Gregoire Payet
Member- Ms Gretel Quatre
Member- Mr Alain de Commarmond
Member- Mr Gerard Lablache
Member- Mr Lenny Lablache
Member- Ms Marie-Cecile Fanchette
Member- Mr Robert Pool