In keeping with his commitment to disability inclusion and empowerment, President Dharambeer Gokhool warmly received Ms. Elsie Gabriel, Founder of the Young Environmentalists Programme Trust, and Dr. Mark Rausch, Vice President of the Handicapped Scuba Association International, at State House yesterday.
The meeting built on the momentum of the Disability Inclusion and Empowerment Round-Table initiated by the Presidency on 29 July 2025, which resulted in the setting up of an Interministerial Committee to strengthen coordinated and inclusive action.
Discussions centred on the importance of accessible ocean tourism, particularly for persons with visible and invisible disabilities, senior citizens and retirees, and the need for disability-friendly infrastructure across hotels, resorts and coastal facilities.
Emphasis was also placed on the therapeutic value of the ocean and the right of all persons to fully enjoy leisure and wellbeing.
The need to promote ocean literacy through an interactive and practical education curriculum at all levels, was also highlighted.
Drawing from his own experience, Dr. Rausch underscored the importance of sensitisation and training to enable tourists and scuba divers to make informed and empathetic decisions, and to foster the right mindset when engaging with persons with disabilities in marine environments.
President Gokhool welcomed their willingness to support capacity-building, stakeholder training and multi-stakeholder collaboration in tourism and disaster management in Mauritius