Arianne Navarre-Marie Urges Parents: Make Your Children Step Back

Labour Party member of parliament Arianne Navarre-Marie has issued a direct appeal to parents across Mauritius, urging them to step in and persuade their children to pull back from the ongoing civil unrest gripping parts of the island.

Speaking publicly, Navarre-Marie addressed families in Creole, using the phrase "demann nou bann zanfan resezi zot" — meaning "ask our children to step back" — a call that reflects growing concern among political figures and community leaders about the involvement of young people in the disturbances.

The appeal comes against the backdrop of widespread looting, road blockages, and public disorder that prompted the government to impose a curfew across Mauritius. Several incidents have involved minors. Four people were arrested following looting at Cascavelle Shopping Mall, two of whom were minors, and a suspect was also detained after theft and looting at Winners supermarket in Bambous.

Navarre-Marie's message is one of several calls for calm from across the political and business spectrum. MCCI President Patrice Marie and prominent businessman Arnaud Lagesse have also urged restraint and national unity, while Business Mauritius called on workers to return to their jobs as the situation began to stabilise.

The MP's focus on parental responsibility signals a wider societal concern: that young Mauritians, some of them minors, are being drawn into acts that carry serious legal consequences. Under Mauritius's Public Gathering Act and curfew regulations, participating in unlawful gatherings or obstructing roads can result in imprisonment of up to five years.

What this means: Parents who may be unaware of their children's whereabouts or activities during periods of unrest are being directly called upon to act. Beyond the moral appeal, the legal stakes are real — minors involved in looting or public disorder can face prosecution, and families could bear significant consequences. Navarre-Marie's message is both a humanitarian plea and a practical warning: the time to intervene is now, before legal proceedings make it too late.

The curfew imposed by the Mauritian government has since been lifted, with police reporting that the situation is broadly under control, though tensions remain in some areas.

Source: Le Défi Media