Vacoas-Phœnix
Encyclopedia
Vacoas-Phoenix is one of the five main towns in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
and the largest town of the country. Vacoas-Phoenix is composed of two main towns, Vacoas and Phoenix.
Statistics
It has the fifth largest number of inhabitants. In geographical terms, Vacoas-Phoenix is the largest municipality of Mauritius. It is also the largest town in geographic terms. The town lies between CurepipeCurepipe
Curepipe is a town centrally situated in Mauritius, an island country in the southwest Indian Ocean. It is second in size and importance to Port Louis, the capital....
and Quatre Bornes
Quatre Bornes
Quatre Bornes is a town in Mauritius, located in the Upper Plaines Wilhems District, between the towns of Rose Hill and Vacoas-Phoenix. Covering an area of over twenty thousand square kilometres, Quatre Bornes is linked by roads to the north, east, south and west of Mauritius...
in the western highlands region of the country, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Port Louis
Port Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
, the national capital. It was proclaimed a town in 1963 at which time it was joined with Phoenix. In 1968 it was raised to the status of a Municipality. The joint population of Vacoas-Phoenix is 103,564 (2003 census).
Vacoas
Vacoas acts mainly as the moving town with all development and enterprise works take and on the other side Phoenix is her sister.The boundary between Phoenix to the east and Vacoas to the west is Rivière Sèche, though other sources consider Avenue Père-Laval (officially Decaen Road) as the actual boundary. The promenade Père Laval is one the most beautiful places in Mauritius; it runs on the area between Decaen Road and Rivière Sèche. Though officially a walking trail, it has become popular with the locals as a place to play football. It is also a popular picnic spot with foreign Chinese workers employed at the nearby factories.
Both Vacoas and Phoenix consist of residential and commercial areas. The centre of Vacoas, that is the immediate area around Vacoas bus station, consists of a several old shops, owned mostly by Sino-Mauritians. Vacoas also boasts of its bazaar - vegetable market (active on Tuesdays and Fridays) and its 'Way' supermarket. The town has one of the most reputed girls' colleges, Dr Maurice Curé SSS. The rest of the town is devoted to residence, while the Gymkhana ground remains popular with joggers, football matches and military training. In addition, the Gymkhana
Gymkhana
Gymkhana is a typical Anglo-Indian expression, which is derived from the Hindi-Urdu word for "racket court," is an Indian term which originally referred to a place where sporting events take place. The meaning then altered to denote a place where skill-based contests were held...
has a special club for golfers.
While it used to be the driving force of the Municipality of Vacoas-Phoenix, Vacoas has now fallen behind its neighbor sister.
Vacoas holds its name from a plant whose scientific name is "Pandanus" and which was found in large quantities in this region. Formerly, the leaves of this plant were used to make the bags and mats.
Phoenix
Phoenix is one of the most industrialized towns of Mauritius: it has specific areas like Petit-Camp and Valentina where several industrial estates have been built and is known for its chic and glamorous neighborhoods and suburbs where the prime minister house is found.This has not gone without any problem, however: the factories have been accused of water pollution and have been under fire for their effects on the health of people. Recently, a textile factory had to be relocated because of complaints. Some of the remaining landmarks of the town's industrial estate are Phoenix Camp minerals, where Coca-Cola products and the local Phoenix BeerPhoenix Beverages
Phoenix Beverages is the largest brewery in Mauritius. Their Phoenix Beer is widely distributed on the island. The company also has connections with the Guinness Brewery.-Phoenix Beer:...
are bottled. Phoenix is also where we can find the monument of the town (a phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
placing its claws over a pandanus
Pandanus
Pandanus is a genus of monocots with about 600 known species. They are numerous palmlike dioecious trees and shrubs native of the Old World tropics and subtropics. They are classified in the order Pandanales, family Pandanaceae.-Overview:...
plant) and the seat of the Industrial Vocational Training Board (IVTB). Shortly after he was named Minister for Education in 1997, Kadress Pillay decided to move his ministry's seat from the capital Port Louis to the IVTB building in Phoenix. Since 1994, Phoenix possesses a major shopping centre in the Centre Commercial Phoenix, whose main attractions are its hypermarket, its food court and sports store (Allsport).
In spite of the absence of any real bus station, Phoenix is well linked to the other urban areas. It is one of the major stops for the "162 Express" line that runs between Curepipe and Port Louis, and is also well connected to Rose Hill.
Apart from the Dr. Maurice Curé SSS and the IVTB, other major educational institutions in the region are La Visitation Roman-Christian Aided Primary School and Aryan Vedic Primary School in Vacoas, and Phoenix Government School, Aleemiah College and Sir Abdul Raman Osman SSS in Phoenix. In addition, there are now the recently built Vacoas SSS and Phoenix SSS that act mainly as junior secondary schools.
"Phoenix is a town of main importance, which bears the name of an ancient sugar estate now, of which only the souvenir remains.
This sugar estate was set up in 1846 at the merging place of two rivers. La Rivière du Mesnil and La Rivière Sèche, and was administered by Mr. Henry Barlow. The mill was disaffected in 1874 on account of financial depression and the building widowed of its machinery was destroyed by the severe cyclone of 1892."
"Phoenix" is also a variety of palm tree cultivated in mild regions.
In 1968, when the Town of Vacoas-Phoenix was raised to the status of Municipality, the Council had to be provided with a Coat of Arms. In June 1970, the Council approved a sketch submitted by the College of Arms of London which was responsible for effecting the design, text engrossment and registration of the document. By the end of the year the Town was endowed with its Armorial Bearings and the motto "Copia et Concordia" meaning harmony and abundance assigned at it.
Suburbs
The town occupies many neighbourhoods. These are as follows:Phoenix
- Valentina: Semi-industrial and semi-residential area.
- Petit Camp: Semi-industrial and semi-residential area, heavily marked by the presence of Phoenix Beverages and Phoenix Camp Minerals.
- Riverside
- Highlands: Former sugar estate and now sparsely inhabited compared to the other areas.
- Belle Terre: Residential area, sometimes considered as part of Highlands.
- Camp Fouquereaux: Residential area, sometimes considered as part of Highlands.
- Hermitage: A minor terminus for some bus lines.
- Castel: Working and middle class neighborhood.
- Mesnil: An area with many little shops and sellers.
- St Paul: Working and middle class area known for its church, which celebrated its centenary in 2006.
- Cité Palmerston: Situated just northwards of Phoenix government school, it is known as the area of the whole town with the largest concentration of manual workers. A branch of the municipal library as well as sports facilities opened there in late 1999.
- Rivière Sèche: posh area, bordering Cité Palmerston, with large houses running northwards alogside Rivière Sèche until Phoenix Commercial centre. On weekends and public holidays, one could see youngsters from Barry Lane/Nehru, Rivière Sèche, Cité Palmerston and sometimes even St Paul playing football together at the Promenade Père Laval. Those social events were brought to an abrupt end when road extension works were performed on Avenue Père Laval in late 2009, thereby damaging the playing surface.
- Carreau Laliane
Vacoas
- La Caverne: One of the town's major supermarkets, London Way, started there as a mere grocery. It is also the living place of former Prime Minister and current President of the Republic Sir Anerood Jugnauth and his family.
- Hollyrood
- Bonne Terre: This part of town, whose name can literally translate as "fertile soil", is home to many flower and vegetable gardens.
- SolferinoSolferino, MauritiusSolferino is a region in the town of Vacoas-Phoenix, in Mauritius. Ideally located in the centre of the town it is an ideal place to live. It is famously known for its local produce and people rave about its vegetable production. Long considered as a slum after the country gained independence from...
- Glen Park
- Henrietta
- La Marie: A sparsely populated area of crucial importance because of the presence of the La Marie filter plants, which makes water safe for usage for a considerable proportion of the population of Mauritius.
All these neighbourhoods belong to the municipality of Vacoas Phoenix which comprises many other small squares rounding to the whole town.
Landmarks
Other landmarks include: Palmerston Bridge in Phoenix (an old bridge by Mauritian standards), The 7th Day Adventist Church, the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, old retail shops alongside the Royal Road in Phoenix; the new police headquarters, the Special Mobile ForceSpecial Mobile Force
The Special Mobile Force is a paramilitary unit that serves as the main internal security force in Mauritius. As Mauritius has no dedicated military, mainly due to the cost that it would incur, the SMF forms part of the Mauritius Police Force, with its personnel on long term rotation from the...
headquarters and the Mauritius Meteorological Services headquarters in Vacoas.
Phoenix hosted the Fed Cup in tennis on the 17th to 20th of April 2007 and the European/African Zone Group II and Group III on the 23rd to 26th.
Symbolism of the coats of arms
- The arms
The voided Pall, the Y shaped figure, recalls the two rivers and their confluence and separation. The three roundels recall the fruit and vegetable marketing activities of the Town. The two green ones also serve to recall the two golf courses nearby.
The Caduceus, the winged staff entwined by two snakes is, of course, a well known symbol for signalling establishments and in this instance alludes to the signalling base at Vacoas-Phoenix. The Phoenix at the top between the two bags of sugar is self-explanatory.
- The crest
The Mural Crown is indicative of the status as a Municipality. This heraldic charge, as far as Corporate Bodies are concerned, is nowadays reserved for Towns and Cities etc.
The two Palm trees conjoined are those of the Vacoas and Phoenix variety
- The mantling
Which in this sketch only has the colours indicated follows the normal heraldic practice whereby it is tinctured of the principal metal (gold) and the principal colour (blue) of the shield.
Municipal Council
The original Municipal Council area which was 13.22 km2 has been extended to 54 km2 in 1991 by the annexing of areas such as Belle Terre, Camp Fouquereaux, Cinq Arpents, Highlands, Henrietta, La Marie, Glen Park, Petit Camp, Valentina, Quinze Cantons, Solferino and Hollyrood. The population which was 42,000 in 1963 has now reached about 103,000 with an estimated 30,000 households.The Town of Vacoas-Phoenix has a cool climate which is very conducive for agriculture and also offers a very pleasant living environment. One can find vast agricultural zones in the Town area where sugar cane and vegetables are grown on a large scale side by side with residential areas which offer modern facilities to the inhabitants. The town has also known major developments in both economic social fields and several commercial and industrial zones have been established within the limits of the town.
The geographic position of Vacoas-Phoenix has induced numerous major firms and commercial enterprises, government institutions and para-statal bodies to settle in this region.
In fact, the town is easily accessible through the motorway which links different parts of the country including the airport and the harbour. The sole brewery and the first hypermarket of the country are found in the Town.
Salient features of Vacoas-Phoenix
Today, in spite of its industrial and commercial development, Vacoas / Phoenix can still be considered a 'garden town' given that it is the traditional supplier of vegetables and flowers.Firms such as the Food and Allied Group of Companies, Phoenix Beverages Group, The CMT (Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile), Paper Converting Co Ltd and Gumboots Manufacturing Company as well as a firm of accountants and licensed auditors-Navy and Yan, are located in the town.
Famous people live in Vacoas Phoenix :
- Sir Anerood Jugnauth (President)
- Navinchandra Ramgoolam ( Prime Minister)
- Pravind JugnauthPravind JugnauthPravind Kumar Jugnauth MP Esq. is the former Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Mauritius who was in office from 11 May 2010 to 26 July 2011. He is also Member of Parliament for the 8th constituency Quartier Militaire and Moka.He is an Indo-Mauritian of Bihari descent. He served in...
(Vice Prime MinisterVice Prime Minister of MauritiusVice Prime Minister of Mauritius is a title granted to two senior members of the Cabinet of the country. In 2005, after the Labour Party won the elections, Navin Ramgoolam proposed a motion to the National Assembly to create offices for two Vice Prime Ministers...
) - Abu KasenallyAbu KasenallyAbu Twalib Kasenally MP is the Minister of Housing & Lands of Mauritius. He serves in the Cabinet of Navin Ramgoolam since he has been elected under the Labour Party banner in 2005. He was appointed Minister of Public Utilities in 2005 before being appointed as Minister of Housing in 2008...
(Cabinet Minister) - Nando BodhaNando BodhaNandcoomar Bodha MP is the former Minister of Tourism & Leisure of Mauritius. He has been holding the office since 11 May 2010 to 26 july 2011 . He held the same office from 2000 to 2003 in the MSM/MMM coalition government...
(Minister of TourismMinistry of Tourism (Mauritius)The Ministry of Tourism of Mauritius is a ministry found in the cabinet in the government of Mauritius .It is often mentioned as one of the biggest cabinet and most important just after Finance Department.The person actually holding the office is Nandcoomar Bodha .He was appointed on the 11 May...
) - Leela Devi DookhunLeela Devi DookhunLeela Devi Dookhun Luchoomun MP is current Minister of Social Security of Mauritius serving in the cabinet of Navin Ramgoolam having been appointed on the 11 May 2010 by President Anerood Jugnauth .She is Member of Parliament representing Constituency No 8 ,Moka & Quartier Militaire.She is a...
(Cabinet Minister) - Paul BerengerPaul BérengerPaul Raymond Bérenger GCSK MP is the Leader of the Opposition of Mauritius and former Prime Minister of the Republic. Bérenger, who is a Christian of French descent, is the only Prime Minister of Mauritius who was not a Hindu....
(Leader of the Opposition)
The , the Prime Minister and other important personalities are residents of the town.
The town also has major places of attractions some of which are:
- The Special Mobile Force Complex
- The Gymkhana Club
- Promenade Père Laval
- Clarisse House
- Jumbo Shopping Centre
- The Vacoas FairHare Krishna Land - ISCKON
- Les Sept Cascades(Tamarind Falls)
- Théatre Serge Constantin
- Pandit Sahadeo Gymnasium
- National Tennis Centre
- La Marie Treatment Plant
- The Mauritius Glass Gallery
- Phoenix Les Halles Commercial Centre
The following institutions are also found in the town:
- Mauritius Meteorological Services
- Central Water Authority
- Industrial and Vocational Training Board
- The Ministry of Education
- Special Mobile Force
- Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture
- ENT Hospital
- CNT - Head Office
- The Ministry of Works
- Mauritius Red Cross
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