1

As at 10 00 hours on 16.07.19

PRIVATE NOTICE QUESTION

(Sitting of Tuesday 16 July 2019)

To ask the Honourable Minister of Arts and Culture: -

Whether, in relation to a treasure trove allegedly discovered near St
Francois Rodrigues, he will state –
(a) when it was discovered and by whom;
(b) the estimated value thereof;
(c) if the National Heritage Fund has granted permission for
excavation, pursuant to Section 6(c) of the National heritage
Fund Act;
(d) if excavation works have begun and, if so, indicate outcome
thereof; and
(e) if consideration will be given for the vesting of any treasure
found in Rodrigues Regional Assembly after application of the
relevant legislation?

REPLY
Madam Speaker,

With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed

that an affidavit was sworn by Mr Roger DOGER DE
SPEVILLE on 15 May 2019, informing that he had, along
with one Mr George Desiré NÉMORIN, found the following
items in Rodrigues on or about 22 March 2019:

Page 1 of 3
 2

(i) a rusted chest, damaged on the edge as if it had

received a knock and leaning towards the West
and not horizontal. According to Mr Roger Doger
de Speville the said chest might date as far back
as about 300 years;
(ii) a piece of metal strip reinforcement from the chest
located to the right of the chest on the ground;
(iii) to the right of the inclined, leaning chest, the
remains of broken rope seemingly from a rope and
pulley hoist system, symmetrical objects used by
men probably to lower this chest into the hole;
(iv) a flat rock placed vertically in front of the chest,
towards the east;
(v) a small, unidentifiable bright red dot under the
trunk; and
(vi) a chimerical object seemingly with the skull of
goat and possibly the body of a fish.

As regards parts (b) and (d), no excavation has begun

and therefore, at this stage, the estimated value cannot be
determined.
With regard to part (c), I am informed that, as at date,
no request has been received by the National Heritage
Fund for a permission for excavation.

Concerning part (e), I wish to point out that the

Articles 713 and 716 of the ‘Code Civil Mauricien’ provide
as follows:

(a) Article 713:

Page 2 of 3
 3

“Les biens qui n’ont pas de maître appartiennent à

la nation.”

(b) Article 716:

“La propriété d’un trésor appartient à celui qui le trouve

dans son propre fonds: si le trésor est trouvé dans le
fonds d’autrui, il appartient pour moitié à celui qui l’a
découvert, et pour l’autre moitié au propriétaire du
fonds.

Le trésor est toute chose cachée ou enfouie sur laquelle

personne ne peut justifier sa propriété, et qui est
découverte par le pur effet du hasard.”

Accordingly, in view of the complexity of the case, legal

implications will be looked into by all parties concerned,
namely, the Ministry of Defence and Rodrigues, the
Ministry of Arts and Culture, the Attorney General’s Office,
the Rodrigues Regional Assembly and the National Heritage
Fund, amongst others.

Page 3 of 3