It is a memorable moment for me to visit this historic Heritage Site of Aapravasi Ghat where brave men and women from India and other shores first set foot in Mauritius when they arrived here more than 175 years ago. Aapravasi Ghat speaks to me, in the most sublime way, of the triumph of the human spirit in the face of all odds. It stands as a monument to the memory of these valiant men and women. Their immense courage, will and perseverance have shaped the Mauritius of today. I pay homage to their memory.