Mr Arne M.

Sorenson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Marriott International, Inc.
Bethesda, MD 20817
United States of America

Dear Sir,
No to Marriott’s Sheraton expanding in Mauritius by
capitalising on the theft of a public beach from the local
population
Your chairman, J.W. Marriott, Jr., is reported to have stated
"We welcome the tremendous responsibility as the world’s
largest hotel company to be a good global steward”. Your
company’s website adds: “We Act with Integrity. How we do
business is as important as the business we do. We hold
ourselves to uncompromising ethical and legal standards.” If
all these statements are indeed true and not hollow public
relations statements, then you should be very ashamed that
Marriott’s Sheraton label is the partner of Clear Ocean Hotel
and Resort Ltd in Mauritius, set up by South African beach
grabbers, Pelangi Resorts.
Clear Ocean Hotel and Resort Ltd and Pelangi Resorts, with
the active support of an ex-Minister, have stolen from the
Mauritian public the gorgeous public beach of Pomponette in
the South of our country. It is one of the last wild beaches
that Mauritians and visitors get to enjoy. Everywhere hotels
are crowding us out. BBC’s Business section did a special
video report, broadcast globally on 16 Mar 2018, on how the
Mauritian population is being pushed out from its beaches. It
featured the scandalous hotel project by Sheraton at
Pomponette. Here is the link:
http://www.bbc.com/…/beach-grabbing-erodes-our-birth-
rights…
The planning laws of Mauritius have officially proclaimed the
South coast, where Pomponette beach is located, as a
heritage zone where no hotels can be built on the beach
because it is the only portion of our small island that has
remained relatively pristine. The Northern, Western and
Eastern coasts are already heavily “developed”. Everyone is
supposed to be equal in front of the law. But not Clear Ocean
Hotel and Resort Ltd and Pelangi Resorts, thanks to the ex-
Minister of Housing and Lands, Mr Soodhun. On 24 August
2016, he revoked the public beach status of Pomponette so
that it could be leased to Clear Ocean Hotel and Resort Ltd.
There were no public consultations. This has caused
widespread anger among the Mauritian population. Will
Marriott associate its brand to such despicable actions in
total defiance of the Mauritian public and disregard for
Mauritian laws?
On Sunday 3rd November, Mrs Miranda Meyer Hartzenberg,
CEO of Clear Ocean Hotel and Resort Ltd, toured the beach to
tell locals: “This is my beach! This is private property!” That is
totally unacceptable. Hotels, luxury villas and golf courses
already occupy twice of our coastline compared to public
beaches, about 90 versus 45 kilometres. Mauritians are
becoming second-class citizens in their own country. All this
is happening with the full support of successive
Governments, whatever their political colour.
Mr Sorensen, if Marriott does indeed hold itself to
“uncompromising ethical and legal standards” as stated on
your corporate website, you must then immediately cancel
any partnership with Clear Ocean Hotel and Resort Ltd and
Pelangi Resorts. Why don’t you instead partner up with small
planters and local villagers to develop inland eco-tourism?
The Core Values listed on the Marriott website are very nice
to read. But will you walk that talk?
Awaiting an urgent response from you, via the Aret Kokin Nu
Laplaz platform.