OBITUARY – MR F. A. CANABADY

Madam Speaker, it is with sadness that we have learnt of the demise of Mr France Antoine Canabady, former Member of Parliament, who passed away on 02 October 2025 at the age of 82. He was born in 1943, in Port Louis, and he completed his primary schooling at the Central Boys Government School. He then attended the Royal College of Port Louis for his secondary school and pursued his tertiary education at the University of Manchester as a Commonwealth Scholar. He also held maîtrise en droit from l’Université de la Réunion and a Diplôme du troisième cycle in Cooperation and Development from l’Université Libre de Bruxelles. Mr Canabady had a distinguished professional career. Upon his return to Mauritius in 1967, he joined the Collège du Saint Esprit where he taught English, English Literature and General Paper. He later became the Head of the English Department and served as the Dean of Studies until 1990. In 1993, he joined Le Bocage International School as Head of English of the English Department and taught English and English Literature. He became Deputy Headmaster before embarking on a new career as a Patent Translator with the World Intellectual Property Organisation until 2025. Madam Speaker, Mr Canabady joined politics in 1967 on his return to Mauritius. He was elected in Ward II of the town of Quatre Bornes at the Municipal Council Elections of December 1982. He was elected Mayor of Quatre Bornes on 01 January 1984 – a position which he held until 31 December 1984. He stood as a candidate of the 1982 General Election for the Legislative Assembly under the banner of the alliance MMM-PSM for the Constituency No. 16, Vacoas-Floréal. He was returned as a Second Elected Member for the said constituency. He then stood for the 1983 General Election for the same constituency under the banner of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien and became the Fourth Member for Vacoas-Floréal after having been appointed best loser. Mr Canabady resigned as a member of the Legislative Assembly in April 1984. Although he was not involved in active politics, he remained a keen observer throughout his life. As a patriot and with a deep sense of civic duty, he translated, on a pro bono basis, the Mauritius submission to the International Court of Justice. He also edited the book of late Jayen Cuttaree, Behind the Purple Curtain. Madam Speaker, Mr Canabady will be remembered as a man of high principles and integrity. We offer our sincere condolences to his spouse, Mrs Usha Dwarka-Canabady, to his children and all those who are afflicted by this demise. May I kindly request you, Madam Speaker, to direct the Clerk of the National Assembly to convey the deep condolences of this Assembly to the bereaved family. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, hon. Deputy Prime Minister.

Madame la présidente, je me joins à tout ce que le Premier ministre vient de dire. Madame la présidente, c’est un militant pur et dur qui nous a quitté. En tant que militant, comme nous tous, il refusait les compromissions. Mais en tant que militant pur et dur, il a refusé aussi certains compromis que beaucoup parmi nous, dans le MMM, estimions nécessaires at a given point in time. Je me joins à tout ce que le Premier ministre vient de dire et j’exprime toute ma sympathie à ses proches. Merci, Madame la présidente.

Je vous remercie. Monsieur le leader de l’opposition ! The Leader of the Opposition (Mr G. Lesjongard): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Opposition, I wish to associate myself to the tribute paid by Dr. the hon. Prime Minister to late Mr France Canabady. Madam Speaker, may I request you to direct the Clerk of the National Assembly to convey our deep condolences to the bereaved family. Thank you.

Thank you. Hon. Members, I am also saddened by the passing of Mr France Antoine Canabady, whom I have personally known during his tenure as a Member of Parliament and also as a friend. I, therefore, associate myself with the tribute paid to the memory of late Mr France Antoine Canabady, former Member of Parliament, by Dr. the hon. Prime Minister, by the hon. Deputy Prime Minister and the hon. Leader of the Opposition, and I direct the Clerk to convey the deep condolences of the Assembly to the bereaved family.