26) Mauritius Trochetia when leaving Port Louis harbour the 30th March 2006. On board, 100 Chagossians who were allowed to return back to their islands for a short visit to tend their families’ graves. The painter himself, chose not attend the voyage due to the work of finishing these paintings. Along with two Mauritian priests, masses were held in the ruins of the old villages of Salomon, Peros Banhos and Diego Garcia. In the latter island, which since the deportations of the Chagossians has been housing a major US military base, the old village has been reconstructed. However, access remains extremely difficult, particularly so for the people whose families are buried there
