World Bank helps Madagascar fight natural resources trafficking

Madagascar received four speedboats offered by the world Bank to fight against the trafficking of its natural resources, a statement from the presidency said Tuesday.

The reception of these patrol speedboats was attended by Madagascar's President Hery Rajaonarimampianina and the World Bank representative to Madagascar Coralie Gevers on Monday in Toamasina, a port city 360 kilometers northeast of Madagascar's capital Antananarivo.

"We must continue the fight against trafficking of Madagascar's natural resources. We'll do not tolerate traffickers. We'll do not accept it any more, because it causes a great loss for the country," Madagascar's president said during the reception of these speedboats.

The president asked all Malagasy citizens to denounce those involved in this traffic.

"The World Bank is honored by the commitment of Madagascar's President in the fight against trafficking of natural resources," the World Bank representative to Madagascar said.

Coralie Gevers added that Madagascar needs to be supported by a strong will to act at all levels.

These boats will allow Madagascar's navy to follow quickly traffickers on the basis of information received from the Center of Maritime Information Fusion installed recently in Madagascar's capital, the presidency said.

Funded by the World Bank, these speedboats well equipped with sophisticated equipments, cost together 775,000 Euros.

Deemed rich in natural resources, including precious woods, endemic animals, mining, and marine products, Madagascar is known worldwide as source of fauna or flora illicitly trafficked to other countries for lack of control and corruption. Endit