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Mauritius
This tropical island country, 800 miles off the coast of Madagascar, gained independence in 1968 as a constitutional monarchy with executive power nominally vested in the British monarch. It became a republic in 1992. The country was first conquered by the Dutch, who brought in slaves in from other countries to work in manufacturing industries and sugar cane fields, and there has been total employment. Sugar cane is the largest product.
The PC(USA)’s partner church, the Presbyterian Church of Mauritius, was begun by the British Presbyterians (CWM, the Council of World Missions). It has five congregations, one English-speaking and four French-speaking, with about 1,000 members. The PC(USA) cooperates with Anglican and Roman Catholic churches and the Presbyterian Church of Canada in a theological education by extension program. The PC(USA) has also helped facilitate, with financial and logistical aid, the Madagascar church's sending personnel to minister to the immigrant Malagasy community in Mauritius. |
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