Statue of Mahé de la Bourdonnais, Saint-Denis

Created by the Parisian sculptor Louis Rochet, the bronze statue representing Bertrand François Mahé de La Bourdonnais (governor of the islands of France (Mauritius) and Bourbon (La Réunion)) was presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1855 and transported to La Réunion in 1856. The statue was inaugurated in La Réunion on the 15th of August 1856. On the 12th of May 2015, the statue was covered with a white sheet, and a sign saying "I am a supporter of slavery" was placed in Mahé de La Bourdonnais’ hands. The person behind this act has yet to be identified.