1937 Uba riots at Union Flacq

The Sirdars also acted as middlemen between sharecropping rural workers and the Franco-Mauritian elite that owned the large Sugar Cane estates.

This combined with the depressed state of the sugar market internationally put great economic strain on growers.

Due to similar strikes in Trinidad at the time the British government in Mauritius initially sought a conciliatory approach whilst the Labour Party held rallies calling for political and economic reform.

Seriously wounded labourers included Mamode Aniff Ramjan, Arjoon Narain, Abdool Azize Jeanath, Brizlall Beeharry, Sookdeo Koonjbeeharry, Pyandee Veerin and Lutchmun Sungkur.

[4] The incident also led to the democratisation of agricultural extension and research services to small scale sugarcane farmers.

[11] The Moody Commission of Enquiry of 1943 which was instigated following the Belle Vue Harel Massacre also highlighted the inadequate remuneration and conditions of those working in the Mauritian sugar industry.

The dockers' strike of September 1938 in Port Louis prompted Governor Sir Bede Clifford to declare a state of emergency.

Despite Anquetil's exile and the house arrest of Sahadeo and Curé the profile of the Labour Party was greatly enhanced helping to create the conditions for it to join forces with the IFB and CAM to form the first governing alliance (Independence Party (Mauritius) of an independent Mauritius 30 years later in August 1967.

[11] Those that died in the event were commemorated by Mauritian singer Siven Chinien in his song 1937 L'année Memorable[13] which was released in his 1970s album Ratsitatane, Conscience Noire.