Local Mauritius

Rupee records slight drop

The Mauritian rupee has depreciated by 0.4 per cent since the beginning of the year against the euro, which for its part, is swinging near a 5¾ year low against the local currency. It also reached the 0.5 per cent depreciation mark on Thursday. According to the Bank of Mauritius data, the price of one [...]

31 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Projet d’alphabétisation pour les détenus

Le Service des Prisons et Media Watch ont lancé, depuis samedi, un programme d’alphabétisation pour les détenus à la prison de Beau-Bassin.

30 Jan 2012, Le Matinal

PM to receive hon degree at KU university

The Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam will be awarded the honorary D Litt degree at a convocation ceremony at Kurukshetra University in India on February 8. Indian President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil will be the chief guest on the occasion. More than three years after Kurukshetra University had declared the honour, the PM has agreed [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Barclays PLC Mauritius appoints 3 new directors

Barclays PLC Mauritius, which won the coveted Bank of the Year 2011 award, conferred by the Banker, is undergoing changes at the directorial level. Since the beginning of the year, the bank has integrated three new members at this level.They are Dev Sewgobind, human resources director, Roshan Ramoly, head of business development and strategy and [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Rally to mark 177th anniv of Abolition of Slavery on Feb 1

The 177th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery will be celebrated on February 1. As always on this occasion, several activities will be organised by the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Morne Heritage Trust Fund and the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture Trust Fund. The minister of Arts and Culture, Mookhesswur Choonee stated that [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Number of unemployed increases by 1,500

According to the publication, Economic and Social Indicators (ESI), from the third quarter of 2010 to the third quarter of 2011, the number of unemployed persons increased by 1,500 to reach 45,900. This rise was the combined effect of an increase of 3,300 in the number of unemployed males and a decrease of 1,800 in [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Port Louis starts street lighting project

Municipality of Port Louis’ project to replace the current street lamps with those that run on solar energy has reached an advanced stage. This was confirmed to The Independent by lord mayor Mahmad Kodabaccus. This is being done at an investment of about Rs 800 million. China is financially helping the municipal council for this [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

2012 Olympics countdown begins

January 27 marked the six-months-to-go milestone for the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony on July 27. Dubbed the ‘greatest show on earth’, the Olympics will feature 26 sports covering 39 disciplines and will take place at 30 different venues across the United Kingdom (UK). Among these is the London 2012 stadium, which is the most [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

RGSC organises sky observation at Belle Mare

In a bid to allow people to discover the splendour of the sky at night, sky observation programmes are often organised across the island by the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre (RGSC). The first three months of 2012 will be prime observing time for planetary enthusiasts. On Friday, it was a good opportunity for the residents [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Plans to make UoM campus a WiFi zone

With a view to make Mauritius a cyber island, the government is planning to convert the University of Mauritius (UoM) campus into a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) zone. It will also cover areas that house neighbouring educational institutions such as Mauritius Institute of Education and Mauritius Examinations Syndicate. It is a new revolutionary project proposed by [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Government ensures all go well during Cavadee

In order to prepare for the upcoming Thaipoosam Cavadee festival, Cabinet ministers Tassarajen Chedumbrum Pillay, Deva Virahsawmy and Anil Bachoo conducted a site visit at Rivière La Vanille, Vacoas at the Mauritius Tamil Temples Federation and the Kaylasson temple. To note, during the festival devotees carry the ‘cavadee’ from the bank of a river to [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

MSM not against wheel of change: Jugnauth

The Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) is in favour of an electoral reform which takes on-board the best loser, said party leader,Pravind Jugnauth at his weekly press meet at Port Louis on Sunday.“The best loser system assured inter-communal harmony for a long time and it cannot be discarded,” said Jugnauth. However, he does not want to [...]

30 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

UoM ponders 10 per cent fees hike

The University of Mauritius students may have to pay 10 per cent more for their courses. A proposal to this effect will be considered by the board on February 6. If approved, the measure will bring in Rs 10 million this year. The increase in university and examination fees and the restructuring plan are the [...]

27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Portal opens window to trade opportunities

The government will establish a Trade Portal at the International Trade Division of the foreign affairs ministry with the help of the World Bank. The purpose of this portal will be to disseminate information related to domestic and international trade. This was approved in cabinet on January 20 and was previously announced in the 2012 [...]

27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

IMF lauds economic efforts

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Martin Petri, IMF deputy division chief in African department, visited Mauritius from January 11 to 25 for discussions on Article IV. In his statement, Petri said that the Mauritian economy has performed reasonably well in 2011 with real growth at market prices estimated at 4.1 per cent. [...]

27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

DCDM Recruitment Services rebranded as Talentaris

DCDM Recruitment Services will now be called Talentaris. This was announced by chief executive officer, Gérard Bouic at a press conference at Courtyard, Port Louis on Thursday. “Our company is reputed for the professional services it provides. We are now aiming to bring together all our services under one single brand,” said Bouic. However, he [...]

27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Curepipe gets ready to clean up Trou aux Cerfs

The Municipality of Curepipe will soon be conducting a cleaning campaign at Trou aux Cerfs. This follows the announcement made by the mayor of Curepipe, Sunil Beedassy, that a new gymnasium by the name of James Burty David at the top of Trou aux Cerfs will be inaugurated soon. Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam will [...]

27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Local Gandhi Mustapha fasts for fishermen

Mustapha Mohamed, who is also known as the local Gandhi has at heart the welfare of the fishermen and to show his support, he is on a huger strike. Mohamed has not eaten for a week after he began his strike at the fishermen monument in Trou Fanfaron to attract the authorities’ attention on the [...]

27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

India’s Republic Day celebrated at IGCIC

As the national anthem of India, Jana Gana Mana was sung, the Indian flag was hoisted on Thursday morning at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC) in Phoenix to mark the 63rd anniversary of the Republic Day of India. The flag was hoisted by the high commissioner of India to Mauritius, TP Seetharam. [...]

27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

INS Savitri patrols EEZ

A press meet was held on Thursday in Port Louis, onboard the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Savitri, which is patrolling local waters from January 22 to February 4. The aim is to fight piracy and illegal fishing. The event coincided with the 63rd Republic Day of India. The Indian high commissioner, TP Seetharam said that [...]

27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily