Local Mauritius
MRA chalks out billboard tax
Budget 2012 introduced a Rs 30,000 to Rs 70,000 Advertising Structure Fee, commonly known as Billboard Tax on every advertising structure, to be collected by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) by January 31 every year. The MRA recently sorted the fee structure according to the billboard size. “The permission of the Road Development Authority (RDA) [...]
27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Minister targets to outgrow middle income
Vice prime minister and minister of Finance, Xavier-Luc Duval did not beat around the bush concerning the Eurozone risk factor for Mauritius. He was speaking at a ceremony commemorating International Customs Day on Thursday. “Some people don’t realise or act as if they don’t know that we are in the middle of a crisis,” he [...]
27 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
EU grants 6m euros to fishery sector
The European Union (EU), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the representatives of the Indian Ocean Commission signed a grant agreement of 6 million euros on Wednesday. The agreement is to prepare an action plan for the management and development of the fishery sector and to strengthen the contribution of fish [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Winner of ‘Millionaire’ show plans to expand business
Yash Ramnarain, the winner of Millionaire Season 2 show , plans to expand his business with the prize money of Rs 200,000. The resident of Triolet participated in the programme through the Millionaire scratch card that he purchased at Triolet Popular Store. Ramnarain, who is self-employed, sells motor oil and has a great passion for [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
US election brought to secondary schools
In a bid to expose students to different election systems around the world, N Saddul College, Vacoas, in collaboration with the US embassy, organised a workshop on the election process in America. Around 200 students from Dr Maurice Cure College, SSS Vacoas, St Helena and Adventist College participated. Troy Fitrell, Chargé d‘Affaires at the United [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Indian naval ship Savitri conducts anti-piracy exercise
Following a request from the Mauritian Government, India has deployed Indian Naval Ship (INS) Savitri in local waters from January 22 to February 4, 2012. This is to conduct anti-piracy patrolling and surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to the press release of the Indian High Commission, INS Savitri is the first indigenously [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
FSC introduces handbook on offshore management
In order to facilitate the application of a global business license by service providers and to improve the licensing process, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) presented the ‘Guide to Global Business’ on Wednesday at FSC house, Ebene. The minister of Finance and Economic Develpment Xavier-Luc Duval described the financial services sector as one of the [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Japan grants Rs 100 m to tackle erosion
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development is working out how to combat sand erosion at Trou aux Biches. The ministry is concerned after inhabitants of the region deplored the fact that the passage between their beach houses and the sea had been blocked by sand. The Ministry of Environment had received a sum of [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
City centre to be a pedestrian zone
The vision of rejuvenating Port Louis into a sustainable capital city is gradually becoming a reality. The Municipal Council of Port Louis is currently working on the concept of transforming the city centre into a pedestrian zone. The project is expected to necessitate an investment of around $5 to $6 million. Contacted by phone, the [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Imrith discusses corruption allegations with President
The president of the Federation of Public Sector, Rashid Imrith met President Sir Anerood Jugnauth (SAJ) on Wednesday at the State House. Imrith met SAJ to denounce the fraud and corruption present in the civil service. He also discussed the irregularities in this sector. Imrith stated, “I requested SAJ to ask Prime Minister Dr Navin [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
MSM not worried over PM, MMM meet
“The MSM is not worried about the meeting that took place between Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Bérenger on Tuesday,” said Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) MP Mahen Seeruttun. He told The Independent that the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader met in a specific context, that is to discuss the recommendations of Guy Carcassonne report on [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Apollo Bramwell Hospital seeks JCI’s accreditation
Apollo Bramwell hospital is seeking accreditation from the USA based agency, the Joint Commission International (JCI). In July 2011 the hospital initiated an internal evaluation exercise based on the international ratios. The exercise indicated that the number of employees in the hospital is above the international standard. Javed Bolah, media and communications manager at British [...]
26 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Ministry to introduce energy audits
In a bid to promote energy efficiency in the country, the government is giving conservation topmost priority. The Ministry of Energy is offering training for Energy Audit Certification Scheme for non-residential buildings. “Ensuring energy efficiency is one way to reduce the amount of energy required for our needs. We should be able to control energy [...]
25 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Hypocrisy, privacy law and human rights
Hypocrisy One of the most compelling and persuasive arguments the press have in their armoury is a self-regulated and unfettered media allows them to investigate and subsequently reveal ‘hypocrisy’. This approach has tremendous public support and a free press is an instrument for keeping those in power in check. The press has an important part [...]
25 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Man sentenced to 16 years by assizes court
On Tuesday, judge Saheeda Peeroo sentenced Hemraj Ramsurrun to 16 years imprisonment at the Assize Court. The suspect was prosecuted for brutally killing Rakesh Bhuruth. On December 29, 2004, the victim, 24, was found dead in a sugarcane field in the north of the island at Amaury, Riviere du Rempart. In her autopsy report, the [...]
25 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Rs 200,000 worth of octopus rotten
When disasters cause a power cut, generally the foods stored in refrigerators or chillers need to be placed in alternative cold storage or consumed immediately or disposed of. Rodrigues faced the problem, after the passage of the cyclone Ethel which caused damages to electrical poles leaving the island without electricity. One of the impacts entailed [...]
25 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
11-year-old boy commits suicide
Bhushan Jugoobarah, 11, committed suicide near his house on Tuesday morning. The CPE pupil was living with his mother and four siblings in the village of Plaine des Roches . According to sources the teenager refused to attend school and wanted to seek employment. The discovery was made by a neighbour who informed the mother [...]
25 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Hindi teachers trained to teach Bhojpuri
In order to put in place the government’s decision on the introduction of Bhojpuri in primary schools, the Ministry of Education has initiated training sessions. These are being conducted for Hindi teachers of Standard I in four different zones, namely Moka, Phoenix, RTI and Rose Belle. The training started on Tuesday where some 120 Hindi [...]
25 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Public advised to take precaution against conjunctivitis scare
In the last few days, there has been a rise in the number of bacterial conjunctivitis cases in many hospitals. The Ministry of Health has not yet ruled it out as an epidemic. This was confirmed by an officer from the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life. “Since a few days, there has been [...]
25 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily
Port unionists at loggerheads over new MD
In a press communiqué, the Port Louis Harbour and Dock Workers Union stated that they were surprised with the stand of their opponents, who had welcomed the appointment of an interim manager by the State Investment Corporation (SIC) at the Cargo Handling Corporation (CHC). The communiqué said that the stand will be in favour of [...]
25 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily