Local Mauritius

NSS head accuses rioteers of rebellion

At the District Court of Pamplemousses, David Nombreuse, 23, from Terre Rouge denied charges of rebellion levied against him. This follows an incident with deputy commissioner of police and head of the National Security Service (NSS) Dev Jokhoo. He was arrested on Tuesday for inciting violence against the police. Nombreuse was angry with Jokhoo as [...]

05 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

UoM offers new courses

The year 2012 will open up new opportunities for students who are planning to pursue their higher education at the University of Mauritius (UoM). Music, art, philosophy, architecture, sociology and specialisation in gender studies are some of the new courses that will be offered for the new academic year. Education and training are considered the [...]

05 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Year ends on right note for hotel industry

New Year celebrations are akin to indulging, whether it’s good food or having a luxurious time. Hotel and restaurant bookings by tourists and locals are on the rise during this season. Around 852,347 tourists visited Mauritius from January to November in 2011, which represents an increase of 3.9 per cent from 2010. A total of [...]

04 Jan 2012, The Independent Daily

Anti-smoking clinics put up at centres

The health centres in the country will have their own smoking cessation clinics in 2012. This will be an additional step to combat smoking and to make the island tobacco free. Currently, there is only one such clinic in Mauritius at the Odette Leal Community Health Centre in Beau Bassin. “There is a need for [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Needy secondary students get textbooks

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources wishes to inform students and parents about the procedures established for receiving free textbooks to needy students in secondary school. According to the communiqué, parents of students who receive social aid or a pension from the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions must inquire from [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Dayanand Chundy wins Hindustani category

The finale of Star 2011 Hindustani category was held on Wednesday evening at Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Moka.Dayanand Chundy, 49, from Camp Carol Plaine Magnien, won the first prize for the song ‘Pathar ke sanam’. He received a cash prize of Rs 25,000 from the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), a trophy from Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

‘Mauritians want new government’

The year 2011 has been an eventful one in Mauritius, riddled with scandals and alliance splits. The political arena is bubbling with speculations. At the beginning of 2011, the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) was standing alone against the tripartite. Where does it stand now? The Independent spoke to Rajesh Bhagwan, secretary general of the MMM, [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

High voltage damages electrical appliances

On Thursday, high voltage damaged electronic appliances in Eau Coulee. The incident led to chaos. Gadgets like microwave, television, fan, blender and computers were damaged. Sources in the region said there was a surplus of electricity from the transformer that caused this damage. Many houses were affected. Dharam Seetohul, a resident, said he suddenly noticed [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

One-year-old burnt to death

On Wednesday early morning, a fire engulfed the Toory family’s residence. One-year-old Angela Toory, who was inside, died on Thursday following burn injuries. Her father Kushal Toory, 26, suffered a few burns while the mother Bhaminee Chumboo, 19, is critical. The family resides at Riche Mare, Flacq. According to the father, he was woken up [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Police warns public to be cautious

The police is requesting the public to be more vigilant during this period following numerous cases of larceny and abuse of road safety guidelines by motorists. In a communiqué issued by the police on Thursday, it was stated that in spite of all efforts being stepped up, with a view to making the roads safer, [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Banks receive CAMEL ratings

The Bank of Mauritius, in consultation with other banks, disclosed on Wednesday the composite Capital Adequacy, Asset Quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity (CAMEL) rating for individual banks for the quarter ended June 2011. The CAMEL ratings are published on a bi-annual basis, in June and December each year. The ratings for the quarter ended December 31, [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Two suspects to appear in Assizes Court

The death of Irish tourist Michaela Harte, 27, at the Legends hotel, Grand Gaube on January 10, 2011, stunned the Mauritius and Ireland. In fact, it could be the most important case to be heard at the Assizes next year She was allegedly murdered by two hotel employees: floor supervisor Sandip Moonea, 41, and room [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

FCSOU comments on SAJ’s speech

While addressing the nation in his New Year speech, the President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth denounced corruption, fraud and wastage of public funds. This was at a press conference on Thursday in Port Louis. The acting president of the Federation of Civil Service and Other Unions (FCSOU), Bruneau Dorasami pointed out that everybody [...]

30 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Over 600 cases of gastroenteritis registered in Dec

During the past few days from December 19 to 25, many people, especially children, have fallen prey to gastroenteritis. A total of 618 cases were registered at hospitals and clinics across the island. Many people headed to pharmacies to buy medicines for vomiting, headaches and diarrhoea. According to Dr Omprakash Nundlall, “Gastroenteritis is a seasonal [...]

29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Chitra Meetooah wins first prize in Bhojpuri category

The Star 2011 Bhojpuri category competition was held on Tuesday evening at Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Moka. Chitra Meetooah, 28, from Providence Quartier Militaire, won the first prize for singing ‘Maan wa se kaisan ankhiyan ke nata’. She received a cash prize of Rs 25,000 from the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). The first and second runners-up [...]

29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Port Louis town council to set up executive body

The first Port Louis council meeting was held on Wednesday at the municipality council conference room. The Lord Mayor, Mahmad Kodabaccus and his councillors were present on the occasion. The aim was to talk on the provisions that have been made for the Municipal Council of Port Louis in the new Local Government Act. Kodabaccus [...]

29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

AIESEC participates in workshop on drug abuse

The two-day training at the rehabilitation centre, organised by AIESEC University of Technology, came to an end on Wednesday. It was held at the Centre d’Acceuil de Terre Rouge and the project was called ‘Choose Life not Drugs’. Twelve interns from Egypt, Kenya, India, Hong Kong, Germany Brazil and Denmark participated in the same. The [...]

29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Suttyhudeo Tengur questions Carcassonne report on electoral reforms

Suttyhudeo Tengur, president of the Government Hindi Teachers Union (GHTU) issued a communiqué where he commented on the Carcassonne report on electoral reforms. “Will the application of the Carcassonne report deepen democracy in Mauritius and also ensure better representation of all communities in a government that is elected on the principle of proportionality?” he questioned. [...]

29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

Sugar giants merge to combat crisis

Deep River Beau Champ Limited (DRBC) and Flacq United Estates Limited (FUEL) announced their intention to merge into a new corporate identity via communiqués posted on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM) on Tuesday. According to sources, the merger is a strategy to combat the tough economic crisis the sugar industry is currently facing and [...]

29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily

MOROIL receives SA 8000 certification

MOROIL received the SA 8000 certification earlier this month in the presence of the minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Shakeel Mohamed. MOROIL chairman Allain Doger de Spéville stated, “MOROIL is the first oil refinery in Mauritius and the third company in the world to achieve this certification, as it has responded positively to [...]

29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily