Local Mauritius
Education very important to step out of poverty: minister Suren Dayal
Social Integration minister Suren Dayal distributed school materials to around 150 vulnerable children on Wednesday at the St Pierre social welfare centre. The project costs Rs 24 million and supports around 11,000 children across the country. While giving his speech, the minister stressed that education is important to step out of poverty. “There is no [...]
29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
MMM holds year end party
The Alliance de l’Avenir is the Alliance du Passé (Alliance of the Past). That is how the leader of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) described the present government. Paul Bérenger, the MMM leader, renewed his call for the general elections during his end- of- year wishes to party members at the Saffran restaurant, Flic en [...]
29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
MLC, Bramer Bank announce merger
The Mauritius Leasing Company (MLC) has announced that it is merging with Bramer Banking Corporation Ltd (BBC) and Bramer Holding Co Ltd (BHCL). This merger is in line with British American Insurance’s strategic plan, of which both companies are branches. Speaking to The Independent, Ashraf Esmael, chief executive officer of MLC noted that both companies [...]
29 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Police to pick up boatmen at homecoming
The three boatmen who had gone adrift aboard a catamaran on December 6 will return home from sister island, La Réunion on Wednesday. When Francis Raboude, 49, Winsley Milazar, 25, and Sri Lankan Joseph Ferdinand Wavalegi, 56, will set foot off the ship Mauritius Pride at the Port Louis harbour, they will be picked up [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Emilie Vincent wins first prize
The children’s edition of Star 2011, organised by the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), was held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) Auditorium, Moka on Monday night. Fourteen-year-old Emilie Vincent from Mont Fertile, New Grove won the first prize. She interpreted ‘Rolling in the Deep’ by singer Adele. Her soulful rendition of the song won her [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Online book order by MPL attracts parents, students
The textbooks@mauritiuspost service started in mid-November at the start of the book sales season. The Mauritius Post Limited (MPL) has tried its best to create awareness for this innovative service, which in some ways has reinvented the consumer model for purchasing textbooks. Roshan Soomoodra, brand communication officer at the MPL said, “Our first task was [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Firefighters not well equipped
The Government Fire Services is an organisation that must have the necessary equipment to respond to emergencies. “It is regrettable to point out that there has been no renewal of uniforms for firefighters for more than three years,” said Ashraf Buxoo, president of Fire Fighter Cadre. He added that in addition to uniforms, they have [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
‘Loterie vert’ jackpot Rs 15 m for end of year
The ‘loterie vert’ draw has become a tradition, especially during the festive season, when it attracts many players. This year’s jackpot is Rs 15 million and will be held on Friday at 9.30 am at Mutual Aid building in Port Louis. According to Oopmanew Chumun, secretary of the Government Lotteries, approximately 6.5 million tickets are [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
FCSOU appeals for Jan 3 holiday declaration
The Federation of Civil Service and Other Unions (FCSOU) sent an open letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam on Tuesday, to proclaim January 3 as a public holiday. In the letter, The acting president of FCSOU, Bruneau Dorasami has asked for a review of the decision to not grant one additional public holiday [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Private investment stagnates in 2011
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) released its report on the national accounts estimates on Tuesday. It highlighted that investment stagnated in 2011 following a decline of 0.7 per cent in 2010. Exclusive of aircraft and marine vessels, no growth was registered compared to the 3.7 per cent growth in 2010. Private sector investment declined by [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Vendome awarded best window display at Caudan
During the prize giving ceremony held on Tuesday at Le Labourdonnais hotel, Port Louis, Vendome Jewellery Duty Free was awarded the prize for the best window display at Caudan Waterfront. This was part of the 15th anniversary celebration of Caudan Waterfront as well as Christmas and end of year festivities. Under the theme ‘White Christmas’, [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
ACIM deplores wastage of public funds
The Association des Consommateurs de l’île Maurice (ACIM) believes the year 2011 was very unfavourable. The members of the association deplored the wastage of public funds and also rise in the price of several commodities. The ACIM stated that people are losing confidence in the public institutions, which are resorting to suspicious practices. In a [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Unemployment rate up by 7.9 pc
According to the latest report of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) released on Tuesday, the unemployment rate is estimated at 7.9 per cent for the third quarter of 2011, compared to 8 per cent at the second quarter of the year. However, the unemployment rate stood at 7.6 per cent during third quarter of 2010, [...]
28 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
New CPE repeaters’ project improves pass rate in 2011
Around 3 per cent increase has been noted, Some 3,000 pupils formed part of this programme: The Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) Repeaters’ project which has been recently introduced has led to an improvement in the pass rate of the students. Around 3 per cent increase has been noted in the pass rate this year. [...]
27 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Dev Virahsawmy welcomes report on electoral reforms
Such a reform must be complemented by participatory democracy say academicians; The pedagogues Dev Virahsawmy and Jimmy Harmon welcome the report on electoral reforms written by professors Guy Carcassone Vernon Bogdanor, and Pere Vilanova. In a document, they highlight the main recommendations of the report namely (i) a proportional representation and the integral system (ii) [...]
27 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Alleged cases of UoM food poisoning
Cases of food poisoning have been reported by some students of the University of Mauritius (UoM) on December 23. They claim that they fell sick after eating a meal consisting of grilled chicken, sausages, salad and bread served at the end of year party on Thursday, December 22 night at the campus. The services of [...]
26 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
‘And life goes on…in Madrid where two days are not alike’
I always used to wonder how it would be to relocate to another country; adjusting to a whole new culture, new people, a new routine. Of course we, my husband, and I had both travelled to other countries before but relocating and travelling were very distinct, weren’t they? Then Madrid came along, answering all our [...]
26 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
Soobiah shines in ghazal category
Sixty-one-year-old Abdool Amid Soobiah was the jury’s favourite for the Ghazal competition for the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Star 2011 competition held on December 23 at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The Ghazal night is part of a series of singing competitions organised by the MBC. The winner chose to interprete ‘Ek Husne Zara’ by the [...]
26 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
MID proposals taken to public
With the aim to sensitise people about the Maurice Ile Durable (MID) project, the MID commission has started a campaign across the island. All proposals gathered by the MID committee have now been compiled. “The MID concept includes a participatory approach and it is with this aim that we are conducting public meetings,” said Osman [...]
26 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily
8-yr-old girl wins first prize for writing letter to Santa
The Mauritius Post Limited (MPL) held a prize giving ceremony at the Postal Museum, Port Louis on Saturday for the 5th annual edition of the ‘Lettre au Père Noël’ competition it launched in November. Around 2,000 children in Mauritius participated by writing a letter to Santa Claus. Eight-year-old Reejwana Wasila from Camp Levieux won the [...]
26 Dec 2011, The Independent Daily