Local Mauritius

IORARC members adopt Bangalore declaration

Nineteen members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) unanimously adopted the Bangalore declaration on Tuesday, November 15. The agreement takes into consideration issues of mutual interest such as maritime security, natural resources, fishing in territorial waters, information technology, capacity building, the tourism sector, natural calamities, cultural exchanges, with special consideration for [...]

16 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

New airport terminal to be operational by ‘13

Replying to a parliamentary question by Labour MP Stéphanie Anquetil on the status of the construction of the new Airports of Mauritius Ltd (AML), Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam stated that the main objective of the construction of a new terminal at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is to provide a modern feel and to [...]

16 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Pillay’s maiden speech interrupted by Oppn

In Parliament on Tuesday, ICT minister Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum answered leader of the Opposition Paul Bérenger‘s query on the setting up of a Fraud Tracking System for International Long Distance (ILD) Operators and how Enterprise Telecom (Entel) was chosen for the same. The minister was, however, unable to supply information on whether potential fraud has [...]

16 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

North, east too face water cuts

After the central plateau, south and west of the country, the north and east of the island are undergoing water cuts from this week onwards. Speaking to The Independent Bishek Narain, communication manager of the Central Water Authority (CWA) stated that this decision was taken by the technicians of the CWA and Water Resources Unit [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Island ranked 9th in ‘Paying Taxes 2012’

The World Bank has ranked Mauritius 9th globally in the Paying Taxes 2012 report of the International Finance Corporation and PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PwC). The island was 11th last year. It remains number one in Africa, despite the increase in its Total Tax Rate to 25 per cent from 24.1 per cent in 2011. The report [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Students exposed to competition law

A seminar was organised by the Competition Commission of Mauritius (CCM), in collaboration with the University of Mauritius at the Engineering Tower, UoM on Monday. The aim of the workshop was to educate students of UoM about the laws of competition and job prospects. Speeches were delivered by CCM acting chairman Rajiv Servansingh, vice chancellor [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Construction index shows 3.1 per cent rise: CSO

ACCA Members in Mauritius work longer hours than the global average, finds ACCA research amongst its global members. Research published today by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) offers an insight into the working lives, career expectations and salaries of accountants around the world, and also in Mauritius. Madhavi Ramdin, country head for ACCA [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Old MBC building to house ILO, educational institutes

The minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, Dr Rajesh Jeetah, minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Shakeel Mohamed and attorney general Yatin Varma made a site visit to the ex-MBC building. The visit was in view of setting a up a Documentation Unit for International Labour Office (ILO), Centre of Judicial and [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

MP stresses on fight against poverty

MP Stephanie Anquetil commended the minister of Finance and Economic Development’s budget, presented on November 4, for taking into consideration the vulnerable groups of society. She was speaking at the budgetary debates held on Monday when she also congratulated Xavier-Luc Duval for his solidarity budget. The MP of Vacoas and Floréal stated, “It is the [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

National NGO policy to be implemented next year: Bappoo

The second parliamentary session on Monday started with Social Security minister Sheila Bappoo resuming her argument concerning the 2012 budget. During her address she mentioned that her ministry will implement a national NGO policy next year to enroot social entrepreneurship. In this context, her ministry will sign an MoU with the Ahmedabad Entrepreneurship Institute in [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

9 unionists arrested for causing obstruction

Fédération des Travaialleurs Unis (FTU) president Atma Shanto, soon after his release from the Port Louis South Criminal Investigation Division on Monday, claimed, “The police do not know what they are doing. It is very sad that freedom of expression has been dented.” He was arrested along with eight members of the FTU and charged [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Indefinite tax holiday to boost freeport activities

The tax holiday of freeport operators, which was to be phased out in 2013 will now be carried forward indefinitely by the government. This was announced by the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Xavier-Luc Duval in his budget speech on Friday. The Board of Investment (BoI) thinks this budgetary measure will definitely give a [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

PM replies in Ramdhany case

Police has completed its enquiry into the death in police custody of Anand Kumar Ramdhany, 43. The dossier will soon be submitted to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) . This was announced by the Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam who was answering to a private notice question (PNQ) from the Leader of the Opposition, Paul [...]

15 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Maxime Sauzier’s daughter dies in accident

Rebecca Sauzier, 29, daughter of lawyer Maxime Sauzier was victim of a fatal road accident at Grand Bay around 4 am on Saturday. She was driving home when her Nissan AK 12 car hit a taxi head on at the traffic lights opposite the Grand Baie Store. The taxi had stopped at the red light [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

SBM launches prepaid cards

On Friday, the State Bank of Mauritius Ltd (SBM) launched two prepaid card products under the brand name SBM Smile displaying the VISA logo. The prepaid cards represent a solution for those looking for a convenient way to make payments in Mauritius and abroad. It is available in six currencies. SBM Smile Travel card is [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Transforming gender inequality through the budget

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Xavier Luc Duval presented his budget for the year 2012 at the National Assembly on Friday 4th November 2011. In this world economic crisis, Duval managed to propose action to transform gender inequality. The 2012 budget is in line with the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development targets [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Neither bold, nor brave but commendable enough

Let us place this budget in its historical context. It follows on the trail of the vision and long term planning of SSR, the pragmatism and sober approach of SAJ, the immaturity and profligacy of recent governments. SSR gave the country a sense of direction and laid the foundations of our University, the diversification of [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

City Sports gets shopping space at Bagatelle

The newly inaugurated City Sports on an area 420 m2 in Bagatelle offers the latest collection of shoes, accessories, sports wear and many more. At its official inauguration on Saturday, Dominique Filleul, commercial director of City Sports Ltd Mauritius stated that the group has about 100 outlets across the world mainly in Europe and Africa [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Harley-Davidson store opens at Kapu Kai

Harley-Davidson Mauritius has open the first ever dealership of its type at the Kapu Kai complex, in the northern coast of the island on Saturday. Kapu Kai is set to become the lifestyle destination of Mauritius with Harley-Davidson as its cornerstone. A new Mecca, to welcome an ever growing brotherhood of free minded men and [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

SAJ, PM attend service in honour of fallen heroes

The Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam and the President, Sir Aneerood Jugnauth joined other Mauritian and foreign dignitaries on November 13 for a Remembrance service at the St James’ Cathedral in honour of the fallen soldiers and survivors of World War I and World War II. The church service was followed by a wreath laying ceremony [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily