Local Mauritius

Agro industry attains 90 pc self-sufficiency

In reply to the Opposition leader Paul Bérenger’s questions concerning the agricultural sector, the minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security Satish Faugoo, informed the house, during the parliamentary debate on Saturday that last year the agro industry has produced 21,700 tonnes. Therefore, this implies attaining a 90 per cent of self sufficiency compared to 45 [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

British Airways, Mauritius Union reward travel agencies

Mauritius Union General Insurance teamed up with British Airways on Thursday to award travel agencies which generated the most revenue in 2011 during the Annual Travel Awards Night 2011. The ceremony was held at the British high commissioner for Mauritius, Nick Leake’s residence in Floréal. ATOM Travel scored the first place in the Best Sales [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Rape accused appeals to High Court

Kalam Joomun, 40, was sentenced to one year jail along with 60 year old, Darmen Bissessur, for attempted rape on two French women. Bissessur appealed to the Intermediate Court magistrate Renuka Devi Dabee. In the appeal, his lawyer Sanjeev Teeluckdharry cited 10 reasons. He believes that the appellant’s constitutional right to a fair trial had [...]

14 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Govt reshuffles Foreign Service

There have been some important appointments in the Foreign Service. Dr Arye Kumar Jagessur is to represent Mauritius in Delhi. The high commissioner of Mauritius in India, one the most coveted diplomatic posts, has gone, according to observers, to a “rank outsider”. Married with a child, Jagessur is currently working as a psychiatrist at the [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Local, int’l artistes to set Zee Nite stage ablaze

After the incredible success of Zee Nite 2010, the Zee network is re-creating the event on December 9 at the J & J auditorium, Phoenix. Zee has promised a three-hour live show performed by Zee TV‘s stars as well as local artistes. The main attraction of the event will undoubtedly be the appearance of Kritika [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Competition Commission

In a press conference held at the Competition Commission Mauritius (CCM) on Thursday, executive director Sean Ennis announced that the commission is organising a Competition Week from November 14 to 18 to celebrate its two years of existence. “The aim is to promote exchanges related to competition law between students, businessmen, law practitioners and other [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

S Boolell attacks budget

The parliamentary debates on the Appropriation Bill have been in full swing since Tuesday. Thursday was no exception, with MP Nita Deerpalsing counterattacking Opposition and MMM MP Satish Boolell’s arguments. “The Rs 500,000 grant for overseas treatment applies only to households earning less that Rs 50,000 per month. The government should have at least made [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Work conditions irk CSO staff

The Central Statistics Office Staff Association held a press conference on November 10, at the Federation of Civil Service and other Unions, in Port Louis. They discussed the frustration and ill feeling growing among the staff there. An atmosphere of disappointment and anger is palpable at the CSO. Last week there were 10 recruitments, six [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

UoM caught up

With less than one week before election day at the University ofMauritius (UoM), candidates are turning up the campaign heat with banners, pamphlets and flyers. The atmosphere is very lively on the campus with elections that are scheduled for November 16 and 17 to form the new Student Union. Representatives from the three parties including [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Pillay for competition among IT operators

Competition is essential as it allows the consumers to benefit from quality products and interesting prices. The telecommunication operators should be encouraged to get into healthy competition. That was said by the minister of Information and Communication Technology, Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum at the launch of the new prepaid GSM network of Mahanagar Telephone Mauritius Limited [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Nurses ask to uplift training

The president of the Nursing Association, Bagooaduth Kallooa believes that decisions being taken by minister of Finance and Economic Development are very favourable for the health sector. However, he expressed some reservations about the eventual enforcement of these measures. “It is a very good budget for health services. At least we will be getting out [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Lam Po Tang case drags on

During the preliminary investigation held for the murder trial of Helene Lam Po Tang on Thursday at the District Court of Pamplemousses, the victim’s relative was cross-examined by defense lawyers Rama Valayden, RoubenMooroongapillay and Arassen Kalee. The latter was representing the main accused Sanjeev Nunkoo. The defense team focussed on the details and certain inconsistencies [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Juggoo seeks govt help for breeders

Private parliamentary secretary (PPS) and member of Parliament (MP) Kalyanee Juggoo qualified the budget presented by minister of Finance Xavier-Luc Duval as simple and straight forward. She welcomed the creation of an Afro-Asian hub, which will serve as a link between the emerging markets of Asia – mostly China and India and the nascent markets [...]

11 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Water cuts to last till January

The Central Water Authority (CWA) is anticipating a difficult water situation over the next two months, stated the minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Rashid Beebeejaun. The minister was replying to a question by MP Stéphanie Anquetil on Tuesday, regarding measures taken for better water supply for the dry season. Beebeejaun reassured the public that [...]

10 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

‘Positive reinforcement to tackle indiscipline in schools’

The British Council launched a series of school leadership workshops on November 9, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE). Pamela Wright, national leader of education, executive head teacher at the Wade Deacon High School, UK talked to an audience of principals and head teachers about discipline in [...]

10 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

UoM launches endemic, medicinal plant garden

To raise awareness on the different endemic flora species that exist on the island, the University of Mauritius officially launched an endemic and medicinal plant garden on Wednesday at its farm in Reduit. Present at the event was the minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, Dr Rajesh Jeetah and the minister of Agro-Industry [...]

10 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Unions point out

The Federation of Civil Service and Other Unions (FCSOU) president, Toolsyraj Benydin held a press conference over budget’s impact on the Public Service, on Wednesday in Port Louis. Among the issues raised is concerning measures taken in the budget that public officials should work on Saturday. Benydin noted that already several departments are working on [...]

10 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Harel Frères group rebranded

After having changed its name to Terra, Groupe Harel Frères will begin its operations in January 2012. This was announced by chief executive officer Cyril Mayer at a press conference on Wednesday at Labourdonnais Hotel. The restructuring and adoption of its new identity is subject to the approval of the shareholders‘ meeting on November 23.“The [...]

10 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Children screened for diabetes

November is National Diabetes Month. It is a month to create awareness about the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of preventing it. The Ministry of Health and Quality of Life will be targeting children this month. The special mobile caravan will be going across the country providing free diabetes screening for children. “We need [...]

10 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily

Government unveils new portal

The National Computer Board (NCB) and FRCI signed a contract on Wednesday during a workshop to unveil the new Government Portal Technology and Infrastructure. Consequently, FRCI will now manage the new portal. This was done in presence of the minister of Information and Communication Technology, Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum, the executive director of the NCB, Dan [...]

10 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily