Local Mauritius
MCCI forecast growth of 3.8 per cent in 2012
The Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has developed a new methodology, ‘MCCI GDP Forecasts’ to generate growth domestic product (GDP) estimates. Various coefficients were used to determine economic variables such as investment, inflation, consumption, savings and unemployment and a growth rate of 3.8 per cent in 2012 has been predicted. The figure is [...]
08 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Dhruv helicopter saves man aboard oil rig
The Dhruv helicopter achieved its first deck landing during the evacuation of a casualty aboard the oil rig Songa Eclipse on Monday. The operation was carried out 200 km east of Mauritius. The rig was sailing to Port Louis and onwards to Cape Town. The helicopter squadron was requested to undertake casualty evacuation of a [...]
08 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
SAJ warns population of ailing country
On Monday, the President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth (SAJ) inaugurated a three-day seminar on the Bhojpuri language, for heads of schools at the Pointe Jérome Youth Training centre. He was accompanied by his wife, Lady Sarojini Jugnauth. The event was also chaired by Devendra Saxena, a heart specialist from India, Jugdish Goburdhun and [...]
08 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Govt creates single water authority
The water sector is undergoing a severe crisis with the prolonged drought and the Central Water Authority is faced with the challenge of supplying water to the population. In his speech Finance minister Xavier Duval stated that the water sector is one area where the government is putting in extra efforts but the various institutions [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
‘Pragmatic, tax friendly’ budget pleases experts
Chartered Accountants At a time when the global economy is slowly recovering from the recent financial crisis amidst a sluggish European zone and there balancing of global ecnomic activity, the Mauritian population was gratified with a budgetspeech which presented pragmatic measures to reinforce thegovernment’s economic and social agnda. In highlighting the need to promote growth [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
‘Private sector gets lion’s share’
Following the budget speech 2012 presented on Friday , all trade unions are on the same wavelength and believe that the budget offers more benefits to the private sector giving it the lion’s share. Members of different trade unions namely National Trade Union Confederation (NTUC), Mauritius Labour Congress (MLC), Government Services Employees Association (GSEA) and [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
TJC report to be in before yearend
The commissioners of the Truth and Justice Commission (TJC) are currently working on the report which must be submitted to the President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth. According to the commissioner, the report will be submitted before the end of this year. In addition, several issues have already been worked on, such as the [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Magistrate to sum up Nobin case
The Nobin brothers’ case resumes at the Assizes on Monday with Judge Saheeda Peeroo summing up as both the defence and prosecution have rested their case. Harish Nobin, 30, risks a prison sentence between 25 and 50 years. The charge of murder carries a maximum sentence of 45 years under section 221 sub-section one of [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Green campaign targets youth
Holcim (Mauritius) Ltd in association with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) launched a green campaign entitled ‘Learning with Nature’ on Saturday at Ile aux Aigrettes. This project targets mainly students of Standards V and VI of the Zone d’Education Prioritaire (ZEP) primary schools of Port-Louis. The objective is to raise awareness of the youths on [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Duval earns praises for budget presentation
The budget presented by the minister of Finance and Economic Development is a long term and intelligent budget. This is what the members of the Labour Party (LP) and the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD) think of the budget which was presented on Friday. At a press conference held on Saturday at Square Guy Rozemont, [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Nation moves towards tobacco-free society
Smokers are paying more for their cigarettes since Saturday. This decision follows an increase of 15 per cent on sales of tobacco and cigars as announced in the budget. The British American Tobacco has already calculated the new price. What remains to be seen is whether this increase will really discourage smoking and make the [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
4 pc growth forecast heartening: experts
A breakfast meet was organised by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Mauritius in collaboration with the Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants (MIPA) on Saturday at Trianon to discuss the budget 2012 presented by minister Xavier Luc Duval. Top businessmen, economists and accounting professionals were present at the meet to share their views on [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Rs 12.5 million granted to sports sector
The budgetary speech presented on Friday by the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Xavier Luc Duval paid much attention to the promotion of sports. The allocation to the Trust Fund for Excellence in Sports (TFES) will increase from Rs 3.8 million to Rs 12.5 million in 2012. TFES is involved in the training and [...]
07 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Ramgoolam looks at long term, stresses unity within team
Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam said that he intends to complete his term with the same alliance partner, Xavier Duval’s Parti mauricien social Démocrate.Addressing a press meet at the Treasury Building here on Friday after the budget, he said: “It is a solidarity budget based on a long-term vision which shows that the government continues [...]
05 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Disappointing budget with no vision: Bérenger
Opposition Leader insists Duval reduced Rs 126 in salary compensation instead of giving Rs 330: Radhima Ramdeen The leader of the opposition, Paul Bérenger called a press conference soon after the budget presentation. According to him, the new budget reflects a clear lack of vision and imagination, especially when faced with the economic crisis in [...]
05 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
‘Budget tailor-made for fat-cats of private sector’
Jugnauth says 17 per cent tax imposed on sms will adversely affect middle class. The leader of the Movement Socialiste Militant (MSM), Pravind Jugnauth made his immediate reaction to the budget presented by the minister of Finance and Economic Development Xavier Luc Duval in a press meet held in Port Louis on Friday. The former [...]
05 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Grants cover pre-primary
The government has given priority to the Education sector in this year’s budget. The pre-primary education grant will thus be extended to three-year olds. The grant was so far applicable to children aged four years, but now, some 16,000 additional children will benefit. “Education will now be hundred per cent free. It was free up [...]
05 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Patients to get Rs 500,000 for overseas treatment
In a boost to the health sector, the minister of Finance and Economic Development Xavier Luc Duval more than doubled the maximum grant under the Overseas Treatment Scheme from Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000 for patients who need to go overseas for treatment but cannot meet costs. Commenting on this measure, the minister of Health [...]
05 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Rs 25 m to clean up island
The government has decided to tackle the problem of litter across the island. The budget allocates a sum of Rs 25 million to the Tourism Authority to resume its cleaning and embellishment programme throughout the island. The minister of Finance also set aside Rs 13.5 million, a hike of Rs 10 million from last year, [...]
05 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily
Duval’s please-all budget
Finance minister plays proverbial Santa after all Into his third month as minister of Finance and Economic Development, Xavier Luc Duval played quite the Santa in his first budget presentation on Friday evening.Some of the heartening news includes: a GDP growth forecast of four per cent, Rs 76.9 billion in revenue, bringing down budget deficit [...]
05 Nov 2011, The Independent Daily