Local Mauritius

Indian firm signs deal to set up green fertiliser plant

The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has agreed to set up a bio fertiliser plant, estimated at Rs 2.36 million, in Mauritius. A memorandum of understanding with the Mauritius Cooperative Agricultural Federation Ltd (MCAF) was signed on Tuesday at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, Bell Village. The agreement makes provision for the transfer of technology [...]

22 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

President blasts anti-graft body

In a statement to a private radio channel on Tuesday afternoon, President Sir Anerood Jugnauth raised questions on the credibility of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). He also said that he will not hesitate to resign from office “in the interest of the nation if the need arises”. However, he added that at the [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Rich tributes for nationalist

A public conference on Professor Basdeo Bissonndoyal was organised by the Municipality of Port Louis, in collaboration with ODI Mauritius, on September 16. The aim was to pay tribute to this great writer, patriot and historian, polyglot and above all missionary who is considered as the one who brought innovation and emancipation to the island. [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

MASA to elect board on Oct 2

Preparations for partial elections at the Mauritius Society of Authors (MASA) that will be held on October 2 have begun. The elections will be organised during the Extraordinary General Assembly on October 2 from 9 am to noon at St Mary’s college in Rose Hill. Only members of MASA are eligible to participate in the [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Hadj pilgrims given free vaccines

The Ministry of Health and Quality of Life will provide medical assistance to Hadj pilgrims. A vaccination exercise against meningitis ACYW 135 will be carried out free of cost on October 1 in the five regional hospitals of the island. Vaccination against seasonal flu and medical check-ups will also be carried out in all area [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Suspect pleads not guilty of matricide

Jeevadassen Chocali-ngum appeared in the Assize court in front of judge Eddy Balancy on Tuesday. He is charged with strangulating his mother to death. The 56-year-old suspect pleaded not guilty in court and denied all the charges levied against him. He is being defended by lawyers Vidya Jagarnath and Avineshwur Dayal, while the prosecution is [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

ACIM condemns political nominations

It is unacceptable that consumers have to pay for the incompetence of certain political nominees at the top of government bodies such as Central Electricity Board or Central Water Authority. This was stated by Jayen Chellum, secretary general of the Association des Consommateurs de L‘Ile Maurice (ACIM) at a press conference held on Tuesday at [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Youth given second chance

In a bid to create a literate society, various measures are being undertaken by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources. Education and training are at the forefront of the government agenda in order to combat the problem of skill shortage. The Second Chance Programme, which aims to promote literacy among youths aged between 16 [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Two selected for Chevening scholarships

Jean Michel Ah-Sen, 36, and Martine Goder, 29, have been selected for the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship this year. The two Mauritian candidates will set off for the United Kingdom next week.The scholarship is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and administered by the British Council. The award is offered to talented people who [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Law on home slaughter of animals gets tougher

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection is ensuring a tight control on the home slaughter of imported live animals. Every person that intends to buy a live animal for home slaughter will have to give an application in writing to the Division of Veterinary Services for authorisation. “The Division of Veterinary Services may [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Cargo Handling Corp CEO quits

The Port Louis Maritime Employees Association (PLMEA) and the General Workers Federation held a press meet on Tuesday to comment on the situation at the Cargo Handling Corporation (CHC) and denounce the victimisation campaign against dock workers. Fernand Fanor, the secretary of PLMEA said that there are several problems at the dock and the aim [...]

21 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

ACP’s wife, son arrested over

The wife and son of an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) have been detained for allegedly siphoning huge sums of money from a commercial bank into their accounts and into those of their accomplices. Police investigation into the embezzlement of some Rs 80 million from Bramer Banking Corporation hit a new low on Monday with [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

‘Corporate governance helps manage business’

The CEO of Global Governance Services Ltd of UK, Professor Chris Pierce is presently attending the International Conference on Corporate Governance and Sustainability. In an interview to The Independent, he underlined that good corporate governance helps in managing business more effectively in the current economic situation. Why is it important to promote good governance in [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Flacq hospital gets facelift, new wards

The ongoing renovation work and building of new wards at the Flacq hospital is on track, despite a slight delay. This was stated by the minister of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping, Anil Bachoo and the minister of Health and Quality of Life, Lormus Bundhoo during a site visit on Monday. [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Harel Mallac turns to e-teaching tools

Harel Mallac Technologies and Acer hosted a workshop on e-teaching methods, themed ‘Acer Education Project’, at Imperial China, Trianon, on Monday. A variety of digital tools to assist in classroom teaching were presented to some hundred heads of school and teachers. Minister of Education Vasant Bunwaree said, “We are adapting classes to make them a [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

GTU for private tuition, against CPE abolition

Every year, 33 per cent of students fail their CPE examination. Vinod Seegum, president of the Government Teachers Union (GTU), said he is against the abolition of the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE). However, he highlighted the need to combat the rate of school dropouts. Why is the GTU against the abolition of private tuition? [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

MES faces invigilation problems

The two important end-of-secondary cycle examinations the Cambridge School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate – are fast approaching. However, some problems are beginning to surface. After the supervisors’ objection to collecting the examination papers from the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES), now the invigilators are also against the exercise. Contacted by telephone, the president of [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

MP Meeah seeks early trial

At the District Court of Port Louis, magistrate Darshini Gayan accepted the request of defence counsel Raouf Gulbul to hear the two formal charges pressed against his client Cehl Meeah at the soonest. He was informed of his two charges: knowingly receiving articles obtained by means of a crime and conspiracy. The magistrate said the [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Prof Manrakhan delivers memorial lecture on SSR

To mark the 111th birth anniversary of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, professor Jugdish Manrakhan, chairman of the Sugar Industry Fund Board, gave a memorial lecture at the MGI, Moka, on Monday. The third edition of the SSR memorial lecture was organised by the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and Rabindranath Tagore Institute. Professor Manrakhan paid tribute to the [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Mauritius bags 7 WTA gold medals

Mauritius bagged seven gold medals at the 18th World Travel Award (WTA) organised in Egypt on September 17. The island was rewarded mainly in the Indian Ocean section and was voted leading destination, leading beach destination for Trou Aux Biches and leading airline courtesy Air Mauritius. The island also won an award in the leading [...]

20 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily