Local Mauritius

ICAC readies for ultimate offensive

On Tuesday, the top brass at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development were once again summoned by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Financial secretary, Ali Mansoor, and budget director Patrick Yip were called for further questioning after four months in the MedPoint deal. If in May the investigators wanted to know whether provisions [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Maid arrested for theft of jewellery

Grand Baie police arrested Beegum Zahreen Fokeerbux, a 34-year-old maid from Upper Vale, for stealing jewellery worth Rs 250,000 from her employer. She appeared at the District Court od Mapou under a provisional charge of larceny by person in receipt of wages. On June 30, the owner of the house noticed that the jewels [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Students receive Constance Academy awards

    The prize giving ceremony for the 24th edition of the Constance Education Award for Higher School Certificate (HSC) and School Certificate (SC) levels was held at Constance Hospitality Academy, Constance, Centre de Flacq on Tuesday. It was attended by the minister of Education and Human Resources, Vasant Bunwaree, secretary Dhiraj Kamajeet, general manager [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

White paper on PPS aims at transparency

On Tuesday, a white paper, based on the recommendations of a review committee, was presented on the public procurement system. This took place with the joint collaboration of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and the Public Procurement Office (PPO). Premcoomar Beeharry, director of PPO said that the primary objective of reforms is [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

US navy ship pays visit

    The USS Samuel B Roberts, an American naval ship is currently docked at Port Louis on an eight-day goodwill visit as part of their involvement in the Africa Partnership Station (APS). The 220 member crew is headed by captain Angel Cruz. Sammy B, as the ship is affectionately known has five female officers. [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

La Croisette project half way completed

Grand Baie La Croisette (GBLC), the latest shopping park, is expected to open on September 27, 2012. In a press meet on Tuesday, the developers of GBLC announced that there is steady progress and the project is 50 per cent complete. Initiated in November 2010 by South African group Wilson-Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO), in partnership with [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Bhoyroo murder hearing postponed to September 23

Diop Kondo Bhoyroo appeared in front of magistrate Raj Seebaluck in the Intermediate Court on charges of using a firearm in order to prevent his arrest in 2008. His lawyers Rex Stephen and Ashvin Kandhai presented a motion where they asked for the occurrence book of all the police departments, files related to police vehicles [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Two arrested for assaulting salesman

Members of the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) Metro arrested two individuals on Monday at Riche Terre for theft with violence. Jean Noel Antalika, 31, and Indradev Gokul, 43, allegedly assaulted a salesman. In his police statement, the salesman alleged that he was delivering goods in the region of Pamplemousses when the suspects assaulted him with [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Mauritius Labour Congress calls for review of consumer price index

he Mauritius Labour Congress (MLC) has asked the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to revise the consumer price index (CPI), which is used to determine the cost of living. The president of the MLC, Haniff Peerun said the basket of goods doesn’t take into consideration the reality of price changes since it is based on a [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Rs 2.5 m raised in Somalia telethon

The telethon organised to help famine-striken Somalia helped collect Rs 2.5 million. The telethon was kick started on Tuesday by the minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Rashid Beebeejaun, minister of Local Government Hervé Aimée and many other MPs, at the Municipality of Port Louis at 9.30 am. It ended at 8 pm. An atmosphere [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Dog Control bill to bite purebred imports, leash owners

The Mauritius Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agro-Industry, is stepping up efforts to curb the stray dog population. Since June, the MSPCA has captured some 3,700 dogs. The minister of Agro-Industry Satish Faugoo will introduce the Dogs Control Bill upon resumption of Parliament in October. [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Unions disgruntled over tripartite meet

The first meeting of the tripartite committee, comprising representatives of the government, private sector and trade unions, took place at the New Government House, Port Louis, on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Xavier-Luc Duval. The outcome, however, did not meet the expectations of trade unionists. The technical [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Govt aims to restore mangrove plantation

The Ministry of Fisheries is implementing new measures to preserve the coastal areas of the island and protect mangroves that are the habitat of young fish. “Around 70 per cent of commercial fish species depend on mangroves, particularly in their early stages. Therefore, it is important to maintain healthy mangroves in the country,” said the [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Duval promises worker-friendly budget to curb unemployment rate

The government will not mortgage the country’s future, said minister of Finance Xavier-Luc Duval. We are working on a budget which will be in the interest of all workers and we want to curb the unemployment rate in Mauritius. He was speaking at a Bank of Mauritius (BoM) event. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam launched a [...]

07 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Jeetah denies MedPoint connection

On Monday, minister of Tertiary Education, Science Research and Technology Dr Rajesh Jeetah vehemently denied that former MedPoint clinic director Dr Krishan Malhotra allegedly sent him an email concerning the deal while Jeetah was Health minister. “I have no control on who sends me emails. During my term as minister of Health, there were plans [...]

06 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Drug peddler in Assizes, case continues today

Roodranand Gokool appeared at the Assize court in front of magistrate Gérard Angoh on Monday under charges of willfully, unlawfully and knowingly importing dangerous drugs into Mauritius. During the hearing, three witnesses testified and on Tuesday, three more will be heard. The accused, who is a resident of Lallmatie, pleaded not-guilty. He has retained the [...]

06 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Unions propose Rs 950 salary hike

On Monday, the tripartite committee comprising trade unions, employers and the government started discussion about salary compensation. All the parties agreed that an acceptable compensation must be reached. The president of the Conseil des Syndicats (CDS), Toolsyraj Benydin proposed that a sum of Rs 950 must be given, taking into consideration the cost of living. [...]

06 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

RGSC present at int’l forum

Mauritius is taking part in the 6th Science Centre World Congress (SCWC), which is being held from September 4 to 8 in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference’s theme is, ‘Science across cultures’. It aims to encourage reconciliation between different cultures and a greater appreciation of the role that science centres can play in highlighting [...]

06 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

Fortis Darné launches hi-tech dental clinic

On Monday, Fortis Clinique Darné launched its new super-speciality dental clinic. To celebrate this, they are offering a special dental package. This comprises a panoramic X-ray, scaling, polishing and consultation with a dental surgeon at a promotional rate of Rs 2,000 instead of the normal rate of Rs 3,000. The launch ceremony was conducted by [...]

06 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily

4 selected for best teachers forum in Jordan

Microsoft Indian Ocean and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources announced the participation of four local education officers at the 2011 edition of the Middle East and Africa Partners in Learning Forum from September 7 to 10. They are Raksheet Haulkory, Yogesh Sunnoo, Lalita Aworer and Joyce Arekion. They will join other teachers from [...]

06 Sep 2011, The Independent Daily