Local Mauritius

ICT fair to be held during weekend at Rempart

Following the success of the Infotech fair last year, the National Computer Board will organise the second edition of the ‘ICT expo 2011’ fair on August 20 and 21 at Rivière du Rempart. The fair will kick off on Saturday and will be open from noon to 7 pm and from 10 am to 6 [...]

16 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Tote, CCM negotiate merging of betting pool

The executive director of the Competition Commission of Mauritius (CCM), Sean Ennis, announced on Monday that the CCM was negotiating legal commitments with Automatic Systems Limited (ASL) and Global Sports Limited (GSL), operators of Supertote and Tote LePep respectively. The CCM director explained that the aim is to address the concerns of the CCM regarding [...]

16 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Form III exams to begin on October 24

The Form III national examinations will begin by the end of October. The examinations will start with the English paper on October 24, followed by French on October 25, IT on October 27, mathematics on October 28 and science on October 31. Each exam will last 1 hour 45 minutes except for the science paper, [...]

16 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Nation joins in celebrations of India’s 65th Independence Day

It was on the notes of ‘Jana Gana Mana’ India’s national anthem that the country’s tri-colour flag was hoisted on Monday morning at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC) in Phoenix. August 15 marked the 65th Independence Day of India, commemorating its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation [...]

16 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

ID card project takes shape

A delegation of eight consultants from the Singaporean firm, Crimson Logic, is expected in Mauritius by Friday. The aim of their visit is to discuss the implementation of the new electronic national identity (NID) card with local authorities. As approved by the Cabinet on July 29, the first NID card batch is expected to be [...]

16 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

In troubled times, investors turn to gold

Owing to the US debt crisis, investors are rapidly flocking to gold, propelling the precious metal to an all time high of $1,763 per ounce on Friday. It however fell by 1.5 per cent to be valuated at $1,741.61 on Monday. Sameer Sharma, head of international funds at Investment Professionals Ltd, an independent investment management [...]

16 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Nation finishes third at games

The 2011 Indian Ocean Island Games’ flag was taken down and the torch extinguished to symbolically mark the end of the regional competition at Stad Linité, Seychelles on Sunday. Fireworks, music and dance shows were organised for the colourful closing ceremony. Seychelles National Olympics Committee Antonio Gopal handed the games’ flag to international president for [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Sister creates website to share memory of murdered Nadine Dantier

On Wednesday, Isabelle Dantier launched a website in memory of her sister Nadine, who would have turned 29 on August 10. On the new website, www.nadinedantier.com, Dantier writes, “When I think about it, I say that our lives would have been different today had Nadine been alive. “ Dantier added, “Nadine would have been a [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Assumption celebrated throughout island

Assumption is one of the major liturgical feasts on the Christian calendar. They celebrate at the same time death, glorious resurrection, the entrance to heaven and the crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On August 15 thousands of Christians will choose not to attend work or school to honour in their own way the memory [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Mauritius interests Chinese tourists

The Ministry of Tourism and Leisure’s decision to rely on emerging markets such as China and India will pay well in the long term Statistics have showed a growth in the number of tourist arrivals from India and China since the beginning of the year. The new flight connecting Mauritius to Shanghai is a step [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

International teams help prevent oil spill

The 1,000 tonnes of fuel in the tanks of Panamanian Cargo Angel 1 will be pumped into a bunker barge, to lighten the ship and also to prevent an oil spill on the north coast of the island. This operation could not be carried out on Sunday morning due to the rough sea. The Mauritius [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Farmers target to harvest 24,000 tonnes of potatoes

The Mauritius Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Federation (MAMCF) has set a target of achieving self-sufficiency in potatoes and produce 24,000 tonnes this year. This was stated by MAMCF president Krit Beeharry. The Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security also aims to achieve self-sufficiency in onion and garlic. Beeharry said that there will be early harvesting if [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Canada to recruit manpower for agriculture, construction sectors

The province of Saskatchewan, Canada, is looking for local manpower to work as heavy duty technicians in the fields of agriculture and construction. These individuals will be responsible for managing, maintaining and repairing equipment. Once recruited, they will get a contract of 24 months. Mauritius interests Canada because of its expertise in these fields and [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Trio arrested at Grand Baie for stealing diving equipment

Police officials arrested a diver, a skipper and a diving instructor on Saturday, following a complaint lodged at the Grand Baie police station on Friday about the theft of diving equipment from a hotel in the north. According to a source, 16 diving regulators, eight dive computers and a significant sum of money, all worth [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Health workers face job loss threat

The Mauritius Mental Health Association (MMHA) situated at Stanley Rose Hill is facing financial difficulties and is threatening to dismiss its employees. Faced with this situation, the Confédération des Travailleurs du Secteur Privé has decided not to sit idle. The general secretary of the union, Jane Ragoo said that it is mainly women who work [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Three year old’s body found floating in river

The Flacq and Rivière Sèche police are investigating the mysterious death of three-year-old Bernie Andrew Montagnard at Olivia. The victim was found dead on the banks of a river on Saturday. The child’s family is unable to understand how a young child was able to walk alone through the cane fields and reach the river [...]

15 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

MMM leader’s statement true, says Joomaye

Dr Zuberr Joomaye, one of the people named by Opposition leader Paul Bérenger in the MedPoint saga, visited the Independent Commission and Against Corruption (ICAC) on Friday. In his hearing as witness, he confirmed that he was the professional who acted as an intermediary between Bérenger and former Mouvement Socialiste Mauricien minister Showkutally Soodhun concerning [...]

13 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Four more golds lift tally to 33

Mauritius bagged four gold medals on Friday, bringing the total count to 33.The first gold medal was obtained in badminton where the mixed doubles team consisting of Shama Aboobakar and Kiran Baboolall beat the Seychelles team in two sets, 24-21, 21-19 at Gymnase de la Promenade in Victoria. Annabelle Lascar won the second gold medal [...]

13 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Club M to play Seychelles in finals

Mauritius bagged eight gold medals on Thursday, bringing the total count to 29. The first gold medal of the day was won in table-tennis mixed doubles where Rhikesh Taucoory and Widaad Gukhool beat the Reunion team in four sets 11-8, 11-9, 11-13, 13-11. In weightlifting, Shalinee Valaydon won three gold medals and also established a [...]

12 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily

Miss Mauritius ’11 not qualified for Miss World

During a press meet held on Thursday, the Miss Mauritius National Organisation announced that Ameeksha Dilchand, 24, Miss Mauritius 2011, will only represent the country at Miss Universe 2012, which will be held in Panama. Shalini Panchoo, 22, previously the first runner-up at Miss Mauritius 2011, will represent the country at the Miss World 2012 [...]

12 Aug 2011, The Independent Daily