Local Mauritius

Six containers of rosewood confiscated

The police seized six containers of rosewood at the port last month. These will be repatriated to Madagascar in the coming weeks. The cargo that passed through the island was to be illegally shipped to China but was blocked by the police at the port. The logs of rosewood are currently detained at the port. [...]

27 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Teenager assaulted in nightclub

Police officials arrested two teenage boys, namely Jordan Cadapen, 18, and B B, 17, after they allegedly assaulted Ashley Laroussé, 18, at the Paradox nightclub early on Sunday morning. The suspects were presented at the District Court of Rose Hill under a charge of assault but were not granted bail as the police objected to [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Laughter fest ends on jolly note

The second edition of the ‘Festival du Rire’ ended on Sunday with the stand-up comedy show presented by Georges Mathieu. No one was spared. From local politicians to even French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla were at the centre of his jokes. Mathieu said during the show, “We took a dig at [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Microsoft sponsors digital literacy course

On Saturday, SOS Poverty handed out certificates to 250 beneficiaries of the Microsoft Digital Literacy and Microsoft Unlimited Potential programmes at the Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC), Port Louis. The programme was sponsored by Microsoft Indian Ocean. Joevany Lisette, the beneficiary of the Train the Trainer programme, also received her certificate. This is an affirmation that [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Poets pay tribute to Malcolm de Chazal

Le Concile des Poètes, the second theatrical presentation to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Malcolm de Chazal, was as successful as the first one, Désamorantes. On Sunday, the Institut Français de Maurice (IFM) was overflowing with spectators eager to see this piece written by Chazal between 1950 and 1954. Le Concile des Poetes tackles multiple [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Dookun-Luchoomun announces national policy on NGOs

The Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions is working on a national policy for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Mauritius. This was announced by the minister of Social Security, Leela Devi Dookhun-Luchoomun, during an award ceremony held in Port Louis on Monday. Three NGO volunteers were rewarded on the occasion. “I have no [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Mohamed aims at workplace safety

Mauritius will soon ratify the Convention on Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health. However, it is pointless to ratify a convention without applying it. This was stated by the minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Shakeel Mohamed at the launch of a national tripartite workshop held at the Gold Crest Hotel, Quatre Bornes [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Life expectancy up by

According to the latest Health Statistics Report published by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, birth rate in 2010 stood at 11.5 per 1,000 mid-year resident population, compared to 11.8 in 2009. During the period 2000 to 2010, life expectancy at birth increased by two years for males (from 67 to 69 years) [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

1 Malagasy drug mule, 3 local contacts netted with heroin worth Rs 10 million

The drug axis of Mauritius and Madagascar is back in the limelight. This follows the arrest of a second Malagasy national, who was caught with heroin worth Rs 10 million on Saturday at the SSR Airport, Plaisance. The drugs were hidden in the metallic structure of the suitcase. Tsialonina Maminirina Rakotoarimanana, a seamstress since 36 [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

CDU restructures network

Keeping in mind the interests of Mauritian children who have been victims of violence, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, has initiated a review of the staffing structure and operation of the Child Development Unit (CDU). “A review is underway. There is a need for an overall restructuring of the CDU [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

2 arrested in Riche Terre murder

Jacques Sylvain Pierre, 44, and Billy Lim Voon Miow, 26, the two suspects arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of Vassoodeven Ramalingum, appeared in the District Court of Pamplemousses on Monday. A preliminary charge of conspiracy to commit murder has been lodged against them. They were remanded to police custody after the [...]

26 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Two critically injured in car crash

The number of road accidents is rising day on day. Another accident took place on Saturday night at Melrose, Montagne Blanche, involving a car and a van. Several persons were injured and two of them are in a critical condition. The injured people, who were admitted to Flacq hospital, include three foreigners two Germans and [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Land given to govt underutilised

In 2000, the government obtained around 6,837,780 square metres of land, out of which only 1,179,517 square metres is being used. The Ministry of Agro-Industry is using 878,654 square metres and remaining 297,443 square metres is being used by the Ministry of Housing and Lands for construction of houses. This was mentioned in a document [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Jeetah attributes success to people

The Association of Human Resource Professionals (AHRP) celebrated its 35th anniversary at the InterContinental Resort, Balaclava on July 22. The event was attended by Shakeel Mohamed, minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment and Rajesh Jeetah, minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology. The AHRP code of professional practice was also launched on this [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

St Cecile residents deplore poor living conditions

Residents of St Cecile, Riche Terre will hold a protest walk soon to make their problems known. Some 80 families of the area are living in inhuman conditions. Contacted over the phone, Eliezer Francois, their spokesperson criticised the authorities’ inaction and apathy towards their problems. They recently staged a demonstration in front of the Government [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

UoM students showcase innovative fashion ideas

Final year students from the 2009 batch of the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Textile Technology at the University of Mauritius, put their creativity on display on July 24. This was for the fashion show, Le Boulevard des Stylistes, held at the Auditorium Octave Wiehe, UoM at Réduit. Twenty students from the faculty came up [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Bunwaree lauds role of credit union

On Saturday, a workshop on the contribution of financial institutions in promoting education was organised at Manisha Hotel, Flic en Flac. The minister of Education and Human Resources, Vasant Bunwaree, who was present at the event, welcomed this initiative of the Primary School Teacher’s Cooperative Credit Union (PSTCCU). “The workshop is an opportunity for participants [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Over 450 youth take part in rally against drug abuse at L’Escalier

More than 450 youth attended a rally at L’Escalier on Sunday to raise awareness on problems related to drug abuse. The event was organised in partnership with Omnicane Foundation, ENL Foundation, the non-governmental organisation Leadership Empowerment Action Development (LEAD) and the Non State Actor-Sustainable Inclusive Development of the United Nations Development Programme. The rally was [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Artwork portrays glimpses of past

The Mauritius Museums Council is currently hosting the exhibition Le Mirage by local artist Noël Hubert Maillard. The opening was held on July 21 in the presence of Senedhun Jagranee, president of the National Art Gallery and Gorah Beebeejaun, president of the Mauritius Museum. Noël Hubert Maillard sculptures are mainly done on wood. He has [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily

Singapore team to hold workshop

A team of consultants from the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, the Public Utilities Board and CH2M Hill, is in Mauritius for talks with key players operating in the water sector. The discussions will focus on the implementation of the Integrated Water Management project in Mauritius for which the contract was awarded to three firms. The consultants [...]

25 Jul 2011, The Independent Daily