Local Mauritius

STC to spend Rs 2 billion on oil storage

The State Trading Corporation (STC) is undertaking a strategic storage plan for petroleum products which will cost Rs 2 billion. Three additional tanks will be built and oil pipelines will be set up in the Port Louis harbour zone over a two-year period. The initial plan includes the construction of two new reservoirs with the [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Sino-Mauritian forum focuses on moral values

A debate on the theme, ‘La communauté sino-mauricienne: Hier, aujourd‘hui et demain’ was held at the Heen Foh society hall in Port Louis on Saturday to sensitise the youth on the ancestral values of the Chinese community. Henry Ng Ha Kwong, president of Heen Foh Society said that there are multiples problems in Chinese society [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Cardiologist to provide expertise in paediatric care

Around 200 children in Mauritius are born with congenital heart problems every year. This is what Dr Muthu Kumaran Sivaprakasam had to say during a Continual Medical Education programme, organised by Apollo Bramwell hospital, in collaboration with Sanofi Aventis at The Link Hotel, Ebène on Friday. Sivaprakasam is a paediatric cardiologist at Apollo Children’s Hospital [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Luxmi Anousha Boodhoo

The fourth edition of the Wellness, Health and Sports Fair was held during the weekend at Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre, Pailles. The event was organised by Heart Foundation and Edifiel. Minister of Health and Quality of Life Maya Hanoomanjee, who was present on the occasion, highlighted the importance of early disease detection and prevention. [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Association promotes use of IT tools to teach Hindi

The Hindi Schools Federation officially launched the use of computers to teach Hindi in baitkas Hindu socio-religious associations during a ceremony held at the city council of Port Louis on June 25. Several teachers from different schools were present at the event. A workshop was also held which allowed teachers to share ideas on the [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Small shops struggle for survival amid competition

Supermarkets and hypermarkets may offer many services but the downside is that they are leading to the closure of small shops. Due to competition and declining profit margins, small shops suffer and are eventually forced to shut down. “Our profit margins have declined significantly over the past decade. Since the beginning of the year, trade [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Bérenger against review of DTAA

Mauritius should not agree to any renegotiation of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). This was stated by Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) leader Paul Bérenger at his weekly press conference at the Link Hotel, Ebène, on Saturday. Bérenger believes that instead Mauritius should reinforce its control over the sector. “The financial secretary of India, Sunil [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Situation critical despite downpour

Mare aux Vacoas, the country’s largest reservoir, is still in a critical situation despite the downpour that the island experienced during the weekend. The Central Water Authority (CWA) will maintain water cuts as the reservoir is filled at 33.5 per cent only. At its average rate, Mare aux Vacoas should be filled at 79.1 per [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Employers seek ILO in labour ministry dispute

The Mauritius Employers’ Federation (MEF) filed a complaint against the Ministry of Labour at the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This is because the ministry referred the case opposing the Mauritius Sugar Producers Association to unions, which was still at a negotiation stage, to the National Remuneration Board. The MEF took advantage of the presence of [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Police save suicidal man near bridge

A man residing in Moka tried to commit suicide at Colville Deverell bridge on Sunday afternoon. The man, who was trying to jump from the bridge, had already stepped over the rail when police officials arrived. The policemen were able to persuade him from committing suicide and rushed him to Brown Sequard Hospital, where he [...]

27 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

New motor regulations in force in July

Those who have not yet affixed new number plates on their vehicles have until July 1 to do so. In case this is not done, officers of the National Transport Authority (NTA) will take severe action. However, the new regulation concerns only new vehicles and second hand vehicles that are being registered for the first [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Bappoo stresses importance of social welfare, community centres

A conference brought together voluntary members of the management teams of social welfare centres and community centres and aimed at informing them about their roles and responsibilities in addressing new social challenges. This was held on June 23 at the Octave Wiéhe Auditorium, Réduit. The event was a joint initiative of the Ministry of Gender [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

USAID approves green initiatives

Romance Sampa, USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub (SATH) energy adviser, visited Mauritius from June 19 to 24 to discuss renewable energy and assess training needs in the country. In a recent interview, Sampa spoke about a training programme for SADC member countries being prepared by SATH and the Southern African Development Community. What was the [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Govt to submit 14-year energy action plan to EC

A number of issues were on the table during the Cabinet meeting on Friday. Among the points discussed include the introduction of the Dog Control Bill in the National Assembly. Household budget survey for 2012 The household budget survey will be conducted from January to December 2012 under the provisions of the Statistics Act. The [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

MBC old building to house ILO office

A section of the former headquarters of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) will house the Regional ILO Documentation and Research Centre. This was confirmed by the minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Shakeel Mohamed at a press conference on Friday in Port Louis. He stated that the government has agreed to put at their [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

New studio sets sights on Hollywood

Often a locale for shootings, the nation is set to play a bigger role in the cinema industry soon. That is if the necessary permissions are granted. British group Pinewood Studios, the name behind acclaimed film series such as James Bond and Carry On is looking to set up shop on the island as Tropikana [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Indian tourist robbed of Rs 525,000 at Meridien

Within six days, a second case of theft was recorded in a posh hotel. A receptionist aged 18 working at Le Meridien Hotel stole the sum of Rs 525,000 which was found in the handbag of a 42 year old tourist from New Delhi on June 24. The woman was staying in room 407 together [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Multiple offender François arrested

Assistant superintendent of police Daniel Monvoisin’s team achieved a major coup by getting a confession from Kenny François, a 23-year-old resident of Tombeau Bay. He admitted to having committed larceny with violence at Albion on June 18. He and his accomplices broke into a house at around 2 am, tied up the husband, 33, and [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

MCB awards scholarships to four Rodriguans

The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) awarded four scholarships to Rodriguan students at the MCB head office, Port Louis, on Friday through the MCB Rodrigues scholarship scheme. The four students are currently following their degree courses at the University of Mauritius (UoM), Réduit.Other prizes were also offered to the students in the presence of representatives of [...]

25 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily

Defence wants husband in witness box

On Thursday, lead defence lawyer Sanjeev Teeluckdharry (commonly used Sanjeev although correct is Sanjeeve) made an application asking the Supreme Court to review Wednesday’s ruling of the district court on grounds of impartiality of the bench. Magistrate Sheila Bonomally will pronounce her verdict on the matter on Monday. The defence has also asked that Michaela [...]

24 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily