Local Mauritius
Singapore keen to tap
On the third day of his official visit, Monday, the President of Singapore, S R Nathan kept a busy schedule. Speaking at the banquet hosted in his honour by Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam and his wife Veena, he highlighted the similarities between the two nations. As hubs of their respective regions, Singapore and Mauritius [...]
07 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Water cuts to affect more regions: CWA
The situation at Mare aux Vacoas is becoming increasingly alarming. The country’s largest reservoir is currently filled to 34.8 per cent of its capacity, compared to 81.9 per cent at the same period last year. Several regions of the east, south and the central plateau are experiencing water cuts. Plaine Wilhems will soon be supplied [...]
06 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
AML donates eco-friendly bags to 1,300 children
To mark World Environment Day celebrated each year on June 5, Airports of Mauritius Co Ltd (AML) and Mauritius Duty Free Paradise (MDFP) distributed eco-friendly bags as well as plants to various schools in the south on Friday. The project was targeted at 1,300 students from primary schools, namely Mon Desert Mon Trésor government school, [...]
06 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
MCB moves to green office in Aug
The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) building located at St Jean / Ebène, designed by Mauritian architect Jean François Koenig, is finally ready. A few hundred MCB employees will shift to the 10-story Green building by end of August. “The building is an architectural and ecological gem,” said Ryan Coopamah, head of Communication at MCB. He [...]
06 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
IMF advises to opt for GPS toll system
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommends Mauritius to opt for a toll system controlled by the Global Positioning System (GPS). This tax reform would eventually lead to a reduction in traffic congestion while working for the preservation and protection of the environment by discouraging the use of vehicles. “But even here, a first step in [...]
06 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Local firm to exploit land in Mozambique
British American Investment (BAI) is contemplating the use of land in Mozambique for one of the largest food security and renewable energy exercises of its kind undertaken by a local firm. With soaring costs, dependency on fossil fuels and looming food security concerns, BAI believes that large-scale production of food crops and green energy initiatives [...]
06 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
PMSD calls for DPP to operate independently
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should operate as an independent body, said Jacques Panglose at a press meet on Saturday. The conference centered on the Preliminary Inquiry Bill which will be presented to the National Assembly. The object of the bill is to amend the relevant provisions of the Courts Act and the Criminal [...]
06 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Bérenger on mini-cabinet reshuffle
Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) leader Paul Bérenger believes that the Labour Party has settled its score with the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM). The MMM leader was referring to the fact that Showkutally Soodhun has been stripped of the ministry of Commerce portfolio. Bérenger also spoke about the economic situation of Mauritius at his weekly press [...]
06 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Nathan given red carpet welcome
Singapore President Sellapan Ramanathan Nathan, popularly known as S R Nathan was welcomed at the airport on Saturday afternoon with honours that included a 21-gun salute and red-carpet greeting. Nathan, his wife Urmila and several officials and businessmen were received by Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam, his wife Veena, cabinet members, Opposition leader Paul Bérenger [...]
06 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Soodhun, Sik Yuen exchange portfolios
Showkutally Soodhun has been stripped of the ministry of Commerce portfolio, which is now being handled by Michael Sik Yuen. Soodhun is now the minister of Industry and Cooperatives while Sik Yuen is the minister of Business, Enterprise, Cooperatives and Consumer Protection. The decision was taken by President Sir Anerood Jugnauth after consultation with Prime [...]
04 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Maigrot granted bail
Bernard Maigrot, the prime suspect in the murder of fashion designer Vanessa Lagesse in 2001, was granted bail by senior magistrate Sheila Bonomally at the Mapou district court on Friday. The prosecution did not object to his release and the suspect paid a bail surety worth Rs 800,000 and an acknowledgment of debt of Rs [...]
04 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
In green move, govt eyes aquaculture
The government is mulling sustainable mariculture and aquaculture as a next step to its commitment to the ecology. This is heartening coming just days before the World Environment Day being celebrated worldwide on June 5. “Mauritius is positioning itself as a hot spot for eco-friendly investment for people interested in sustainable mariculture and aquaculture,” said [...]
04 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Infrastructure plan to be ready by September
The country will need Rs 250 billion for infrastructure projects over the next 10 years through public-private partnership. This was announced by minister of Finance and Economic Development Pravind Jugnauth at a workshop on the National Infrastructure Investment Plan (NIIP) at Sir Harilal Vaghjee Hall, Port Louis on Friday. “It is crucial that the government [...]
04 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
21 small power producers to get permit next week
Small Independent Power Producers (SIPP) will get their permit to produce electricity from the Central Electricity Board (CEB) by the end of next week. This was stated by a senior officer of the Central Electricity Board (CEB). The CEB had received 271 requests of which 197 are residential, 74 commercial and industrial. The CEB has [...]
03 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
S Korean wins ESU contest
The 20th annual grand final of the International Public Speaking Competition run by the English-Speaking Union (ESU) at the HSBC Headquarters in Canary Wharf in London took place on Friday, May 27. Jeon Kang from the Republic of Korea was declared winner in the competition which saw the participation of 82 national finalists from 49 [...]
03 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Voluntary work should become habit: minister
It takes time for voluntary work to become a habit. That is why it is important for the young to be exposed to voluntary works at an early. This was said by the minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform institutions, Leela Devi Dookun- Luchoomun during the launch of the ‘We Care Club’ on [...]
03 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Emirates offers daily flights to Geneva
The Emirates Airline has introduced daily flights to Geneva starting from Wednesday, making it its 112th destination. Mauritius will be connected to Geneva via Dubai on a daily basis. Following this, on August 1, daily flights to Copenhagen, Denmark will also be launched. This was stated by Oomar Ramtoola, Emirates manager for Mauritius and Indian [...]
03 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
MSDTF declares war on gamblers
Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation president Somduth Dulthumun is against gambling, alcoholism and smoking.At a press conference organised in Port Louis, on Thursday, he said that gambling has become a scourge in the country. He quoted Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam who had announced at the National Assembly on Tuesday that bookmakers would not be allowed [...]
03 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Ministry ponders inclusion of Bhojpuri in curriculum
Minister of Education and Human Resources, Dr Vasant Bunwareechaired a meeting on Thursday withmembers of the high level committee for the promotion of Bhojpuri. The minister will take cognizance of the report of the committee to decide on future actions to be taken. Bunwaree said, “It is an important step for the implementation of Bhojpuri [...]
03 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily
Minister calls for moderate usage of mobile phones
Following a recent study carried out by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on the risks of brain cancer associated with the usage of mobile phones, the minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum highlighted that people should not make an abuse of technology. The minister said, “An excess of everything [...]
03 Jun 2011, The Independent Daily