Local Mauritius
Hawkers likely to shift to bus terminal
The lord mayor of Port Louis, Mamade Khodabaccus said that the street hawkers may be relocated to the North bus station or Barkly Road near Victoria bus terminal. The Municipality of Port Louis has already started negotiating and is now awaiting the approval of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and [...]
20 May 2011, The Independent Daily
MMM MP to quiz Bachoo on MedPoint
For Tuesday’s National Assembly session, members of the Opposition have tabled questions on the MedPoint saga, amendment of the constitution to change the term general population, number of registered massage centres, number of plots acquired in relation to the Verdun Terre Rouge link road. On the whole, 50 questions will be put forth, out of [...]
20 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Union asks for redeployment
During a brainstorming session at the Rabita Hall, Port Louis on Thursday, officers of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development grouped under the Union of Finance Officers, submitted their requests to the acting director of the Pay Research Bureau (PRB), Mohun Aujayeb. This is for the 2011 PRB report, which will be published in [...]
20 May 2011, The Independent Daily
ICAC won’t stop at midpoint
When a civil servant completes his thirty-three and one third years of service, he withdraws from service with full pensions and a lump sum to a peaceful retirement. But such has not been the case of the former president of the Central Procurement Board, Dawood Zamany. He was convened by the Independent Commission Against Corruption [...]
20 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Ramgoolam in Namibia to attend SADC summit
Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam left for Namibia on Thursday to attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) extraordinary summit, which will be held on Friday. A press release from the Prime Minister’s Office states that preparations are also underway for SADC, COMESA, and the East African Community (EAC) to discuss a free-trade agreement. However, [...]
20 May 2011, The Independent Daily
British trial of cricketers set to start
The trial of three Pakistan cricketers and their agent on charges of corruption relating to ‘spot-fixing’ in England last year is due to get underway here on Friday. Former captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer have, along with agent Mazher Majeed, been charged with conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to [...]
20 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Smart IDs by Sept 2012
September 2012 could hand a smart card to all Mauritians. The project, first proposed in 1998, introduces a new national identity card containing all data of the citizen. Speaking to The Independent, the minister of Information and Communication Technology, Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum said that government is willing to go ahead with the project although it [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Master speaks on inner peace
Swami Padmanabhananda, the secretary general of Divine Life Society, India, is currently visiting the island. He said that in order to attain inner peace, people must develop positive attitudes and become conscious of their acts. Swami added that this will help purify their work and “serve, love and feel the peace.” Swami Padmanabhananda was born [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Scholar propagates Buddha’s teachings
To celebrate the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI), in collaboration with the Buddha Dhamma Association, organised a conference titled, ‘The being and becoming in Vaidika Tradition’. This was presented by Piyali Palit, professor of Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy on May 18 at the seat of MGI at Moka. Palit spoke [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
HSBC offers account in Chinese currency
For the first time, HSBC is offering customers the option to open bank accounts in renminbi (RMB or the yuan), which is the official currency of China. Through the Renminbi Savings and Term Deposit Account, customers will be able to access what has until now been a restricted emerging market currency. Talking about the new [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Writers celebrate
In the context of Rabindranath Tagore’s 150th anniversary, the Mauritian Writers’ Association, along with the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture(IGCIC), organised a cultural programme in Phoenix on Wednesday. The programme featured songs, recital of poems and speeches about the universality of Tagore. Shakuntala Hawoldar, president of the Mauritian Writers’ Association, stated that Tagore is [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Inquiry into impure fuel from MRPL
On Tuesday, MMM MP Reza Uteem raised the question about the consignment of contaminated petroleum products that arrived on the island on April 22. In his reply, minister of Industry and Commerce Showkutally Soodhun said that according to the State Trading Corporation’s information, the consignment was not allowed to unload and remained in the vessel. [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Agalega airstrip to be upgraded
The government has decided to proceed with the renovation of the Agalega airstrip in. This project will be carried out in two phases and is expected to cost Rs 250 million. Gawtam Davay, director of Outer Island Corporation Development, responsible for the management and development of Agalega, said that the first phase of the project [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
CWA proposes to use mobile filters
In a bid to solve the dire water situation that the country is facing, the Central Water Authority (CWA) has purchased five mobile filters to pump water near sources of water. CWA acting chairperson Meckduth Chumroo stated that water from the lake of Valletta, Bassin Aza near Verdun and Bassin 5-arpents at Camp Fouquereaux would [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Contribution of women entrepreneurs recognised
Mauritius is committed to promoting and strengthening entrepreneurship for broader economic progress. In this regard, Mauritian women entrepreneurs will have a unique opportunity to interact with their counterparts from other countries from May 25 to 28. This will be possible through the annual meeting of the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM), which will be [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
APCA enters entertainment business
APCA India, which owns AAPCA (Mauritius), the printers and publishers of Le Matinal and printers of The Independent Daily, has entered the entertainment business. Its first movie ‘404’ will be releasing worldwide on May 20. Produced by its arm APCA News and Entertainment, the film has been directed by Prawal Raman and stars Nishikant Kamath, [...]
19 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Press freedom respected in Mauritius, says PM
Freedom of expression in Mauritius is guaranteed by the Constitution and freedom of the press is respected in Mauritius. This was stated by Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam at the National Assembly on Tuesday. He was replying to a question from MP Joe Lesjongard about the unfavourable reports on Mauritius by two international institutions, namely [...]
18 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Mare aux Vacoas water level remains worrying
The water level of the island’s largest reservoir has been gradually decreasing. The situation has reached a point where Mare aux Vacoas is currently filled at only 39.1 per cent. A delegation from the Singapore Public Utilities Board and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise visited the island in October 2010 to evaluate the country’s needs for water [...]
18 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Lower VI students motivated, show interest in Young Journalist competition
Form 6 students, who are participating in the Young Journalist of the Year competition, are full of enthusiasm and motivation. Research work, contacting people and looking for quotes are fascinating them and some are even thinking of joining the journalism field after completing their studies. Farheen Rajani, HSC student at Loreto College, Port Louis, finds [...]
18 May 2011, The Independent Daily
Microsoft launches Windows Phone 7
Microsoft Indian Ocean has unveiled the Windows Phone 7, the latest Microsoft operating system for mobile phones. The software has been designed to help users stay connected while away from office. It provides a single interface. The smartphone HTC Mozart, operating on the new Windows Phone 7 platform, is now available at Maurisystem Ltd, the [...]
18 May 2011, The Independent Daily