Local Mauritius

Gaps in labour laws: Mohamed

During the parliamentary session on May 10, minister of Labour Shakeel Mohamed acknowledged that the two labour laws, namely the Employment Rights Act and the Employment Relations Act 2008, contain certain gaps in their legal dispositions. He even pinpointed some employers who fire employees due to financial problems. The minister was answering Reza Uteem’s question [...]

12 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Jugnauth assures bookies pay as they win

No horse racing bookmakers are in the bad books of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA). Not only do they ‘pay as you win’ but they also honour their commitments to the National Solidarity Fund (NSF). “No bookmakers have been sanctioned for late or non-payment of unclaimed prizes to the NSF since 2007 to date,” said [...]

12 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Seasonal flu cases on rise

Over the last few days, hospitals across the island have been overcrowded with patients, young and old, complaining of from flu symptoms. According to a general practitioner from Jeetoo hospital in Port Louis, it is during the winter season that viruses that cause influenza spread. This is because viruses can reproduce at a greater speed [...]

12 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Infinity entangled in bitter legal battle

Infinity BPO’s Roger Boodhna liquidator, is trying to unfreeze capital as soon as possible to remunerate the ex-employees of the bankrupt call centre at Ebène. However, many are protesting against his decision. Boodhna has served a formal notice to four companies, namely Barclays Bank, Datamatics Communications, Mauritius Telecom and Ruben Racing Ltd under Section 313 [...]

12 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Entries invited for young journalist contest

With a view to encourage students to think creatively and critically about issues affecting modern society, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the British Council and The Independent is organising the Young Journalist of the Year competition. This builds on previous joint initiatives in this field, most notably Le Prince Maurice Literary Award. The [...]

12 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Mauritius News- Mauritius Stocks Rise to Highest Since 1989, Led by MCB, Naiade

Mauritius’s stock Exchange rise to the highest since at least 1989, led by Mauritius Commercial Bank, and Naiade Resorts Ltd. on investor expectations of improved company earnings. The 37-member SEMDEX index advanced 0.9 percent to 2,105.61 at 12:25 in Port Louis. MCB, as the lender is known, soared to the highest intraday level since 2008. [...]

12 May 2011, MauritiusHot

Kasenally rebuffs critics on Neotown

Government will neither retreat nor surrender with regards to the Neotown project. Minister of Housing and Lands Abu Kasenally could not have been any clearer. In his reply to the private notice question from the leader of the Opposition Paul Bérenger on Tuesday, he said, “There is no question of cancelling. It is a mega [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Minister Sik Yuen launches triple layer water tank

Romold Mauritius Ltd, a leading manufacturer of polyethylene products in Europe is operational in Mauritius since 2009. It has launched its new flagship product – the Ramold Triple Layer Water Tank. Michael Sik Yuen, minister of Business, Enterprise, Cooperatives and Consumer Protection launched the Ramold Triple Layer Water Tank, a unique moulding process, in Mauritius [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

EU organises seminar on sugar industry

During the European Union (EU) seminar, Alessandro Mariani, head of the European Union(EU) delegation said, “The European Union has been supporting the sugar sector reforms in Mauritius since 2006.” As part of the Europe Week organised from May 7 to 13, EU organised a seminar titled, ‘Strengthening the Competitiveness and Sustainability of Sugar Cane Industries [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Reducing infant mortality rate, underweight babies

Around 30 officers of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life will attend a workshop on May 12 at the Royal Choice restaurant, Beau Bassin. The workshop is being organised by the ministry of Health to identify strategies to reduce the prevalence of babies with low birth weight. Infant mortality rate will also be [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Construction industry registers 2.8 pc growth

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) released figures on the construction sector for the first quarter of 2011. The Construction Price Index, which stood at 101.7 in December 2010, increased by 2.8 per cent or 2.8 points during the first quarter of 2011 to reach 10.45 in March 2011. An increase of one per cent was [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

PM reiterates absolute respect for institutions

Various issues were addressed at the parliamentary session on Tuesday. Among these included the measures implemented by the government to combat the problem of drugs and prostitution in Rose Hill. Post-mortem facilities at Flacq hospital Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam, answering a question by MP Dhiraj Khamajeet, said that the extension of post-mortem examination facilities [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

No tender bids for 13 companies

The Neotown project at Les Salines is not the only one to be set up in the harbour area without an offer. According to a document that was submitted by Abu Kasenally in Parliament, there are 13 private companies that have benefited from these privileges from 2000 to 2005. Along with these companies, one department [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Unions demand biennal report

The newly created trade union, Federation of Public Sector and Other Unions (FPSOU), held its first press conference on Tuesday at Jade Court in Port Louis to discuss issues pertaining to the Pay Research Bureau (PRB) report. The association sent a letter to the head of Civil Service on Monday to request a meeting on [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Women cheated on dating website

Women in Mauritius need to be alert. An alleged British businessman, operating online under the names Alex James, James Garry or other pseudonyms has been approaching women on a dating website. Initially this man tries to win their trust by posing as a friend. He even declares his love. After promising marriage he starts offering [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

MP questions foreigners on property acquisition

In reply to a parliamentary question from MMM front bench member, Reza Uteem on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said that conditions for business activities of foreign citizens could be found on the Board of Investment (BOI) website . Uteem wanted to know the names and nationality of those who have been issued with certificates authorising [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Nunkoo’s DNA found at crime scene

DNA tests performed by experts of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) have confirmed the presence of Sanjeev Nunkoo’s DNA at the crime scene. Nunkoo is the prime suspect in Helen Lam Po Tang’s murder. It has also been reported that he used a knife to commit this crime. The calls and text messages exchanged between [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

World Bank expert holds meet on economic growth

The University of Mauritius (UOM) and the World Bank (WB) office on the island organised a public seminar on the theme ‘The pursuit of inclusive economic growth: Equality of opportunity’ on Tuesday at UOM, Réduit. The seminar was hosted by Marcelo Giugale, director of Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network for Africa at World Bank [...]

11 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Govt to export sea cucumbers

Mauritius is planning to export sea cucumbers, a popular Chinese delicacy, on a large scale to Asian countries like Hong Kong, Japan, the Koreas and China where the market is very lucrative. The sea slug commonly known as barbaras fetches up to Rs 5,000 a kilo. Minister of Fisheries and Rodrigues Nicolas von Mally announced [...]

10 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Casino employees denounce

The Casino Employees Union (CEU), along with their negotiator Jack Bizlall, denounced the delaying tactics of the casino management in paying them their 14th month bonus. They also highlighted the irresponsibility of the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment. This was stated by CEU during a press conference on Monday. Brady Ponnusami, president of [...]

10 May 2011, The Independent Daily