Local Mauritius

Book on positive living launched

As part of World Book Day celebrations, Hervé Hector presented his first book, ‘Sian Labondans’, on Thursday at a press conference. Hector will be present for a book signing programme that will be held on May 7 and 8 at Caudan at the book centre stand. According to Hector, the motivation for this book was [...]

07 May 2011, The Independent Daily

6 countries chosen for climate award

Each year, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) organises the Climate Champion Award. This is to recognise the achievements of climate champions, whose projects have delivered the greatest business benefits to the bank. Fourteen projects from six countries – South Africa, Taiwan, Brunei, Korea, Bangladesh and India – have been selected for the 2010 [...]

07 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Unions optimistic about labour law amendments

Amendments to the Employment Rights Act are underway. The Employment Relation Act will also go through changes following a meeting held on Thursday between representatives of the Confédération Syndicale de Gauche Solidarité (CSGS) and the minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Shakeel Mohamed. Several suggestions were made at this meeting. This was announced during [...]

07 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Centre on gender equality in offing

A research and documentation centre on gender equality will be set up within two years in Mauritius. The project will be implemented in two phases. A working session in this connection was organised on May 5 by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare and the UNDP at La Cannelle, Domaine Les [...]

07 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Spelling bee stings Loreto girls

It is recess time at Loreto College, Port Louis, and the girls are busy as bees. Literally. Eighty candidates from 21 zone 1 schools participated in the spelling bee competition organised by the English Speaking Union (ESU) on Thursday and they are all excited about it. One of them, Zainab Mohammad Affejee who is in [...]

07 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Holcim awards Std VI students for drawing contestHolcim awards Std VI students foHolcim awards Std VI students for drawing contestr drawing contest

Some 150 students from Emmanuel Anquetil primary school at Roche Bois took part in a recreational and educational day at Casela Nature Park on Friday. The activity is an initiative of Holcim (Mauritius) Ltd and was aimed at providing the students with an opportunity to better understand the importance of habitat for sustainable development. The [...]

07 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Bodha wants to popularise water sports

The Ministry of Tourism and Leisure is proposing to organise an event with the same glamour as the 24/7 festival in Port Louis to allow people to discover, during one month round the clock life in the capital. This was announced by the minister of Tourism and Leisure Nando Bodha at a press conference held [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Eden College celebrates diamond anniversary

Discipline in schools is very crucial and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources is currently working on this aspect. A committee to look into the same was set up six months. In fact, colleges where non-disciplinary acts are common have been identified. This information was provided by minister of Education Vasant Bunwaree at the [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

NGO raises funds to shelter street children

The Service d’Accompagnement, de Formation, d’Intégration, et de Réhabilitation de l’Enfant (SAFIRE) is organising a fund raiser event on May 27 to help street children. This non-governmental organisation (NGO) was established in May 2006. The fund raiser is in line with the NGO’s aim to continue the programme established by the Ministry of Social Security, [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

13 college students poisoned by datura

Thirteen students from two colleges were found intoxicated at Surinam on Wednesday morning. This was because the students, aged between 12 and 17 years, had consumed tamarind juice that had been mixed with ‘datura’. Nine of the students are under observation at the Jawaharlal Nehru hospital while four of them returned home at around 3 [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

‘Minimum salary to be fixed at Rs 15,000’

The Pay Research Bureau (PRB) is facing a tough time studying the proposals of the National Trade Unions Confederation (NTUC). The body is demanding the implementation of a minimum salary for civil servants and employees of parastatal bodies for its 2012 report. According to reliable sources, the PRB has not responded favourably to the proposal [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Water situation remains critical

Despite Wednesday’s heavy rainfall, the situation at Mare aux Vacoas continues to be still critical. The reservoir is filled at only 41.7 per cent of its capacity. The underground water level is also not very encouraging. The filling rate at Pierrefonds is 64 per cent while the ones at Morcellement St André and Hollyrood are [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Rise in eye

In the last few days, there has been a rise in the number of bacterial conjunctivitis cases. This was confirmed by an officer of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life. “Since late April, there has been an increase in the number of people who have contracted conjunctivitis. The disease is contagious and the [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Int’l tax experts meet for regional forum

This year, one hundred international tax experts are expected to attend the fifth edition of the Asia / Africa International Fiscal Association (IFA) Regional Conference. The conference is being held to address tax professionals in the region. The seminar has been scheduled for May 12 and 13 at the Sofitel Imperial, Flic en Flac. It [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

MMM harshly condemns

The leader of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) Paul Bérenger rejected allegations that he was targeting the Neo Town project because the investors are Indians. He described it as a private project between Patel Engineering limited and the government of Mauritius as “India has nothing to gain from Neo Town.” He also alleged that those [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

Govt urges officers to go green

During the launch of the recycling of used mobiles and batteries project on Thursday, the minister of Civil Service Ashit Gungah said that public officers have a key role to play in ensuring sustainable development. The ministry is encouraging officers to adopt ‘green behaviour’ at work and at home. “The promotion of a green mindset [...]

06 May 2011, The Independent Daily

The First Samsung Shop Opened In Mauritius

The first SAMSUNG shop was opened in Mauritius on Saturday 30th April 2011 in the presence of Jean Pierre Lim Kong, the Chief executive of Cim Finance and Trading, Asnath Sultunti, the General Manager of JM. Goupille & Co Ltd and Didier La Pierre, Indian Ocean General Manager of Samsung. The Trianon Samsung shop is [...]

05 May 2011, MauritiusHot

12 Students Poisoned With Datura In Tamarind Juice

Twelve students from two colleges of the South have been poisoned with datura infused into tamarind juice. According to the victims, a guy call Tito allegedly tried to trap them shortly before they arrive at school. They are all admitted to hospital in Rose-Belle, and some suffer from hallucinations. They are all bedridden at the [...]

05 May 2011, MauritiusHot

Seychelles Prez visits Mauritius accident victim

The body of Chantal Noel who was killed in a road accident in Seychelles will be flown in on Friday. Funerals will be held sometime next week, said Valérie, the daughter. The exact date is not fixed yet because they are expecting relatives from Australia and Kenya. “Seychelles President James Michel, deeply touched, called on [...]

05 May 2011, The Independent Daily

SBM now introduces bill pay card

The State Bank of Mauritius has launched SBM BillPay, a service that allows customers to pay their electricity and mobile telephone bills through their credit card. This was announced by SBM chief executive Gautam Vir on Wednesday. Payments can be made at automatic teller machines (ATMs) of SBM throughout the island or at over 150 [...]

05 May 2011, The Independent Daily