News on Sunday 902 by Le Défi Media Group

BUSINESS

Moving data, not people STRAY ANIMALS

A lingering issue

ZINAIDA RAMJAN

Bejewelled sensuality

11 - 17 OCTOBER 2013 | N° 902 | 40 PAGES | RS 15 | WWW.DEFIMEDIA.INFO

THE ID CARD DEBATE

When the Opposition

SHOOTS ! f l e s it

The introduction of the new Identity Card system has sparked debates and even prompted a citizen, Dr Raja Madhewoo, to seek a Court injunction against the card Implementation process. Whilst most of the protests were initially carried out by social activists, the Opposition joined the bandwagon only recently, seemingly after public protests gained momentum. Until then, they remained more or less indifferent to the hue and cry surrounding the issue. Hon Paul Bérenger, now back as leader of the Opposition, at a press conference of the ‘Remake 2000’ on Saturday 5 October 2013, invited the public to refrain from applying for the new card until the main case is entered at the Supreme Court. On his side, Hon Pravind Jugnauth, Leader of the MSM, also entered a Court case against the new card.

RAJ AUCKLOO

HRDC advocates a business approach

NEWS

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 2

Dam Consultant on the grill Government will declare dispute against the consultant of Bagatelle Dam as it considers that there has been ‘faute lourde’ on his part and that he should be liable for costs and claims by the contractor. It is recalled that shortcomings were identified in the original design of Bagatelle Dam when the contractor later discovered the porous characteristics of its foundation.

Socio-political issues have taken the centre stage during these past days. Everything started with the decision of the “Commission Justice et Paix” to construct a 31,5 square metre-house on the St. Louis Cathedral’s square in the city. The objective is to sensitise the population on the maladaptation of this type of lodging proposed by the government, through the National Empowerment Foundation in the context of its social housing policy, to eradicate poverty.

Socio-political issues take centre stage

Now, that’s some news which will send Reunion island residents humming Mauritian hit séga “marier moi mo content li...” Tourism Minister Michael Sik Yuen has announced the MTPA will offer free air tickets, lodging and a helicopter or catamaran tour to Reunion couples choosing to get married in Mauritius provided they are accompanied by at least 25 guests. The idea is to boost tourism from our sister island. A team of journalists from Reunion Island was in Mauritius to discover our touristic offers.

Dev is back Dev Manraj has been appointed as the new Financial Secretary, after the resignation of Ali Mansoor last week. Manraj is not new to the Ministry of Finance as he has had a career spanning over 25 years there. He was also Financial Secretary between 1990 and 1998. Manraj was until Wednesday Senior Adviser at the Prime Minister’s Office. Both private and public sector unions seem satisfied with his nomination. Dev Manraj, 64, holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Management from the International Institute for Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland. During his career, he has worked with different Finance Ministers such as Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, Paul Bérenger, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo and Rama Sithanen.

Eid on Wednesday Eid-Ul-Adha - “festival of the sacrifice”, better known as Bakr Eid or Bakrid in Mauritius, will be celebrated on Tuesday 15 October. On that day, Muslims offer special Eid prayers. Men, women and children dress in their best attire. The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid-Ul-Adha. On that day, cattle are sacrified and the meat is distributed among the poor and needy. However it is not a public holiday.

POLITICAL ROUNDUP

Free air tickets for Reunion couples

It must be recalled that last year the vicar general of the Catholic Church Father Jean-Maurice Labour was the first person to voice out severe critics against this type of logding which he termed as “lakaz bwat zalimet” (matchbox house). During the whole week, the prototype of this house was exposed enabling the public to visit it so as to have an idea of its dimensions as imposed by the government. According to the “Commission Justice et Paix” such a small house does not provide decent living to its occupants. An exhibition on social housing was also held in the prototype house. To mark World Habitat Day observed on Monday 7th October, Radio Plus broadcast on Tuesday a very moving report on a father and his twin sons living in a container on the region of Cité Richelieu. The father explained how he used to work in the yard of a person and was able to afford renting a house. When he lost his job, he was forced to seek refuge in this abandoned container. It was only after the report was aired on Radio Plus that officers of the NEF, the Social Security department and the Citizens Advice Bureau of the region rushed to meet the man and his sons and they all hurriedly promised to help. To date, no government has come forward with a comprehensive social housing programme that could really meet the needs of the low-income group in the long term. True it is that the now extinct Central Housing Authority (CHA), the National Housing Development Company (NHDC) and the Mauritius

Housing Company (MHC) have had a remarkable contribution to housing, the first two institutions for the low income group and the third one for the middle class, however housing, considered as one of the three basic human needs, remains a national problem. Call it a coïncidence or not, a few days ago two ministers blasted Rodriguan squatters in Mauritius. And incidentally both ministers hold portfolios of so-called social ministries. Fortunately, the Minister of Housing and Lands Dr. Abu Kasenally realised his “faux pas” and tried to rectify through an official communiqué what he had said earlier. The Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment Mr. Suren Dayal did not rectify his earlier statements. Incidentally, the president of the Fédération Créole Mauricien (FCM) Father Jocelyn Grégoire came out in public after observing a long silence. Fortuitously he emphasized on two main themes during his interview in the second part of Le Grand Journal on Radio Plus on Tuesday: poverty and injustice. Though he sounded the alarm regarding recruitment of the minorities in the public service, he stated that he is not in favour of the introduction of a quota system. He pleaded in favour of affirmative action and positive discrimination. “I do not want to go down history as the one who balkanised the country”, he said. In his own inimitable style, Father Grégoire explained that

Madagascar bubonic No compensation plague warning for Civil servants

Madagascar faces a bubonic plague epidemic unless it slows the spread of the disease, experts have warned. The Red Cross and Pasteur Institute say inmates in the island’s dirty, crowded jails are particularly at risk. The number of cases rises each October as hot humid weather attracts fleas, which transmit the disease from rats and other animals to humans. Madagascar had 256 plague cases and 60 deaths last year, the world’s highest recorded number. Bubonic plague, known as the Black Death when it killed an estimated 25 million people in Europe during the Middle Ages, is now rare. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva and the Pasteur Institute have worked with local health groups in Madagascar since February 2012 on a campaign to improve prison hygiene.

The 2014 salary compensation is likely to cost the private sector at least Rs 2 billion, according to the Mauritius Employers’ Federation. The government has decided that employees of the public sector will not be entitled to the traditional salary compensation in 2014, as they recently benefited from a pay rise through the Pay Research Bureau. For the private sector, those earning up to Rs 8,100 per month will be entitled to Rs 300, whilst salaries between Rs 8,100 and Rs 20,000 will be topped up by 3.7%. Those earning above Rs 20,000 are excluded. Finance Minister Xavier-Luc Duval told the press that was the best he could do given current circumstances. He remarked that whilst most countries have resorted to pay cuts in the wake of the global crisis, Mauritius is one of the very few countries which could afford a 18% hike in public sector salaries. As expected, trade unions are not satisfied with the quantum proposed.

NEWS

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 3 “those in the hold of the ship should at least have a place on the deck”. While maintaining that he is the defendant of minorities, he made this pertinent comment as he referred to recent statements by Father Jean-Maurice Labour: “Once they are elected, they feel like in an ivory tower and are cut off from reality”. And he added this even more to the point sentence: “It is once that they have lost that they come back to reality and speak about poverty”. Another interesting remark concerns information that should be made public by the Public Service Commission on its recruitments for the public sector. He also advocated for the introduction of a Freedom of Information Act. On the purely political issue, he made an announcement that ought to sound like a tocsin in the ears of political leaders. He confirmed to Mr. Nawaz Noorbux what he had told l’Express dimanche earlier, that he is seriously thinking of founding a political party that would regroup all minorities. In his interview to L’Express-dimanche, he said that he was hoping that the Fédération Créole Mauricien (FCM) would evolve into the Fédération des Minorités Mauriciennes (FMM). And he told l’Express-dimanche very bluntly that “the objective of such a party would be to open up to Muslims, Chinese (meaning undoubdetly sino-Mauritians), whites, Tamils, to all minorities, including the Hindu minorities, the downtrodden and the low castes” In his interview to Radio Plus, he did express the fear that such a political party could be still born given the bi-polarisation of politics in Mauritius. But this should be read with another suggestion that he made: that of reviewing electoral boundaries to eliminate ethnic regrouping which could influence elections. He urged for what he termed as a “relooking” of the constituencies. What will now happen after Father Grégoire’s media campaign that would put to shame political parties and communication agencies alike? Will he dance his way to meet the Prime Minister and leaders of opposition party? Or will they dance to the tune of the singing priest? Another major happening that could impact on the socio-political scenery is the sudden resignation of Mr. Ali Mansoor from the post of Financial Secretary and his almost immediate replacement by Mr. Dev Manraj. The nomination of Mr. Manraj in clear represents a direct communication between the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance. Does this mean that government will depart from its ultra liberal economic policy? This week was also marked by the official announcement of the quantum of the salary compensation by the Minister of Finance Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval. This exercise has further demonstrated how political power or rather political impotence and economic interests can divide and subdivide workers. Meanwhile workers are continuously losing their purchasing power while small and medium enterprises are struggling to survive. Who said that “la lutte des classes” is over and political ideology is dead and buried? Sunil GOPAL

The Financial Secretary resigns: What’s in the Pandora’s Box? THE RESIGNATION of the Financial Secretary, Ali Michael Mansoor, ahead of the presentation of the national budget is bad news for the country. In fact, the timing of the departure of the one perceived as the mastermind behind the budget during the past eight years, sends a wrong signal. Contextually, it suggests three things: (1) there is divergence in the preparation of the 2014 budget, (2) there would be no continuity in fiscal policy , (3) the climate is uncertain. This is not to reassure the business community and investors at all! There are many assumptions about the reasons that led to the resignation. The most plausible is the professional conflict between the Financial Secretary and the Governor of the Bank of Mauritius, a conflict that degenerated into controversy in the open with personal innuendos. The first one is in favour of a low interest rate [Repo rate] in order to facilitate borrowing for investment and support the highly indebted private sector. This, according to him, would foster growth. The second prefers a higher interest rate so as to encourage savings and stabilise inflation. This, according to him, would protect the purchasing power of Mauritians. The Governor could not implement his plans, because he was outnumbered in the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Mauritius. This questions the independence of the Central Bank, seen more as an affiliate of the Ministry of Finance. However, monetary policy and fiscal policy are two parallel paths to preserve the value of the rupee. Did the Prime Minister finally cut the Gordian knot of this controversy? If he did, has he decided in favour of Manou Bheenick, a member of the Labour nomenclature and a personal friend, at the expense of Ali Michael Mansoor, a former close ally to Sithanen and now a friend of Xavier -Luc Duval? Or has he decided between the Financial Sec-

retary and the Governor, which is not quite the same thing? Because the latter stance suggests that the monetary policy advocated by the Bank of Mauritius will now prevail at the Ministry of Finance. This could also be seen as a blow to Minister Xavier -Luc Duval, who has so far consistently supported the Financial Secretary. If ever there is a new focus, would the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister continue to share the same views on the preparation and content of the 2014 Budget? It must be said that the task of the Minister of Finance is delicate in such an economic climate. He is expected to present a budget that sounds credible to stakeholders and international economic institutions in a pre-electoral context, and this, against the backdrop of strong social demands and expectations marked by economic indicators at its lowest. It is true that Xavier -Luc Duval still has the opportunity to tap the various special funds created by his predecessor, Rama Sithanen [funds amounting to Rs 11 billion in 2011] to close the budget gap and to give the illusion of a successful budget. But business leaders know that such makeshift solutions are not sustainable given the current structural problems of the country. The trade balance deficit [difference between imports and exports] continues to worsen. The deficit was Rs 16.9 billion [Rs 16,894 million] in the second quarter of 2013, almost three times more than the average recorded since 1985. All in all, the Current Accounts deficit stands at 10% of GDP, quite worrisome according to international standards. The foreign exchange earnings in the form of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) do fix the deficit and prevent the rupee, and the country, from sinking. However, a quick analysis of the composition of the famous FDI send shivers. According to data from the Bank of

Mauritius, 47 % of these investments have been directed towards real estate, particularly IRS, RES and Shopping Malls; speculative investments and altogether unproductive by these times. So much so that on Friday 4 October the Bank of Mauritius had to issue a notice to private banks, requesting them to restrict loans given to operators in this sector. It is feared that some heavily indebted private companies might fail to repay their bank loans, totaling billions. In the worst case scenario, the domino effect could take the shape of a mini US subprime the Mauritian version. Equally serious, although the Bank of Mauritius is silent about it: if we consider the projections made in 2012 by former Governor Ramesh Basant Roi , it is likely that the foreign currency reserves of the Central Bank, accumulated in the form of treasury bills, are themselves made up of 60% to 70% of FDI. Investments called in the jargon as “arbitration”, that is to say the differential in interest rates. The interest rate being 0 to 2.5% in the United States, it is more profitable to invest in Mauritius, where the Treasury bonds yield 5%. But it is a highly volatile form of investment. India burnt its fingers at that game. So much so that a massive return of these funds to the United States - against the background of a recovery of the U.S. economy and soon with the stoppage of the Quantitative Easing policy [issuing billions of dollars in the market] - has plunged the Indian currency, despite a growth rate of over 5%, while that of Mauritius has been revised to 3.2%. The Governor of the Bank of Mauritius, Manou Bheenick, very talkative on many issues, has the duty to inform the public. In any case, we’ll know in the coming days what is Xavier -Luc Duval’s version of Bérenger’s “hot pan”! NEMESIS nemesis@defimedia.info

Miss Universe Mauritius reveals her outfits The Organising Committee of Miss Mauritius and its President Mrs. P. Obeegadoo presented the outfits of Miss Universe Mauritius 2013 on Thursday at Henessy Park Hotel, Ebene. After one long year of reign, the Miss Mauritius 2012 will be flying on 17 October to represent our island in the Miss Universe pageant. Diya Beeltah will take along her ten outfits offered by sponsors. The casual and casual-chic outfits that she will be wearing are sponsored by Mr Price and Red Snapper. The evening gowns are from Nalini Bridal Shop and Ashiana Fashion. On the evening of the Grand Finale of Miss Universe, Diya Beeltah will be wearing a pale pink veil dress from Ashiana Fashion. Last the National Costume of our Miss Mauritius 2012 has been designed by Davina Poonen - Boodhun and her collaborator Shia Shipa Padaruth. The costume has been inspired by local flora and the flowers and the skirt are of the colour of the national flag. Diya Beeltah will be spending twenty days at Moscow before the Grand Finale of the contest which will be held on November 9. Jameela JADDOO

COVER STORY

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 4

The ID Card debate

When the Opposition

shoots itself! The National Identity Card (miscellaneous provisions) Bill was debated in Parliament at the sitting of Tuesday 9 July 2013. The Prime Minister made a lengthy speech explaining the bill after which only one member of the Opposition, Hon Alan Ganoo, then leader of the Opposition, intervened on the subject. The bill was passed on the same day. In his speech, the Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam explained in details the implementation of the Mauritius National Identity Scheme (MNIS) Project. He said that although the present NIC has served its purpose, it is now outdated and has many flaws. “The actual NIC card is paper-based laminated in plastic. This is a major flaw, as it can be tampered with easily. It also lacks security features, which is a major setback, both for national security purposes and also for citizen identity management. Furthermore, this type of card does not allow for its use for additional purposes.” Describing the new smart card, he said: “It will also feature a contactless electronic chip which will store civil status data, fingerprints in the form of biometric information as well as electronic certificates for security purposes.” After Dr Arvin Boolell rose and seconded the Bill, Hon Alan Ganoo started his speech by stating that he would like to express the disapproval of the Opposition that the Bill was being presented with a Certificate of Urgency. He explained that the Opposition was against the way in which the whole project had been introduced, ushered in with the Singapore authorities. “We are still on the same wavelength of not agreeing to the way this MNIS project has been introduced.” From his speech, it was clear that he contested only the way the Bill was being introduced, and not the contents of the Bill. “As far as the proposal in this Bill, we don’t have any quarrel…The reason which the Hon. Prime Minister has just expatiated and elaborated on the different amendments that are being brought today to the National Identity Card Bill, Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Hon. Prime Minister has said, some added measures of flexibility have been introduced in the Bill to cater for new situations. We have no quarrel with these proposals and amendments,” he stated. In his support for the new card, Hon Ganoo made a long exposé to describe how the current NIC has severe shortcomings, how it is possible for an impostor to impersonate someone, apply for a birth certificate in the latter’s name, then apply for an ID card with his photo on but with someone else name, and then use the documents to commit offences easily. “I am saying that, Mr Speaker, Sir, to illustrate how it is still easy today with our system, although the law provides that there is a Registry - I looked at the law - where records are kept,

Opposition late entry in the protests On Saturday 5 October 2013, Paul Bérenger gave three main reasons to support his objection to the new card. He stated that the new card was against the Constitution, that data was at risk of being hacked and that those who refuse to submit their biometric details may face imprisonment. Ironically, none of these reasons figured in the speech of Hon Alan Ganoo in Parliament. It is therefore questionable whether Ganoo was speaking for himself or as representative of the MMM. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, also present, remarked that even rich countries cannot guard against hacking, whilst Pravind Jugnauth announced his intention to go all the way to Privy Council on this issue. Interestingly, Pravind Jugnauth was in 2010 the Minister of Finance who allocated budgetary funds for the MNIC project implementation. He did not participate in Parliamentary debates on Tuesday 7 July, the day the Bill was passed.

COVER STORY

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 5

MNIC milestones On 15 June 2007, whilst presenting Budget 20072008, the then Finance Minister Rama Sithanen announced: “After over 20 years, the replacement of the National ID is long overdue. Its replacement provides an opportunity to introduce a multi-application Smart Card. Other possible uses include access to secured areas, payment of pensions and social security benefits, electronic purse, driving licence, health card and transport card. I am providing Rs 20 million for the design phase following which the full costs will be established.” In November 2009, Rama Sithanen announced: “We are advancing with our e Government project. The ADB and the World Bank are providing technical support to the Ministry of ICT to link the Mauritius National Identity Card Project with the e-Government project. This will provide every Mauritian with a Smart ID card that accesses various Government services electronically and would also allow for receipt of funds and payment of fees. A coordinator of the project is being recruited through an open tender to start work before the end of the year. The National Identity Card Act will be amended in the Finance Bill accordingly.” On 19 November 2010, Hon Pravind Jugnauth, then Minister of Finance, announced in his Budget speech: “We must also maximise the benefits of IT for our population. Government is earmarking Rs 1.5 billion, of which Rs 200 million in this budget for the implementation of the Mauritius National Identity Card (MNIC) Project. Thus, some 800,000 smart cards with greater capacity to store information will be issued in 2012 to replace the existing laminated cards.” but as far as we know no photographs are kept, so that when I go to the office of Social Security, which falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Security, when I give the name of another person, there is no possibility of counterchecking, or checking, or verifying whether, in fact, I am that person. So, this is a flaw still in our system. This is why, of course, we need the innovation and modernisation of the system, Mr Speaker, Sir. This is why we agree also with the amendments that have been brought to the law today, and of course, there are still lots of grounds that have to be covered. It is only the introduction of a multipurpose smartcard that will address the many problems that we have today with our system, which is clearly dépassé, out of date,” Hon Ganoo told the Assembly. He disagreed only with section 7A, which deals with lost or mislaid identity Card. The section specifies that anyone who finds a lost card must, within 7 working days, return the identity card found to any office designated by the Registrar. Hon Ganoo found that the seven working days “is a very short time frame, is a very short delay”. “This is the specific remark I wanted to make, Mr Speaker, Sir. As for the other provisions of this Bill, the Hon. Prime Minister has gone in detail, has elaborated on what are the other provisions in this Bill. We have no quarrel with the other amendments, Mr Speaker, Sir…We welcome the Bill, the new provisions, the new proposals, the new amendments,” he concluded. After he finished his speech, the Prime Minister thanked him and remarked that “the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, himself, said: ‘we have no quarrel with the Bill’. He agrees with most of the things, except one thing – I think he has said - that he thinks that the ‘seven working days’ is a bit short. So, there was no real issue that could have been very controversial with this Bill.” Shaffick HAMUTH

Rao Ramah: “ID card registration continues”

It is a year now since Government decided upon the implementation of the Mauritius National Identity Card Project, with the assistance of the Government of Singapore. The process is on with the registration of Mauritian nationals since the 1st of October in ten conversion centers throughout the country. After registration the applicant will receive his new ID card after two weeks. The Singaporean authorities would not only deliver a state-of-the-art identity card with world-class biometric and identity management technology and systems but also allow Government to improve its services through the Mauritius National Identity Scheme, and benefit from the expertise of world class experts in the fields of e-Government and national security. News on Sunday has asked the director of the MNIC, Rao Ramah to give us details of the procedure, concerns shown by the civil society and how the registration is going on in the ten centres. It seems that Rao Ramah has nothing more to add to what has been already said by government in the media, as the following interview shows. Some members of the public showed their opposition to the data content of the new ID card. What are the issues of discontent? What has been your reaction to the discontent shown? Issues raised have been in the press for the past few weeks. Government has held press conferences, communicated in the media with the answers. Please refer to these.

One of the objectives of the MNIS is to ‘update and cleanse citizen’s records’. Can we know what information which will be added (update) and which will be deleted (cleanse)? Update and cleanse citizen’s records refers to exceptional corrections that must be made, to civil status records in exceptional cases where there may be errors or omissions in the data e.g. abbreviated names must be restored etc. What are the sensitive personal data which will not be included in the new ID card? The Data Protection Act refers to sensitive and personal data. None of these are required for the ID card. Will bank accounts be included in the ID card? No. Government announced that ‘world class biometric systems’ will be included in the new ID card. What are the biometric systems which will be included in the new ID card? Photo and fingerprints. What are the security appliances used so as to safeguard the data included in the ID card? There are legal, technology and procedural safeguards put in place to secure information. Indradev CURPEN

TPC fuels facebook fury ICT Minister Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum, who allegedly remarked that citizens are publishing all their personal details on Facebook without bothering about their security or privacy, has come under fire on the social network site. “Facebook does not force me to sign up and does not fine me Rs 100,000 if I don’t,” claimed one netizen. Another remarked:”Facebook doesn’t ask for my fingerprints.” Most of the commentators claimed that Facebook gives them a choice, whilst the new ID Card leaves no choice to people. A few persons however praised the government for bringing this new card, claiming it will help combat crimes.

WEEK IN REVIEW Mauritian murdered in Malaysia Mauritian citizen Bhishma Sharma Digpaul was found dead in Malaysia last Friday. This resident of Candos, aged 39, was victim of a robbery gone wrong. Bhishma Sharma Digpaul was brutally attacked outside the hotel where he was staying in Kuala Lumpur. According to a senior officer of the Royal Malaysian Police, the victim was stabbed eight times in the back with a sharp weapon after a violent quarrel. His assailants had left him writhing in a pool of blood. The funeral of Bhishma Sharma Digpaul was held on Wednesday afternoon after the body was repatriated. One suspect, a 20-year old man has been arrested by the Malaysian Police.

Bring n Share lands students in hospital

Twelve students of Form 1, Adventist College, Phoenix were victims of food poisoning on Wednesday. Ten of them were admitted to the Victoria Hospital in Candos. Their condition is considered stable. The other two were able to return home after receiving care. The twelve schoolgirls, according sources had consumed eggs and fries at a ‘bring and share’ event.

Maddie disconnects detainees

Sniffer dog Maddie is yielding results. It has detected seven mobile phones among detainees at Richelieu Prison. Maddie found these hidden in the dormitories amongst the prisoners’ objects. To recap, Maddie was recently donated by the UK. It is a spaniel aged one year and has been trained to detect prohibited substances in prisons.

Standard Chartered promotes better vision In connection with World Sight Day, Standard Chartered Bank (Mauritius), together with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources and the Optical Association of Mauritius hosted an event at SSR Disability Centre, a special needs school, in Triolet on Thursday. The bank had launched a national program in 2012 to raise awareness on avoidable blindness in Mauritius. One of the objectives of this 4 year program is to assess eye health amongst children in the public schools at an early stage. The Standard Chartered Bank, as part of its engagement in this program, has committed to provide up to 100 man days, releasing its employees to visit the schools, perform vision screening and refer cases of eye sight problems to the members of the Optical Association of Mauritius. Free glasses are also donated to those children whose families cannot afford to buy them. So far, 15,030 children have been screened in 261 schools, 1,818 children have been referred with eye sight problems and 250 needy children have received free glasses.

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 6

Gunther and Otto discover

Mauritius

GUNTHER Holtorf, a 76-year old German who has visited over 200 countries with his Mercedes Benz G Wagon nicknamed “Otto”, is currently in Mauritius with his famous vehicle. Gunther, a former airline CEO, shared his experience of travelling to the four corners of the world during a presentation at Iframac’s new showroom at Phoenix Les Halles this week. Gunther and Otto, a vehicle built in 1988, have spent the last two decades on the road, even visiting places like Tibet, Mount Everest, Sudan, Afghanistan and North Korea. “This is my first time in Mauritius. I have been touring your island for a few days, and I can assure you that this part of my journey will be unforgettable. Mauritius is magnificent and its population is fascinating,” said Gunther Holtorf. Mauritius is one of the countries on the last leg of the world tour. Once his journey has been completed, Gunther will return to Germany and Otto will be placed in the Mercedes Benz museum in Stuttgart. “Gunther and Otto’s visit is a historical moment for Mauritius. This extraordinary journey will enter the Guinness Book of World Records. The last three countries that Gunther Holtorf must visit to complete his journey are Mauritius, Madagascar and Burma,” explained Mr. Brian Burns, CEO of Iframac. Gunther’s and Otto’s journey began in 1989, lasting 18 months through Africa. Gunther and his wife Christine then realised how little they had seen of the world and kept going until Christine got sick and passed away. She had nevertheless encouraged her husband to complete their project. The car was built in July 1988 and cost 30,000 Euros (around Rs 1.24 million). Otto still has the original gearbox and the original transfer case. It now has over 823,000 kilometres and has been transported in a shipping container 36 times. Gunther has slept in his car for the last 23 years. He has four active passports and at least a dozen old pass-

ports. He says that he has always been inspired by travelling and is curious to see different countries and meet new people. His travels are about honouring his wife and Otto. During the press conference, Mr. Brian Burns also spoke of the upcoming developments at Phoenix Les Halles, where the vehicle showrooms are now based. The next phase of the building’s renovation will include the opening of the new Mercedes Benz showroom. Aside from Iframac’s showrooms, a hi-tech area, a new food court and new shops will also open at Phoenix Les Halles. Iframac participates in the Engen Motor Show, which will take place at the Swami Vivekananda Centre in Pailles from October 11 to 14, 2013, with amazing offers and new models.

Opinion

Paying rates doesn’t need to be taxing! FOLLOWING the promulgation of the New Local Government Act 2011, the boundaries of most towns have been reviewed. The jurisdiction of the Municipal Council of Port Louis, for example, now extends to the regions of Pailles, Montebello and Sorèze, which were formerly under the administration of the Black River District Council (BRDC). As a result, residential properties in these ex-villages will now be subject to municipal tax, an eventuality that the majority of residents loathe. The arguments are that just a change of status from village to urban ward does not mean the current level of facilities and amenities justify an imminent municipal tax. Most of the roads in the region are in terrible state, children’s playground lack basic equipment, and uncovered roadside drains on narrow roads even pose a serious risk to road users and children. Bus workers have converted the boundary wall of Pailles SSS into a public urinal, due to the absence of a bus terminus with toilet facilities. Interestingly, the Local Government Act provides that, in the event of villages becoming towns, “a

Frequent road floodings at Guibies. newly proclaimed Municipal Town Council shall not levy rates until the fourth financial year after its creation”. Yet, a newly proclaimed ward within an existing Council is being taxed immediately. This is not only unfair, but unequal, discriminatory and stinks of double standards. Another issue is that the Municipal Council is asking all residents to submit a copy of their Building permit, title deed and information about the size of their properties, etc. The fact is that, at the

time of application, every householder already provided all these information (in 3 copies) to the Black River District Council (BRDC). Why then subject people to such unwarranted hassle when the most sensible thing to do was to migrate all the files and the databases from BRDC to the MCP, rather than asking every household to resubmit the same, which is not only inconvenient, but also environmentally unfriendly. Imagine thousands of residents making dozens of photocopies of documents. Many people probably would no longer have such documents if they built their houses decades ago. Speaking at a workshop on Monday, (coincidentally, the workshop was held in Pailles!), Local Government Minister Hon. Hervé Aimée spoke about the urgent need to reduce the use of paper. But the Councils are engaging in a completely opposite path that would even leave the MID Commission bewildered! Ironically, all Council officials attended the Monday workshop whose very theme was “mainstreaming MID in Local Authorities”. Shaffick HAMUTH

ECHOES AND WHISPERS

Dr Jack Keel and Mr Hiding

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Waging war against low wages DR JACK KEEL: Some employees have been blessed with a salary increase. MR HIDING: Some? DR JK: Yes, some. Only those in the private sector. MR H: What about those in the Government Service? DR JK: It would seem that they have been excluded. MR H: That’s not fair. DR JK: Isn’t it? All workers are equally due for a salary increase. MR H: It’s your remark which is not fair. DR JK: How can you say that? MR H: The public officers have just benefited from two PRBs in succession. Their salaries have already increased. DR JK: I see. But still, in view of the general increase in prices, they should get higher wages too. MR H: That’s another matter. But the State capacity to pay should also be taken into consideration. DR JK: Anyway, these are matters that are beyond our ken or comprehension. MR H: We better leave it to our Trade Union Leaders to sort out these things. DR JK: Where are our Trade Union Leaders? We only have politicians at the head of Trade Unions. MR H: That’s not fair again. Some are really doing a conscientious job. DR JK: You may be right there. But as in politics, there’s always a large number who bring disrepute to those who work sincerely.

MR H: As was to be expected, the increase has caused further tension between employers and their employees. DR JK: The employees should be happy to obtain the increase. MR H: They don’t find it sufficient. DR JK: It’s the Union leaders who say so. The employees should be satisfied to have obtained an increase. MR H: The employers are complaining that they can’t cope with the increase. DR JK: Maybe they really can’t. MR H: Have you ever seen employers who are ready and willing to pay any additional wages to their employees? DR JK: But they have to pay, whether they like it or not. MR H: Employers everywhere have only one goal: to make the greatest profit for the least wages. DR JK: It’s the Small and Medium Enterprises that are going to be most hit by the increase. MR H: They should not. They must review their marketing strategy. In any case, the increased cost of production will be passed on to the consumer. DR JK: Customers are not very careful when they buy things. Many people are caught with a rage of buying. MR H: They simply can’t see articles on the shelves of supermarkets without developing the morbid

Exit Mansoor, re-enter Manraj

Who wants to go to UK?

Nothing could rejoice the Civil Service and the Trade Union leaders more than the resignation of the ex-Financial Secretary, Mr. Michael Mansoor. The whole Civil Service class sighed with relief at the end of last week when the good news fell. “Good riddance to bad rubbish,” clamoured one union leader with a smile writ large on his face. In fact, Michael Mansoor proved to be wise before the event and he relinquished his job hours before the Prime Minister could tell him to “lev pake.” Nothing became his office more than his leaving it. After the belated departure of Mansoor, another Man has been appointed to replace him. Or should we say “reappointed,” because Manraj was already in the FS saddle before the appearance of Mansoor in the Sithanen days. Everybody found it very strange that even after the departure of the latter, Mansoor was allowed to keep his position, perks and privileges. Manraj is an old hand and his comeback has been gracefully saluted by all. The present FS is a cultured person with a lot of mettle and fortitude. The next budget will no doubt reflect his grit and savoir-faire.

Going to the United Kingdom for any purpose has always been an almost insurmountable hassle. In the past, obtaining an entry visa required a heroic battle on the part of the applicant. Today they have removed the visa for visits not exceeding 6 months, but the hurly-burly still endures. First of all you need to be “qualified” to be eligible to go to the land of Her Majesty. But the “qualifications” are nowhere clearly laid down. Maybe you have to satisfy them that you are not a terrorist or that you don’t have any intention whatsoever of stealing Big Ben or walking away with the Tower of London. The British High Commission here is of opinion that an exaggeratedly enormous number of Mauritian nationals are now living illegally in Great Britain when these Mauritians ought to be basking here in the good, warm Mauritian sun, or at least lending a hand to clean up Mauritius for British and other tourists. As a great favour, the British authorities say they are not imposing an entry visa to Britain, but intending visitors are warned to watch it. The immigration authorities at Heathrow have been well trained to make life difficult for anyone who dares to set foot in the land of Shakespeare.

desire of buying them. DR JK: And they come back home loaded with articles that they don’t really need. MR H: That’s very curious. On the one hand, they complain about low wages and prices that keep escalating. On the other, they don’t seem to be able to put a restraint to their desire for buying. DR JK: Have you seen the way in which people from all walks of life discard, or exchange, goods that are still perfectly serviceable? MR H: That’s very appalling, to say the least. DR JK: Cars, clothes, washing machines, micro-waves, TV sets, shoes, computers, mobile phones, etc. are changed as soon as a newer model appears. MR H: Only the other day, an electrician who was fixing a wire at my place, was complaining that his fourteen-year old son was after him to buy a pair of shoes. When he went to the shop for the purchase, that particular pair of shoes that his son wanted was priced at Rs 4,200 DR JK: I’m sure he didn’t buy it. MR H: You’ll be surprised. He bought the shoes just to please his son. What’s more, his old shoes are still all right and can go many miles more. DR JK: People can go to incredible lengths to satisfy their ego. MR H: They want to be in vogue. DR JK: They are also possessed with that burning desire to keep up with the Joneses. MR H: And then they will complain that they have no money to make ends meet.

Unwinding at UN Our Prime Minster has had a swell time at the United Nations meeting recently when he addressed the Heads of States and of Governments at the annual fair. He gave himself one more opportunity to have a dig at the shameless British Government when he brought up the Chagos issue in front of the world forum, at the same time throwing a barb against the USA. “I am confident,” he told the august assembly,” that the United Kingdom and the United States will want to be on the right side of history.” That confidence, it is feared, will for ever remain in the realm of wishful thinking, for who cares about the sides of history so long as their present agendas are satisfied? Year after year, at succeeding UN General Assemblies, succeeding Mauritian Prime Ministers brought have up the Chagos issue. Yet, the United Kingdom has never “engaged in any process that would lead to a settlement of this shameful part of its colonial past.” Naturally there are other parts of that “shameful part of this colonial past.” But the Chagos is still there like a sharp thorn in their tender flesh.

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Raj Auckloo, director of the HRDC

“HRDC advocates a business approach” This is the first time that the HRDC will be organising a conference of this kind. What prompted the holding of this conference in Mauritius? The HRDC is a leadership organisation in human resource development. In our quest to become a global centre of excellence, leadership and innovation, we also inspire to provide the highest quality resources and services to our stakeholders. The conference brings us a step closer to reaching that goal. By taking the initiative to bring together leading minds in the HRD industry, we want to provide a common platform that will help establish a benchmark for best HRD practices at local, regional and international levels. As a matter of fact the conference theme, ‘Excellence in HRD for Sustainable Growth’, has been strategically chosen to add value to the success of the conference. Discussions will cover salient issues pertaining to human resource development, with focus on how businesses are managing and empowering their people to be successful in times of crisis. The topics will include human capital development, technology in learning and development, the new role and challenges of HR worldwide and HRD and economic empowerment, to name a few. In addition, the conference will feature work papers and leading experts, renowned worldwide for their wide range of experiences in HRD, with Pieter Haen as guest speaker and Brad Boyson, Prof. Thomas Garavan, Prof. Venkat Raman, Andrew Chan, Anand Pillai, Bob Morton as the keynote speakers. On top of the main conference, a pre-conference Master Class will be organised on October 16 October to give participants the chance to interact directly with the guest speaker. What are the responses from participants so far? HRD has gained significant recognition over the years. It has a direct impact on the overall performance of any organisation and should be the underlying basis of an organisation’s strategies for success. As such, especially given that HRD is a field that is ever changing, there is a need for a platform for sharing of knowledge. You need to identify what is happening now that could affect you or your employees. We have received tremendous responses from participants worldwide. This clearly shows that there is huge public enthusiasm and appreciation for such a forum where those who share the same interest in HRD can engage in constructive discussions, network and learn from each other. Our call for papers was a great success too, with abstracts submitted from across the globe. This will allow us to put together a highly focused programme. What are your expectations from the Conference? The HRDC is regarded as a benchmark reference point by many countries for its management of the National Training Fund (NTF). Under this Fund, the HRDC operates a Levy/Training Grant System whereby incentives are offered to employers to support training initiatives. Over the years, the HRDC has received the visits of many high

kind to be introduced in Mauritius in 2011 and certainly the most prestigious awards to be bestowed upon HR firmsbusinesses and professionals in recognition of their outstanding achievement, dedication and commitment towards sound HR practices. This year marks the second edition of the awards. The name of the winners who will be taking home these prestigious awards will be announced at the gala night on October 18. Though the HR Excellence Awards is principally targeted at local professionals, an invitation will be extended to participants attending the conference. We are passionate about what we do and we want to share this experience with the conference participants.

In line with its mandate to provide a forum for constant dialogue and consensus building on all matters related to human resource development, the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) is organising an international conference on October 17 and 18, 2013, at Le Meridien Hotel. It will be a high profile, interactive platform for sharing international best practices and new trends in Human Resource Development. The HRDC was set up in 2003 to promote human resource development through capacity building. The director of the HRDC, Raj Auckloo gives us some insights. officials from countries across the world who wished to learn from our experiences in administrating the fund. We now want to use the conference as a vehicle to promote international linkages. The HRDC is open to collaboration with other institutions where we can expand partnerships opportunities to further improve our HRD activities. The aim is to ensure that the HRDC continues to grow its reputation as a forward-looking institution, dedicated not only to promoting HRD but also to setting the example. The conference will culminate with a gala night where the winners of the HR Excellence Awards 2013 will be revealed. What do these awards stand for? The HR Excellence Awards are another initiative of the HRDC to foster best HR practices. It is the first of its

You mentioned earlier that the conference theme will cover HR issues that could arise in times of crisis. Has the recent economic crisis changed HR at your organisation? The HRDC has not specifically been affected by the recent global economic crisis but this has led organisations to place more emphasis on good governance and sound risk management to build resilience against such a crisis. More importantly, HR professionals do recognise the need to understand the environment they are working in and the changing expectations of the workforce. Following the crisis, the HRDC had carried out a special review of the economic situation in Mauritius to gauge the impact of the crisis in the local context and to identify any disparity with the National Human Resource Development Plan (NHRDP), a document prepared by the HRDC in 2009. The new information was compiled into a report entitled, ‘Human Resource Implications for Mauritius in the Context of the Global Financial Crisis’, which was published as an addendum to the NHRDP. This special edition offers information, with respect to the NHRDP 2009 figures, on changes in employment in private companies in light of the expected evolution. The report aimed at helping stakeholders develop proactive HRD policies and rebuild trust in the economic sectors. Our approach is thus deeply rooted in the reality of business life and capacity building is our number one priority at the HRDC. Why should HR leaders and other participants attend the 2013 HRD Conference? The conference will be the perfect opportunity for cutting-edge updates on the human resources industry. Participants will be able to rub shoulders with some of the most influential thinkers and top company representatives in the HR industry. It will also be an opportunity for participants to network, connect and engage in new business and research contacts with global partners for future collaboration. The conference agenda includes strategy sessions and discussions with leading industry experts to provide participants with fresh ideas on how to drive their business by investing in sound HR practices. Organising a conference of this size is a huge task. It requires preparedness at all levels well in advance and we are right on track where we need to be. I am confident the event will be a widespread success.

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BOI International Advisory meets in Mauritius

LAVIMS on firm ground In line with budget vision to harness ICT to bring innovation and effectiveness in doing business, the Ministry of Land and Housing has put in place a very complex but secure information system which is known as LAVIMS (Land Administration Valuation and Information Management System). This information system is critical to the land market as the whole land transaction process has been computerised in a seamless manner from the Registrar General’s Department to the

digital cadastre through the Valuation Department. This project has been enlisted as the second best project in the continent of Africa. According to the ministry LAVIMS project will become a powerful tool for land management and transparency. Regulations have already been promulgated for use of a unique Parcel Identification Number (PIN) in survey reports and deeds of transfer of lands. The issue of PIN to a particular parcel will to a large extent prohibit fraudulent practices of dispossessing

people from their land by way of prescription. In order to produce more precise survey plans, control points have been established throughout the island. 60 secondary geodetic control points have already been established. Tertiary geodetic control points are now being established to enable Surveyors to produce coordinated survey plans which will contribute in maintaining and up dating the cadastre. This method will ensure that there is no misidentification of sites surveyed.

Mauritius Ranks 1st in Sub-Saharan Africa Mauritius is ranked 1st in Sub-Saharan Africa and is at the 47th position worldwide in the Human Capital Index (HCI) report 2013 of the World Economic Forum (WEF) released recently. The Index measures countries on their ability to develop and deploy healthy, educated and able workers through four distinct pillars: Education, Health and Wellness, Workforce and Employment and Enabling Environment. HCI finds Mauritius the highest ranked in the Sub-Saharan region and also among the top 50 worldwide.

Other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that have achieved fairly good performances are Botswana and Kenya

at the 2nd and 3rd position with a worldwide ranking of 79 and 81 respectively. According to the Index, Mauritius has recorded good performances in the overall indicators on Education (50), Health and Wellness (45), Workforce and Employment (64) and Enabling Environment (49) which have contributed positively in making the country featured among the top 50s. The World Economic Forum’s Human Capital Index assesses 122 countries by measuring contributors to the development of a healthy, educated and able labour force.

The 2nd annual meeting of the International Advisory Board, set up by the Board of Investment (BOI) to assist in graduating Mauritius from a middle income developing country to a higher income developing one, was held last week, under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister Xavier-Luc Duval, at The Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel in Port Louis. The aim of the meeting was to allow the members of the Board to reflect on the key sectors and strategies that can be game changers for Mauritius and help the country attain the level of a high-income economy. Discussions centered on enhancing connectivity as well as leveraging the development of new sectors as global investors are increasingly looking at using Mauritius as their first partner for investing in Africa. The International Advisory Board is also assisting the BOI in the following areas: to identify and develop future pillars of the economy; to propose policies that will enhance the competitiveness of Mauritius as a global business platform and to develop a network of contacts that will help BOI reach business leaders who can contribute to the development of the country. The first meeting of the International Advisory Board was held in May last year.

Innovation Prize for Africa

The African Innovation Foundation (AIF), a Zurich-based foundation and a non-profit organization is launching ‘The Innovation Prize for Africa’ (IPA) which is an initiative founded in 2012 to mobilise and acknowledge the best African innovators. IPA provides $150,000 to winners who develop new products, increase efficiency and drive cost-savings solutions to African challenges. Application for IPA is now open to businesses in the following five sectors: Agriculture & Agribusiness, ICT application, Health & Well-being, Manufacturing & Energy and Environment and water. Closing date for participation is 31 October 2013. More information is available on www.innovationprizeforafrica.org

Workshop to make Local Authorities greener The Commission on Maurice Ile Durable (MID) launched on Monday at Clos St Louis, Domaines Les Pailles, a workshop which aims at networking municipalities and village councils. Topics discussed include policies related to Local Authorities, provision for energy, water resources and capacity building for MID and the concept plan for a cleaner, greener and pollution-free Mauritius. In his address, Vice Prime Minister Duval recalled the importance for the population to be judicious in the way we treat the environment, for the sake of our economy, our children and our future. With regard to the role of local authorities in

the collection and disposal of waste around the island, Mr. Duval pointed out that cleaning campaigns should become a permanent engagement. The last budget was MID-friendly in the sense that it encouraged Ministries/Departments to reduce the use of paper. On that score, he announced that the National Assembly is going to be fully digitised when it resumes its sitting at the end of this month. It is high time to promote the use of recycled paper and waste segregation in Ministries/Departments, he said. For his part, Minister Aimée pledged his support for the promotion of sustainable develop-

ment across local authorities. In this context, a project for the composting of market fair waste at transfer stations will be initiated and it will be implemented on a pilot basis at La Laura Transfer Station. As the enforcing agency for solid and hazardous wastes in Mauritius, the Ministry of Local Government and Outer Islands is alive to the urgent need for putting up of an appropriate framework for the environmentally sound management of e-waste. In a bid to reduce the use of paper, the Ministry is coming up with the e-Local Government platform for online applications, said the Minister.

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Lengthy procedures, absence of clear guidelines, lack of common sense from bureaucrats, tedious paperwork, long waiting time, limited serving staff, and to top it all, the absolute need to appear in person! This is a summary of the bureaucratic maze faced by common citizens in their day to day interaction with public as well as private sector authorities. Red tape not only stifles business, but also seriously inconveniences people, increases costs and is against the Maurice Ile Durable strategy.

Moving data, not people

Disentangling from the bureaucratic maze How many times have you been asked to come and apply or submit a document IN PERSON, only to find that your physical presence was not needed at all? Or, you were asked to bring a whole bundle of documents just for the sake of bringing them, whilst you could easily have given the necessary information over the phone or sending them by email. Bureaucracy is a nightmare that every one of us has to endure in our day-to-day activities and transactions. Most of public departments require you to apply in person. Thousands of people have to move about daily just to satisfy nonsense administrative procedures. These most often unnecessary movements, during this digital era, mean that many people have to take leave from work, catch a crowded public transport or spend hours in congested roads. Efforts have indeed been made by the authorities to streamline procedures and improve services, to cut down paper work and to speed up processing of applications. However, there is still room for improvement. Bureaucracy destroys initiative. There is little that bureaucrats hate more than innovation, especially innovation that produces better results than the old routines. Improvements always make those at the top of the heap look inept. The use of computerised system is one major step towards reducing administrative hurdles. But in many cases, existing manual procedures have simply been computerized, without a review of the procedures to see whether certain steps could have been eliminated. In some cases, an ‘improvement’ has seen an increase in the volume of paper being used, defeating the purpose of innovation. Earlier this week, the Finance Minister reiterated his appeal to reduce paper consumption. However, to reduce paper, we need to review procedures and make them simpler. One of the objectives of the new Smart ID Card system is to improve public services, reduce bureaucracy and make citizens’ life better. Let’s hope that nonsense bureaucracy will indeed be a thing of the past.

EXAMPLES OF ‘NONSENSE’ PROCEDURES NTA REQUIRES ORIGINAL TRADE LICENCE At the National Transport Authority (NTA), a shop owner who went to pay road tax for his delivery truck holding a Carriers’ Licence was ordered to bring along his original Trade Licence as a copy was not acceptable. The man explained that municipal rules require the original Trade Licence to be affixed on the premises. But the NTA officer insists that he must produce the original document. Exasperated, the man argued that in that case he can only bring the original after 5pm when the shop closes, as he wouldn’t risk removing

the original during opening hours in case a municipal inspector walks in and fines him for non-display of his ‘patente’. Faced with an adamant officer, the shop owner had to take his case to the Road Transport Commissioner. Another bone of contention at the National Transport Authority is that a person who sells a vehicle has to appear in person to apply for a ‘certificat de gage’. TEDIOUS COMPANY SEARCH Whilst in most developed countries it is possible to access details of a company from the comfort of your desk, in Mauritius, one has to travel to the premises of the Companies Division and pay Rs 100 per file to search company information. One reason why most

people get easily fooled by unscrupulous businesses (the recent Ponzi Schemes being a vivid example) is because it is a herculean task to find out the credentials of a company. Yet, it is not rocket science to make available online basic details of companies that could assist people doing a KYC (Know Your Client). Similarly, most applications involve too much paperwork (high paper consumption). Online application and filing would have instantly doubled Duval’s objective of reducing paper use by 25%. DISTRICT COURTS If you live in the north and happen to be booked by police for a road traffic offence in the south, or vice-versa, then you have to appear the District Court of the

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 11 area to defend yourself. The current system does not allow you to face the procedure at the Court nearest to your place. Talking of Courts, civil proceedings are cumbersome. According to the authorities, there are plans to completely review systems and procedures, with the advent of the e-judiciary, but in the meantime, citizens have to make do with what’s on offer: Long queues at cash office to pay fines, early closure of cash offices, etc. Furthermore, in some cases, for example at the Family Court, it so happens that everyone is convened at the same time, for example 9.30 am, and you have to wait for your turn. There is never any clue when your name might be called up and people lose half or almost a day’s work (with its consequences). If you are unfortunate, your case might be called the very moment you have popped out for a quick bite or a visit to the loo. This means you have to come back again!

Alitalia faces fuel warning

SILENT AGREEMENT UNHEARD OF The Silent Agreement principle has been introduced to force officials treat applications within prescribed deadlines. For example, an application for a Building and land Use Permit at the Municipal or District Councils must be processed within 15 working days failing which the application would be deemed to have been approved under the Silent Agreement principle. However, in reality, this eventuality rarely applies and there are cases where applications take weeks. The funny thing is that Councils request you to submit application and plans in 3 copies (at your own cost) but you ask yourself what they really examine. An applicant, who already obtained his Building and Land Use Permit (BLP), was later shocked to face a Building Inspector on his construction site, threatening to issue a Stop Order because he did not have a “permit” to construct his boundary wall. The applicant argued that he already obtained his BLP for his project and that the plans submitted to the Council included the wall as well. It seems bureaucrat did a piece meal approval, and he was forced to apply again for the boundary wall this time! PRIVATE SECTOR NO BETTER There is a tendency to believe that excessive bureaucracy and inconvenient procedures are the hallmark of the public sector, but the private sector is no better in many cases! Whilst it is possible to purchase a refrigerator over the phone in most countries we take pleasure in emulating, in Mauritius some retailers (and not the small ones) want to have a copy of your ID and your utility bill to effect the transaction. The irony is that, if you are a returning customer, they will ask for the same documents again. Similarly, you may be banking with an institution for years but the moment you apply for another service, say a credit card, bank staff will ask you a series of documents which they have already! If you come back in one month to apply for a third service, chances are that they will again ask you a copy of the same documents! Now, worse, whilst most international banks dispatch bank cards by post, some local banks insist that you come and collect your card ‘in person’. Other cumbersome transactions include taking insurance policies or renewing your car insurance, where you have to attend in person, when such things could have easily been done over the phone. SOME INNOVATIVE DEPARTMENTS Whenever one talks about innovation in the public service, two main examples are often cited: The Mauritius Revenue Authority and the Customs Department. All their procedures are fully computerised and service is available online. It is said that the next five years will see a huge boost in online services, sparing the trouble of personal trips, increasing efficiency, reducing cost, paperwork and indirectly reducing consumption of fuel. This is the philosophy of ‘Moving Data, Not People’. Shaffick HAMUTH

Alitalia risks having its fuel supplies cut off as the company struggles to avert a financial crisis. Italian oil company ENI said it could not keep supplying fuel if the airline failed to raise fresh finance. ENI’s chief executive said his firm could not provide credit “to a company whose future seems no longer assured”. After years of losses, Alitalia is trying to raise 100m euros ($136m; £84m) from its shareholders to keep the business running. Those shareholders are due to vote whether to extend fresh financing on 14 October. Alitalia was rescued from bankruptcy in 2009

by a consortium of investors. Under the deal Air France KLM took a 25% stake in the carrier. Analysts say Air France KLM wants to buy the rest of Alitalia. But the French carrier is unlikely to want Alitalia’s debt burden and would probably want to make deep cost cuts. “This is a tug of war over the price,” said Andrea Giuricin, a transport analyst at Milan’s Bicocca University. “Air France KLM would like to buy Alitalia as cheaply as possible, preferably without having to take on its debt, while the Italian shareholders want to get something out of this as well.”

US issues new 100hundred-dollar notes The US Federal Reserve on Tuesday started circulating a redesigned 100-dollar note with new security features to deter counterfeit. In addition to traditional safeguards such as a watermark, the redesigned 100-dollar note includes two new security features: a blue three-dimensional security ribbon with images of bells and 100s that appear to move when the note is tilted, and an image of a copper-hued inkwell containing a color-changing bell. The new design comes primarily for security reasons, said Lambert, adding that the 100-dollar note is the last US currency denomination to be redesigned in the series, as the five-, ten-, twentyand fifty-dollar notes have been redesigned in the past decade to add security features.

“The new design incorporates security features that make it easier to authenticate, but harder to replicate,” US Federal Reserve Board Governor Jerome Powell said in a statement. “As the new note transitions into daily transactions, the user-friendly security features will allow the public to more easily verify its authenticity.” The Federal Reserve has launched a website newmoney.gov, available in 23 languages, with currency education programs to make the public understand the new security features better. However, consumers and businesses don’t have to rush out and trade in older-design 100-dollar notes for new ones, as “all designs of US currency remain legal tender, regardless of when they were issued,” the Federal Reserve noted.

IMF cuts global growth outlook The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has trimmed its forecast for global economic growth. It now expects global growth of 2.9% this year, a cut of 0.3% from July’s estimate. In 2014 it expects global growth of 3.6%, down 0.2%.It cited weakness in emerging economies for the cut. Despite the improvement in growth in advanced economies such as the UK and US, the IMF warned that a slower pace of expansion in emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India, was holding back global expansion. It expects growth in Russia, China, India and Mexico to be

slower than it forecast in July. In part, it says this is due to expectations of a change in policy by US central bank the Federal Reserve. Simply the expectation that the US could trim back its efforts to stimulate the US economy has already had an impact on interest rates in emerging economies, the IMF said. In the euro area, the IMF says business confidence indicators suggest activity is close to stabilising in peripheral economies, such as Italy and Spain, and already recovering in core economies such as Germany.

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World famous Dr. Subhash Palekar to conduct national workshop on natural farming The M.P.A. Coop Society and Northern Planters Association in collaboration with the Indian Diaspora Centre is organising a five-day national workshop on “Zero Budget Natural Farming” from Monday 14th October to Friday 18th October next at the Hindu House, Cassis. The workshop will be conducted by the renowned natural scientist Dr. Subhash Palekar. The opening ceremony of the workshop is scheduled on Monday 14th October 2013 at 9hrs 30 a.m. at the Hindu House. The Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives Mr. Jamgbahadoorsing Seetaram will be the chief guest. Dr. Subhash Palekar

SPEAKING to News on Sunday, the coordinator of the event former Health minister Mr. Jagdish Goburdhun stressed the importance of natural farming and its numerous advantages. “Herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers account for more than fifty percent of the cost of production of sugar cane, vegetables, fruits and flowers. Besides being more and more costly pesticides are harmful to the human body. Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiac failures, cancer and so on have reached alarming proportions in Mauritius. Natural farming is poised as the pefect solution. Not only it will help planters to get high yields but it will also preserve the nature and the health of our citizens”. Recently he led a delegation of farmers who had the opportunity to visit the experimental fields of Dr. Subhash Palekar in India and they were dumbstruck by what they saw. “From the manure produced by one single cow, some 30 arpents of land can be fertilised. On the other hand suffi-

Jugdish Goburdhun during his visit to Dr Palekar’s farm in India. cient space must be left in between the rows of sugar cane to allow the cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers”, explained Mr. Goburdhun, who also served as Agriculture minister in the

past. Back in Mauritius, Mr Goburdhun decided to try natural farming in his fields at St. Julien d’Hotman and the results were more than encouraging.

“ I have planted maize, peanuts, ladies finger, beans and many other vegetables using “Jivamrit” and the yields and quality of the produce were really facinating”, he told us.

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The

FOUR principles of natural farming

Basically, natural farming aims at cultivating plants by promoting self-reliance of farmers while protecting the environment and stimulating harmony among humans, animals and plants for a sustainable development. The fundamental principle underlying natural farming is that everything is connected to everything else on earth as every function is served by many elements and every element has many functions. The relative placement of elements is thus an important key to the success of this method and requires a minutely detailed observation of nature in order to recreate in the fields the same kind of symbiosis, of interactivity between the plants. Natural farming is based on four principles:

1. ZERO BUDGET FARMING The production cost for the farmer is zero as no input needs to be purchased. As 1.5 to 2.0 % of the nutrients are taken from the soil by the plant (the rest is taken from the air, water and solar energy), there is no need to add fertilizers. These nutrients provided by nature (as in the forest) are totally free of cost. The farmer uses its own seeds and protects the crop with natural products that he collects himself so that he does not have to buy either chemicals or seeds. As a zero cost technique, natural farming is an appropriate answer to the current agriculture crisis and particularly to farmers’great indebtedness and dependence on money lenders, that increasingly leads too many of them to commit suicide. 2. NATURAL INPUTS Natural farming does not require chemicals inputs or organic compost like vermiculture (S. Palekar considers these external inputs as as destructive as chemicals) but promotes a natural catalyst of biological activity in the soil and natural protection from diseases. Though he praised the Agricultural Research Extension Unit for signing a memorandum of understanding with Dr. Palekar on zero budget natural farming and the subsequent setting up of experimental zero budget natural farming centres at Wooton and Réduit, Mr. Goburdhun deplored that his request to fly Indian natural faming helpers to Mauritius was turned down by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment. His application for water supply at his fiels in St. Julien d’Hotman was never entertained. “What we are advocating is in line with government’s vision, namely the Maurice Ile Durable project. We need to work together for the betterment of planters. So many of them are leaving the sector for lack of encouragement.” Sunil GOPAL

Farming’s four wheels. It is necessary to create the micro-climate under which micro-organisms can best develop, that is 25 to 32 °C temperature, 65 to 72 % moisture and darkness and warmth in the soil. Mulching indeed conserves humidity of the soil (therefore diminishing the need for irrigation), cools it and protects its micro-organisms.

The nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash, Iron, Sulphur, Calcium) which are present in the soil are not in an available form for the plants. They first need to be transformed through the action of micro-organisms (bacteria, microbes and local earthworms) that are normally present in the soil as well. But the excessive use of chemicals have destroyed these micro-organisms. It is thus necessary to reintroduce them through natural methods like application of local cow dung which, according to S. Palekar, contains 3 to 5 millions of such beneficial microbes. His researches show that local cow dung (zebu) is the most effective compared to foreign cows (Jersey, Holstein). Only one cow is needed to cultivate 30 acres of lands (most Indian farmers own less than 1 acre) as one cow gives about 11 kilograms of dung per day and as only ten kilograms of local cow dung are required per month to cultivate one acre of land. Observing nature, S.Palekar thus developed a natural “catalytic agent” known as Jivamrit to promote the formation of humus in the soil by encouraging the multiplication of micro-organisms that decompose the dried 3. MULCHING Mulching is also one of Zero Budget Natural

4. MULTICROPPING Intercropping, multicropping or mixed cropping, as opposed to mono-cropping which has been imposed by industrial and mechanised agriculture, is the cultivation of two or more crops in proximity in the same field, during a growing season, to promote interaction between them. It is based on the assertion that there is a complementarity between plants. Natural farming enhances the use of the soil and its nutrients through this complementarity between the crops. For example, one could mix long life-span species (like chikoo, coconut, mango) with short life-span species (like various vegetables, leguminous, medicinal and aromatic plants) and medium life-span species (like banana, papaya, custard apple). The diversification of crops has to be decided according to the area and agro-climatic conditions. Multicropping is a good way to minimize the risks for the farmer who is able to enjoy continuity of yield throughout the year. In case of a crop’s failure he can also rely on the other crops. Other advantages of intercropping include the limitation of outbreaks of crop pests (some plants act as natural pesticides against other crops’ pests) while rotation protects against endemic pests; the protection of biodiversity; a better and richer nutrition.

Jugdish Goburdhun explaining the advantages of natural farming to MP Pravind Jugnauth.

Subhash Palekar : Towards natural farming Subhash Palekar, popularly known as Krishi ka Rishi (the “sage of agriculture”), is a famous exponent of natural farming and a tireless promoter of the concept of “Zero Budget Natural Farming” (ZBNF). He hails from Amaravati (Maharashtra) but was born in the village of Belora, in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, which has been sadly notorious for its high percentage of farmer’s suicides these past two decades. While his father was a traditional natural farmer, S. Palekar started practising chemical farming on their land, as he was taught in the college. Between 1972 and 1985 the production of his ‘modern’ farm increased regularly but, to his great surpise, it started declining from 1985. This unexpected result led him to thoroughly study the reasons of the decline in the yield and finally to develop the concept of natural farming. From 1986 to 1988 he studied the ecosystem of the forests and the natural processes which enable the growth of so many fruits, plants and trees

such as mango, ber, tamarind, jamulum, custard apple, neem, moha, without any intervention of human beings. As he himself explains « he found that there is a self developing, self nourishing and totally self reliant natural system in the forest, by which all the vegetation and ecosystem exist without any human existence ». Then, for six years (19891995), he verified these natural processes on his own farm through 154 research projects that led him to develop a method of natural farming which he called the “Zero Budget Natural Farming”. Today, Subhash Palekar, who is still cultivating various crops on his 34 acre dry land property, dedicates himself to the propagation of his method all over India. He thus trains the farmers in this technique through camps, workshops, seminars, model farms settled throughout India, and publications in various Indian languages. About 30 lakh farmers have already successfully adopted natural farming over 10 millions of hectares.

WOMEN

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Varsha Naran-Beekharry

The story of her victory over cancer As October is the Breast Cancer Awareness month, News on Sunday decided to share with you the heart rending story of a young woman’s fight and victory over the disease. Varsha Naran-Beekharry, a South African citizen residing in Mauritius since 2009, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. SHE UNDERWENT four months of chemotherapy which lasted like a lifetime. “Cancer helped me answer many difficult questions. It forced me to face many demons. With cancer, I decided to never short-change myself ever again. Cancer gave me the courage to live. And I decided that I would not die an unlived life,” she said. Varsha shared her deepest feelings and her experiences during her ‘breast cancer journey’ with us. Varsha was only 24 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer on 4 October 2004. The young and beautiful South African woman knew that her life would not be the same ever again from that very moment. “I felt as if I had just been handed down a death sentence! The words, “your tumours are malignant, you have cancer” reverberated in my head for hours. I knew then that my life would change forever.” Holding a B.Com degree with specialisation in Industrial Psychology, Varsha was working as a Human Resource professional. Luckily she did not have to quit her job and was fortunate to have a generous boss who gave her three months leave with pay. With support at work and from her family, the young lady mistered all the strength and will-power she had to go through four months of chemotherapy. “I went for six cycles of chemotherapy lasting a mere 4 months, but it felt as if a lifetime. When I reflect on my cancer experience, I cannot help feeling surprised at myself. I completed my last dose of chemo in a mere four months. Only four months? Four months is such a short time. Yet those 4 months changed me in ways I’m only now realising and discovering. Was I filled with remorse, fear, guilt? I cannot say. I know that I was filled with fear at the prospect of having just been diagnosed with cancer. I sat in the doctor’s cabinet, listened to his diagnosis while panic slowly rose within me. I desperately tried to remain calm. I felt utterly and totally unconsolable. It was crippling,” she told us. However for Varsha, it was the chemotherapy treatment which was the hardest and most traumatic part of it all. “People think that cancer kills, that’s not entirely true. It’s the chemotherapy that

causes mouth ulcers, hair loss, nausea. Chemotherapy is an invasive form of treatment; the effects are both physical and emotional. I went from ambitious, beautiful and confident to nauseas, bald headed and purple tongued. Chemotherapy caused this. I would mentally recite the mantra, “every hand that touches me heals me” yet, the minute the cold chemicals entered my body, I felt myself tensing up, fear slowly gripping and a metallic taste filling my mouth. Chemotherapy ensured my body survived,” she said. While at times she felt zapped from all confidence, Varsha could count on the constant support of the family to jump back on her feet. “My strength came from my family. They are my rock and my pillar of strength. Like a petulant child, I often asked my mother “why me?” Her mother patiently answered all my spiritual questions. My siblings stood by my side, making me laugh when I needed but also sat still and holding my hand when I cried,” she shared. Alongside this moral support, Varsha also had a strong spiritual grounding

which helped her stay strong and fight harder against the cancer. “I knew that if I won the battle in my mind, my body would follow under Dr Moodley’s care.” The disease and its treatment affected Varsha to an extent where she felt that it completely robbed her of her femininity, self-confidence and sense of self. “I weighed only 25kg when I went through my last chemotherapy. I mourned the loss of my health, my body, my hair and my femininity. I was distraught and utterly unconsolable at the thought of being mutilated. I’ll never be whole again, I’ll never have children as my oncologist strongly advised against it although he pointed out that surrogacy and adoption was always an option,” she stated. Indeed, cancer is a disease which tears and destroys one’s life at all levels. It does not discriminate against age or gender. It makes you put yourself in question and look at life from a completely different perspective. Your world spins upside down and you realise that life is a precious gift from

Her project for the cause of Women with Breast Cancer Varsha aspires to launch a programme aimed at women undergoing chemotherapy. Named ‘You Are Beautiful Femme’, the project aims to restore a sense of self confidence to these women. “I want to help those women like me, who look in the mirror and come face to face with the ravages of chemotherapy, whose eyes reflect fear, shame, guilt, anger, grief and unshed tears. “You Are Beautiful Femme” aims to restore a sense of self confidence to these women by offering them a 3-hour make-over. This session will be held on a monthly basis, with different female patients attending the sessions. The focus will be to link positive self-image to quicker recovery time with the added benefit that these women develop the confidence to face their battle. I’m trying to get this project off the ground, but it has proved to be quite challenging,”

she reveals. Asked about how and where the make-up sessions will take place, she explained. “The make-up sessions require a location that can accommodate 10 women around a table with enough space for their mirrors and small make-up kits. Given the right infrastructure, this project can be reach out the 9 districts of Mauritius at the local community health centres and/ or the hospitals and/or at hotels and/or at private clinics. But it is hard to find sponsors and also in terms of bureaucracy.” Varsha Naran-Beekharry will gladly welcome any kind of support, help or volunteers who are willing to help her materialize the project and empower the women to improve their appearance and by extension, their self-image. To know more about the project, you may contact Varsha by email at youarebeautifulfemme@gmail.com.

WOMEN

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Dear Shakespeare

God. “Cancer forced me to question my existence. It forces you to re-evaluate your life. The journey that cancer puts you on is extremely personal and introspective. Mine was paved with tears. Facing one’s own mortality is terrifying, surviving even more so. Cancer is discriminate. It is not possible to get through the disease not having learnt important life lessons,” Varsha uttered. Nevertheless it also forges your character, making you become a stronger person. “I realized that I didn’t want to die an unlived life. I realized that I wanted to live and with that realisation, I fought. I fought to survive. I fought the most important battle of my life, for my life.” NEW CHALLENGES After the treatment, the young woman took the decision to have both her breast removed. At the end of the tunnel when everything seemed so dark, Varsha had the incredible chance to have cosmetic surgery. “I had lots of insecurities and was slowly recovering. I was down and not keen to go through cosmetic surgery. But my doctor in South Africa, Dr Moodley, told me that I should be happy and enjoy such a chance. When I changed my mind set it actually felt good going through it. I not only had a new life but a new body,” she happily confided. She continued by saying “some people tell me that I am courageous. I do not think of myself as courageous or even as a survivor. Rather I think of it as conquering the fear of dying an unlived life, one bite at a time.” Surviving has made her open to new experiences and take up new challenges in life. When she met her husband in 2005 while recovering, Varsha felt deeply in love. It was a new chapter that was opening in her life. “I fell hopelessly in love with a Mauritian living in South Africa. We married and moved to Mauritius in January 2009. We believed that Mauritius could offer us the quality of life we were searching. Somewhere we could lay down our roots.” And finally, after five years of cancer free mark and three years of marriage, when she least expected it, Varsha was blessed with the greatest gift of life. Her husband Akash and she were blessed with a baby boy. Though doctors predicted the contrary and advised her against it, Varsha’s life was truly blessed by God and it was God’s will to give her life’s most precious gifts. “My number one priority now is my child and nothing will get in the way of that. I survived. Now, I am a mother, a wife and an individual in my own right,” concluded the proud mother. Her message to all the women out there is “Be kind to yourself. Don’t die an unlived life.” To the family of those affected with breast cancer, Varsha Naran-Beekharry says “It’s okay to be scared, I am too. There is no obligation for you to be strong for me. I am already strong. I need you to be yourself. I don’t need you to fill the silence. I need you to love me enough to sit in silence by my side. I need you to believe that I will survive, because I believe it.” Jameela JADDOO

My dear Billy, I don’t know who’s the guy who came up with the wisecrack that marriages were made in heaven; maybe the implicit connotation was that the marriage hell was lived and endured here on earth. Having bestowed upon ourselves the honour of being the very paradise which God created with His own blessed hands, ever since Mark Twain’s manipulated remark, the Minister of Tourism is now busy advertising for marriages made in Mauritius on a grand scale, with the avowed intention of filling our hotel rooms. As you know, one of the main duties of any Mauritian Minister of Tourism is to do marketing work for our hotels. Not very long back, we used to entice newly-weds to our beaches for their honeymoons. Now we are catering for their weddings as well. You see, my dear Billy, in this much hurried world couples are made to waste a lot of time getting married in their own countries, then coming the whole way from anywhere to spend some intimate time in paradise. Now the whole process starts here and ends here. As soon as the marriage rites are pronounced, the couples rush directly to marital bliss, even if they have had a few previous rehearsals.

are being proposed to our next door neighbours. In the same vein an agency specializing in “Big Fat Indian Weddings”, based in India, has seemingly been duped by a Mauritian partner. In a promotional campaign, the Mauritian side was supposed to organize a mega show to demonstrate what the country has to offer in matrimonial matters. But the show never went on stage in spite of the part payment already effected by the Indian agency. The matter is how in the safe hands of the local police. In view of the eventual invasion of couples from Reunion willing to go to the altar in Mauritius, a vast action of dusting, cleaning, disinfecting, scouring and scrubbing has been let loose among the population. Government,

Mauritius Marriage Mirage

Incidentally, I was once on a flight somewhere in the air when the guy sitting by my side enquired from which country I came. When I informed him that I hailed from the tiny Indian Ocean republic of Mauritius, he was dumbfounded. “Do you mean,” he said “that you actually live in that enchanting island where people go for their honeymoon?” In the bid to lure tourists to Mauritius, a number of initiatives are resorted to from time to time. The latest gimmick is addressed to our French neighbours from Reunion Island. A seductive wedding package has been concocted for those who will come over to get married here. Our Minister of Tourism is playing Santa Claus before Christmas. To each and every couple from Reunion that will come here with a retinue of a minimum of 25 guests, he will provide free air tickets, free board and lodging, and either a free tour by catamaran or a free helicopter ride. The Minister might as well have included a free divorce in the package in order to complete the marriage rituals, because the trend since some time is for the young ones to marry so that they may taste the pleasure of a divorce afterwards. The debate still remains valid as to who brings more pleasure to couples – the priest who unites them, or the judge who pronounces their divorce. Other “Made in Paradise” weddings are also celebrated from time to time in Mauritius, my dear Billy. Plane loads of guests have flown to attend these events. But the binding couples from afar do not get to enjoy the benefits that

NGOs, the civil society, all are bound in a plot to “clean up Mauritius” in order to show a presentable face to our visitors. But those who come must naturally understand that they do so at their own risk and peril, my dear Billy. No matter how slick, how bright and glossy Mauritius may appear outside, they should never go by the look. They mist always bear in mind that Mauritius is a beautiful country of ugly Mauritians, and their ugliness may take any form including murder, rape, robbery, drug trafficking and a number of other hideous crimes. Other traits are communalism, rumour mongering, backbiting, corruption, gossiping, selfishness, incompetence. These characteristics are mostly for local consumption though. A few years ago I told you something that still holds good, my dear Billy. I wrote, “We Mauritians wear an acute sense of patriotism, and some of our patented patriots are too shrewd to be sincere. Tourists are advised to be wise enough not to trust them too much, especially at the Port Louis market and other shopping centres. Also in a number of restaurants.” But our marrying couples need not worry too much especially regarding their safety. The Michaela Harte tragedy may still be haunting the minds of many people abroad, but you can rest assured, my dear Billy, that such things don’t always happen in our hotel rooms. Many visitors have been allowed to return unscratched to their countries, without losing even one hair from their heads. Bhishmadev SEEBALUCK

PEOPLE

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Zinaida B. Ameerally-Ramjan

Bejewelled sensuality What do lingerie and jewellery have in common? Zinaida B. Ameerally-Ramjan. Much like her fashion ideology, which emphasizes the beauty and sensuality of the female form, and the seductive details that epitomise glamorous lingerie, Zinaida’s design perspective gives similar attention to the wants and needs of women. Her creations have an exotic flair, combining vivid colours with cutting-edge design which she achieves by rightly infusing her penchant for sensual textures, feminine details and lush materials. Her lingerie and jewellery collections are both compelling and coquettish, strong and yet sensitive, and are those that any woman can appreciate. To find out more about it, NoS borrowed a few minutes of Zinaida’s time to talk about her inspirations, the relationship between jewellery and lingerie, and how her passion for design has gotten her to where she is today. Mumtaz SOOGUND

• Date of birth: June 2 • Profession: Director/Designer for Sublime SéductionTM • My childhood dreams: To wear my very own designer brand of clothing. • Life in one word: Fantastic! • Dream Destination: Egypt • Favourite heirloom: A blue earring given to my mother by my granddad which has been passed down to me. • First item of jewellery I created: A necklace when I was 8 years old. • Favourite materials to work with: Swarovski crystals and pearls. • My inspiration: My mother and elder brother. • My signature range: Sublime Seduction • My long term goal as a jewellery and lingerie designer: To create a fashionable well-known brand of clothing and jewellery wearable by people from all walks of life. • Favourite jewellery designer: Calgaro • The principle behind my work: Originality • Favourite lingerie designers: Lulia Dobrin • Lingerie brands that inspire me: I.D. Sarrieri, Pleasure State, Chantal Thomas.

When did you first realise you had a flair and a passion for jewellery design? Jewellery making has always been a passion of mine ever since childhood, but I only realised I truly had a flair for it after I had left my job as head designer for a well-known international clothing brand. I finally had the time and energy to put into jewellery making and it has paid off. What makes my jewellery different from other designers is that I personally design and handcraft them myself to make sure each item meets my level of quality. How do you balance your creative drive with entrepreneurial requirements? From a young age, my mother taught me to sew as she used to make clothes to sell. From my sewing I began to nurture my design skills. After that, I had to learn business oriented skills. I like to indulge my creative side, but at the same time I have to remember that not everyone is going to go for the glamorous look of Lady Gaga, therefore I only make a few extravagant items and then concentrate on more accessible versions at lower prices. Naturally, women are all very different and so there are a lot of varying personal tastes to cater for – do you find yourself tweaking designs much within your collections to cater for a mass audience? Absolutely! I am always tweaking my designs, adding different pieces here and there and then seeing which of the variations is more popular with my customers. What got you interested in lingerie? Why lingerie as opposed to other areas of fashion? I am a passionate believer in spiritual wellbeing, and there is no better boost to one’s self confidence than when you are wearing beautiful and sexy lingerie and you become a thing of beauty yourself, giving you that special feeling inside. This is the main reason I am interested in lingerie – the feeling of being beautiful. My brand “Sublime Seduction” does exactly what the name suggests: - it creates a sensual and seductive look and feel with women in mind. What’s it like to work on designing

two different lines at once? It’s very difficult because you have to keep them both moving in order to progress and both take a lot of time, effort and concentration to get exactly right so most days are hectic with many sleepless nights, especially before a big launch. What would you say are the challenges of working in the lingerie business? Lots of people are unaware that there exist styles and trends in the lingerie business, therefore some of the hard work and effort to keep up with the trends don’t pay off as the customers don’t realise the value of the items they are buying. Another big problem is that lingerie is often thought of as a “taboo” subject and people are too afraid to buy them. The men often don’t know their wife’s sizes and are embarrassed, and women don’t feel comfortable to buy them without their husband’s opinions first. Do you think you will ever take your gift of designing and start designing other items besides jewellery and lingerie? Who knows what will happen in the future. For all of our readers that want to learn more about your designs, where should they go and how can they contact you? Your readers can find out more about my fabulous designs by going on my Facebook page, Zinaida A. Ramjan Designs or by visiting our Sublime Seduction shop at La Croisette Grand Baie.

COURT NEWS

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Negligent gynecologist faces 9 month-jail for patient’s death A GYNECOLOGIST of Victoria Hospital, Dr Abdool Yusuf Boodhoo, has on Monday been founded guilty of medical negligence during a caesarian operation he undertook on a patient, late Mrs Bibi Tasleema Bava Saib, born Edoo, aged 33, on 1st May 2005. The negligence led to the death of the patient the same day due to the damages to the blood vessels. It is the conclusion reached by Magistrate Raj Seebaluck, sitting at the Intermediate Court Criminal Division. The Court ruled in favour of the prosecution based on the autopsy report filed by Dr Satish Boolell, the retired Chief Police Medical officer who undertook the autopsy and the evidences adduced by witnesses of the prosecution, several medical practitioners namely Dr Satish Kumar Dennoo, then a trainee working under the accused, Dr Jayeprakash Subhagra, Dr Soorianundun Nagalingum, specialist anesthesiologist, Dr Rajagopal Soondron, Dr Shymaleela Rampadaruth, Dr Toolseeram Rugbursing, Dr Bhaskarnath Rughoonundun and Dr P. Oogarah. The accused stands charged with the offence of “Involuntary homicide by negligence” in breach of Section 239 91) of the Criminal Code. Accused pleaded not guilty to the said charge and was assisted by counsel at his trial. Section 239 (1) of the Criminal Code provides that “any person who, by unskillfulness, imprudence, want of caution, negligence or nonobservance of regulations, involuntarily commits homicide, or is

the unwilling cause of homicide shall be punished by imprisonment and by a fine not exceeding 50,000 rupees.” “The accused is a fully qualified medical practitioner and he has the necessary knowledge and expertise to carry out a caesarian section for the delivery of a baby,” the magistrate concluded in his ruling delivered last week. “In this case a catalogue of errors starting with the bleeding and ending with the death of the patient, Bava Saib, makes the alleged negligence even more serious, especially when one bears in mind that this occurred in a hospital environment and there was no emergency or medical complication in the delivery itself or the medical status of the deceased. The accused elected not to depose under solemn affirmation and to solemnly affirm as to the correctness of his statements.

As the prosecution has established a strong and unshaken prima-facie case, this Court is perfectly entitled to conclude that the evidence of the prosecution has remained un-rebutted. Taking all the above observations into consideration, the Magistrate finally concluded that the case for the prosecution has been proved beyond reasonable doubt. The accused is accordingly found guilty as charged, as per the information. Since the delivery of the judgment last week the magistrate reserved his sentence. On Monday it felt like lead on the accused: 9 months imprisonment. The same day the accused informed the Court of his intention to appeal against his conviction. Accused has been released on bail pending his appeal before the Court of Criminal Appeal.

No overtime or one day off when Mrs Rungee works on Saturday Mrs Banumattee Rungee, a senior library clerk employed at the Library Department of the Municipal Council of Quatre- Bornes, has not been successful in her application for Judicial Review of the decision of the Employment Relations Tribunal (ERT) giving reason to the latter’s employer, the Municipal Council of Quatre-Bornes. In a ruling delivered last week the appeal bench, constituted of the Senior Puisne Judge, Keshoe Parsad Matadeen and Justice Ashraf Caunhye, has set aside with costs the application. “The decision of the respondent (ERT) cannot be impeached for any of the reasons advanced by the applicant who has utterly failed to establish any valid ground for review,” the bench concluded. The appeal bench motivated its decision as follows: “The applicant had, by exercising her option, chosen to be governed by all the recommendations contained in the PRB Report 2008, which thus became an integral part of the applicant’s terms and conditions of service. Since (1) her weekly hours of work did not exceed 40 hours, and (2) she could be required by the responsible officer to work on a six-day week basis, including on a Saturday from 9 am to noon, in order to meet the operational requirements of her organisation, there was no basis for her to claim a full day off or the payment of overtime to compensate for a half day’s work on a Saturday”.

Accused off the hook for sex with a minor MAGISTRATE Keshnawtee Bissoonauth sitting at the Intermediate Court Criminal Division has last week acquitted Martin Deb who stood charged with the offence of sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 16 under counts (i) and (ii) of the information. Accused pleaded not guilty under both counts and was defended by counsel. It is to be noted that at trial after witness No 9 (Dr Prasad Jankee), witness No 5 (PC Salabeea) and witness No 2 (Inspector Melanie) deposed, the prosecution has filed a discontinuance of proceedings in respect of count ii of the information. The case against the accused therefore proceeded only in respect of count (i). The Court acquitted the accused in the light of disturbing features noted in the prosecution’s case. The magistrate concluded her judgment that she is not satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case

beyond reasonable doubt against the accused under count (i) of the information. She accordingly granted the benefit of doubt to the accused under count (i) and hence dismissed the present information against him. The complainant now aged 18 was at the time of the alleged offence 13. At the material time she was residing at Quartier Militaire, together with her mother and her concubine Matin Deb. On the day of the alleged incident, her mother was working and the accused was at home. The incident occurred one month before her thirteenth birthday in the bedroom occupied by her mother and the accused. At the material time she was putting some clothes in the wardrobe when the accused came into the room. She had her back turned on the accused and the latter was talking to her. Suddenly the accused caught hold of her from behind. The accused threw her on the bed.

She shouted but the accused threatened to kill her if she continued to shout. The accused tore her slip and had sexual intercourse with her for about one hour. Complainant did not relate the incident to anybody until on the day of the Virgin Mary Festival when her mother told her brother about her torn slip following which her brother slapped her and asked her to tell him who tore her slip otherwise he would send her to a “shelter”. She then disclosed to her mother and brother what had happened to her. In her ruling the Magistrate motivated her decision in acquitting the accused. “In the case in hand the main question to be determined by this Court is whether the uncorroborated evidence of the complainant is of such a nature that it is safe to act on it. After having assessed the testimony of the complainant, I find that it would be most unsafe to rely on the sole uncorroborated testimony of the

complainant for the following reasons: First and foremost it is not very clear as to when exactly the alleged incident occurred. Indeed the information averred “in the year 2008”. In Court the complainant stated that she did not know exactly when the alleged incident occurred but as per her version it was one month before her thirteenth birthday. However as per the out of Court statement of the accused the charge that was put to himwhich is that as per the complaint made by the complainant to the police, was that he allegedly had sexual intercourse with the complainant a month after the complainant’s birthday. I find it opposite here to refer to the case of Marday v the State (2000) SCJ 225 where the Supreme Court held: “in a criminal case it is normal to assume that the version that is put to an accused when recording his statement is the very complaint that was made by the victim.”

IN FOCUS

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 18

News on Sunday proposes to its readers a series of proposals by various stakeholders - social, professional, political and of the civil society. To start with, the Primary Schools’ Employees’ Union, PSEU, submits its memorandum in view of the 2014 budget. at economIt is a yearly tradition th il society ic operators and the civ ions during voice out their expectat akeholders Budget preparations. St pect meain the business sector ex onomy on sures that will set the ec trade and a new footing, facilitate ose of the protect jobs, whereas th social meacivil society want more poverty. sures that will downturn

2014

Budget Proposals

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS The Primary School Teachers ‘ Employees’ Union, ( PSEU) appreciates the initiative of the Ministry of Finance for having published the outcome from different ministries outlining the broad objectives to be achieved by the coming budget. The Union hopes that this new initiative will allow government to prioritise economic and social measures that will be of greater benefit to all sections of the population. Furthermore, for the PSEU it is clear that the workers in the country are more pre-occupied with the economic problems facing the country as well as the new social scourges affecting us. The union hopes that government will announce new measures to reassure all Mauritians about all new challenges. Though the union agrees that the Mauritian economy has so far resisted the economic downturn prevalent in European countries and the USA, it is at the same time true that constant and further efforts are needed to achieve higher levels of growth which will result in solving the teething problem of rising unemployment and other related social challenges which we are witnessing since some time. The union shows serious concern at the growing feeling of insecurity which is a matter which requires serious consideration. We agree that government has taken measures like installation of CCTV; however though this measure is a positive one, it appears that much more efforts are needed to ensure the security of all inhabitants in the country. The general rise in the level of prices including those of basic consumer goods constitutes a major setback for all workers in the country and the general feeling persists that the official rate of inflation does not reflect the reality faced by consumers. In this context the union deplores the fact that public officers have been excluded from payment of salary compensation this year and also notes that for the first time unions representing them have not been convened at the tripartite committee recently. The union appreciates the emphasis of government on the use of Information Technology and Communication for the general improvement of government services and at the same time its use for further economic development. However, it also notes that measures announced particularly in the education sector relating to the same issue have not been implemented. PSEU expresses its satisfaction regarding the institution of the Seebaluck committee concerning anomalies of the Manraj Committee report. However, the union believes that this committee will serve no purpose if it is not empowered to meet the objectives for which it has been set up and particularly if a budget is not provided to it to do the needful for all public officers.

The general feeling among public officers today is that there are too many vacancies which have been left unfilled and this is obviously causing great handicap in the proper functioning of the service. There are also services where promotion exercises have been unduly withheld. Primary school teachers bitterly resent the fact that the Bachelor in Education course which is largely awaited since a long time has not been organised until now. This undue delay in the organisation of the course is not only a matter of grave discontent and concern among teachers but at the same time it is causing great prejudice to the teaching profession. As a union we note that not only many fiscal concessions have been made in favour of the business world but at the same time we recall that a stimulus package was set up to sustain big firms. For unions it is evident that the brunt of taxes has been borne by the working class of the country. The union notes that during recent years the amount of deductions for tax purposes has not been revised. Consequently we feel that it is imperative that these figures are revised this year otherwise we feel that workers especially will have to shoulder heavily the fiscal burden. PSEU appreciates the decision of government to allow children at a younger age to join pre-primary schools. The union believes that this measure will impact favourably in the performance of pupils at all lev-

els in education. The union notes that government continues to appoint DHMs in an ‘acting capacity’ a practice which was applied and restricted only to officers in higher ranks in the past. The union is of the considered view that this new method causes great prejudice to DHMS. PSEU has received complaints from good number of teachers especially AL, Physical Education Instructors and IT teachers(recently) who are made to work in two and sometimes in more schools. We believe that this practice should as far as possible be discontinued. The union appreciates the decision to provide meals to children in ZEP schools. However, we deem it fit to mention that there are still a significant number of pupils who continue suffer from malnutrition in the country. OUR PROPOSALS FOR BUDGET 2014 In view of the fact that government has instituted the Seebaluck committee after the publication of the Manraj Commission, there is growing concern among public officers for correction of anomalies .The PSEU therefore formally proposes that a token provision be made in the budget to enable the committee to meet the objectives for which it has been set up and more precisely to allow successful implementation of its recommendations.

IN FOCUS

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 19 So far as teachers of primary schools are concerned, the Seebaluck report is expected to correct the obvious and glaring injustice relating to teachers reckoning more than four or five years’ service. We formally propose that provision is made in the budget to allow the Seebaluck committee to honour the pledge taken by the authorities in same connection. Taking into account the fact that a salary revision exercise and salary compensation are two distinct matters, PSEU believes that all public officers are also entitled to salary compensation for the loss of purchasing power and therefore it proposes that provision be made in the budget in same connection. In connection with the rate of compensation, the PSEU fully supports the view of union representatives to the effect that the rate of inflation officially declared by the statistical office does not reflect the reality in real life. As government has in the past accepted to compensate workers at a rate superior to the inflation rate, we propose that the same principle be applied this year to protect the purchasing power of workers. The union reiterates its demand for start of the long overdue Bachelor in Education Course (B. Ed) for primary school teachers and asks that provision be made so that it starts early next year. PSEU feels seriously concerned with the reduction of the number of teachers who are these days promoted to the DHM grade since recent years. Consequently it proposes that sufficient provisions be made in the ministry of Education so that vacancies occurring in the DHM grade are filled on a more regular and ‘as vacancies occur’ basis as per agreement signed in the past. PSEU believes that this year there is absolute need for revision of tax thresholds for different categories of workers in the country and in this connection the union is making the following proposals: l For taxpayers with no dependents an increase from Rs270, 000 to Rs Rs315, 000. l For taxpayers with one dependent an increase from Rs 380,000 to 435,000. l For taxpayers with two dependents, an increase from Rs 440,000 to Rs 485,000. l For taxpayers with three dependents, an increase from R475, 000 to Rs Rs 525,000. l For retired taxpayers from Rs 320,000 to Rs 380,000. l For retired taxpayers with one dependent Rs 410,000 to Rs 455,000. The union and an overwhelming majority of teachers disagree with the decision of the Manraj report to adjust CPE allowances only as per increase in cost of living, we propose that provision should be made for more acceptable level of increases in same connection. The union reiterates the view that many graduates in primary schools ( possessing B.A, MA, MSC etc)strongly feel that their qualifications have not received any due consideration and in this connection the union requests that government should make provision for payment of additional qualifications as it is the case for other employees namely in the secondary sector. As a result of the introduction of Sankoré project, teaching of Kreol, posting of teachers to Pre-vocational schools etc., there is actually a shortage of teachers in primary schools. The union therefore requests that provision be made for regular recruitment of trainee teachers to ease the pressure on aged DHMs who are forced to have recourse to teaching duties. The union appreciates the initiative of government to provide additional classes with facilities related to

effect that there is an absence of uniform criteria for payments particularly those relating to increments. This matter needs to be reviewed so that all teachers are treated on an equal basis. Last year, for the first time, this union mentioned the fact that more than 70% of teachers in primary schools are lady teachers which constitutes a very important change in primary education. We propose that this change has to be acknowledged and that necessary actions should be initiated with the view to providing relevant and more appropriate facilities to them. SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE

Sanjay Kassinathdoss, the PSEU president. the Sankoré Project. Our proposal in this connection is for continued effort by the authorities to provide maximum number of classes with the same facility. PSEU believes that the decision to reduce considerably the number of teachers to the DHM grade tantamount to a violation of a fundamental agreement between management and the unions. For this reason we propose that provisions should be made for adequate and regular promotion to the DHM grade in primary schools. The union reiterates the view that the practice to offer promotion to the DHM grade in an acting capacity is unacceptable representing a major departure from an established and long-standing practice in the primary establishment. We formally propose that all DHMs should be appointed as per practice which has prevailed previously. There are still a good number of schools which suffer from inadequate and out of date infrastructure. We propose that provision be made for very early upgrading of infrastructural facilities in all such schools. There is a general feeling in the country to the effect that the price of internet connectivity is still relatively quite high. The union therefore expects that this matter be considered again and that all schools be provided with full broadband connectivity facilities. The union reiterates its proposal for reduction of tax rates on laptops, tablets, inks, printers etc for the general benefit of pupils, teachers and the public at large. Teachers continue to complain that they are subject to double taxation in terms of their contribution for pension purposes which means that though they do not receive the amount contributed for pensions, yet their salaries are taxed on their gross salaries. This matter has to be reconsidered. The union reiterates the view that there is need for government to reconsider its proposal to the effect that payments for sick and casual leaves be exempted from taxation as employees make the option to forfeit same leaves. PSEU continues to receive regular complaints to the

The price of spectacles in the country remains relatively high in comparison to quite a number of countries. We propose that taxes on this item should be revised for the benefit of all Mauritians.

Regular representations have been received against the total absence of sports facilities in good number of schools which can be considered as unimaginable. Such is the case particularly in urban areas where space facilities are very limited. There is need for this matter to be addressed. The union welcomes again the decision of the authorities to provide funds for improvement of infrastructural facilities. In this connection we reiterate our request for same funds to be also made available for improvement and facilitation of learning in schools with the permission and support of PTAs. The union appreciated the initiative taken some years ago to carry out medical check-ups in schools for teaching staff by the ministry of Health. We propose that this practice should restart. PSEU reiterates its request for all Assistant teachers to be given early opportunity to be upgraded to the teacher grade. Measures should be initiated in same connection by the authorities. The union has made representations that the entitlement of Headmasters for travel grant needed to be increased to Rs 9000 in line with their administrative status. Officers of this grade cannot be made to have the same treatment as those belonging to lower grades. The percentage of the financial budget of primary schools over the years has been constantly reduced. We propose that this matter be given due consideration in order to allow primary education in the country to meet the new challenges of the day. The price of spectacles in the country remains relatively high in comparison to quite a number of countries. We propose that taxes on this item should be revised for the benefit of all Mauritians. The union reiterates its demand for provision to be made for modernisation and upgrading of existing teaching aids and educational facilities in all schools. PSEU notes that many schools continue to be denied the existence of science labs an essential requirement for pupils of primary age. We propose that this matter should be considered by government. Taking into account the absolute need to promote sports in the country all schools should have specialist teachers for this subject. Thus we propose that provision be made for regular recruitment of officers of this grade in schools. With the view to providing relief to children of the poor and needy who suffer from malnutrition, we propose that these children should be given special consideration in the existing school feeding project of the Ministry of Education and HR. The rate of absence among pupils remains a matter for utmost consideration as it determines their level of performance. We propose that the psychological and the social workers’ services attached to the Ministry of Education be reinforced to address problems related to absenteeism in primary schools. Finally the PSEU calls upon government to make provision for the respect and successful implementation of the provisions of the Health and Safety Act of 2005 in all educational institutions of the country. Indradev CURPEN

& OUT

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Engen Motor Show

The trail reveals so many amazing and fascinating natural things that engage the trekker or traveller or visitor for hours and hours. Sometimes it takes a whole day looking at the treasures that the trail encloses and springs pleasant surprises all along the way.

The Moka trail

On a roll

Automobile enthusiasts should prepare themselves for a treat from October 11 to 13 when the 2nd edition of Engen Motor Show will unravel from 10 am to 8 pm. Car dealers, spare parts suppliers as well as various institutions including banks, leasing companies and insurance companies will await the public at the Swami Vivekananda Centre in Pailles. For the event, the theme of road safety has been chosen. Several events and “surprises” relating to this subject during the three days of exhibitions are expected. Over 15 new car models will be unveiled. Entrance is at Rs 50.

The public is invited to the Mauritius Wine Expo on October 14 and 15 at Mont Choisy Shopping Promenade, Grand Baie. Come and taste some of the best wine Mauritius has to offer from 5 pm to 8.30 pm. Expect to be in the company of anyone from locals to foreigners, wine makers to cyclists, tourists to relaxed beach lovers, young to old. Those interested can purchase tickets at Rs 200/ per day at the CRA Office at 12 Rue Condé, Port Louis. For more information please call 212 9728 or email: chris@craevents.com, vanessa@ craevents.com or carly@craevents.com.

‘Villages en fête’ The Minister of Tourism and Leisure is currently organising an event entitled ‘Villages en fête’ to promote different areas across the Island. The public will discover cultural sites, tourist spots, and also the history behind specific locations. Every weekend a village will be explored with numerous activities taking place throughout the day from 11 am to 4 pm. Artists from these villages will also get a chance to show their talents. Schedule: October 13, Le Morne; October 20, Midlands; October 27, Rivière-du-Rempart; November 10, Goodlands; November 17, Triolet; November 24, Grand-Gaube.

DISCOVER

Mauritius Wine Expo

Starting from Port Louis near Monneron Hill now blessed with two new brand secondary schools, the extension of Frere Felix de Valois street plunges into what was lying fallow for a long time. It is recently that the craze of jogging and walking and of having a promenade in a wild and mountainous setting that turned it now into a healthy and clean environment. That extension leads directly into the forest of Dauguet. Le Dauguet arouses a lot of curiosity for on the one hand the mountains in front and the name itself conjure up reminiscences of things past and forgotten. It does in the same breath lend a new dimension to Port Louis in that it provides to its inhabitants new domains to loiter about. Today le Dauguet is well known for its health promoting and keep fit qualities. Philippe La Hausse de Lalouviere says that it was a concession made to Isidore Prosper Dauguet. His descendants had taken on lease this state land till the end of the Second World War. Yet it had never been developed. It is averred that the forest contains vestiges of the past in terms of red ‘salis’. The trekker has to leave car and proceed on foot or bicycle or motorbike as well. An uphill walk through big trees and ravines on both sides of the road, going past a Hindu shrine that attracts devotees from Tranquebar. Women, men and even youngsters are seen

going to the shrine with fruits and other offerings. The latter accompany their girlfriends or boyfriends who find it an apt and ideal place for romancing. There is a complete silence; the air is fresh. At times the silence is broken by devotional songs or radio music that the young carry with them. Hardly any people are met. There are a few who either have bunked school or have a date. A friend was really scared out of her wits on seeing two men shabbily dressed coming from the other direction. Fortunately they went past and continued their way. There is also a sort of altar at the near end of the road. It is said that these spirits look upon the safety and security of the trekkers. A few yards further away there is a junction. Turning right leads to Moka, St Pierre and other villages whereas the left ends up on the shoulder of Pouce Mountain where boundless joys are experienced. This trail towards the right offers the opportunity for leisurely walk or stroll in fresh and almost mild condition .The tranquillity, the chirping of birds or howling of dogs or the hooting of horns in the far distance subdue the senses. There is a calm and peaceful feeling that invades the trekker. No feeling of weariness, carefree attitude such is the situation prevailing all along the way. From the top looking towards Petit Verger and Bois Cheri there is an explosion of green,

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& OUT

History

Mauritius faces tough times The years 1940-50 have been hardly one of respite for our governors, politicians, party leaders, trade unionists or planters and mill owners. The island was found in the throes of unrest and threats from all parts.

brown, yellow crossed by streams or rivers. La Laura and Malinga and Riviere Baptiste at the Back of Peter Both mountain proudly claim their rightful share in the picturesque natural setting. Sugar cane fields, vegetable plantation and flower cultivation exude a nose blowing fragrance if not mind blowing. A hike or ride across them or a tour has never let down or deceived. Bliss and effusion of spiritual and lofty thoughts fills the mind. Going down towards St Pierre also is equally enticing. A flurry of lush green plants, shrubs, trees laden with mangoes and other fruits, flowers, ferns and streams accompany the trekker. Sweet water music, flowers sometimes swaying along the road, the whizzing of vehicles or the ear splitting noise of motorbikes make the atmosphere thrilling and enchanting. The journey is broken quite often as there are so many things to see, to do and to enjoy. It‘s exactly brilliant and vibrant for groups to do what they exactly want to derive from a trek of this nature. They need go to the region past a few hills and valleys and treat themselves to an amazing breath taking scenery and view that townies crave for. It is a perfect relaxing trail. It is not restricted to only walking but stopping here and there watching the flora and fauna, studying them carefully and then moving ahead. The stroll is highly amusing great fun, stopping beside a stream, or in the shade of trees ideal for unwinding after expending a lot of energy roaming around, skipping from rocks to rocks, chasing hares, butterflies or other birds or tiny animals. The running water dispenses excellent massages to soothe the aching legs, back or feet. It is a sort of float on the way to Moka or St Pierre or Verdun. The traveller may discover the area’s treasures in the midst of a wild and savage wilderness. Big trees shield from the scorching sun or even from rain. The pace slackens. Its magic has still much to do with its still unspoilt and undefiled beauty. The splendour of the mountainside and the profusion of the red and yellow rays of the setting sun are indeed inspiring. The whole countryside with exotic plants and flowers magnificently decorated from side to side in the afternoon beckon visitors for a handsome hike. On Sundays and public holidays and school holidays trekkers, tourists visitors congregate for picnic, eat, drink and celebrate. It is no surprise that walks and treks focus on a certain peace of mind and complete rest. Devanand RAMPERSAD

War was raging in Europe, Africa and England the Mauritius owner was one of the protagonists. For this reason German submarines plied in the Indian Ocean waters, attacks could come at any moment. Black outs and curfews were frequent. Mauritians underwent terrible trauma for at least ten years because of the war. They were deprived of their staple food rice. They lived in a state of perpetual fear lest their sons, husbands or close relatives might be conscripted and taken to the warfronts. Many Mauritians eligible for the army had to put on sham illness. Many met a nasty fate. They lost their lives fighting on the front. Many made fortunes or rewarded for good conduct, gallantry and patriotism. Honourable Walter got a scholarship for excellent service in the British army and thereby studying law and became an efficient minister in SSR’s cabinet. However it was not a wholesome time. The war had inflicted untold hardships on the world at large. Mauritians had to fend for themselves to keep the wolf from the door. Prices were high and wages were low. There was no sign of improvement or of better times. The government was at times at the mercy of planters and land owners and was reluctant to accord any facilities regarding labourers and small planters. Concessions in terms of nominating their representatives to the legislative council were made in the hope that the latter could defend their interests against the mighty bulwark that stood in front of them. It is true that Rome was not built in one day. Glimmers of hope appeared and men like SSR never gave up or relinquished the struggle. He was well aware of the slippery ground he and his colleagues were treading ‘[where angels fear to tread] and he did with the utmost care and subtlety that he had learnt during his long stay in London. He won the trust of the British government .They found in him the real man of business and compromise capable of steering the barge safely to port. Dr Curé suffered terribly as a result of his support to the poor and vulnerable. He forfeited all his aristocrat clients and had almost famished. He had become the black sheep of the community. He was isolated. At the same period Professor Basdeo Bissoondoyal returned to Mauritius after completing his studies. He, too, like SSR had participated in the Independence movement In India. He was imbued with socialist and reformist ideas. He took up the mission of educating the Indians. He toured the island sermonising, preaching and teaching and preaching the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. He followed u p the emancipation work initiated by the Brahmo Samaj and Swami Dayanand in India. Thanks to him many labourers studied Hindi and Urdu and qualified as teachers of oriental languages. Despite the curfew he visited remote villages at night and instilled in the populace the love for their language and culture. He was accused of sedition and closely watched. His meetings were forbidden. He had to pass through sugar cane fields and reach the podium from where he had to deliver his lecture. An elderly recounts that when his sermon at Morcellement

St André scheduled to take place at the Samelan Sabha, he was forbidden to hold it. He disobeyed just as Mahatma Gandhi was sporting the Satyagraha monument. The prohibition order, spent the whole day at one of his disciples’ place in Fond du Sac and left for the venue under the cover of darkness and to the surprise of the authorities he gave his lecture. Fortunately it contained nothing seditious, only a plea to his community to focus on education the only means of salvation for them. In 1943 he held a monster rally at Pouce Street in Port Louis. He did on his own attracted a huge crowd estimated at 70,000.This sent shivers down the spine of authorities. He did not claim police help to ensure order. He relied on his own organisation ‘the Sewa Samiti’ having their own uniform of blue short and white shirt. The members trained young students in the afternoon and inculcated in them lofty ideals and moral values. He no doubt copied to some extent on Netaji Subash Chandra Bose who kept the fire of patriotism burning in their hearts. Professor Bissoondoyal’s Jan Andolan movement had taken the country by storm and it was feared that it might end up in a general eruption and cause a lot of harm. His popularity reached sky-high so much so that people in the villages decorated their houses with his photo and many of his sponsored candidates were elected in the General election in 1948. His brother Sookdeo felt ashamed and aggrieved by the humiliation and other tribulations the labourers underwent and he started a campaign boycotting the last race meeting that was despicably called ‘les courses malbar’. That day the labourers were given a day off and they left their place on the eve travelling by ox carts or on foot and reaching Port Louis on the next day and leaving their ox and carts somewhere near Plaine Verte and they walked the streets and were exposed to humiliations and deceits. The citizens took advantage of their naiveness and innocence, ill treated them, duped them and even looted them. Some did not even reach the Champ de Mars and leant that the races were over. Sookdeo, to his great merit, succeeded in his campaign. The authorities changed the appellation to ‘journee populaire’. Pandit Ramnarain for his part laboured for a similar cause. The labourers squandered all their earnings on alcohol exposing their families to famine. He accordingly launched a campaign against alcohol. It worked to some extent for reactionary forces worked against it. It did however turned beneficial to them. Harish Boodhoo in a bid to eradicate evil campaigned against films with visa x. It did work for some time but later on porno adepts ridiculed the minister reverting to their old habits and named him ‘minis porno’. The crowd never inspire confidence as it can turn the table on the leader. In Julius Caesar the mob at first found a saviour in Brutus but on hearing Antony they changed their mind and rushed to massacre the opposition. Jwala KALLEE

SOCIETY

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Stray animals A lingering issue

The plight of strays is one of the most visible animal welfare issues in the world today and Mauritius is no exception. The scope of the problem in many parts of the world is unimaginable. People see stray animals going through garbage in streets looking for food and regardless of consequences when they are captured - many would just rather not see them. And who can blame them as they do not make the neighbourhood look nicer and the spread of disease is always a risk. However, unlike humans, animals cannot choose their fate. Many animals were dumped by their owners, born on the streets, or simply got lost. These animals did not create their situation, but they have to live with it — or as is more often the case, die with it. News on Sunday investigates. According to the Protection of Animals Welfare Society (PAWS), the statistics on stray dogs in Mauritius for mid 2012 is plus 200,000 and this number is exponentially growing day by day. One unsterilised female with her offspring will produce on average 114 new strays per year and one unneutered male multiply that number by the amount of females he can mate in one year equals to thousands.

There are over 600 million stray animals all over the world that head lives of misery with dogs being one of the most affected animals - of the estimated 500 million dogs in the world, approximately 75% are strays. Many of these animals lead poor and miserable lives on the streets, often ill fed, suffering extreme heat, cold, starvation, dying of untreated injury or disease and even more often being chased around by hostile and violent civilians and authorities.Nevertheless, stray and roaming dogs and cats are often carriers of diseases and this could have a detrimental impact on the community. Many diseases of animals, including dogs and cats, are zoonotic diseases. Some of these diseases, such as rabies and are well known, however others are not so commonly recognised such ticks, scabies, ringworm and toxoplasmosis, amongst others. Furthermore, stray animals also pose a threat to pets as contact between the two could spread more diseases across the community and there is

MSPCA: “We are gradually shifting away from the ‘catch and kill’ method” Sunil Dabeedoyal, Assistant Secretary of the Mauritius Society for the Prevention against Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) states they are adopting new methods to tackle the problem of stray dogs. “The key to the problem is education. We are organising numerous events to gather people and educate them on aspects such as sterilisation, caring for their pets and more importantly on how to be a responsible owner. It is impossible to change the population all at once but we are hoping improvements will come. Furthermore, the number of ‘catch and kill’ cases is gradually decreasing. The MSPCA feels it is necessary to give the animal a chance. Once they are caught, we put them into care and give the animal the proper treatment so that once it goes for adoption, it is in good health. The MSPCA is also assessing and giving advice to people who do wish to adopt an animal. In the past, such strategies were not in place and anybody who wished to adopt could adopt. However, the MSPCA now want to see if the adoptee can give proper care to the animal and even putting these people under a contract so they stick to their responsibilities once they adopt the animal.

also unwanted pregnancy which further adds to the problem. There are also the nuisance phenomenon: scavenging of garbage cans, fecal pollution, urine spraying (cats), noise and especially in the case of roaming dogs and cats, neighbourhood friction. There have also been reported cases of stray dogs reacting violently to people out on the streets. Mauritius has been dealing with the problem of strays since 1972. Although the government and authorities have carried out numerous campaigns to try and tackle this issue over the years, many members of the public claim that the campaigns have not been effective – a high number of stray animals, mostly cats and dogs, is still visible in current times. According to statistics from the Mauritius Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) the number of dogs and cats captured up to December 2011 stood at 11,465 and 220 respectively.In a survey report on “The Control of Stray Dogs Project” for the Grand Bay region presented to the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure by Dr. D. K. Padachi in October 2011, a focus group that PAWS participated in, it was found that 23% of those surveyed where not satisfied with the methods used to capture stray dogs and 38% felt the methods employed by the MSPCA were cruel. It was also observed that many people were not willing to participate in the survey at all for fear that their pets would be confiscated. In conclusion Dr. Padachi found that there are sufficient grounds for an education campaign on the custody and welfare of dogs in Mauritius. He stated that there is a pressing need to focus on campaign awareness with regards to responsible ownership and find out a more effective means to control stray dogs. Yousouf BUGLOW

SOCIETY

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An inspiring story The story of Mireille Fasel and her husband dates back to 2011. During a brief holiday in Mauritius, the couple from Switzerland fell in love with a dog called Cutty. The couple spotted the dog on Albion beach and the rest was history. “She was so cute. We fed and played with her the whole day but unfortunately we had to leave her on the beach. Nevertheless, to our surprise Cutty came looking for us in our bungalow. It was unbelievable how this dog managed to find us. Cutty stayed with us during our 8 days and when we got ready to leave for the airport, the look we got changed everything. My husband and I knew we had to do something to bring Cutty with us to Switzerland,” she said. As soon as the couple arrived home, Mireille Fasel began drafting the necessary paper work in order for Cutty to join them in Switzerland. It took Cutty 2 months to reunite with the couple but the story had a happy ending. An act of kindness from a tourist couple has today helped a stray dog on the beach find a fixed home. “Cutty is very happy. She has her garden, her toys - she is our ‘maurichienne’ princess,” she added.

What the law says about irresponsible owners Complaints regarding stray dogs acting violently towards members of the public are no rare occurrence. However, not all stray dogs are without owners. There are certain owners, who despite knowing how violent their dogs can be, let them roam free on the streets. According to the law “If dogs are caught roaming outside the property of their owners and if they happen to attack a civilian, then the dog owner risks being criminally prosecuted as well as being liable to civil damages. An example would be that of Ramsès and Shia - the owner was arrested and provisionally charged and later released on bail,” said Barrister Rouben Mooroongapillay.

Family lives in fear of local stray dogs! A family who lives in Port-Louis spoke to News on Sunday about their horror experiences with a group of stray dogs for the past 2 years. “These dogs roam the streets all day and night. They bark at anyone who drives or walks past and the sad thing about it is that the owners tolerate this act. Every time I park my car I have to wait for the dogs to leave as they are quick to come and sniff around the car. At times I feel like I am trapped in my own house. I have tried speaking to the owners but they ignored my constant pleas. I have not been attacked by one of these five dogs but I would not rule out this possibility,” she laments.

MSPCA to celebrate World Animal Day The Mauritius Society for the Prevention against Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) is organising two events in the coming days to celebrate World Animal Day. The first event will be held on October 12 at the MSPCA in Rose-Hill and the second will be on October 19 at the Dog Compound in Port-Louis. Numerous activities are planned.

Dr Sam Naraina Poullé,

a Veterinarian at Island Vet Clinic gave us his views on the matter

Mauritius has been dealing with the problem of stray animals for many years now. Do you think there have been any improvements on the issue? Yes, for more than 35 years now (some of your readers were surely not born) and yet the “problem” seems to be intact. The method has stayed the same; “Catch and Kill” with a little sterilisation and nearly no education. So the results have been the same i.e. no real impact on the stray dog population. The only improvement that has happened in all of these years is when the MSPCA, under public pressure, gave up on electrocution of the caught dogs and opted for lethal injection. That too has been under a lot of controversy lately. Do you think the authorities are doing enough? The authorities have always been funding the Stray Dog Control Programme of the MSPCA. When I say the authorities, I should maybe say: “we have been funding” because it all comes from tax-payers money. But the failure, I think, comes from the methods used. Catch and kill has proved to be a total failure decades ago in all the countries where it was in place. However, we continued with the futile ‘war on stray dogs”. Catching 10 animals to allow 20 others to be thrown on the streets, out of which 15 will surely breed out of control. So you do the Maths. It is clear that this is not a long-term solution and that the answer lies elsewhere than just brutally catching dogs and killing them without any respect. If there is one thing that the authorities did wrong, it was to support and fund a useless method. According to you what could be the possible solutions to this problem? The real solution lies in tackling the problem at source. What is the source? Me, You, Us…Humans! Irresponsible persons allow their dogs to roam the streets and find it okay to dump unwanted females on the streets. They do not sterilise females and males and allow them to be dragged on the streets when on heat. Education is the way to go; educating kids to be responsible; to care for their dogs; to think well before getting a pup and to make the best decision for their pets and contribute to the solution by sterilising their dogs. If that does not work and people still let their

dogs roam on the streets, then they may be caught and euthanised. Owners who are fined several times for letting dogs roam should be banned from keeping dogs. Then, maybe we will find the light at the end of the tunnel. Do you think stray animals should be treated with more respect by the authorities and members of the public also? Oh yes. Being a stray animal does not make it a lesser individual. In fact, these animals must have gone through a lot of distress and need more concern from our part than mere hate of disdain as it seems to be the case nowadays. Come to think about it a dog does not become a stray by choice. It invariably involves an irresponsible owner in all the reasons. For instance, illtreatment at home, unfenced yard, refusal to sterilise the animal, physical dumping of puppies on the streets, and voluntarily opening the gate for the dog to go out. So, yes, we ought to be twice as considerate to these animals because it is our fault they are out there struggling to survive and left on their own. The main worries of many members of the public are the spread of diseases. As a vet could you give an elaborate description on the most common diseases found in stray animals and explain how high the risk of infection is? As a matter of fact there is practically no disease that a human being can catch from a stray dog. The only one I can think of is Leptospirosis and yet this is a disease that humans can get only if they are in contact with an infected dog’s urine. Other dog diseases such as mange, distemper, parvovirus, etc are not at all transmissible to humans. The spread of diseases is just another myth that people like to spread, just to increase the fear and hate towards these animals. However, stray dogs do pose a serious threat to other dogs, namely the household ones. All of the diseases mentioned above can be transmitted to your dog. Then again only if you have not been a responsible owner and did not get your pet vaccinated properly. Has Island Vet Clinic planned any event for the World Animal Day? Not really…at Island Vet Clinic, it s World Animal Day every single day of the year!

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Compulsory Biometric ID Card:

Powerful Tool of Fascism and Infringement of Civil Liberties

VIEWS

On 27 May 2010, UK Home Secretary Theresa May said that the Bill to repeal the biometric ID card legislation would “begin the process of reversing the erosion of civil liberties and restoring freedoms”, and she accused New Labour of “‘trampling over ancient liberties’ while failing to ensure the safety of the public”. FASCIST INTRUSIVE SCHEME The idea of biometric ID card seriously came about after the terror attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on 11 September 2001 (9/11). Having gone through the 7 July 2005 (7/7) attacks on the London transport system, the New Labour government tried to promote biometric ID card “as an anti-terror” measure. Many countries in the Third World are also using terrorism as an excuse to introduce such an ID card system, which is merely a fascist instrument to subjugate and spy on their own people, even to discriminate against minorities on the ground of race and religion, in order to perpetrate power. The £5.6 billion biometric ID card scheme was put forward by Tony Blair’s New Labour government which passed The Identity Cards Act 2006, but both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats opposed the scheme. Human Rights organisations and lawyers, even IT experts and politicians voiced their objection to such a scheme which infringes civil liberties and likely to be tampered with. But Gordon Brown, Blair’s successor, was reported to have had plans to shelve the scheme. On 4 November 2007, BBC said : “The Sunday Mirror reported that the plans to introduce the cards for Britons from

2010 will be “shelved indefinitely” because Mr Brown has been advised ID cards for all will inevitably be challenged in the courts and he does not want to be tied up in litigation.” However, Home Secretary Alan Johnson did unveil the final design of the controversial biometric ID card in July 2009 with the view to launching it nationwide in 2011 or 2012 alleging it would not be compulsory but that the system would be “backed up by a national identity register” which would allegedly “help combat identity fraud, crime and terrorism”. On the other hand, Chris Huhne of the Liberal Democrats said: “A designer piece of plastic is not going to combat identity fraud, crime or terrorism. This intrusive scheme should be scrapped immediately”. For its part, Liberty said: “When will the government realise there is dwindling public support for the scheme that is as costly to our pockets as to our privacy and race relations”. And Dave Page of No2ID, a national pressure group, said: “Once you are on that database, you can never come off it. From the moment you’re registered you’ll have to tell the authorities of any change in your circumstances for the rest of your life and pay whatever fees they ask for the ‘service’. You’ll never know who’s looking at your details. It won’t protect our

Biometric ID Card infringes Civil Liberties

1. Symbol meaning a chip is embedded in the card. 2. ID card number. 3. Citizenship. 4. Place of birth. 5. Signature - digitally embedded in the card. 6. Date of card issue and date it becomes invalid. 7. Photo taken to biometric standards. 8. Biometric chip holds fingerprint record. 9. Swipe zone. Information which can be automatically read by computer. Source : BBC News

safety.” Furthermore, the biometric ID register can be used to target opposition politicians and their followers.

Theresa May, British Home Secretary

The Conservative Party promised the British people that the first thing they would do if they came to power was to repeal the laws for biometric ID Cards and the Tories even wrote to “ five firms bidding to supply ID cards not to sign any long-term contracts” (BBC News, 17 June 2009). On 27 May 2010, Home Secretary Theresa May announced that “the scheme would be scrapped within 100 days” and that the Bill would “begin the process of reversing the erosion of civil liberties and restoring freedoms”. Mrs May accused New Labour of “‘trampling over ancient liberties’ while failing to ensure the safety of the public”. (Daily Mail, 28 May 2010). The Bill, which became known as The Identity Documents Act, received Royal Assent on 21 December 2010. It repealed Labour’s tyrannical Identity Cards Act 2006 and ordered the destruction of the National Identity Register by 21 February 2011. The controversial 500 hard drives which stored the register which held “photograph and fingerprint biometrics” were destroyed in Witham, Essex on 10 February 2011. Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty said: “Liberty thanks the Government for the bonfire of the ID cards and the junking of the National Identity Register. We have spent many years arguing that this grand folly would cost our freedom, privacy and race relations dearly and the public agreed.”

“SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY” AND MINORITIES Numerous bodies would view citizens’ identity records in what Richard Thomas of the Information Commissioner’s Office refer to as a “surveillance society” where even high-street businesses would share their customers’ biometric ID details with the Police. Tony Blair even said that the population fingerprints in the ID register would be used against the 900,000 unsolved crimes. Everyone is treated as a potential suspect in any criminal investigation with people consistently being harassed by Police and often unjustly incriminated and found guilty of crimes they did not commit. In reply to the question “Will you sign up to a new ID card?” set on 6 May 2009 by the BBC, one Mat from Warrington said “It is rather the Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, and George Bush mentalities we need to watch - and, the judicial system corruption we have at the present” rather than watching law-abiding citizens and treating them as suspects since the biometric ID card system does not distinguish between suspects and ordinary people. Through the Government’s Race Equality Impact Assessment, ethnic groups also expressed their fears over how the Police would use their powers under the Act. The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) clearly stated that the fear of discrimination is “neither misconceived nor exaggerated”, and quoted the fate of ethnic minorities in countries like France and Germany where such minorities are disproportionately singled out both by employers and authorities. ABOLITION OF BIOMETRIC ID CARDS AND RESTORING CIVIL LIBERTIES The biometric ID card scheme is incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights which refers to the right to respect for private life, and also incompatible with Article 14 with respect to the right to non-discrimination. Both those rights form part of the Human Rights Act 1998. M Rafic SOORMALLY London

PERSPECTIVE

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Kenya’s Somali

Contradiction

The recent attack that killed more than 70 people at Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall was, according to al-Shabaab, the Somali Islamist militant group that carried it out, retribution for Kenya’s intervention in Somalia. That raises a simple question: What is Kenya doing in Somalia, and is it worth the price? Since Kenya’s army invaded its northeastern neighbor two years ago, the government has told Kenyans that they were going to war against al-Shabaab. But, as with most official pronouncements in Kenya, that story was only partly true. On the night of October 15, 2011, I lay awake listening to the Kenyan military convoys passing through the border town of Dadaab on their way to Somalia to launch the first foreign military campaign in Kenya’s history. The proximate cause was the abduction of two Spanish aid workers from the vast refugee camps that encircle Dadaab. For the Kenyan authorities, it was the final straw after a series of abductions of Westerners by al-Shabaab; to stop the incursions, they launched what military leaders believed would be a quick campaign. Over the last two years, some progress has ostensibly been made. The two Spanish aid workers were released last July, and al-Shabaab has attempted only one abduction since. Moreover, the rebels have been dislodged from the southern Somali port of Kismayo, which was once their main base. But al-Shabaab retains control of the majority of Somalia and remains capable of striking Mogadishu, the capital, as well as Nairobi. Given this, if the Kenyan government’s aim was, as it claimed, to destroy al-Shabaab, the intervention has been a spectacular failure. But there is much more to the story. In fact, retaliation against the militant group was little more than a convenient excuse

to launch the so-called Jubaland Initiative, a plan to protect Kenya’s security and economic interests by carving out a semi-autonomous client state in southern Somalia. While knowledge of the plan was initially confined largely to Kenyan government officials, it was not long before its contours began to be revealed. Kenya has installed a client regime in Kismayo, and has supported the new government in its quest to make Jubaland a semi-autonomous region, along the lines of Puntland, Somaliland, and the many other self-declared proto-states that have emerged as Somalia has unraveled. Beyond preventing Somalia’s violence from spilling over into Kenya and undermining its security and its tourist-driven economy, such a buffer state could be forced to absorb the half-million Somali refugees who now live in Dadaab’s refugee camps. In this sense, the Jubaland Initiative is a policy of stunning racial profiling – and a gift to al-Shabaab recruiters in Kenya. Furthermore, contrary to claims that securing Kismayo put al-Shabaab at a disadvantage, the United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea reported in July that the Kenyan Defense Forces have actually gone into business with al-Shabaab. The group’s profits from illicit charcoal (and possibly ivory) exported from Kismayo have grown since Kenya took control. This highlights a fundamental problem: the Kenyan state’s endemic corruption constantly undermines its policymakers’ goals. Indeed, in Kismayo, Kenyan officials have reverted to their default occupation – the pursuit of private profit. Instead of working to achieve the diplomatic objective of defeating al-Shabaab, Kenya’s military, politicians, and well-connected businessmen have been lining their own pockets.

Moreover, Kenya’s desire to carve out a buffer state conflicts with the Somali government’s goal of uniting the country. Indeed, the last thing the government in Mogadishu wants is another semi-autonomous region challenging its authority – or another country annexing southern Somalia for its own purposes. The United States and the European Union – which are bankrolling the African Union’s intervention in Somalia to support the Mogadishu-based government – have attempted to paper over the disagreement with Kenya over the Jubaland Initiative, despite its potential to fuel further conflict. In fact, Kenya-backed Jubaland forces clashed with Somali government troops in Kismayo earlier this year. The Westgate attack should spur Kenya’s leaders to re-think their approach toward Somalia. A more coherent strategy would involve cutting off al-Shabaab’s funding and addressing the grievances – such as human-rights abuses against Somalis, discrimination against Muslims, foreign meddling in Somalia, and corruption – that motivate its recruits. In a bizarre twist, al-Shabaab even called on Kenyans to prosecute their leaders for post-election bloodletting in 2007-2008. Given these intractable grievances – and, more important, the weakness and corruption of the Kenyan state – the cycle of violence will be very difficult to break. That is why the attack on the Westgate mall is unlikely to be the last such tragedy. By Ben RAWLENCE Ben Rawlence, an Open Society Fellow, is the author of Radio Congo: Signals of Hope from Africa’s Deadliest War. Author photo © Jocelyn Bain Hogg/VII for the Open Society Foundations. COPYRIGHT: PROJECT SYNDICATE

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World Mental Health Day on October 10 Every year on 10 October, The World Health Organisation observes World Mental Health Day. The day is an initiative of the World Federation of Mental Health and WHO supports this initiative through raising awareness on mental health issues using its strong relationships with the Ministries of health and civil society organizations across the globe. The theme of World Mental Health Day in 2013 is “Mental health and older adults”. Mental disorders affect nearly 12 percent of the world’s population – about 450 million or one out of every four people around the world – will experience a mental illness that would benefit from diagnosis and treatment. Mental Health Day thus aims to get us all talking openly about mental illnesses and the treatment and preventions that are available to us all. The day will thus be organised with the help of the World Federation for Mental Health which was founded in 1948 to prevent emotional and mental health disorders and help those who do suffer from them. Visit the World Mental Health Day official website for more details and don’t be afraid to talk about your problems this World Mental Health Day.

Caffeine in diet supplements all over the map The amount of caffeine in diet supplements varies widely and product labels are often inaccurate or have no caffeine information at all, according to a new study of supplements sold on military bases. Although the caffeine doses probably wouldn’t be a problem on their own, they may cause issues when the pills or powders are combined with energy drinks, coffee and other high-caffeine food and beverages, researchers said. “Consumers really have no idea when they’re purchasing supplements what’s in them, even if they carefully read the label,” said Dr. Pieter Cohen from Harvard Medical School in Boston, who worked on the new study. He and his colleagues analyzed the caffeine content of 31 dietary supplements sold on military bases that are known to have added caffeine or herbal ingredients that naturally contain caffeine. Eleven of the supplements listed herbal ingredients, and all of those had no caffeine or only minimal traces, the research team reported this week in JAMA Internal Medicine. Among the other 20 products, nine had labels with accurate caffeine information. Another five had varying caffeine contents that were either much lower or higher than the amount listed on the label. The remaining six products did not have caffeine levels on their labels, but had very high amounts according to the chemical analysis - between 210 and 310 milligrams per serving. In comparison, an eight-ounce cup of coffee has about 100 mg of caffeine. Those levels are especially worrisome for military service members abroad, he said, because side effects of caffeine such as tremors and anxiety may hit them extra hard due to the stressful environment.

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Herbal Medicine

The Power of Peppermint

HEALTH

At the mention of peppermint, candy canes and ice cream come to mind. But did you know that peppermint is also an age-old herbal medicine that has been used to treat a wide range of abdominal woes? The oil extracted from the peppermint plant contains a host of compounds, but the most abundant and perhaps the most pharmacologically important is menthol. Studies have shown peppermint oil to be fairly effective at relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a collection of symptoms that includes abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, constipation and diarrhea that affects 5 to 20 percent of the population. One

explanation is that the oil—especially the menthol—blocks

calcium channels, which has the effect of relaxing the “smooth” muscles in the walls of the intestines. Recently, Alex Ford, a McMaster University researcher, concluded that instead of popular over-the counter drugs, peppermint oil should be the first line of defense against IBS. Peppermint can temporarily allay itching caused by insect bites, eczema and other lesions, including the rash of poison ivy. Peppermint tea can be used as a mouthwash for babies with thrush (yeast in the mouth) or for reducing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, especially for women who want to avoid stronger medications.

Inauguration of Paediatric Ward at Victoria Hospital The Ministry of Health and Quality of Life and the Tayelamay Group proceeded to the Opening of the Paediatric Ward 12 at Victoria Hospital, Candos on Monday 07 October. The Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Lormus Bundhoo together with the President of the Republic of Mauritius Mr Purryag and Mr Sada Tayelamay were present for the occasion. The ward was inaugurated by the President of the Republic who also proceeded to a visit. Parents were honoured by the visit of Mr Purryag, who also seized the occasion to offer gifts to the kids of the Paediatric Ward. Jameela JADDOO

Legislative Reforms in the medical field announced On the occasion of the International Conference on Medical Education 2013 organised by Riphah International University at Intercontinental Hotel, Balaclava on Sunday 06 October, the Minister of Health and Quality of Life announced a series of legislative reforms in the medical field that the Government has come up with. According to Lormus Bundhoo it has been noted in Mauritius that for years medical students did not possess the proper background academic qualifications for the profession. Indeed medical studies require a certain level of academic background and personal characteristics such as motivation, some degree of maturity, integrity, perseverance, humility, responsibility to self and others, professionalism and excellent communication skills. The Ministry has thus decided that as from January 2013, any prospective Medical or Dental Student should achieve a minimum set of standards at advanced level at one sitting, or its equivalent. In addition, with a view to assessing the level of competency, all new medical graduates, whether qualified locally or abroad, will have to undergo a written examination after successful completion of their pre-registration training. For postgraduate degree holders, a Board of Postgraduate Medical Education is in the process of being set up to advise the Medical and Dental Councils on the registration of Medical and Dental Practitioners for specialist practice. This measure will ensure that these practitioners possess the required level of knowledge, skills and experience to practise as specialists.

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Gem smartwatch in October Search engine giant Google may launch a smartwatch called Gem later this month to coincide with the release of its Android4.4 Kit Kat. According to the popular technology website, Android Police, the watch is a part of the Nexus brand and will reportedly be announced on October 31 this year, even though Google Glass - unveiled last year - is yet to hit the market. Fox News reports that a few months ago, Google had published a smartwatch patent, which detailed a watch with a user interface similar to Google Glass and featuring two touchpads on its wristband that can under-

A Cell Phone that Will Last Forever

Sun set

TECHNO

for 11-year magnetic pole flip A special phenomenon is about to occur in our sun, and it could impact our lives. The magnetic poles of the sun — which are like the ends of a giant bar magnet — are about to flip, that is, the polar north will become the polar south and vice versa. According to scientists at the Wilcox Solar Observatory at Stanford University, the sun could be barely two to three months away from this magnetic field. The change is periodic, taking place once every 11 years or so. The flip also corresponds with peak activity during the 11-year solar cycle. This is when sunspots — intense magnetic field fluctuations that appear as dark spots on the solar surface — are highest in number. When the number of sunspots is highest, a time known as the solar maximum, the sun’s large-scale dipole magnetic field starts reversing. This reversal is akin to sun’s magnetic poles flipping. It’s almost as if a giant magnet inside the sun was turned upside down,” said Dibyendu Nandi, an astrophysicist at Kolkata’s Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. Why does this flip take place? Nandi said that the periodic reversal was linked to the motion of plasma flows inside the sun. The flow of this hot, electrically-charged material tosses and turns one component of the magnetic field into another, eventually changing the sun’s dipole field. “This process is technically known as the solar dynamo mechanism

stand gestures such as pinching or stretching, just like Glass’s single pad. The report mentioned that the Gem would join the likes of Apple, and Microsoft and LG’s rumoured wrist-worn gadgets respectively. Samsung has already launched its Galaxy Gear smartwatch that is designed to work with its Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1. According to a recent study, more than 373 million smartwatches will ship by 2020 compared to the 15 million projected for 2014, which suggests that the watch could soon become a major part of the mobile market.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it right? When it comes to cell phones, the beloved adage does not ring true - most folks upgrade their phones more than once every two years. But why? Some people are looking for the most up-to-date technology, while others discover that instead of fixing a broken part, it’s easier and cheaper to buy a whole new phone. This amounts to a significant number of discarded cell phones - over 150 million in 2010 in the United States alone. Dave Hakens has come up with a brilliant concept that might just revolutionise the way electronics are made, starting with cell phones. Phonebloks would be a customised cell phone made up of easily detachable blocks, allowing the user to build their own phone depending on individual needs. Parts would be supplied from a wide range for brands, giving the buyer the choice to construct the cell phone of their dreams. For example, some might want a larger, easy-to-read screen while camera buffs might opt for a premium lens.

The Amazing Helmet Made From Newspaper

and can be studied using computer models which we do in our laboratories,” Nandi said. Changes in the sun’s magnetic field ripple through the solar system and beyond, a region known as the heliosphere. The weather in space is expected to be most hazardous in the next few months as the flip begins to take place, Nandi said. “The chances of solar magnetic storms occurring are also high. These storms carry a vast amount of charged particles and magnetic fields through interplanetary space and can pose a threat to satelite operations, telecommunications , air traffic on polar routes

and power grids in countries at high latitudes ,” the scientist said. Scientists are watching the event closely to fully understand the changes that take place. It is also of special interest because the current solar cycle — the 24th since 1755, when sunspot activity began to be recorded — is one of the weakest in 100 years. A strong solar magnetic field also acts as a shield against cosmic rays coming from outer space. “Due to the current weak cycle, we have been recording high cosmic ray influx since 2009,” said B N Dwivedi of IIT-BHU.

Bike helmets - sturdy, rough and made of plastic. However, not in the case of Paper Pump Helmet. Three UK designers have come up with a safe, affordable and environmentally-friendly alternative for the many London cyclists using the Barclays Bicycle Hire Scheme. The simple Paper Pump Helmet is made entirely from newspapers collected from the London public transportation system, which are then blended with water to create a pulp. The only additive to the slushy mix is an organic and food safe additive, which makes the helmets waterproof for up to six hours – crucial for the famously rainy London. The helmet and strap are fully recyclable, and can be thrown right back into the pulping process after use. Considering the amount of these amazing bicycle rental schemes popping up across the world, this helmet could allow hundreds of thousands of cyclists keep their heads safe, while saving both money and the environment.

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Saturday 12 October 15:10 MBC 2

Thursday 10 October 20:00 Directed by William Friedkin With Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church

3 BACHELORS

SUPER STORM

Directed by Ajai Sinha (2012) Starring : Sharman Joshi, Negar Khan, Manish Nagpal, Manoj Pahwa, Raima Sen, Riya Sen, Himani Shivpuri 3 Bachelors is the story of two young bachelors and one young at heart bachelor. Amit and Jai land into trouble for teasing two girls on the very first day of their college because of which they lose their hostel room. The story that follows shows Jai and Amit doing all the crazy things to get an accommodation and their lovers.

Friday 11 October 09:30 DIGITAL 4

Drama directed by Ashok Kheny (2010): Starring Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan Tara Sharma Prem (Arbaaz Khan) is married to Sheetal (Tara Sharma) and has a lovely daughter with her as well. They are happy together...that is until a young model, Twinkle (Madhuri Bhattacharya) moves into town as their next door neighbor and Prem falls for her charms. Will Prem forget that he is a married man? Will his daughter’s love prove to be lesser than the love of a sizzling new girl? Will 7 years of marriage go down the drain?

Saturday 12 October 05:30 DIGITAL 4

OM SHANTI OM

Directed by Farah Khan (2007) With Shahrukh Khan,Deepika Padukone,Kirron Kher Om Prakash Makhija is a junior artist in the 1970s Bollywood film industry. He and his friend Pappu are trying to succeed as leading actors. Om’s mother, Bela Makhija, herself a junior artist, inspires and encourages her son to become a success. He is in love with the film actress Shanti Priya.

CINÉ 12

PREM KA GAME

THE MOVIE begins with a team of scientists working on a US government project, known as Stormshield, whose goal is to control and manage storms, particularly hurricanes. Hurricane Grace, a Category 3 hurricane which is slowly climbing to a Category 5, is up to hit the United States. Using a predictive technology named Tempest and developed by Lance Resznick, they are able to simulate the effects of seeding the storm in order to collapse the eye of the storm and then decrease its intensity. Lance is openly skeptical towards the theories of Sara Hughes, an English scientist who is convinced about the effectiveness of cloud seeding. An experiment is done on a smaller hurricane, Agatha. A plane and several UAV carrying the seeds (in this case, supercooled liquid) fly into the storm. At first, the experiment is a success but then the storm intensifies during the seeding and the plane crashes. Weeks go by and Grace has now become a category 5 hurricane, headed straight for Miami. At the urgings of Katzenberg, the fund seeker of the project, the team formulates a plan of distant atmospheric perturbation to deflect Grace out into the Atlantic Ocean by creating a low pressure system on the Pacific coast and allowing it to be carried across the nation towards the hurricane. While the team leader Abrams and mathematician Munish Loomba try to model the weather perturbation that will safely deflect Grace, Lance tells Sara that her attempt to change Agatha’s course after the seeding was actually successful. Discussing such results with her grandfather, who was head of a similar, discredited project in the 1970s, Sara discovers that he and his team knew they could make hurricanes change course but

made their efforts appear fruitless because they realized the military were behind the project, looking for ways to use weather as a weapon. The same turns out to be true for Stormshield, even if Katzenberg had previously assured that there was no military involvement. Meanwhile the low pressure system approach has been finalized, with B-52 bombers ready to release trails of carbon over the West Coast. Just before proceeding with the operation, Lance states that the attempt must be stopped as another storm is moving up and could deflect Grace back into the USA. Unimpressed, Katzenberg fires the whole team, who refuses to take such a high risk. The team soon learns that the operation went on even if they did not provide the necessary data to the flying squad. The mole in the team turns out to be Bengali-born Munish, who lost his family in a hurricane while still a child and now desperate to make the theory of hurricane deflection work. The other storm did deflect Grace, now headed right for New York City. After realizing that in the first experiment the course of Agatha was altered by the supercooling of the areas of the storm, the team decides to apply the same method. They manage to slightly deviate the storm away from New York City, thus causing smaller damage, but cannot avoid that Long Island, where the Stormshield headquarters are located, is hit. Sara is the only member of the team who survives without severe injuries and the series finishes with her about to either admit the terrible tragedy caused by their research or, as Katzenberg would want, lie to cover it up and suggest to the American people and to the whole world that the technology did work and is to be expanded.

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RELAX

& OUT

with

YOGI TAMBY

Yogi Tamby invites the public to come for a day of relaxation on October 13 from 9 am to 5 pm. The spiritual master will share all his knowledge throughout the day. The event will focus on learning and participating in numerous spiritual techniques that may help us with better health, inner peace and happiness. The event entitled ‘Vine Relax’ will be organised at the Basket-ball Gymnasium in Phoenix.

International Youth Forum 2013 Members of the public are invited to the first-ever International Youth Forum 2013 in Mauritius on October 11 from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC), Phoenix. The event is being organised by Konecteam and the aim is to create a strong base of future leaders in Mauritius.

ON? What’s

Yousouf BUGLOW

Fur Coat & Nakadia at L’Aventure du Sucre

BOLLYWOOD FESTIVAL

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Indian cinema, Zee TV Maurice is organising a series of activities in the coming days. Competitions, exhibition of film posters, free film screenings and musicals are on the cards. 45 Indian artiste have been invited to the festival which began on October 1. Festivities began last week with ‘Konkour Akter’, a competition which requires the interpretation of cult films. The public will be required to enact a proposed scene. The best and worst videos will be posted on the Zee TV Facebook page ‘Konkour Akter’. The video that receives the most likes until October 31 will win a trip to India. The second part of the festival is a poster exhibition to be held at Caudan Waterfront from November 4 to 17. These movie posters are true works of art and many were painted by hand. From November 11 to 15, bollywood lovers can immerse themselves in the wonderful world of the seventh art through a series of free screenings of the greatest Indian films at Triolet, Goodlands, Rose-Belle, Curepipe and Caudan. However, the highlight of this festival is undoubtedly the musical Bollywood Evolution, which will be held on November 14 and 15 from 8 pm at the Swami Vivekanada Centre in Pailles. Tickets are available from Rézo Otayo. Rates are as follows: Platinum: Rs 2,000, Gold: Rs 1600, Silver: Rs 1200, Bronze: Rs 800 and Side: Rs 500.

The Electric Dodo presents Fur Coat & Nakadia at Aventure du Sucre in Beau Plan, Pamplemousses on Saturday the 12 October. Fur Coat... a rare, one of a kind piece, which is why it seems such a fitting title for the Venezuelan pairing of Sergio Munoz and Israel Sunshine. There is a story that involves deep beats, rolling grooves, alluring breakdowns and large helpings of funk.

It is a story where passions for salsa and sou are blended together with a solid base of love for all electronic and which create an act which would be imprinted into the minds of music heads everywhere. Presale tickets are at Rs700 and at the door at Rs1000. Doors will be opened as from 8pm. For more information please call: 5255 1231/5912 3682.

Dido and Aenas

Opera Mauritius and Friends of the Opera association present Dido and Aenas, an opera piece by the composer Henry Purcell (1659-1695), in a small open-air amphitheater located in Vanilla Village (Black River). The historical piece will be shown on October 11, 12 and 17. Written in 1689, Dido and Aenas are considered one of the masterpieces of Baroque music. This lyric tragedy alternates between drama and burlesque. The show tells the story of love between the Carthaginian Queen Dido and the Trojan prince Aenas. Rates are as follows: Carré d’or: Rs 1200, first: Rs 900, second: Rs 700 and side: Rs 200.

Tel: 292 4497 - Fax: 213 1096 E-mail: newsonsunday@defimedia.info Website: www.defimedia.info Director of publication : Ehshan Kodarbux ehshank@defimedia.info Sub-Editors : Sunil Gopal, Shaffick Hamuth Senior News Editor : Indradev Curpen Editorial Team : Premita Leelachand, Jwala Kallee, Jameela Jaddoo, Mumtaz Soogund, Yousouf Buglow Chief Designer : Krsna Coopoosamy Designer Team : Frédéric Li Ching Yan, Kersley Aristhene Sales Executive : Khoshla 7884990, Uma 7807375, Joceline 7790663 Printed by : FEMI Publishing Co. Ltd

& OUT Word search IN

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 30

Crossword

Find and circle all of the hidden words listed. Words may be horizontal or vertical.

Free Entertainment Quiz Across 1 Italian hors d’oeuvres (9) 8 Assumed name (5) 9 Indian rice (7) 10 Informed (8) 11 Sibilant sound (4) 13 Russets, pippins etc (6) 14 Leeway (6) 16 Small islands (4) 17 Now proud (anag) (8) 19 Lottery (7) 20 Game involving mates (5) 21 Able to bounce back (9)

5 x 5 Symmetrical Word Boxes

Sudoku

HOW TO SOLVE “Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. “ That’s all there is to it. There’s no math involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic. It’s fun. It’s challenging. It’s addictive! Solving time is typically from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience.

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across and down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these Word Boxes? 1. Jowls 2. Seraglio 3. Speak 4. Flower piece 5. Flower detection organ

Down 1 Attacked (8) 2 Battle (anag) (6) 3 Shove (4) 4 Stamina — endurance (7,5) 5 Quirk (12) 6 Completely insane (3,2,1,6) 7 Large semi-aquatic mammal (12) 12 Wooden panelling (8) 15 Hunt for food or provisions (6) 18 Something to be achieved (4)

Riddles 1. What has a bark, but no bite? 2. What has a face but can’t see? 3. What has a foot on each side and one in the middle? 4. What has a horn but does not honk? 5. What has a hundred limbs, but cannot walk? 6. What happens when the wicked queen turns on her computer? 7. What happens when you tell an egg a joke? 8. What has 2 banks, but no money? 1. A tree 2. A clock! 3. A yardstick 4. A rhinoceros. 5. A Tree. 6. The screen goes Snow White! 7. It cracks up! 8. A river!

1. In which country is the Simpson desert found? 2. What type of animal is a ‘skink’? 3. Which planet of our solar system was the first to be discovered by telescope? 4. Which is the shallowest ocean in the world? 5. Which up and coming US singer has had recent hits with ‘Whatcha Say’ and ‘Ridin’ Solo’? 6. What does UNESCO stand for? 7. In a baseball team, how many players are there? 8. What is the film title of the sequel to Alice In Wonderland? 9. Who played Baby in the film Dirty Dancing? 10. In the film ‘Shrek’, what is the name of Shrek’s wife?

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 31

& OUT

Aries

A social event or gathering that involves work could put you in touch with interesting people, Aries, including a sexy potential love partner! Someone new on the scene could stir your blood like it hasn’t been stirred in a long time. Whether or not you choose to pursue this attraction depends on your situation, but at least you will have some fun today.

Taurus

A new or long-term romantic relationship could be advanced to the next level of commitment, Taurus. The chemistry between you is strong and you’re compatible on several levels. Today you will experience passion like never before! Some intense but honest and very positive discussion about the relationship’s future is likely to take place, followed by an intimate encounter.

Gemini

Today you should feel especially sensual, Gemini. You will want to bask in the pleasure of being in love. A passionate encounter could occur at your home, probably after a wonderful meal you’ve prepared. You could have a frank discussion about the future of the relationship. You might decide to try living together if you don’t already. Think carefully about it and do what feels right.

Cancer

10 Simple Burglar Protection Tips n Illuminate your exterior doorways at night. By keeping your entryways bright, it makes it difficult for anyone to sneak in undetected. Lights with motion detectors are a plus with regards to burglar protection. The light stays off until the would-be robber’s movement triggers it to come on, likely startling the robber and drawing more attention to your door. n Install reliable locks and, well, lock your doors. Sounds too simple, but over 30 percent of home invasions show no sign of forced entry. Exterior doors, along with any door leading into the garage, should have a high quality, dead-bolt lock. Doors that are close to windows will require a special double-bolt cylinder lock for extreme burglary protection. This lock requires a key to unlock the door from both the outside and the inside, so no one can break the glass and reach inside to unlock your door. n Landscape for safety as well as beauty. A well-placed prickly bush under your windows makes your home far less inviting. At the same time, watch for oversized trees and shrubs that create hiding places or climbing opportunities. n Purchase a home alarm system. According to a study conducted by Temple University, a monitored home security system can provide up to 66 percent greater burglar protection over a home without such a system. n Putting your lights and electronics on a random timer also offers additional burglary protection. And this tip isn’t just good for vacations; if you work outside of the home, it is likely that the burglar has watched you come and go regularly. Have your lights, radio and television turn on and off at a variety of times to give outsiders the impression that someone is still in the house. n Solid wood or steel doors provide burglar protection by creating a nearly impenetrable barrier to your home. Many older exterior doors are thin or even hollow, making forced entry as simple as a few key strikes. n Keep the blinds and curtains closed. Open blinds allows people to window shop your home for valuables. By keeping the contents of your home a mystery, you are more likely to be passed over should a burglar enter the neighborhood—the best burglar protection of all. n Skip the key-hidden-inside-a-fake-rock-trick. Trust me, if I know about this trick, so does everyone else. The same thing goes for hiding keys under a doormat or over the doorframe. You are better off giving a spare key to a nearby family member and dealing with the laughter when they come to let you in to your own home. n Take your name off the mailbox and don’t hang up any plaques outside displaying your name. By using your last name, a robber can find your phone number and then call to make sure no one is at home. n Stash that trash! You’ve gone to the trouble of taking the name off your mailbox, so don’t leave junk mail flowing out of your recycle bin either. And, take the time to cut up that computer box or anything else that might clue people in to what new goodies you have at home. Again, one of the best burglar protection methods is making the contents of your home unknown.

Last week’s solution Free Entertainment Quiz 1. Eight. 2. Lady In Red. 3. Thriller. 4. Eric Clapton. 5. Phil Collins.

6. Elton John. 7. Postcards 8. Cliff Richard. 9.The Living Daylights. 10. Nose.

A warm, interesting phone call from a current or potential love partner could have you longing for this person’s company, Cancer. You should have a lot to say to each other and so spend a lot of time on the phone. A meeting could be arranged, probably somewhere in your neighborhood. Your chemistry is intense, so don’t be surprised by the direction of this involvement.

Leo

An unexpected but welcome financial windfall could lead to some long-desired changes in your living situation, Leo. You may decide to move, or you could opt for a less drastic course of action, such as redecorating or remodeling. A household member could move out or someone new could move in. These are all very positive changes that will make a big difference in your life.

Virgo

You’re looking great today, Virgo! A current or potential love partner who lives nearby is likely to be all too aware of this. Your heightened sensuality should be very apparent! A long walk with your friend could involve conversation that brings you closer together. You might spend most of the evening together. Expect a lot of kissing and handholding - maybe more!

Libra

Your aesthetic sense may increase, Libra, leading to the discovery of an artistic talent you may not have known you had. You could decide to develop this talent, possibly by enrolling in a class. A current or potential love partner might decide to come with you, creating a new venue for bringing you closer together. This should prove very exciting.

Scorpio

A social event, possibly involving a group you’re affiliated with, could put you in touch with a lot of friendly, intriguing people who share your interests, Scorpio. Among them could be a potential romantic partner, or a current partner could accompany you to this event. Whichever it is, both of you are likely to feel good about the event and will probably want to see your new friends again.

Sagittarius

You could be introduced to a celebrity you admire, probably a woman, perhaps at a lecture or book signing, Sagittarius. This could make a profound difference in your life, as this person may inspire you. A romantic partner could meet her as well, and the two of you should have a lot to discuss over dinner. Relax and enjoy your evening. It could change your life in a very subtle way.

Capricorn

A social event that involves the discussion of intellectual topics could occur today, Capricorn. You could decide to go with a love partner. You’re likely to enjoy the gathering so much that you may stay late into the night and then spend another hour or so discussing it with your partner. Afterward, anything could happen! In the future you will remember tonight as magical. Make the most of it!

Aquarius

Some intense communication could take place today between you and a love partner, possibly about your future together, Aquarius. It’s likely to lead to some positive developments in your life, possibly including a move to the next level of commitment. If you aren’t involved now, a friend could introduce you to someone new, perhaps at a social gathering. Look your best throughout the day!

Pisces

Today you may feel especially sensual and passionate, Pisces. This is the perfect evening to schedule quality time with a current or potential love partner. You’re probably looking and feeling attractive, and this fact isn’t likely to be lost on your friend. Scatter some pillows, add some flowers, put out some cheese, fruit, and white wine, and be prepared for anything!

CINEMA Alia loves Christmas festivities

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 32

Sunny Leone

The festive season has kickstarted with Navratri and actress Alia Bhatt says her favourite festival is Christmas. “My favourite festival is Christmas because I get a lot of presents,” the 20-year-old said here at the launch of a new range of nail paints by Maybelline. “Colour of the season is red and I wear this red Santa hat and a nice red dress with black or red shoes,” she added. Alia, who debuted with “Student Of The Year”, will have three releases next year - “Highway” in February, “2 States” in April and “Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania” in June.

Will ‘Rajjo’ be a game changer for Kangana? Having proved her mettle in a comic role in the 2011 romantic-comedy “Tanu Weds Manu”, actress Kangana Ranaut Monday said that she hopes her forthcoming film “Rajjo”, in which she plays a nautch (dance) girl, turns out to be a game changer. The actress broke free of her troubled girl image that she had in films like “Gangster”, “Woh Lamhe”

REVELATION

calls Indians conservative

Sunny leone, the porn artist turned Bollywood star needs no introduction. In an interview She talks about her parents, family and film career. To a question about her acting in adult movies, Leone says that her parents knew about her independent nature. And she had informed about her debut in the adult films before any of her relatives could tell. That helped things sink down better. She is turned on by an intelligent conversation with a man and is turned off with bad smelling colognes. She feels that India will never have a porn industry as in the US because people here are conservative and they look down upon

porn. But they surely watch porn with interest adding that people in the US don’t discuss sex over lunch or dinner. On her feud with Pooja Bhatt during Jism 2, leone says she is not in touch with her. Pooja made a statement which she didn’t like. She had said that she (Pooja) had humanized her but she was a human being much before she met Pooja. In hindsight, Sunny Leone has no regrets or guilt because of her past. If I had not a past about which you know, I may not have reached where I have now. On her family, she says that her husband has always been very supportive of all my decisions. He knows each bit about

me. We are sincere to each other and we have a monogamous relationship. We are planning to have babies, she adds quirkily. The actress and her husband plan to buy a decent house in Mumbai soon. `But, right now my priorities are, `Teena and Lolo,` `Ragini MMS2` and the `Jackpot.` I quit adult movies much before the ‘Bigg Boss’ offer,` she adds. About her audience, Leone maintains that in India people who detest her are outnumbered by those who love her. Reacting to Amar Upadhyay lifting her up in his arms in ‘Bigg Boss’ leone says that she has not seen that man after the show. She really doesn’t want to talk to him.

Ram Leela in legal soup and “Fashion”, through her impressive comic timing in director Anand L. Rai’s “Tanu Weds Manu”, which also gave her a chance to dance. She fervently wishes “Rajjo” to be another turning point in her career. “I always wanted to dance. After ‘Fashion’, people did not give me comedy roles and ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ was a game changer for me...and now ‘Rajjo’ has given me another chance to dance and I hope it too becomes a game changer,” she said during the opening of Adrija Jewellery showroom here. Busy promoting her next release, “Krrish 3”, the actress said researching for her role as a nautch girl was a revelation. She was shocked to find that most of the women in the flesh business “really love doing what they do”.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved in the Gujarat High Court seeking a ban on the release of a movie “Galiyon ki Raas Leela Ram Leela,” which is expected to hit the screens next month, due to alleged “misrepresentation” of the Rajput community The PIL is expected to be heard on Thursday and the movie, which has mostly been shot in Gujarat, is slated to release on November 15. Petitioner Siddhrajsinh Mahavirsinh Chudasama (32), who hails from the “Darbar” community, has alleged his community has been “misrepresented” in the movie. “Darbar” is a caste of the Rajput community consisting of sub-castes such as Jadeja, Zala, Gohil, Chudasama, Rana, Vada, Parmar, Sodha,

Vaja, Chauhan, Rathore, Vaghela, among others. The petitioner has

alleged director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and producer Kishore Lulla had adopted a “totally insensitive approach not only to the Darbar community but the Hindu religion as a whole”. According to the petitioner, since the movie “hurts the sentiments of Hindus” as well as promotes “vulgarity”, the release of the movie must be stopped in Gujarat. The petitioner has argued the movie showed enmity between the Rabari and Darbar communities for the last 500 years and a daughter of the Jadeja family (Darbar), which is a character played by Deepika Padukone, having romantic relations with a boy from the Rabari community, which is the character essayed by Ranveer Singh.

CINEMA

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 33

‘Shuddhi’ to be the costliest B-Town film ever? Kareena Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan starrer is apparently pegged at a whopping Rs 150 crore. While Bollywood remains to have a good mix of big-moolah films and those made on a shoestring budget, Kareena Kapoor’s next film with Hrithik Roshan could break the record. Insiders say Karan Malhotra’s film will have a whopping budget of Rs 150 crore and the director has chosen Bhopal as one of the settings for the film. Till date, Blue, the underwater thriller director by Anthony D’Souza and Shah Rukh Khan’s RA.One were the costliest Bollywood films ever at R100 crore each. After two of his previous visits to Bhopal didn’t work out, Malhotra finally managed to make a trip to the City of Lakes. Sources say the director did a recce of Old Bhopal and some other crowded places in the newer parts of the city, including Sadar Manzil and New Market. Currently, Malhotra is in Hyderabad to explore possibilities of shooting there.

John requests police to let his zealous fan walk-free

Says a source, `Karan has finalised some locations in Bhopal. The buzz is that they will start shooting in Bhopal in December as they will not get the required permissions to shoot before the elections. The schedule will last for 20 to 25

days.` Says the director, `We are trying to make a nice dramatic film but yes for sure it will be big. The costs and budgets depends upon the production house. We will try to make the movie with the best possible resources available.`

SRK movie shoot fetches USD 5m for UAE

Most Bollywood stars are well versed with the antics of the most ardent of fans. But John Abraham was in for a rude shock recently when a die-hard fan started calling up the actor’s family members in a bid to reach out to his idol. After John called and complained to the cops, the men in khakee swung into action and apparently even detained the man. However after a change of heart, the actor recently requested the police to let the man walk free. Says a source, `On Sunday John received a call from the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Vishwas Nagre Patil, informing him that the fan had been nabbed. After John heard that he was just a regular fan who was desperately trying to meet the star, he asked them to let him go.` John apparently even asked the ACP to have the fan call him up directly instead of contacting members of his family.

‘R... Rajkumar’ makers are on a look-out? The makers of Shahid’s upcoming film, R... Rajkumar, co-starring Sonakshi Sinha, are looking for an item girl to shake her booty in the actor’s next project. However, according to sources the producers want an A-list actress for the part but apparently none are available, because of date

The shooting of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Happy New Year” has brought an estimated USD 5 million to the UAE. The film commission said that its USD 5 million estimate for “Happy New Year” will be followed by a more precise figure this month or next. According to a report in The National, benefits to the Emirate’s economy would have included spending on hotel rooms, flights and equipment and space rentals. “Happy New Year” took three weeks to shoot and is the first full-length feature film to be shot almost entirely in the Emirates. The film is to be released next year. The film commission expects more interest from Bollywood now with two more films already confirmed. The

commission did not provide details of the additional films. The commission worked with Shah Rukh’s production company, Red Chillies Entertainment for about a year to organize the shoot. Bollywood films earlier used to choose Dubai as a location only for one or two scenes. “This is not just a dance scene, but about 80-90 per cent of the whole film that was shot in Dubai. We had to learn the logistics. Normally we’ve only dealt with a maximum of 40 people who come to do a dance scene in two to five days,” chairman of the film commission, Jamal Al Sharif, said. The Red Chillies team was given many incentives from Dubai International Airport, Emirates Airline and immigration authorities. The en-

tire movie crew booked 180 rooms at the Atlantis hotel on the Palm for 25 days. “This will impact culturally on what they’re doing. They’re creating jobs and we’re hoping that further Bollywood films will support (our) GDP. We are expecting the next door to open for Bollywood to be in Dubai and the Middle East,” Al Sharif said. Rebates and incentives are one of the key areas of focus for the film commission as it works to attract productions to the Emirate, not just from Bollywood, but from all over the world. “We are putting together plans for the years to come to provide soft and hard incentives and rebates. Dubai is a tax-free destination and we have to take advantage of that.”

issues. Insiders from the project say that though the film has already been shot, Prabhu Dheva still wants to include another dance number. Says a source, `All the leading ladies, including Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif are busy with their respective projects and promotional shoots.` The film is just two months away from its release date and it looks like the makers need to hasten their pace if they want the item number in place.

WOLRD NEWS

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 35

India: visa on arrival for 40 more nations

Nigeria aviation minister calls air crash ‘act of God’ Nigeria’s aviation minister has caused outrage by calling air crashes inevitable acts of God, as she sought to deflect criticism of her record after the country’s second deadly accident in 15 months. Stella Oduah was speaking to journalists at the presidential villa on Monday, three days after sixteen people were killed in a small passenger plane that crashed shortly after take-off outside Lagos airport’s domestic terminal. In June last year, a Dana Air flight crashed into a Lagos apartment block, killing 163 people in the country’s worst airline disaster in two decades. An investigation has yet to reveal the cause. “We

do not pray for accidents but it is inevitable... We do everything to ensure that we do not have accidents, but it is an act of God,” she said. “We do not speculate on the cause of accidents.” Oduah later qualified her comment, saying that everyone from baggage handlers to regulators, airlines and management shared responsibility for passenger safety and that a preliminary report into the latest crash should be out in a couple of weeks. But Nigerian newspapers and Twitter exploded with angry responses. Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode was quoted in Vanguard local daily as calling for her resignation. The Punch newspaper quoted

popular blogger Japheth Omojuwa as saying: “If God is in charge of safety in the aviation sector, we are then duplicating roles by paying a salary (to the minister)... When you start passing the buck to God, then the time has arrived to pass on your resignation letter.” Oduah’s spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The belief that fatal accidents are acts of God, or of malevolent spirits, is common in Nigeria and many other African countries. Air crashes are relatively frequent in Africa’s second biggest economy, where a sophisticated financial sector and large professional class depend on flights, although safety improved a lot in the years just before the Dana crash

Janet Yellen nominated to head US Federal Reserve US President Barack Obama has officially nominated Federal Reserve vicechair Janet Yellen to be the next head of the US central bank. He called her one of the nation’s foremost economists and policy makers. Ms Yellen said if confirmed by the Senate she would do her utmost “to promote maximum employment, stable prices and a stable financial system”. She said more needed to be done to strengthen the US economy although progress had been made recently. The president praised Ms Yellen’s ability to build consensus and listen to competing views.

He added that she was “committed to increasing employment and understands the human costs when Americans can’t find a job”. If the nomination is confirmed by the US Senate, Ms Yellen, 67, would replace Ben Bernanke, who has held the post for eight years. She has been his deputy for the past two years, and would become the first woman to head the Federal Reserve. She has taught at Harvard University and the London School of Economics, as well as holding a series of senior administrative positions in the US.

Libyan PM Ali Zeidan seized by armed men Libyan PM Ali Zeidan has been seized by armed men in the capital, Tripoli. Mr Zeidan was taken from his hotel before dawn “by gunmen to an unknown place for unknown reasons”, said a government statement. A former rebel group loosely allied to the government

said it had arrested him following a prosecutor’s warrant. The government has denied this. The government has been under pressure after US commandos seized senior al-Qaeda suspect Anas al-Liby in Libya. Mr Liby was snatched on Saturday

in Tripoli. He is wanted in the US over the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. On Monday, Libya demanded an explanation from the US ambassador over the incident. The government is also struggling to contain rival tribal militias and Islamist militants who control parts of the country, two years after the revolt which overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.

India is set to roll out the red carpet for foreign tourists. The government has cleared a slew of measures including extending visa on arrival (VoA) to 40 countries, establishing an online application system for visas and facilitating visa on arrival for pensioners and those attending conferences. The decision means foreign tourists will be able to apply for an Indian visa from the comfort of their homes while citizens from 40 countries including the US, the UK, Germany, France, Brazil, Russia and China among others will avail visa on arrival when they land on Indian shores. The government has also agreed to extend visa on arrival to foreign travellers above 60 years of age from all countries and cut down the time taken to give visas to groups that are keen to attend conventions. “There has to be a change in mindset towards the way we treat foreign tourists. All representatives of government agreed on extending visa on arrival to 40 countries and initiating an online system as soon as possible,” Planning Minister Rajeev Shukla said. The ministries of tourism and home affairs have been tasked with preparing a roadmap since initiating the visa on arrival scheme will require a large amount of infrastructure and manpower. So far, citizens of around 11 countries including Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam can avail visa on arrival.

China sacks official over lavish wedding

China sacked an official for “extravagant waste” after he spent an estimated 1.6 million yuan ($260,000) on a lavish, three-day wedding for his son, state media said on Tuesday, the latest move in a crackdown on profligate lifestyles and graft. Ma Linxiang, a deputy village chief from the Beijing suburb of Qingheying, hosted the estimated 250-table wedding at a convention center that was part of the main 2008 Beijing Olympics venue during the week-long National Day holiday last week, newspapers reported. Ma told the Beijing News that the wedding was hosted by both families, and that he “couldn’t stop” the bride’s family from splurging on the venue as well as a troupe of performers that included two celebrities famous for their own lavish wedding. A branch of the ruling Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog fired Ma for waste and discipline violations, adding that while it had not found any abuse of public funds, it was investigating, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Since taking charge of the Communist Party late last year and the reins of state in March, President Xi Jinping has called corruption a threat to the party’s survival and vowed to go after powerful “tigers” as well as lowly “flies”.

SPORTS

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 36

Race card for Saturday 12 October - 32nd meeting

News On Sunday cannot be held responsible for any mistake on the racecard.

False rails’ : 4 m – Track : 2.8

Football Betting Odds MATCHES

H D A

BRAZIL 2014: WORLD CUP QUALIFICATIONS

ALBANIA - SWITZERLAND

365

ANDORRA - ROMANIA

(11th to 15th of October)

330

205

SPAIN - BELARUS

170

340

650

1300 700

160

VENEZUELA - PARAGUAY

170

340

650

ESTONIA - TURKEY

365

205

COLOMBIA – CHILE

220

330

350

ARMENIA - BULGARIA

310

320

280

LUXEMBOURG – RUSSIA

1300 700

330

160

ECUADOR - URUGUAY

220

330

350

LITHUANIA - LATVIA

220

330

350

NETHERLANDS - HUNGARY

110

150

3200

HONDURAS - COSTA RICA

170

340

650

AZERBAIJAN – N. IRELAND

220

330

350

GERMANY - IRELAND

110

150

3200

USA - JAMAICA

120

540

950

CROATIA - BELGIUM

220

330

350

GREECE - SLOVAKIA

110

150

3200

ARGENTINA - PERU

105

500

2050

MOLDOVA - SAN MARINO

110

150

3200

ICELAND - CYPRUS

110

150

3200

MEXICO - PANAMA

105

540

2050

FAROE ISLANDS - KAZAKHSTAN

365

330

205

SLOVENIA - NORWAY

220

330

350

BURKINA FASO - ALGERIA

220

330

350

MALTA - CZECH REPUBLIC

1300 700

160

SWEDEN - AUSTRIA

220

330

350

IVORY COAST - SENEGAL

220

330

350

BOSNIA & H.-LIECHTENSTEIN

105

1200

4000

WALES - FYR MACEDONIA

220

330

350

ETHIOPIA - NIGERIA

365

330

205

UKRAINE - POLAND

170

340

650

ENGLAND - MONTENEGRO

170

340

650

TUNISIA - CAMEROON

220

330

350

DENMARK - ITALY

220

330

350

PORTUGAL - ISRAEL

170

340

650

GHANA - EGYPT

365

330

205

11 - 17 October 2013 l NÂ° 902 l PAGE 37

(in numerical order)

Betting Guides

Always A Pleasure, the chestnut gelding is in great current shape 1) Tornado Man-Sideliner-Made of Money 2) Wolfe Tone-Meant To Be-Question Time 3) Ruby King-Mighty Fine-Beautiful Bhutan 4) Strike Master-Kalinago-Freedom 5) Keep Walking-Count Emmanuale-Gold Assay 6) Eskimo Roll-Chief Mambo-Adeste Fidelis 7) Diamond Light-Dunraven-Carcassonne 8) Ryder Cup-Ushokolethi-Bongo Beat 9) Day of Reckoning-Fleet Air- Prince Alwatan

SPORTS

R1 l Tornado Man has been well prepared for this race. l Sideliner is in nice current shape. The gelding will carry only his apprenticeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weight. R2 l Wolfe Tone will be present in the final strides l Meant To Be has a nice chance after a promising debut R3 l Beautiful Bhutan can maintain his winning trend. l A fast pace will suit Mighty Fine. l Mahtafa can be too good this field, with blinkers for the 1st time. R4 l Freedom can conclude smartly if the going is hot ahead. l Strike Master has a fair chance with a run already under the belt and in this average field. R5 l Keep Walking will run relax and end up fiercely this time. l Count Emmanuale can bring fortune for jockey Fortune. R6 l In this class, Eskimo Roll must be respected. The 4m false rails will serve his purpose. l Prince Paseo is known to be a kilometer specialist. Beware. l Chief Mambo trained nice in mid-week. R7 l Dunraven is a good outsider, wearing blinkers for the 1st time. l Diamond Light will try to take first run upon opponents. l Carcassonne won impressively last time out. R8 l Ryder Cup is by far the quickest horse in this field. He will try to find the fence early. l Ushokolethi can make it two. R9 l Day of Reckoning is facing a field within reach. l Fleet Air is on the up. l Prince Alwahtan is reputed to be a strong finisher. Naushad KORIMDUN

SPORTS Redknapp denies 'disrespecting' Roy Hodgson

Harry Redknapp has denied he has been disrespectful to England boss Roy Hodgson by criticising the Football Association’s recruitment process in the week of a World Cup qualifier.In his book, Redknapp said Hodgson was chosen by “people who haven’t got a clue” after missing out in the race to replace Fabio Capello in 2012. Ex-FA chairman David Bernstein said Redknapp’s words were “disrespectful”. “No-one was disrespectful to Roy or anybody else,” QPR boss Redknapp said. “What effect will that have on the England team? Not the slightest. I’m the biggest England fan of all and I think they will win the games this week, and Roy has done a excellent job. I have absolutely no problems with Roy Hodgson at all.” England, who top Group H, face Montenegro at Wembley on Friday and Poland at home again on Tuesday and will secure a place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil with two victories. Bernstein also defended the consultation process, saying the FA had spoken to 20 people before he and three other FA colleagues made a final decision on Hodgson’s appointment.

Robbie Keane: Republic rejects LA Galaxy request to release striker

Republic of Ireland interim boss Noel King has rejected LA Galaxy’s request to release Robbie Keane from the squad for Tuesday’s game with Kazakhstan. Galaxy manager Bruce Arena wanted the striker released from the squad after Friday’s qualifier against Germany. The Republic have only a mathematical chance of making the play-offs. Keane, 33, sat out Wednesday’s training session ahead of the Cologne qualifier after taking a kick to the ankle but is not considered an injury doubt. The Football Association of Ireland said King “trusts that he [Arena] understands the position, having been an international manager himself”. King and his players flew out of Dublin on Wednesday to complete their preparations for the game. Stoke striker Jon Walters and Sunderland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood have already been ruled out of the Republic’s final two qualifying games against Germany and Kazakhstan. Walters, 30, has been bothered by a groin strain for a number of weeks while Westwood has a shoulder injury. Leeds midfielder Paul Green replaces Green with Bournemouth keeper Stephen Henderson in for Westwood.

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 38

ARSENE WENGER

defends Jack Wilshere’s ‘English’ comments Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has backed his midfielder Jack Wilshere’s claim that only English people should play football for England.

Manchester United’s Belgian-born Adnan Januzaj could qualify for England in the future by residency. Asked about the issue, Wilshere, 21, said: “If you live in England for five years it doesn’t make you English.” Wenger told BBC Sport: “I agree with him. I always said also an Englishman should manage the England team.” The Frenchman warned that national teams risk replicating clubs, who buy players to represent them regardless of their passport or nationality. Wilshere, who has 10 England caps, said his comments were not in reference to Januzaj, who England manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed he is monitoring. South Africa-born England cricketer Kevin Pietersen responded to Wilshere’s comments by asking the Gunners player: “Interested to know how you define foreigner...? Would that include me, [former England cricket captain Andrew] Strauss, [cricketer Jonathan] Trott, [cricketer Matt Prior, [golfer] Justin Rose, [cyclist Chris] Froome, [runner] Mo Farah? “Same difference.. It’s about representing your country! IN ANY SPORT!” And later on Wednesday, Wilshere sought to clarify his original remarks: “To be clear, never said ‘born in England’ - I said English people should play for England. Great respect for people like KP [Kevin Pietersen], Mo Farah [born in Somalia] and Wilf Zaha [born in Ivory Coast] - they make the country proud. “My view on football - going to a new country when you’re an adult, and be-

cause you can get a passport you play for that national team - I disagree.” The 18-year-old Januzaj, who has not yet played internationally at any level, was born in Brussels and signed for Premier League champions United in 2011 from Belgian club Anderlecht. He also qualifies for Albania through his Kosovan-Albanian parents, Turkey through his grandparents and Serbia as Kosovo’s independence has not been recognised by the United Nations. Any England hope stems from Fifa rules that a player is eligible if “he has lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on territory of the relevant Association.” That would mean Januzaj would have to wait until 2018 to represent England, assuming he remains in the country until he turns 23. “I personally believe what we have really to define is what is an English player and we get that more and more,” said Wenger, speaking at the launch of the Four Four Jew exhibition at the Jewish Museum in London. “I have young players now with three different nationalities and I ask them how do you feel? You have some, for example, who were born in Africa, they have come to Europe, they have lived for a few years in one country and, after, their parents have moved to another country because they had to find work - and they have three different cultures. “One of the tasks of the modern politicians will be really to define what is the nationality of a person, because some people feel differently to their

passport. “Have they the freedom of choice or do they have to be educated in a country to feel they love this country? Have you to spend a certain number of years in the country to say you represent this country? “I feel, as well, in Januzaj’s example do you just come six months and play for a country? It’s not realistic. Maybe if he stays a few years and he decides that he wants to play for England then... “But he has not chosen yet which country he wants to play for.” Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, QPR manager Harry Redknapp said: “I’m in Jack Wilshere’s corner. There are several clubs in the Premier League now, whose youth teams are absolutely full up with players who are bought in from other clubs abroad. “If they come over here, and they live here and they go to school here and their parents bring them in, it’s different, I can accept that 100%. But if a kid’s at another professional club in another country and we bring him in at 16 or 17 years of age, I certainly can’t see why he should be allowed to play for England.” England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales voluntarily agreed to opt out of the residency rule in 1993. Instead, they have chosen to allow switches once a player has received five years’ education in one of the four countries before the age of 18, which reduces the chances of Januzaj playing for England unless the home nations change their stance.

SPORTS

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FORMULA 1

Sebastian Vettel looks for ‘special’ win in Japan to secure world title Sebastian Vettel says it does not matter where he finally clinches the title but admits it would be “special” to seal it in Japan on Sunday.

THE RED BULL driver will claim his fourth world championship in a row if he wins at Suzuka with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso lower than eighth. German Vettel said: “It would be special to do it here. It’s a fantastic place, special track, crazy fans. “But our target is to win the title, not to win it in a particular place.” Vettel heads into this weekend’s race 77 points ahead of Alonso, with only 125 still available in the remaining five races. Alonso admitted winning the title was “nearly impossible, so we try to enjoy ourselves [for the rest of the season]. We will attack in the remaining races”. The Spaniard added: “When you end your possibilities of winning the world championship, which is the goal for any season, it is more difficult to motivate yourself no doubt but first we are fighting to be second in the world championship. “It is not a happy goal, but there are another 22 who are worse than you and there is the big target of [Ferrari finishing] second in the constructors’ championship.” Alonso praised Vettel’s performance over the last four years - in three of which he has been the German’s main rival - but emphasised that a lot of it was down to a car advantage. “He’s been very good, close to perfection over the last few years, winning the championships,” said Alonso.

“It’s true he has enjoyed an advantage in car performance all these years, so we’ll see how good he is later in his career. “At the moment he’s better than anyone and he’s winning all the championships, but we saw also [Lewis] Hamilton very good in his first year and nearly won the championship, he won it in the second year and then never won again… “Sometimes you have the car to win, sometimes you don’t, but at the moment the Vettel/Red Bull combination is a very good combination and too good for us.” Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said after last weekend’s Korean Grand Prix that Red Bull’s domination of Formula 1 could turn fans off the sport, but Vettel said they have been less dominant than Michael Schumacher and Ferrari were when they won five consecutive titles in the early 2000s.

Vettel said he routinely won by only small margins such as “three and six seconds for the whole race. If you look at 10 years ago, it was more like 30 to 60 seconds, which is a big difference”. But in fact the German is having to drive within himself during the races as are all drivers - to ensure they do not wear out their tyres too quickly. Pirelli entered F1 in 2011 with a mandate to produce fast-wearing tyres that promoted more pit stops and more unpredictable races, but that approach is coming under increasing fire from the drivers. “It is the new F1,” Alonso said. “Unfortunately it is what we are getting used to. “As I said in Korea, there are two metres (width of) racing line with marbles. We are getting used to this, this was not F1 four years ago. We cannot push (on) any lap of the grand prix, this was not F1 four years ago, but this is something that is the same for everybody. We can-

Wayne Rooney turned down Scotland approach - Berti Vogts England striker Wayne Rooney turned down the chance to play for Scotland as a 16-year-old, former national coach Berti Vogts has revealed. German Vogts, who managed Scotland between 2002 and 2004, says Rooney qualified for the team because his grandmother is Scottish. “I spoke to him - a young lad of 16 years of age. I said to him ‘you can play for Scotland’,” explained Vogts. “You have to speak to the player but he told me ‘I’m sorry boss, I’m English’.” Rooney, 27, made his England debut in February 2003, aged 17, and has scored 36 goals in 84 international

appearances. Vogts, now in charge of Azerbaijan, made the trip to Merseyside to speak to the teenage Rooney, who was playing under his present Manchester United boss David Moyes at Everton. “The Scottish Football Association found the grandmother and I made the call,” recalled Vogts. “I flew from Glasgow to Everton. He was playing under David Moyes at Everton and I spoke to him.” Explaining Rooney’s reaction, the German coach beat his chest theatrically and said: “(Rooney told me) ‘I am English, I am English!’ OK, sorry.” Vogts had been asked about the issue

not do anything.” He pointed to the dramatic failure of a front tyre on Sergio Perez’s McLaren in Korea last weekend, and the changes to the design of the tyres Pirelli has had to make after a series of problems this year, as evidence that the tyres needed to be improved. “It is a problem for Ferrari first of all to make the tyres last and try to push harder with every lap in the race,” Alonso said. “What is not our problem is when someone has a puncture, like [the multiple failures] in Silverstone, five changes in one year in construction and compounds, and like when Perez had a tyre explosion again because of lock-up on Sunday. “If you have a tyre explosion after one lock-up after 20 laps there is something not going in the right direction, this is a fact. It is what we don’t want to see for next year so we need to improve that.” of national eligibility following the debate surrounding United’s young winger Adnan Januzaj. The 18-year-old scored two goals on Saturday as Manchester United came from behind to win 2-1 at Sunderland, and is being tracked by a number of national teams - Belgium, Serbia, Albania, Turkey and potentially England in the future on the basis of his residency. Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere said this week that living in England for five years “doesn’t make you English,” but Vogts, who won the World Cup as a player with Germany in 1974, sees no problem with it. “It’s a Fifa rule. We have to accept it. It is not only in Great Britain but also here in Azerbaijan,” he said, speaking at a news conference ahead of his side’s World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.

SPORTS

11 - 17 October 2013 l N° 902 l PAGE 40

World standings

2013 CHAMPIONS: • Fabrice Bauluck (-54 kg) • James Agathe (-81 kg) VICE-CHAMPIONS: • Burtland Simiss (-51 kg) • Facson Perrine (-63.5 kg) TRAINER: • Judex Jeannot

KICKBOXING

The ‘World Cup’ from Brazil. A flower and the national flag to welcome the champions.

Warm welcome to

WORLD CHAMPIONS! Ministers, sports officials, parents, friends and our reporters/photographs, (Alexandre Esmyot, Jenny Raboud, Hansa Nancoo and Warren Marie), had all turned up at the SSR International Airport to welcome our brilliant kickboxers from Brazil on Wednesday afternoon. The new Kickboxing World Champions are Fabrice Bauluck and James Agathe. The vice-champs are Burtland Simiss and Facson Perrine. Only Boris Brissonette was not medalled, but was equally in the festivities. So did coach Judex Jeannot.

Statements to the press

FABRICE BAULUCK: "A CHILDHOOD DREAM…" "Being world champion has been an obsession for me. In fact it is a childhood dream which is being realised." JAMES AGATHE: "A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD" "After three setbacks, i'm happy to be champion. I have no regrets to have switched from Boxing to Kickboxing. And mind you, I will be there again in two years to defend my title." DEVANAND RITTOO: "THE STATE WILL REWARD THEM" "It is a unique performance from our kickboxers. The pride of a nation. Of course, the state will reward them accordingly."

James Agathe stunned at the warm welcome.

THE HEROES were a bit tired after their outstanding performances on the ring and an exhaustive trip from Latin America. But the warm welcome swept all. Soon, Agathe and Bauluck were overwhelmed by their fans and families. Bunches of fresh flowers, accolades, smiles, tears and huggies were the predominating scenes. Perrine, Simiss and Jeannot joined in the electrifying atomsphere, when Djembes were beating

Radio Plus, as always, supporting our athletes. in high decibels. After the National Anthem, the procession headed towards Mahebourg Waterfront and Trianon, where a team of Radio Plus welcomed them. The champions will receive Rs 500 000, the vice, Rs 300 000 and Rs 200 000 for the coach from the state. Naushad KORIMDUN