Mauritius Now - May 2010

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ERIC MILAZAR

David Maurimootoo

GÉRARD LOUIS

The professional 400 meter sprinter talks about his career and how he fought against illness to be back at his peak

Mauritian singer David Maurimootoo has progressed to the Final 10 of the French equivalent of X-Factor

The co-founder of the successful Mauritian Sega group Cassiya talks about his next solo album and his plans of coming to the UK

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mauritiusnow MAY 2010

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General Election 2010 A

ttentions in this country are firmly focused on the continued to grow under a diversified economy. Throughout fast approaching general election, due to be held on the election campaign, he has been keen to highlight the May 6th. Readers of Mauritius Now may or may not be country’s strong economic growth, low level of inflation, and aware though, that the Mauritian equivalent is taking place on the stable employment levels under his government. the previous day. On May 5th Mauritian voters will go to the Dr. Ramgoolam himself has warned of the importance of polls to elect a new government, under the same multi-mem- this vote. “The results are going to decide your economic fuber system that we employ here in the United Kingdom. ture. You are the masters of your own fate. You have to decide The leading parties that will be contesting this year’s elec- where you want to go,” he said.

“The work has already started. I want to continue the job. I tions are the Mauritius Labour Party, led by the incumbent prime minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam; the Militant Socialist have so much more to do for the vulnerable groups. If you want Movement (MSM), led by Pravind Jugnauth; and the Mau- to give your children a secure life and future, you must vote for me as prime minister.” ritian Militant Movement In response to critics, Dr. (MMM), led by Paul Berenger.

Both the Labour Party and Ramgoolam has pointed to the huge subsidies he has the MSM have formed an implemented over the last influential coalition with five years. Despite contrary the Mauritian Social Demoadvice from the International cratic Party (PMSD), against Monetary Fund and the World Mr. Berenger’s MMM, which Bank, the government has inhas formed an alliance with troduced various subsidies the National Union Party totalling Rs300million a day, (UN) and the Mauritian Social Democratic Movement without imposing increases in VAT. (MMSD), known as ‘The AlliAccording to Mr. Berenger ance du Coeur’. though, Dr. Ramgoolam’s These elections have taken on a fiercely personal guise, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam. pre-election tactics have with coalition partner Pravind Jugnauth been littered with a number with Dr. Ramgoolam and Mr. of tactical mistakes that, in Berenger employing direct scourges against the other on their ability to lead the country turn, have played into his hands. Mr. Berenger also points at through troubled times. Mr Berenger accused the Alliance de Dr. Ramgoolams’s decision to place his female candidates in. l’Avenir of being a “family political dynasty”, whilst Dr. Ram- “unwinnable” seats, calling it an empty gesture towards. goolam hit back claiming Berenger was “old” and suggested he female voters. He has also complained to the Electoral Comretire. This comes in the wake of increased discontent amongst mission about the MBC’s election coverage accusing it of the Mauritian middle classes, against a background of rising “manipulation” and portraying the Alliance du Coeur in an unemployment amongst graduates and qualified professionals, unfavourable way.

Despite their differences, both the Labour/PMSD/MSM and concerns about the cost of living; many middle income and the MMM/UN/MMSD alliances have pledged to abolfamilies are still faced with a “work-to-eat” scenario.

However, there is widespread acknowledgement that Dr. ish the existing National Residency Property Tax, to reintroRamgoolam has presided over a period of prosperity for Mau- duce subsidies for SC and HSC exams, electoral reforms and MSMthe leader ritius; country has ridden the storm of the global reces- the construction of more low-cost housing. (Continued on Pravind Jagnauth sion far better than more developed economies, and GDP has pages 2 and 3)

MAURITIAN FOOTBALL 2010 COMPETITION...................... 22 Get ready for the biggest Mauritian Football competition seen to date! Who will be the cream of the crop this year?

Paul LemiÈre....................................12 Municipal counsellor of Beau-Bassin/ Rose-Hill talks about his commitment to political life and the projects he works on

EVENTS................................................... 22 TRAVEL....................................................27 RESTAURANTS & BARS................. 30 LIFESTYLE............................................. 33 MONEY & JOBS.................................... 35 PROPERTY............................................ 36 SPORT......................................................37

CONTACT US Editor: Eshan Badal Mauritius Now Ltd, The Chocolate Factory, Unit 204A 5 Clarendon Road, Wood Green, London N22 6XJ Tel: 0843 289 5510 Fax: 0842 289 5510 Advertising: 0843 2895098 Editorial: 0843 289 5510 Web: www.mauritiusnow.co.uk Email: info@mauritiusnow.co.uk Advertising: advertise@mauritiusnow.co.uk Disclaimer While every effort has been made by the author(s) and the publisher to ensure that the information contained in this Newspaper is accurate and up to date at the date of publication, they accept no responsibility or liability in contract, tort, negligence, breach of statutory duty or otherwise for any inconvenience, loss, damage, costs or expenses of any nature whatsoever incurred or suffered by anyone as a result of any advice or information contained in this publication.

NEWS

PM has message of hope for young people T

he mood was extremely festive at the youth rally organised by l’Alliance de l’Avenir at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVICV) in Pailles.

Thousands of young people from different parts of the island were there to listen to the message of the four leaders of the alliance.

After the women’s rally last Sunday and the senior citizens’ meeting on Thursday, leaders of l’Alliance de l’Avenir addressed the younger generation.

Navin Ramgoolam, leader of the Labour Party, Dr. Rashid Beebeejaun, deputy leader, Pravind Jugnauth, leader of the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) and Xavier Luc Duval, leader of the Parti Mauricien Social Democrate (PMSD), urged all those present to support and vote for l’Alliance de l’Avenir.

This alliance, they said, is the only one that can guarantee peace and stability. Dr Ramgoolam, visibly buoyed by the crowd packed in the centre, called for all the youth of the country to trust him and to vote for his team.

“I trust you, I trust the youth of this nation, and I believe you also trust me. I believe in the potential that lies deep down inside you.

I cannot imagine you, the future of tomorrow, voting for our opponents.”

The leader of l’Alliance de l’Avenir called to the youth to condemn without reservation the “verbal abuse and physical violence from the agents of l’Alliance du Coeur”.

“I am giving you a young team, a team with a young mind that will work for you. Don’t miss this chance. Give us the opportunity to serve you and give me the opportunity to come up with many more measures to shape your future.”

Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Dr. Ramgoolam admitted that never before had he seen such a crowd. “For me this is a very good sign that you are supporting us fully.” He recalled, how as a young doctor in 1976, he witnessed his late father’s struggle, the then prime minister, to bring in the right to vote for the youth.

“Many people inside his party were not agreeable to this measure. They said that it was the best way to lose the elections at that time. My father, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, ruled out their opposition and went ahead with it because he believed in the youth of this country. This is the Labour party’s philosophy, and I am continuing on this line. I too fully believe in you.”

He added that SSR was a man of vision and that is why he set up the welfare state

and free education. “I must admit today that I didn’t quite understand this move and I even told him that it was a wrong decision.

Then he explained to me that education was priceless and that his decision to give free education will give those children, hailing from needy families, a fair chance to succeed in life.”

Today, he said, nobody can say that it was a bad decision. “I have added to free edu-

cation by giving free transport. We are such a caring government. Education, for me, for my party, is the key to success.”

According to the PM, there is competition for each and every job. He is conscious that there are more and more young people who aspire to higher education.

This is why over and above the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology, the government has voted the Open Uni-

Prime MInister Navin Ramgoolam in Goodlands

Berenger says to call for probe of MBC Paul Berenger, Leader of the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) and also leader of l’Alliance du Coeur, announced that irrespective of the results of the election, the MMM will ask for a commission of enquiry, presided over by a former judge, to look into the “propaganda” of the MBC TV in favour of the Labour party/PMSD/MSM. Mr Berenger, speaking in Tombeau Bay (constituency No. 5), was also critical of the National Transport Company (NTC) for allocating 325 busses to the red/blue/white alliance and only 125 busses to the Alliance du Coeur in the run-up to the national rallies on May 1, four days before the general election.

“The MMM made history in 2002 when they introduced private radios in Mauritius. We are not far from materialising private television in Mauritius,” said the “mauve alliance” leader.

During the rally, Mr Berenger was handed a file describing the predicament of the ex-planters of Riche-Terre by the president of the movement, Tadbeer Dassaruth.

“I salute the courage of the ex-planters of Riche-Terre. I promise that we will find a solution to this uncomfortable situation for the ex-planters,” said Mr Berenger. He stressed the importance of the May 1.

“The actual reigning alliance is doing everything to make sure that our rally on May 1 will be a flop. We will not have enough busses from the NTC. But I know all our supporters from each corner of Mauritius will make it a must to be present there, even if they will have to walk.”

Mr Berenger claimed that Navin Ramgoolam, outgoing prime minister and leader of l’Alliance de l’Avenir, knows that he is losing ground in the final countdown to the elections.

“I have been fighting for the workers and the poor for more than 40 years. I could have enjoyed my life when I got back to Mauritius after spending time in France, but I choose a difficult path.

“I lead the struggle for the betterment of the working class and it is still my priority to this day. I will not leave and

I promise that, with me as the new prime minister, Mauritius will get a new lease of life and the population will benefit from it, irrespective of their ethnic origin,” he said.

Mr Berenger said the Red/Blue/White alliance was engaged in a communal electoral campaign which is disrupting the cohabitation of the different ethnic groups in Mauritius.

He claimed, as in previous rallies, that Navin Ramgoolam is in for a massive surprise in constituency No. 5 Triolet/ Pamplemousses.

Sham Mathura and Anil Seeruttun, both candidates of the Alliance du Coeur in No. 5, were also present at the rally and expressed their willingness to work for the benefit of Mauritius.

Mayessen Nagapa-Chetty This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius.

Visit NewsNow.mu

NEWS versity Bill which would allow more students the opportunity for further studies.

The prime minister invited all the youth of the island to become his friends on Facebook.

“I must admit that I have been a little late in subscribing to it, only two months back, and already I have 8,621 friends. I am impressed and very happy,” said Dr Ramgoolam.

He said that since he has joined Facebook, he personally checks his messages and is very active on it. “I do it late during the night when I am at home. However, these days it is a bit more difficult for me because of the electoral campaign.”

He said that he particularly likes the suggestions of the youth. “Please keep it coming.

Continue to file your complaints, suggestions and ideas. And those who have not added me as friend until now, it is the time to do so. Be my friend...

Xavier Luc Duval, leader of the PMSD, appealed to the youth not to turn their back on their future.

“This is l’Alliance de l’Avenir, the alliance of the future. Your future. Show to the world that you are true patriots, that you are sin-

cere in your convictions. Give a severe reprimand to all those negative forces who want to wake the communal devil.”

Mr. Duval deplored that the electoral campaign was being perverted by some “sick mind” on their opponents’ side.

“They are becoming violent. We should keep our calm and not give in to provocation.”

He informed the crowd about the attack on Ben Dyail, deputy mayor of Curepipe, who is now in Jawaharlall Nehru hospital in Rose Belle.

“This is a clear sign that they are panicked.

They know they are going to lose.”

Leader of the MSM Pravind Jugnauth told the young people not to hesitate when casting their votes. “I promise you that whatever be your dream, we’ll realise it for you. Your dreams are our vision.”

The ally of Dr. Ramgoolam said that l’Alliance de l’Avenir promised to introduce more measures to help and allow the youth to have access to internet.

He promised that the next government, “led by Navin Ramgoolam”, will create more jobs, open up the information

Mr Berenger addresses supporters and communication technology sector and offer more training.

“We want all of you here to have a fair and equal opportunity in life. We want all the youth of this country, irrespective of the colour of their skin, their religion, caste or creed, to be part of the wagon of

progress.“We want you all to talk of your pride that you are Mauritians.”

Sanjana Bhagmal-Cadervaloo This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

NEWS

More Swiss tourists

Chagos shenanigans T

he future of the Chagos Islands and the Chagossian people has been much debated in Parliament and the media, especially in recent weeks. It is also a subject of great interest, emotion, sensitivity, and passion in Mauritius. It is an issue of concern to the international community and regularly gets raised in UN human rights bodies, the European Parliament, the Commonwealth, and the African Union. Mauritius threatens to take it to the Security Council and the International Court of Justice.

So why all the fuss? For 45 years questions of human rights, sovereignty, security, and more recently, rendition and conservation have dominated discussion of the Chagos Islands. These are vital issues, but at the heart of it all is the depopulation of Chagossians from Diego Garcia, the largest Island of the Chagos Archipalego, to Mauritius in 1967-1972 to provide for a US military base. This act was a fundamental violation of their human rights and the Chagossians have been fighting for the right to return to their Island ever since.

As from November 1 this year, Edelweiss Air, a sister company of Swiss International Airlines, will operate a non-stop flight from Zürich to Mauritius with an A330200.This weekly flight will last till February 28, 2011.

The new route is in line with the government’s policy of opening up air access to Mauritius while at the same time exploring markets with a high potential for growth.Between the March 7 and April 25 next year, a direct flight Zürich-MonbassaMauritius-Monbassa-Zürich with an A330300 will be available.

Tourism receipts plummeted last year following the negative impact of the global economic crisis on the country’s traditional tourism markets. It is expected that revenues will reach more positive ground this year, according to latest figures.

The operators in this key sector of the Mauritian economy will see their figures recover to pre-crisis levels with an estimated 12.5% improvement in tourism receipts for 2010. The total receipts for this sector is forecast at Rs40.1 billion compared to Rs35.7 billion for 2009. The revenues expected this year are closer to the Rs41.2 billion brought to the local economy by

foreign visitors in 2008. During the past year, tourism operators saw their income contract by 13.4% for the first time in the past few years.

The dire economic situation of operators was further accentuated by them having to resort to cutthroat prices to keep their rooms occupied. Hotels managed to keep room occupancy rates within acceptable levels with their aggressive marketing policies. Room occupancy rate for all hotels averaged 61% in 2009 as compared to 68% in 2008 while the bed occupancy rate fell from 61% in 2008 to 54% last year.

Edelweiss Air is cooperating with all the important Swiss tour operators who are proposing the Mauritian destination such as Kuoni, M-Travel (Hotelplan, Travelhouse/ Soleytours), TUI/Flex Travel and Manta.

Negotiations with other Indian Ocean specialists are in train and will be concluded soon, according to the MTPA. The travel industry in the German part of Switzerland is optimistic to increase sales with this weekly flight.

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If the UK had not excised Chagos and created the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Archipelago would today be part of Mauritius, just as Rodrigues and Agelaga are. Interestingly three of the Seychelles islands ( Aldabra, Farquhar and Desroches) were also incorporated into BIOT but were handed back to Seychelles in 1976 at independence.

So why doesn’t the UK return at least the Outer Islands of Chagos to Mauritius, even if the mighty US base on Diego Garcia is excluded? After all the UK has always said that it will cede the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius when no longer need for defence purposes. The question then arises; does the UK still need the 54 outer islands, some 140 miles from Diego Garcia, for defence or security of the Base? Under the 1966 Exchange of Letters between the UK and the US, Chagos was set aside for defence purposes for 50 years, with a possible extension of a further 20 years in 2016. The islands are not leased to the US – Diego Garcia is simply made available to the US. Clearly Di-

NEWS ego Garcia plays a vital military role in US foreign policy, but in 45 years the Americans have never asked the UK for the use of the outer islands. So it is reasonable to conclude that these islands are not needed for defence purposes and should be rightly returned to Mauritius. Neither the UK, nor the US have said what security problems there might be in ceding these islands and allowing the Chagossians to return to them. My sense is that the US, especially under the Obama Administration, no longer sees any real difficulty with transfer of sovereignty or resettlement. So with new Governments in Mauritius and the UK, following our respective general elections on 5th and 6th May, it ought to be possible for both governments to agree a way forward. This could include, as a first step, co-management of the islands, such as Mauritius has recently agreed with France over Tromelin. I can’t see that the US could or would object to that. In any case the 1966 UK/US agreement has to be reviewed at latest in 2014 which would make an obvious target date.

The issue of resettlement is perhaps a little more difficult. Nobody knows just how many Chagossians would want to leave Mauritius and Seychelles to start a new life in Peros Banhos and Saloman, the two atolls to which they would return.

Those settled in the UK, especially from Diego Garcia have made it clear that they

do not want to return on a permanent basis but they do want the right to visit at will, and to preserve that right for future generations. There is hardly any infrastructure left on the islands, so a settlement with basic requirements would have to be built. The FCO argues that this is neither feasible nor economically viable, and that the costs would be too great for the British taxpayer. My answer would be that if 4000 military personnel can live on Diego Garcia for the last 35 years and we can fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the UK, one of the wealthiest economies in the world, can afford the costs of resettlement. It’s simply a question of priorities.

In any case, the EU Commission has indicated that funds would be available and we can expect the US and international organisations to help.

With the end of 9 years of English litigation, brought by Olivier Bancoult (a majority verdict by the Law Lords, in October 2008, upheld the FCO’s position that the 2004 Orders in Council depriving the Chagossians of their birthright was lawful) the action moved to Parliament where it properly belonged. At Lord Avebury’s request I helped establish a Chagos Islands All Party Parliamentary Group under the chairmanship of Jeremy Corbyn MP. The group had its first meeting in December 2008, deciding that its purpose was to help bring about a resolution of the issues concerning the future of the Chagossian people and the Chagos islands.

It had a membership of 44 which included leading Parliamentarians from both Houses and all parties, including 3 former FCO Ministers. It held a record 12 meetings before Parliament was dissolved. The group had discussions with the Mauritian High Commissioner, representatives of three Chagossian groups, including Olivier Bancoult, the US embassy, FCO ministers and officials at Number Ten. It made considerable progress in raising the profile of Chagos issues in the

media and in Parliament, culminating with simultaneous emergency debates in both Houses on 6th April, in the last few days of the Parliamentary session.

Those debates concerned the Chagos Marine Protected Area (MPA) which the Foreign Secretary had declared on 1st April during the Easter recess. Parliamentarians were angry that despite ministerial promises to consult Parliament, this was done behind their backs.

They were very concerned about the impact of a no-take MPA on the rights and interests of the Chagossians and Mauritius. Reactions to the announcement have ranged from the euphoria of the Chagos Environment Network, to the fury of the Mauritian Government, and the bitterness of most Chagossians. Cleary the only means of livelihood for the Chagossians, at least initially, would be fishing. Also Mauritius must be part of any arrangements to create a legally binding MPA around a territory which it claims, and over which it will eventually have sovereignty. It will be for the next government and Parlia-

ment to resolve these additional issues with all the parties.

The UK Chagos Support Association (http://www.chagossupport.org.uk) is asking all parliamentary candidates to sign a pledge to restore the Chagossians’ right to return. You may wish to ensure that your candidates are fully aware of the issues at stake and that they support both the interests of the Chagossians and of Mauritius. I see no reason why the next Government, supported by a refreshed Parliament, should not negotiate an overall settlement of the issues, including an out of court settlement of the case before the European Court of human Rights, and thus put behind us this relic of the Cold War which has for too long dogged the UK’s reputation for upholding human rights across the world.

David Snoxell British High Commissioner to Mauritius, 2000-04 Chairman of the Marine Education Trust Coordinator of the Chagos Islands All Party Parliamentary Group

NEWS

2,000 Chinese workers for airport

Healthcare investment gets a boost

T

F

he China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) will import more Chinese workers for the construction of the new terminal at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. According to the news agency APA, Han Guo, Administrative Manager of the CSCEC, indicated that works have already started on the project since the end of March with local labour, but that the company is finding it difficult to get qualified Mauritians to work on the project.

He added that the company will need additional labour who have experience on this type of large-scale venture. Guo said that CSCEC had carried out a recruitment exercise to employ local painters, masons, carpenters, technicians and engineers but that the process did not have the expected success. The company has asked permission from the government to bring in some 2,000 more Chinese nationals.

According to Gou, CSCEC is one of the biggest construction firms in China which is presently building a series of projects in

Algeria, Libya, and the Congo. The projects concern mainly the construction of airports, highways and bridges, said Guo. The new airport, at a cost of US$30 million, will be able to accommodate some 4.5 million passengers annually. Though Chinese workers have been fairly well integrated in Mauritius,

voices have been raised to question the government on the increasing number of Chinese nationals who are coming to work in the country.

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Passengers stranded by volcano Passengers were stranded in both London and Mauritius last month when Air Mauritius was forced to ground all flights to and from the UK as volcanic ash made Britain, for the first time ever, a no-fly zone. Flights between the UK and Mauritius were delayed by at least 5 days as the airline waited for air restrictions to be lifted.

Masouda Durgahee was a passenger on an Air Seychelles flight that was forced to land in Zurich when British airspace was closed.

“We had to wait in a long queue to get hotel and meal vouchers.

We were left to travel to the hotel on our own, carrying all our luggage.” Ms Durgahee finally left Zurich three days later on a coach provided by the airline, but had to cover the cost of the coach herself, arriving back in the UK the following day. “I felt bad for other people who weren’t carrying any money on them” she added. “We had to spend money every day, travelling and making phone calls home.”

A total of 28 Air Mauritius flights between Europe and Mauritius were delayed as the ash cloud settled over much of Western Europe, with Air Mauritius issuing daily communiqués on its website in order to keep passengers updated.

According to the website, affected passengers were able to rebook onto a later flight or could apply for a refund free of charge.

In Mauritius, holidaymakers were told to stay at their hotels until instructed by the airline, at their own cost. Air Mauritius and other airlines, not liable for the delays, advised passengers to contact their insurers to cover their extra accommodation and meal costs.

Sabina Jacobs

oreign investment in the health sector is on the increase and reached Rs157 million in 2009, revealed the Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Mr. Rajesh Jeetah.

He was speaking on behalf of the prime minister at the opening of the 13th International Congress of the Ophthalmology Society of the Indian Ocean. He said that this figure has added to the massive investments made by the local private sector in healthcare. Mr. Jeetah further announced the extension of the Subramania Bharati Ophtalmology Hospital and the setting up of a modern operating theatre.

The alarming rate of prevalence of diabetes and hypertension among the population was also outlined by Minister Jeetah, who recalled that emphasis is being laid on preventive measures and early diagnosis of these two diseases. He pointed out that since 2005 the budget of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life has increased by 85% and now amounts to Rs7.4 billion.

The objective of the government is to make of Mauritius a regional health centre by attracting capital, technologies and knowledge. It is in line with this objective that contacts with health training and research institutes were established during the prime minister’s overseas missions so that the country benefits from their expertise. Delegates from Reunion, Seychelles, Comoros, Mayotte, South Africa, United Kingdom, France, United States of America, the Caribbean Islands, Tunisia, India and Madagascar attended the international congress.

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NEWS

World-class education for our future nurses A

pollo Bramwell Nursing School is the first and only private nursing school in Mauritius, and is well equipped to bring international education to aspiring Mauritian nurses. In its first year, the school has been able to attract 71 students and has plans to expand its programmes and scope as long as it does not compromise the high standard of quality that has become a hallmark of the school.

The strategic location of the school in Port Louis allows easy access for students from across the island. ABNS is recognised and registered with the University of Mauritius, the Tertiary Education Commission, and the Mauritius Qualifications Authority, and is seeking to become affiliated with international universities.

The facilities at the school are head-andshoulders above all other Mauritian institutions. It has a computer room with 20 stateof-the-art systems (which are unique and not seen anywhere else on the island), a large lecture hall with video conferencing system, a library, two practical laboratories, lecture rooms, and a faculty members’ hall.

Talking to us, General Manager Valerie Rawat said the school is an extension to the Apollo Bramwell Hospital (ABH) and has the aim of producing world-class nursing professionals to serve at the hospital which has set new, unprecedented standards of service in Mauritius.

“The school was created by the chairman British American Investment Group in 2008 because he wanted to have a support system for the hospital. A year later, in January 2009, we received the MOU and approval from the University of Mauritius and TEC in addition to the MQA. “All our faculty members are MQA-registered and approved, too. The syllabus at the school is recognised by the Nursing Council of Mauritius,” explains Valerie.

“We started our first semester at the end of March 2009 and the second batch started their course in late October.

The third batch will begin in June this year.

All graduates from the first three batches will be guaranteed employment at ABH.” She explains that the school presently offers only one Diploma course, which is a full-time module requiring attendance from Mondays to Fridays, and 4,500 hours of theory and hands-on learning.

“Our students are sent to the hospital from time to time to learn from the doctors and

Valerie Rawat

senior nursing staff at the hospital. It is very important for them to gain experience.

“They are trained at the school before they are allowed to step into the hospital, especially to deal with a patient. Our faculty members are very experienced and qualified to train our students for the challenge ahead.

“Students are assigned to special mentors at the hospital who are either senior nurses or supervisors, trained in a mentorship programme at the University of Bradford.”

At the hospital, students are exposed to the real-life hospital environment after spending many days learning the basics, practicing on each other and mannequins. “Our students are thoroughly prepared before they get their first chance to interact with and serve a patient.”

Valerie says that while most students come fresh from their HSC, others have tried different professions before deciding to take up nursing. She says it takes approximately one year of theoretical and practical studies at the school before students are considered ready for real-life patient care.

“The patient always comes first at the hospital. We make sure the students are well groomed before we put them in action. The hospital welcomes students for clinical placement because it has a contract with the students. We help and support each other as part of the group,” she says, emphasising the teamwork within the group that serves everyone.

The mentors follow the students every step of the way and ensure that they follow

Chance for youth to swing into golf The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has launched its Junior Golf Programme focused on Mauritian youth who have a passion for the sport but who lack the facilities. The 24 month programme will provide free practice and equipment to disadvantaged children in order to groom young players for the world stage, according to a press communiqué from the bank.

The programme was launched by the President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, at the Gymkhana Club in the presence of beneficiaries such as SOS Children’s Villages Beau Bassin, La Peyrouse Government School, Eau Coulee and the neighbourhood of the Gymkhana Club. Lady Sarojni Jugnauth was also present at the launch along with top executives from HSBC, the Mauritius Golf Federation (MGF) and the Mauritius Gymkhana Club.

Jagmohan Ramachandran, HSBC Head of Global Banking in Mauritius, said that there are “a great number of disciplined and enthusiastic kids who are learning the intricacies of the game in a planned and methodical manner. The team that will be training the kids are committed and pro-active, making sure that the kids are well moulded in all facets of the game..”

He also expressed the wish that all private golf clubs provide access to junior golfers at a nominal fee. The MGF is working to obtain approval to launch a public golf course which in time should help to provide access to a full-fledged course for everyone, he said. CEO of HSBC Mauritius Sandeep Uppal stressed the positive character-building nature of golf in developing self-esteem, decision-making, perseverance and patience. He said that HSBC wanted to groom Mauritian talent to represent the island on the international stage at the World Junior Golf Championships next year. He said the bank sees the sport as an industry that can benefit Mauritius in many ways..

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NEWS the strictest code of practices with no margin for error. The first batch, which consists of 35 students, has recently started its practical rounds at the hospital. “We have the capacity for up to 60 students per batch but we are conscious of our human and material resource limitations and we would never compromise our quality in order to make up the headcount.”

She says the number of applications has been on the rise in the past few months, and up to 120 applications were received for the next entrance test. ABNS is ready to serve other professional nurses on the island who are interested in seeking their diploma. Presently, there is only one public nursing school in Mauritius linked with the Ministry of Health, while a private school has been in the pipeline for almost a year now.

About the recent Career World experience, she says that like all student fairs it was good for the future. “The fair was a good marketing opportunity and we will expect these students to come to us only after they have completed their HSC. Some of last year’s applicants have applied this year after the fair so, all in all, it was really great.”

ABNS is also planning to offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is in negotiation with some leading foreign nursing schools. “Presently, we only have teachers who have Masters Degrees. In order to teach a Masters Degree course, we will need PhDs. That is why we are presently focusing growth in an area we know we can cater to. We are talking to a British university about a top-up degree that can also be completed on-line.”

Valerie says the public sector-accredited nurses have only certificates and a top-up diploma will be a great option for them to progress in their careers and refresh their knowledge. ABNS is willing to do its part for part time students by providing resources, facilities and even faculty members on weekends, she says.

“The fair was a good marketing opportunity and we will expect these students to come to us only after they have completed their HSC” The cosmopolitan composition of the school’s faculty is one of its greatest strengths. “We have one teacher from India and one from the Philippines.

Our aim is to provide international education and it is therefore essential to bring in an international knowledge base.

“However, all teachers have been selected on the basis of their competency and not ethnicity. ABNS is also launching a hospital housekeeping course next month to be conducted by a lady with 30 years of experience in the field.

“I want to follow the Western approach because it is more patient-centric, and considers broader areas such as family, living conditions, etc. We have Mauritians with international working experience and our international faculty members also have a western background and share our philosophy of nursing.” All non-academic staff at the school is Mauritian. The medium of instruction at the school is generally English but French is sparingly used, says Valerie.

This is in line with the University of Mauritius’ standards, and because exams are conducted in English. Valerie says that at ABNS, students are always accepted on the

basis of their results and not owing to their gender. She remarks that unlike Europe and many other parts of the world, there are more male nurses in Mauritius than females. Yet, gender is not a criterion for admission. ABNS also has its website that is fairly user-friendly and provides visitors with basic information. “We do have plans to further develop this website and provide an intranet for our students who already have internet access but we know there is room for improvement.”

Asked about the future, she admits that expansion is the one tool for survival. “We have to expand to survive; not in size but in the diversity of courses we can offer and by establishing links with international schools and universities.

“We would also like to provide courses to African Nations where facilities are limited.

We would like to provide education to fill the demand-supply gap around the world if possible.” The present batch of students are paying only 50% of their tuition charges while

the Group subsidises the other half. However, this subsidy will not be extended to the fourth batch of students, but Valerie says the decision will depend on the situation when the time comes.

“We want to support more students as we think it is the same as supporting Mauritius.

The Group will continue to provide loans to students through Bramer Banking Corporation on flexible terms that students can repay when they start working. Philanthropists also contribute in cash or kind towards the education of deserving students who cannot afford to pay the fee,” she explains.

For Valerie, proving that ABNS is a viable project in more than just financial terms has now become the mission of her life. She has set three years as the target to prove to herself and to everyone else that the school provides an essential lifeline for Mauritius.

This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

NEWS ADVERTISE WITH US

Mauritius Now is an exciting new monthly colour publication and an online platform, catered towards all those who have a special interest in what’s happening in our beautiful motherland.

Mauritius Now brings you unrivalled news from Mauritius and the UK every month, and provides a platform for a diverse range of passionate and authoritative views – allowing you to make up your own mind on all the important issues.

Mauritius Now will be published monthly, and will be available in many specialist outlets and distribution points internationally.

If your company is interested in advertising in Mauritius Now or www.mauritiusnow.co.uk contact us on 0843 289 5510 or drop us an email: advertising@mauritiusnow.co.uk

NEWS Country’s reserves top Rs68bn T

he gross international reserves held at the Bank of Mauritius reached Rs68 billion – that is, $2.2 billion – at endMarch this year. There was a slight drop from reserves stood at Rs68.5 billion.

These figures differ from the net international reserves numbers which include the foreign currency reserves held by private banks. At end-January 2010, the net international reserves of the country stood at Rs103 billion, representing 46.4 weeks of imports.

This figure was down from the high of 47.6 weeks reached at end-December.

The gross international reserves which stood at Rs68 billion, included Rs3.9 billion in gold reserves including the Rs2.1 billion bought from the IMF on November 11 last year. The IMF also issued a special allocation of Special Drawing Rights to member countries last year, which increased the country’s holdings in SDR to Rs4.7 billion.

Net claims on central government by the Bank of Mauritius decreased by Rs1.7 billion, that is 16.8% from negative Rs10.3 billion to negative Rs12 billion. This reflects the additional build-up of central government deposits at the central bank.

“The current account deficit fell 22.4% to Rs21.4 billion in 2009” Net claims on budgetary central government from other depository corporations rose by Rs857 million or 1.4% from Rs60.1 billion to reach Rs60.9 billion. The net foreign assets of depository corporations rose

by Rs2.5 billion or 2.4% from Rs102.4 billion in January to reach Rs104.9 billion at endFebruary 2010.

The current account deficit fell 22.4% to Rs21.4 billion in 2009 from Rs27.6 billion the previous year. The trade deficit dropped to Rs49.2 billion in 2009 from Rs56.5 billion in 2008. The overall balance of payments recorded a surplus of Rs12.1 billion for 2009, up from a Rs4.6 billion surplus a year earlier.

This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

Sailing star Solenne Brain, a sailor from Reunion Island is has been appointed as coach of the French Olympic sailing team for London 2010. Solenne, who has had a decorated career as a competitor and as a coach, will lead the French female team. Solenne started her sailing career in Reunion itself, competing in Laser Class races in the Indian Ocean. She was soon picked up by the French national team, and was part of the Olympic sailing team in Athens in 2004, finishing 8th and 6th respectively in the Laser Dinghy Class at the 2005 World Championships and 2006 European Championships. After a successful career as a competitor, she turned her hand to coaching, and was part of the coaching team that guided France to a top five place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Beyond sailing, Solenne has also been pursuing a career in teaching. She is a Modern Language PCGE student at Swansea Metropolitan University and plans to teach Spanish and French at UK secondary level when she finishes her coaching stint.

NEWS

In conversation with…

Paul Lemière M

unicipal counsellor of Beau-Bassin/ Rose-Hill, Paul Lemière talks about his commitment to political life and about the numerous projects he has worked on during the last five years.

I’m also very proud to have been part of the team working on the digitisation of the Town’s archive. It’s a lot of work, but it is important as our children will be able to learn the history of this great and marvellous place.

Being the president of the e-town committee, you have helped develop the internet structure of the council. Why was this so important to you?

Since 2005, the government has been trying to come forward with the e-government concept. That is making all the public state provided services available on the Internet.

I believe that the council of Beau-Bassin/ Rose-Hill where I work has the responsibility to help the central government on that issue by making sure that the citizens can access to the councils services online.

I must say this has made the interaction with the population much easier. In the few months since we set up the Wi-Fi coverage, the town’s population have been making the most of the service. It’s a very popular service and we are planning to implant similar projects after the elections.

What would you ultimately like to accomplish as a municipal counsellor?

Well, my main objective is to serve the inhabitants of the Town in the best way I can.

The e-town initiative is one among numerous projects undertaken during the last five years. What are the other major projects you helped put together?

First, I must say that it has all been a team effort all along. We renovated the Rose-Hill Stadium, the market of Beau-Bassin, created the now very popular Barkly Market Fair, upgraded the drainage pipes throughout the town, improved the basic services like the rubbish collection, and started the renovation of the Plaza Theatre which is still underway. The council has done such tremendous work to improve the everyday life of the population that it’s impossible to remember everything.

With the forthcoming opening of the Plaza Theatre, Rose-Hill will become once again the cultural capital of the island. The council has been struggling to get the theatre renovated…

The Plaza Theater is a national treasure that we could not let perish. In fact, it has not been easy to find the money needed to start the renovation work. My colleagues and I contacted famous actors and singers throughout the world to get them involved in trying to save the theater. The Plaza Theater,

Since you became a counsellor, you have always tried to get foreign countries involved in the development of not only your town, but Mauritius as a whole also.

Why is that so important for you?

It’s simple; I think that the European, African, and Asian countries see us as an example of harmonious living amongst vast differences in culture, and are eager to help making our country even better.

Throughout my political life, I’ve met a lot of foreign political leaders who have happened to become good friends of mine. So today, I’m just trying to make the best of my relations to help my town and my country.

“If Mauritius is such peaceful multi-cultural country today, it’s because our ancestors came from different countries to seek a better living here”

which is 200 years old, is the oldest Theater of the Indian Ocean. Those actors and singers kindly agreed to lend their support, and I’m very pleased to say that the theater will be opened within a month.

Mauritius, in recent years, has attracted a lot of international singers and shows, and I’m convinced that the Plaza Theater will soon be the place where all the major events will be held.

You have been a municipal counsellor for five years now. What are you most proud of?

My proudest achievement is to have helped making the renovation of the Plaza possible.

Along with your political commitments, you have always fought for the protection of the environment. You were quite active regarding the preservation of the Ferney Valley…

I really think that it’s every single person’s duty to act responsibly to protect our environment. This Valley is of primordial importance for Mauritius’ ecosystem and it would have been a real catastrophy if it was to be destroyed. Fortunately NGO, youngsters, and political figures managed to protect this area which was to be destroyed in order to create a highway. The preservation of the environment is even more important here as we are a small island.

A message for the Mauritians in the UK… They have to know that they are making us proud. The Mauritian Diaspora, whether they are in Canada, Australia, France, or in the UK is an example of peaceful and successful integration. They have helped build the image of Mauritius and we are very thankful for this, so please keep it up…

Beau-Bassin/ Rose-Hill Website: www.bbrh.org Jose Daniel

NEWS History of Mauritius The national flag I

n the first of a five part series on the history of Mauritius, Mauritius Now takes a look at the meaning behind the Mauritian flag.

With Mauritius only gaining independence in 1968, the Mauritian flag may still be fairly new but the meaning behind it is as significant as any older, more-established flag. The flag was something Mauritians could claim as their own, and given that it was hoisted on the day Mauritius became independent, represents independence itself. Many of the older generation remember a time when there was no Mauritian flag, and it is precisely for this reason that Mauritians are fiercely passionate of their flag.

Initiated on March 12th 1968, the British Union Jack was taken down, and in its place, the Mauritian flag was raised above Champ de Mars in Port Louis. It was a solemn day, rather than a celebratory one. Violent riots had plagued Mauritius earlier in the year, and the PMSD had boycotted the independence ceremony.

Consisting of four horizontal stripes, each of equal size, the flag is simple but meaningful. Red is supposed to stand for the blood shed in the struggle for independence. Blue represents the Indian Ocean. Yellow stands for the new light that shone on Mauritius Now that it was independent and the bright

future that lies ahead for an independent Mauritius. Green supposedly represents the year-round green vegetation that the island is abundant in.

The flag itself was designed by the College of Arms in London before independence in January 1968. Its design was derived from the colours of the Mauritian Coat of Arms which was designed in 1906. It is said that designers of the flag simply took the colours from the Coat of Arms and the meanings behind the colours were thought of after the flag’s inception. Whichever way, the meanings behind the colours are widely accepted across Mauritian society.

The Coat of Arms is something that Mauritians are less familiar with and seems to reflect the island’s past rather than the present or future. The motto in Latin is “Stella Clavisque Maris Indici” which translates as “The Star and Key of the Indian Ocean”.

This was a reflection of Mauritius as a strategically located island in the Indian Ocean and as a hub for sea routes around Africa, Australasia and the Far East. The third and fourth quarters of the Coat of Arms therefore have a key and a white star depicted in them. The ship in the first quarter represents the colonisation of Mauritius; the palm tree

“The flag itself was designed by the College of Arms in London before independence in January 1968” in the second quarter represents the island’s vegetation. On either side a dodo and a deer supports the Coat of Arms with a sugar cane, the island’s biggest crop.

Despite the fact that the origins of the flag reflect on the colonial past of Mauritius, the flag is still representative of the country’s future. The flag symbolises the birth of freedom, and many say that the different colours on the flag depict the unique blend of creed, colour and religion that makes Mauritius the island that it is today. Perhaps what is most heartening is that the flag helped to give Mauritius an identity as a nation. The flag has become a way for Mauritians to associate themselves as Mauritian, before they being classified as Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Tamil, Telugu or of any other religion. The flag may be young, but it is a fine representation of perhaps one of the world’s most patriotic nations.

Sabina Jacobs

NEWS

The Mauritian Bazaar

The Dodo resurrected in Mauritius

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he Mauritian Bazaar is probably the most authentic Mauritian experience one can have. If ever a tourist wanted to witness the unique blend of cultures that is uniquely Mauritian, a trip to a bazaar is a must,. It’s the place where you can find Chinese, African, Indian, and Arab sellers plying their trade to locals and foreigners alike.

I would describe a Mauritian bazaar to a tourist as a shared space where sellers set up stalls and sell anything and everything.

What’s unique about bazaars in Mauritius is that they have been organic in growth. Bazaars started out as small market places and consisted mainly of food sellers selling local produce. As these market places grew in popularity as a place to shop and socialise, more sellers would come and ply their trade selling clothes and other necessities. With Mauritius becoming more and more diverse, you soon found Chinese sellers with Chinese products, Arab sellers with Arab products and so on.

Bazaars expanded into the surrounding areas, and are still growing.

Today you can buy almost anything in a Mauritian bazaar, from local food produce, spices, textiles, designer goods, electronics, and kitchen products. Bazaars are also now trying to attract the tourist trade. On a recent visit I found woven bags, beach towels, exotic soaps and tea on sale. The large ba-

“The Rose-Hill bazaar now consists of malls as well as more traditional outdoor markets” zaars in places like Rose-Hill and Port Louis are easy to get lost in, with maze-like paths leading you to traders like basket weavers and shoe-sellers. But their popularity, as a place to buy, sell, eat and meet means that local councils are faced with logistical problems surrounding the growth and maintenance of the markets. Because of the haphazard nature of the way markets grew, there was a problem with sanitation

and safety (part of the Port Louis bazaar was destroyed by fire in 1999). The Rose-Hill Bazaar is now too big to remain where it is. The local council is reviewing plans to move at least some of the bazaar to a bigger area in the town and to improve parking facilities.

In fact bazaars have moved on considerably from their early days. The Rose-Hill bazaar now consists of malls as well as more traditional outdoor markets. In Port Louis, home of the largest bazaar in Mauritius, the bazaar takes up street upon street and now consists of a new building, fully equipped with escalators, toilets and air conditioning which make for a much more pleasant shopping experience. Of course, this encourages people to buy more. The government, seeing the popularity and potential of the markets, have even created an indoor craft market at the Caudan Waterfront, which is a more organised and cleaner version, with I must say, dearer prices compared to the market at Port Louis Bazaars in Mauritius these days may be more sophisticated, but they have never lost their Mauritian identity. You may find a bazaar in India or Morocco with a similar concept, but you will never find so many goods from so many cultures together in one place as you will find in Mauritius.

Sabina Jacobs

ou probably haven’t failed to notice juice drink 5 Alive’s current advertising campaign featuring the Dancing Dodo on TV or on billboards. The Dancing Dodo is the face of a big re-launch of Coca Cola’s 5 Alive, with adverts being supported interactive groups on social networking site Facebook and YouTube. The television advert itself depicts a carton of 5 Alive bringing to life the extinct dodo on a Mauritian beach when it accidently spills into his “sandy grave”, who then goes on to dance to the Don Fardon track, “I’m Alive”.

Madelaine Donnan of Lexis PR, which was the consultancy agency behind the marketing campaign, told Mauritius Now, “The dodo was chosen to front the campaign because we felt that it was the perfect way to bring to life family fun and the ‘up for it’ spirit of the brand. He is an amusing and quirky character, who is refreshed and reinvigorated from 5 Alive which prompts him to burst into a lively song and dance. We’re delighted by the response we have had to the advert so far.

Twitter is buzzing with love for the new ad, the Dodo and the soundtrack.”

The Dancing Dodo advert was created by advertising agency VCCP; the same people behind the hugely popular Compare the Meerkat campaign. And the dodo, like his fellow meerkat, is fast achieving cult status. The Dancing Dodo has almost 10,000 fans on Facebook, where he is described as having “an exceptional sense of rhythm” and although he can’t fly, “boy can he dance”! www.dancingdodo.com

NEWS Tribute to a great Mauritian H

“Renga was a compassionate man who is remembered for the values he brought to Mauritian politics – ethics, morals, honesty and fairness”

ad he been alive today, he would have turned 100, but he died at the age of 48, too young an age to die said his friends and relatives, and could neither witness his dream of a free Mauritius nor the progress the country has made.

Renganaden Seeneevassen, born on April 11, 1910, died on June 5, 1958, at the age 48.

Yesterday a very moving homage was paid to him by his family, friends and the government. His widow, Grace Seeneevassen, could hardly hide her emotions as the moving tributes were paid to her late husband.

Also present was his daughter, Sarojini Seeneevassen-Frers. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam unveiled a bust of Renganaden Seeneevassen at the building that bears his name and which is commonly known as the NPF Building in Port Louis. Renganaden Seeneevassen became the first Mauritian Minister of Education in 1957. He was adamant that the education system that he “inherited” was in

dire need of reform. “There could be no justice in a system where education was the prerogative of a privileged few,” he kept stressing. He introduced the Education Ordinance of 1957 which made education more freely available

to all children in Mauritius, resulting in a record intake of 25,000 children in the 1958 school year. During Mr. Seeneevassen’s very short time as Minister of Education, Mauritius got its first Code of Education, which laid the foundations for future developments in the field of education in the country. Renganaden Seeneevassen died on June 5, 1958 According to his son, Kriesen Seeneevassen, his father fought tirelessly for the political rights of the underprivileged. “He was uncompromising in his efforts to unite a culturally diverse Mauritian society behind a common vision, and eventually nationhood.

“Renga”, he concluded, “was a compassionate man who is remembered for the values he brought to Mauritian politics – ethics, morals, honesty and fairness.”

This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

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NEWS Laureates honoured P

resident of the Republic Sir Anerood Jugnauth paid glowing tribute to 31 college students who have won scholarships to pursue their university education abroad. He hosted a reception to honour the laureates of the 2009 HSC Examinations at the State House yesterday. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and Minister of Education, Culture and Human Resources Dr. Vasant Bunwaree were present at the event. Sir Anerood said that all parents wanted to see their children excel in education and life.

He added the government prides itself in taking the burden of funding higher international education off the shoulders of deserving Mauritian parents, especially those from the middle, and lower income groups.

“I congratulate the laureates for their outstanding achievements and this scholarship is a reward for your hard work, determination and perseverance. It is a matter of pride for your families, your teachers, your rectors and everyone else. Earning this scholarship proves that you are the best. I hope you will choose the right career paths and justify the scholarship awarded to you,” he said.

The event is an annual tradition at the State House where rectors and parents of the top 29 students of Mauritius and two from Rodrigues are honoured by the head of state.

This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

Nouvelle Star Great news for music lovers! Mauritian singer David Maurimootoo has progressed to the Final 10 of Nouvelle Star, the French equivalent of X-Factor, after being voted through by the French public. David, also known as Dave, who sang Madcon’s Beggin’ on the first live show, made it through to the live stages having impressed audition judges with his acoustic renditions of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, Gérald De Palmas’ J’en rêve encore and James Blunt’s Your Beautiful. The 27-year old, of Quatre-Bornes, flew from Mauritius especially to audition and has become a hit with the French public.

David, also known as Dave, has a rich musical past. Son of musician Alan Mauritmootoo, Dave started playing the guitar at 11, has a degree in Sound Engineering, has toured Switzerland, Franc e and Singapore, and has even had a hit single in South Africa! Dave’s success on Nouvelle Star hasn’t gone unnoticed- the whole of Mauritius is behind him, and thousands of supporters have joined fan clubs on social networking site Facebook.

ADVERTISE WITH US

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Mauritius Now will be published monthly, and will be available in many specialist outlets and distribution points internationally.

If your company is interested in advertising in Mauritius Now or www.mauritiusnow.co.uk contact us on 0843 289 5510 or drop us an email: advertising@mauritiusnow.co.uk

NEWS Scrutiny and controversy of the gambling industry

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he growing gambling industry has been the subject of many public and religious debates in Mauritius, but the industry remains as popular as it is controversial. With the launch of the state lottery last year, it looks like the gambling industry has a big future in Mauritius.

As a nation of horse-racing and football lovers, there is a prominent sport’s betting community as well as a growing network of mini-casinos, such as Ti Vegas and larger casinos such as Casinos of Mauritius, which typically house slot machines, roulette and card games. Local bookmakers can be found in every town, and the rise of satellite TV on the island has opened up many more markets for Mauritians to bet in.

Despite the recent growth of the industry on the island, gambling still remains a contentious issue of which everyone has an opinion. especially religious groups, be it Christian, Hindu or Muslim. Considered a sin by the main religions practiced in Mauritius, religious leaders have used moral arguments against the rise of gambling on the island, with the Muslim Citizens Council and the Arya Sabha (a Hindu group) being particularly vocal about their opposition.

Last year, a war of words broke out between local parish priest father Henri Souchon, and the Senator Club casino in Port Louis, which is near his church and a local school. Lending support to local residents who wanted the casino to be closed, he accused the casino as being a hotbed of criminal activity, having CCTV in the women’s toilets, and as being a source of temptation for local students who walk past the casino whilst going to and from school.

Perhaps most controversial is the ongoing battle between local residents of Quatre-Bornes and the Ti Vegas Casino operating there. Last

“Those opposed to the industry must accept that gambling is here to stay in Mauritius” year around 3000 residents signed a petition demanding that the casino be closed on the grounds that it attracts pimps, prostitutes and other undesirables late into the night.

In January this year, controversy grew when a 27 year old barman was allegedly killed by four Ti Vegas bouncers, yet the government has been increasingly receptive to the gaming market, allowing more forms of gambling to operate in Mauritius. Last year, a national lottery very similar to the one ran in the UK, was launched in Mauritius. On top of this, instant win scratch cards were also launched. For this reason and the fact that tickets are easy to buy (from local convenience stores, rather than from a casino), the lottery is the most accepted of all methods of gambling; people who play typically are not risking much to have the chance of winning millions of rupees.

In fact, even though it was only launched in November 2009, around Rs140m of revenue was collected by the lottery in 2009. The Mauritian lottery has fast become an established social practice, just as it is in the UK. With so much controversy surrounding gambling, why has the government not done more to stop it? Instead, it seems that with the establishment of the lottery, the government is endorsing it. With Lottotech (who run the lottery) having to hand over 57% of

its net profit to the government, the lottery is a source of government funding for social projects (just like the UK). Up to now, Lottotech has handed over around Rs100m to the government. Furthermore, the gambling industry is a great source of tax. Making gambling illegal would create a huge black market, which the government would be unable to tap into, and with government borrowing increasing, and public finances becoming more and more stretched, it is no surprise that the industry has been allowed to prosper.

And then there is the issue of over-regulation. When questioned about the rise of gaming houses, Finance minister Rama Sithanen insisted that “there is a balance to strike between soft and hard regulation.” Over-

regulation can be dangerous for a developing economy. In some, there is more government regulation, and in others there is less. On balance, gambling licenses are only granted after following a process. Every form of gambling must be licensed- and these aren’t easy to get. The government argues that this is enough regulation for the time being.

So, what lies ahead? Well, those opposed to the industry must accept that gambling is here to stay in Mauritius, and this was confirmed by the arrival of the state lottery.

However, the government is taking steps to curb the rapid rise of gaming houses on the island, and it will be more difficult for betting companies to get a license in the future.

Sabina Jacobs

NEWS

Indian celebrities film in Mauritius

Tourists: Get on your bikes!

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A crew from the leading Indian TV travel show, “Celebrity-travel show” called “Hum Safar” was in Mauritius for a shoot organised by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA).

Ms. Deepti Bhatnagar of Bollywood fame and now a renowned television producer for destination features and Ms. Sweta Keswani, a well known household television figure who performed in various television

soaps, visited Mauritius to enjoy their time off and explore the unexplored high-life on the island.

The show not only celebrates the beauty and greatness of exotic destinations but also the relationships and people who hold importance in life and in the case of Mauritius, long lasting friendship. During their stay in Mauritius they visited the spa Hotel Beau Rivage, tried the newest excursions that

have been introduced in Mauritius – Sky Diving, an undersea walk and the subscooter in the North of the island. Both stars also visited the Casela bird park and enjoyed the soft adventure sports of quad biking and the zipline ride.

This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

Rs5m richer There was one lucky winner for the 24th loto draw. The jackpot was claimed by a player who bought his/her ticket at Dabee Store in Vacoas.

It was the first time since the launch of the loto in November last year that the MBC did not transmit the draw live on TV. The six winning numbers for the draw were: 8, 14, 21, 26, 34 and 36.

Total prize money paid out was just above Rs10 million.

Six winning numbers: one winner wins Rs5 million Five winning numbers: 65 winners with Rs9,292 each.

Four winning numbers: 2,197 winners with Rs567 each.

Three winning numbers: 32,877 winners with Rs100 each The jackpot for the next draw on April 24 will once more be Rs5 million.

Sweta Keswani

Exchange programme praised

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he judiciaries of Mauritius and Seychelles will continue to learn from each other through an ongoing exchange programme, the Chief Justice of Mauritius Bernard Yeung Sik Yuen said in Seychelles. He made the comments after he paid a courtesy visit on President James Michel at State House in Victoria in the company of Seychelles Chief Justice Frederick Egonda-Ntende.

Mr Sik Yuen added that the use of computer technology in Mauritius is automating many court processes which is speeding up the delivery of justice, a practice that Mauritius is ready to share with the Seychelles. Mauritius courts, he added, can, among other

things, learn from the Seychelles experience on how to make defaulting fathers pay alimony.

Mr Sik Yuen pointed out that his delegation’s current visit is the eighth exchange since biennial exchanges were launched between the two countries some years ago. He added that his delegation will review the good practices that the Mauritius Judiciary can adopt so as to make of the exchanges a win-win situation for both countries.

This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First Englishlanguage daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

he Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) is renewing its efforts to diversify the market with a push for Mauritius to become a cycle destination. With this new offensive the promotion agency wants to cash-in on niche markets and diversify the offer from the traditional sea and sun holiday destination. In line with this new promotional drive, the MTPA has invited Eddy Merckx, a Belgian international cyclist and champion who has won the Tour de France several times in the past, to share his opinions and suggestions on the project.

He has had meetings with the Minister of Tourism, Xavier Luc Duval, and the president of the MTPA, Robert Desvaux. They discussed the setting up of an international criterium and an award to give to the best cyclists around the world.

The international criterium will be run on a 100-km circuit on the Ebene-Rose Hill stretch of road, while the award which will reward the best international cyclists will be known as the World Cycling Award. The two projects are nearing finalisation according to the MTPA, which is banking not only on the support of Eddy Merckx, but also on Dirk de Pauw, director of the Paumer company, as well as Vincent Wathelet, producer of some of the world’s most prolific sports events. The Union Cycliste Internationale is also interested in the project.

For more than a year, the MTPA has been placing increasing emphasis on the promotion of Mauritius as a cycle destination for tourists. With the help of champion Eddy Merckx, the destination will try to carve a select niche on the international cycle map. Eddy Merckx has also become one of the island’s cycle-tourism ambassadors and received his trophy from Robert Desveaux, president of the MTPA. This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

NEWS India launches probe into T20 league A

ccording to the Economic Times of India (ET), the Indian income tax department will put to the test a bilateral tax treaty with Mauritius to glean information on investors in Indian Premier League teams as part of a wide-ranging probe into the shadowy flow of money into the T20 cricket tournament.

“A detailed and full-fledged investigation will now be carried out on all IPL franchisees and the people behind them,” a tax department official is reported to have told ET. The department, it is said, will soon write to the Mauritius government asking it to shed light on investors after preliminary information and data on shareholding of some IPL franchises point to flow of funds from complex multi-layered structures in the country, he said.

The cash-rich tournaments as well its high-profile commissioner Lalit Modi have long been under the tax department’s scanner over allegations that more than one IPL team have foreign stakeholders.

But it was only after Mr Modi’s public smack-down with junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor that officials have delved deeper into IPL’s murky world.

A team of tax officials visited the IPL headquarters in south Mumbai last Thursday and quizzed Mr. Modi late into the night.

Documents collected from the IPL office and a few franchisees point to a shareholding web and use of accounts in tax havens to make payments, another official told ET. The taxman has already put the screws on IPL team owners, notably Rajasthan Royals’ Jaipur IPL Pvt Ltd. Tax authorities have conveyed their reservation to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, the key government body on foreign investments, on Jaipur IPL’s proposal of seeking post-facto approval on raising FDI after issue of shares.

The company was asked to justify direct payments from a Mauritius-based entity even before creation.

The department also suspects other tax havens such as Bahamas, the Maldives, Macau and Cayman Islands, among others, but gathering information will not be easy as the country is still in talks for similar agreements with these countries.

Tax officials say there are also indications of some shareholders fronting for others in

some franchises. Mr Modi himself has family links with at least one IPL team.

Suresh Chellaram, a Nigeria-based businessman who is learnt to own a 44% stake in Rajasthan Royals, is Mr Modi’s brother-in-law.

Similarly, Kolkata Knight Riders, owned by actors Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and husband Jai Mehta, has close links with Bollywood producer Karim Morani.

He is also referred as a stakeholder but details of the stake have been kept under wraps.

Email queries to Kings XI Punjab as well as Kolkata Knight Riders remained unanswered.

Deccan Chargers, owned by media group Deccan Chronicle Holdings of Hyderabad, is the only team to declare its ownership structure.

Three teams – Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings – have a sole owner.

THAROOR WAS LEADING REFORMER An Indian minister among the country’s few reformist politicians has resigned over allegations of corruption in winning a cricket league franchise, as the government tries to pass reform bills in parliament.

The row over junior Foreign Minister Shashi Tharoor’s role in a southern city winning a $333 million bid for the cricket franchise in the popular Indian Premier League, sparked uproar in parliament last week and held up discussions on the budget.

“Dr Tharoor submitted his resignation from the council of ministers to the prime minister today,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said yesterday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who met Tharoor twice on Sunday, has forwarded the resignation to President Pratibha Patil for acceptance, the statement said.

The resignation of Tharoor is widely seen as a setback to younger elements in the Congress government as he was among the few political leaders watched closely for their ability to push an agenda to modernise India against conservative figures in Congress focused more on political convenience.

Some say Tharoor’s resignation will be seen as a victory for the opposition parties, who were calling for his dismissal and have been able to force the government onto the back foot on reforms bills such as opening up the pension and insurance sector to foreign investments.

The controversy erupted after Lalit Modi,

the chief of the Indian Premier League of cricket, said the winning consortium allotted stakes worth about $15 million for free to a woman Indian media identified as Tharoor’s girlfriend Sunanda Pushkar.

Modi said Tharoor had asked him not to reveal the shareholding details of the consortium.

Tharoor, an author and a former U.N. official, denied this, but with pressure mounting on Tharoor and Pushkar to come clean on the nature of the deal, Pushkar’s lawyer said on Sunday she had decided to give up her allotted stakes.

Tharoor, who issued a statement in parliament, was asked to resign after a meeting of the Congress core committee, including Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi. “Congress has taken a considered mature decision,” said party spokesman Abhisekh Manu Singhvi.

Since winning re-election last May, the Congress-led coalition is on the back foot in the parliament session.

It is trying to pass budget and reform legislation with a thinner majority after two allies pulled out of the ruling coalition to protest at a controversial women’s bill.

Tharoor in Mauritius The former Indian State Minister for External Affairs, Dr Shashi Tharoor (see attached), was the chief guest of the government of Mauritius on the occasion of the celebration of the 175th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers to Mauritius in November last year.

His speech in French at the official ceremony held at the Aapravasi Ghat on November 2 astonished many.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam, the Minister of Education, Culture and Human Resources Dr Vasant Bunwaree and many other personalities. The next day he held a lecture at the University of Mauritius.

During a press conference on the same day Dr Tharoor warned the Double Non Taxation Agreement between India and Mauritius could be at risk.

This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

A chance to play for your country!

H

aving recently tasted glory by winning the Plate version of the Mini African Nations Cup in London, MIFC (Mauritian International Football Club) is now looking to improve its standing at this year’s annual Inner City Mini World Cup tournament.

To do so, it is aiming to field the strongest possible team of Mauritian expatriates by inviting anyone interested to come in for a trial.

The popular tournament will be held on the 29th and 30th of May at a venue to be announced later. Any Mauritian interested in a trial to represent their country please call:

Nasser Bhekhun: 07753959091 Iqbal Dustagheer: 07903671682 Ajit Hurkhoo: 07946448384 Introducing our first big trophy: from left to right: MIFC manager Nasser Bheekhun, Sponsor Iqbal Dustagheer, and Secretary Ajit Hurkhoo with the prestigious prize after MIFC’s incredible display at the David Beckham Football Academy recently.

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MAURITIUS LIFE Mauritius shopping hotspot M

auritius is set to become the next port of call for shopping centre developers and retailers looking to expand their footprint beyond the overshopped South African market. Bagatelle, a historic sugar estate on the southern border of the Mauritian capital Port Louis, is being transformed into a novel and pioneering metropolis that is destined to become the Indian Ocean’s premier shopping, casino, lifestyle and entertainment destination. Set on 102 hectares, the new master planned community which will be created in various phases over a number of years, is strategically situated on the main north-south M1 motorway.

In recent years Mauritius has positioned itself as a prominent offshore financial centre and was recently ranked 24th in the world and first in Africa in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2009 report. Mauritius was also rated among the Top 25 global offshore platforms.

As a result many new international companies have appeared on the island and are taking part in the country’s massive development and economic re-engineering process.

The location of the Mall is yet another key attraction for a development of this scale. Within walking distance of the University of Mauritius and close to Moka, one of the island’s most affluent residential suburbs, the site enjoys excellent visibility from the main motorway as well as easy access routes. In addition, the ‘Pont de Bagatelle’, the Gateway Bridge which is currently in the final stages of construction, will provide access to the development from the M1 motorway, and is destined to become an inspirational and sought after landmark that will further attract visitors.

The Mall of Mauritius at Bagatelle will reflect a multi-cultural atmosphere, spanning a four century old legacy. An authentic tropical ’sense of ease’ will be enhanced by retail zoning. The zones will be divided yet integrated into sections that include Entertainment & Leisure; Destination Department Stores; Brands & Lifestyle; Family & Convenience; Supermarket with Specialty Food and Beverage Shops as well as an upmarket Lifestyle Food Court with delectable restaurants.

In addition, an assortment of family entertainment and events will unfold and dazzle at the Mall of Mauritius, with attractions ranging from a casino, several cinemas, and live entertainment for the entire family. This multi-faceted positioning at the Mall of Mauritius will entice more than just shoppers; in fact anyone wishing to dine at gourmet venues as well as those seeking varied entertainment options will find something to cater for their needs here.

Jose Daniel

“The Mall of Mauritius at Bagatelle will reflect a multi-cultural atmosphere, spanning a four century old legacy. An authentic tropical ’sense of ease’ will be enhanced by retail zoning”

EVENTS What’s on H

ey everybody I hope you have all had a nice Easter and are now rested and ready for what May has in store for you. In April, mauritianparty.com provided the perfect end to the long Easter Bank Holiday, throwing another successful Mauritian night at Sound nightclub in London’s West End. DJs Papi, Vish, MC Kramz and Melz spun the Sega and Soca tunes to a packed main room, whilst DJ Shaney and DJ Kramer rocked the top floor with some great RnB and urban sounds.

Now, wha’s in store for may? It all kicks off on bank holiday weekend – 2nd of May at Back2Reality. This will held at the stylish Agenda. As usual B2R will be bringing you all your favourite tracks from a host of DJ’s across two rooms, no work the next day, so no excuses!

For contact details visit their website: www.bepartoftheexperience.com or look for B2R on Facebook by searching for “Back2reality” Next stop, “Omaz” presents a night of “live Sega” music at Breezehurst Pavilion in Crawley on Saturday the 8th May. You do not want to miss this one. Local artists will be providing you with a concert consisting of the greatest Sega, Seggae, Reggae and Ragga. For more information you can visit their Facebook page by searching for “Omaz”.

Last but not least, Island2Island brings you something with a difference – a school disco themed event on second bank holiday weekend of the month, Sunday 30th May 2010 at the chic Livery Bar, again, definitely one not to be missed, lets get searching for those old school uniforms guys!

Make sure you come back for next months issue where I will be covering these events in more detail. We will also be covering the “Official After Party” of the Mauritian Football Competition 2010 which is going to be held at a secret location! Until next month!

Tasha Chellen

Dates for your diary Public holidays for Mauritius Back2Reality Bank holiday weekend Sunday 2nd May Omaz live Saga Saturday 8th May Island2Island school disco Sunday 30th May Assumption if the Blessed Virgin Mary Sunday 15th August Eid-Ul-Fitr* Friday 10th September Ganesh Chaturthi Sunday 12th September Arrival of Indentured Labourers Tuesday 2nd November Divali Friday 5th November Christmas Saturday 25th December * The exact date of this festival is subject to confirmation as its celebration depends of the visibility of the moon.

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SHOWBIZ In conversation with…

Gérard Louis G

érard Louis is one of the co-founders of successful Mauritian Sega group Cassiya. He is currently working on his next solo album and has plans of coming to the UK to perform. Mauritius Now caught up with the musician to find out more about his career to date, and what his plans are for the future.

In 2004, you published a biography in which you recalled the most important moments of your career. Why was it so important for you to share your experience?

Since the creation of the Cassiya group, fans in Mauritius and abroad have always been very supportive. First, publishing this book was a way to thank them all, and secondly, it was an opportunity for me to share with them all the incredible experiences I had been through during all those years. I wanted to give all the Cassiya fans a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes. In the book, I also talk about how I became a musician and how we formed the Cassiya group. I must say that I’m quite happy with all the good reviews the book has received.

Cassiya is still considered as one of the best Sega groups from Mauritius. What do you attribute the group’s success to?

I’m still surprised and very pleased by the way people talk of Cassiya. I think the success of the group is due to the special touch we put in to our music and to our incredible singer, Desire François. When we started making Sega, we had the vision and dream to make something different and more modern, because at that time almost every artist and group was making traditional Sega. We tried to mix the traditional sound of the ravanne with the contemporary melody of an acoustic guitar and harmonica. This sounded great, and I think that’s why people love our music so much, it was fresh and different.

You have been on the Mauritian music scene for a very long time now, how do you think this scene has evolved?

Local music is nowadays very popular not only in Mauritius, but abroad also. Much of this is down to the numerous festivals in which Mauritian artists are now able to perform. The local scene has in fact evolved a lot since the 80’s. At that time, Les Windblows were doing great. Then came the Seggae music with Kaya, and that has evolved over time with artists like the OSB Crew and their Ragga Dancehall music. We formed the Cassiya group to bring our own unique evolutionary sound to the Sega scene. This evolution is important as it ensures that local music stays alive and changes with the times, whilst still remaining true to it roots.

In recognition of your hard work, you have received many awards – which one do you hold closest to your heart?

As weird as this may seems, my proudest achievements are not the rewards that I obtained throughout my career. The most important thing that I have achieved was being able to perform at the Olympia in France with the Cassiya group.

It was an incredible experience. I’m also really proud of an award that Sandra Mayotte received for a song I wrote for her.

She was awarded the best African performer.

What lies ahead for Gerard Louis?

Since the creation of my own music group in 2004, known as Gérard Louis et son orchestre, I’ve been quite busy organising concerts throughout the island. I am planning a Nostalgie concert next October, where local artists who have now retired will be back on stage. I’m also working with Sandra Mayotte on her next show.

There’s also an important project on which I’ve been working towards for years; I’m planning to build a concert hall dedicated to the local artists. I think that it’s really important for us to have a place where we can perform.

You are not only a singer, but also a successful producer.

How is that going?

I started producing music and artists in 1995, when I was still a member of the Cassiya band. I knew, at that time that the best

thing for us would be to produce our own albums. It was a way for us to be completely free and to do what we wanted with our music. Full artistic control is very valuable in this industry, and I know now that it was the right thing to do. In the coming months I will produce several albums for other artists like Nasty Black, SystemR, and Maista. I’m also working on my next solo album which will be released at the end of the year.

Any messages for your fans over in the UK and when can we expect to see you perform there next?

I want to thank them for their support during all these years. I often receive phone calls from friends in the UK asking me to come and perform there. I hope I will be able to come after the release of my album. If there are any concert organisers who are interested in setting something up, I am ready and waiting!

José Daniel

SHOWBIZ In conversation with…

DJ Papi A

s all Mauritians know, ‘Sega’ music is the sound of the island and its community. Steeped in a rich and colourful history and linked to the age of slavery, Sega has come to epitomise everything that is wonderful about the Mauritian way of life: happiness, enjoyment and fun. In Britain though, it has lost ground amongst young Mauritians to urban music and its various sub-genres. Despite this, quality Sega music can still be found throughout the country, with a loyal army of proponents bringing it to the nation’s bars and clubs. One such man is Gavin Pullia – AKA ‘DJ Papi’ – one of the country’s leading Sega DJs. Mauritius Now caught up with Gavin to find out a little bit more about the Sega scene…

environment with others that are having such a great time, that they can’t help enjoying themselves also. I think people feed off the energy that you get at a Mauritian party.

Where can we see you performing?

I still play for MauritianParty.com and I also play for Back2Reality Promotions. I’m always open to playing at new events as well; I do a lot of family parties, weddings, and engagements.

Every weekend in the summer is hectic.

Are you pleased to see Sega fighting its corner against the urban invasion?

I love it. I’ve been wanting to promote Mauritian music in this community for ages; whereas it used to be 30% Sega and 70% urban music, now we’re getting to the stage where it’s a 50/50 split. It’s just brilliant to see people coming to the nights to listen to Sega music. I’m married to an Indian girl and I’ve even managed to recruit my parents-in-law to come along to the nights; we’re starting to attract a lot of people outside the traditional Mauritian community.

Could you tell me a bit more about the sort of events you perform at.

I play predominantly at Mauritian community events. There are lots of community dances and family parties held in community halls rather than clubs, which are staged for important events such as Mauritian Independence Day or Diwali. I enjoy playing Sega mostly, although I also play a mixture of everything– the 70s, 80s, the party music. I can play pretty much anything really, it all depends on what the crowd wants, but I really get a buzz out of playing at Mauritian family orientated events where there are people of all ages having fun together.

So how did you get into DJing, and playing Sega music specifically?

In 2003 I went into business with two partners. We launched a company called ‘Mauritianparty.com’, which aimed to introduce Mauritian music to those British-born Mauritians who weren’t in touch with the scene. Watching my little brother growing up with no Mauritian influence in his life made me think that the best way to reach people and teach them about Mauritian culture was through music. We started throwing parties at Sound in Leicester Square, and these events are still going today. I left the company in 2008 when I got married, because I just didn’t have the time for such a busy schedule.

The parties are still going strong though and continue to attract a good crowd.

How did you go from organising parties to DJing?

I got fed up of standing next to DJs telling them what to play. I thought, “Why am I paying these people when I can do it myself?”

Have you always been into music?

I grew up around music; my uncle was a DJ playing for Stardust, which used to be a big name in the Mauritian community. I used to go along and watch him play, and get him to make tapes for me, and that’s what really sparked my love of music, especially Sega.

Your sound has always been rooted in traditional Mauritian culture then…

Yeah, definitely. And it’s fascinating to see how little the style of DJing has changed from when my uncle was performing

In a way, you’re promoting the Mauritian collective identity.

Yeah, and that’s one of the most important aspects of what I do.

to what I play now. Mauritian parties are done in exactly the same way as they’ve always been. You’ve got to play what people have turned up to hear.

So it’s less about breaking new stuff and more about playing established favourites…

Definitely. I bring out music that people know and want. Obviously I do try and get some new stuff in there but, predominantly, it’s stuff that people already know and love.

How would you describe Sega music?

Sega is unique in the sense that it has evolved over time, with each generation of artists having their own approach to the genre. Traditional Sega is normally accompanied by only a few instruments such as the Ravanne, a tambourine type of instrument with a hide stretched over it to create a beating surface.

Today, Sega is played with a variety of different instruments, both new and traditional, and the pitch, tone, and rhythm varies from artist to artist. Despite the style of Sega evolving over time, it has still managed to retain its distinct sound.

How would you describe Sega dancing?

The best way I can describe Sega dancing is as a cross between salsa and samba. It involves a lot of hip movement and is a highly energetic dance!

Does dancing comprise a big part of a Mauritian party?

I’ve never met anyone that has been to a party, heard Mauritian Sega, and not loved it; everyone seems to take to Sega, the beat is very infectious! The music is a big part of throwing a successful party, but it’s also the fact that people are in an

So, what’s next for you and, more broadly, the music?

Well, I’m getting old but I’d like to see some younger DJs coming onto the scene. All of the current crop are playing urban music; I’d like to see some young Mauritians playing Sega, so that people like me can retire! I don’t want the music to die out when my generation retires.

We look forward to seeing you at your next event on the first bank holiday weekend of May. Thanks very much.

William Mathieson

TRAVEL

Touessrok With stunning ocean views and white sandy beaches Le Touessrok is a contemporary and sophisticated resort. Since its opening, it has become one of the world’s greatest resorts – the height of beauty and modern elegance imbued with the warmth of tropical Mauritius, making it truly one of the “Leading Hotels of the World”. It lies on a beautiful stretch of sandy coast, looking out over tranquil Trou d’Eau Douce Bay. Out in the lagoon are two beautiful islands, including the famous Ile aux Cerfs with its spectacular 18-hole championship golf course, designed

by Bernhard Langer.

An extensive array of water sports are offered on Ile aux Cerfs, including complimentary non-motorised water sports and waterskiing. Cycling, scuba diving, and tennis offer further ways to keep fit and have fun. Four beaches and two separate islands form an integral part of the resort, offering a huge variety of water sports. Added to that, with its coral reefs and numerous wrecks, Mauritius is a diver’s paradise perfect for beginners, as well as experienced divers.

Guests will be able to renew their energies and treat their palates in the resort’s dizzying selection of restaurants, offering everything from authentic Mauritian dishes and seafood served at Paul et Virginie on Ile aux Cerfs, to the main dining room Three-Nine-

Eight, where nine cuisine types are presented at eight show kitchens on three levels – creating a delicious pan-global buffet. Excellent fresh ingredients, simple preparation, and an incredible range of styles and flavours also ensures elegant fine dining with a breakfast buffet as well as themed evenings at the main restaurant La Passerelle.

Parents can also enjoy a well-deserved break in the Givenchy Spa by letting their kids be entertained at the hotel’s children’s club. Children can in fact disappear into the forest at the exciting Robin Hood-themed Kids’ Club, tucked away amongst shady trees with its own tree house, play area, swimming pool, computer room, outdoor restaurant, and fully-trained dedicated supervisory staff.

Even teenagers won’t miss out, with their own laid-back schedule of sports, discos, and entertainment from the teens’ club offering everything from free water skiing, evening discos, and hiking in the Black River Gorge.

All guests staying at Le Touessrok have exclusive access to a private offshore retreat called Ilot Mangenie, and the resort is ideal for weddings, honeymoons and special occasions.

Known as being one of the world’s most romantic resorts, Le Touessrok is an ideal place for those who want to experience a loving retreat, but also offers something for those in search of relaxation, excitement, and enticement.

José Daniel

TRAVEL

Chamarel Chamarel is a wonder on the island of Mauritius. Situated in the south west of the island, the village is famous for two natural marvels: the Chamarel Falls and the seven coloured earths of Chamarel.

Very popular owing to the presence of the Chamarel Coloured Earth, a local phenomenon where mounds of earth of various hues can be seen next to one another, the region is fast developing an Eco-Tourism label with the opening of 2 properties where nature has blended itself harmoniously to offer superior accommodation of Eco values: Lakaz Chamarel and Les Chalets Montagnards.

The beauty of the Chamarel Falls captivates the tens of thousands of holidaymakers visiting the place every year. People in fact spend hour’s together sitting beside the natural falls, which have kept on flowing and gushing since ages. Beside the Falls, the rocky beds are covered with coloured landmass.

These unique landmasses were formed by the volcanic eruptions of past. After the eruptions occurred, the temperature dropped over time, leaving multiple shades on the surface of the rocks.

Accommodation at Chamarel is not an issue as there are several guest houses with homely atmosphere and adequate hospitality. Restaurants are available at a walking dis-

tance from the guest house. Tourists visiting this part of Mauritius are also encouraged to take a stride through the sugarcane fields of Chamarel Village, and adults and children alike can have loads of fun as they visit the wild life parks.

In the village of Chamarel, you will find a number of pineapple plantations. The pineapples found here are very tasty and the people here not only eat it fresh, but it also use it as a key ingredient in Chinese and local cuisine. On the way to Chamarel you will find the Black River gorges where you will see the wonderful Alexandra waterfall. The water flows down from two rivers and you can step down in to the water to have a relaxing swim.

After a long day when your feel that your body needs to be recharged, slip into the Le Chamarel Restaurant. This is aimed for tourists with various tastes and preferences, and the restaurant boosts a wonderful view of the lagoon. Visiting this part of Mauritius is always an extraordinary experience. Students of geography often come down for excursions, and the area is a bustling meeting hub to groups of geologists who are yet to discover the mysteries behind the multicoloured earth that form the core attraction of this place.

Jose Daniel

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RESTAURANTS & BARS UK

Chez Liline 101 Stroud Green Road, FInsbury Park London, N4 3PX, 020 7263 6550 www.chezliline.co.uk Chez Liline is a beautiful restaurant in Finsbury Park, North London with the most fantastic story behind it. The first Mauritian restaurant to open in Europe, Chez Liline opened its doors to the public in 1986 with chef Sylvain Ho Wing Cheong at the helm, along with his mother Liline. The family originally owned the fish shop next door before acquiring the shop to operate as a café. When the restaurant first opened, with its exotic fish and unique Creole flavours on the menu, Chez Liline became the talk of the town. The rest, as they say, was history. Its success bore four more restaurants in the West End of the capital, and Chez Liline is now into its third generation of chefs, with Sylvain’s son flourishing in the kitchen.

Perhaps what is most heartening about Chez Liline is that Sylvain has become the most renowned chef from Mauritius. A genius in the kitchen, he has cooked for political leaders and celebrities. He has written recipes for magazines, and has made cooking shows featuring Mauritian cuisine.

His aim is to put Mauritius cuisine, which he describes is “the best in the world”, on the culinary map.

Whilst he always wants to see more Mauritian restaurants opening around the world, he stresses the importance of taking Mauritian food to, in his words, “the next level”. And that is exactly what he achieves at Chez Liline.

The restaurant is revered by its critics, so I knew I was in for a treat. As a rule, I only tend to eat seafood when in Mauritius, just because I know that I can’t find better seafood anywhere in the world. The menu

is impressive; lobster, squid, blue swimming crab, barramundi, clams, and capitaine blanc grace the menu, which changes seasonally.

Diners are recommended to check out the daily specials menu, created in accordance to what fish is available on the day. About half of diners here tend not to look at the menu. Their order is already known, or they leave it up to the chefs to bring them something special. Diners can also order fish to their liking, whether it be the cut or the preparation. Chez Liline really is a seafood lover’s dream.

I had a selection of clams, calamari in a black bean sauce, rougaille de camarons, and poissons Triolet (a fish curry). I saw straight away that the food is prepared carefully and cooked to precision. The clams were sweet and fragrant and were quickly devoured. The calamari (a dish which is rarely cooked well) was cooked to perfection, tender rather than chewy and tough. The black bean sauce was sweet, with a gentle kick which complemented the calamari very well. The prawns were well cooked, and the sauce took me straight back to memories of Mauritius. My favorite

dish was the possions Triolet. As Sylvain explained, every dish has a story, and this dish was reminiscent of his childhood days eating fish curry in Triolet. The dish is also served with three different types of fish. The fish I sampled (capitaine blanc) was excellent; tender and full of flavour. The curry sauce was exceptional; gently spiced, thick, and made the fish taste truly special. This is what Sylvain meant by taking Mauritian food to the next level, and I highly recommend this dish to everyone.

Before I left, I asked some regulars what they liked about the restaurant. “Consistent”, “good service” and “authentic food” were words that cropped up. I would also guess that the selection of fish available and the gentle ambience are other factors that keep customers coming back to this truly amazing place.

Chez Liline is unrivalled by its peers for precisely these reasons. It may have a great story behind it, but by no means is the story finished. Sylvain says “one can always do better”. He will keep striving to get to that next level, as a tribute to Liline. Mauritian food, he explains, has the unique position of having Indian, Chinese, African and European influences.

But he won’t rest until he has given his dishes that extra edge. A proud Mauritian, Sylvain is a true advocate of Mauritian food and encourages Mauritians not to forget their culinary culture when giving tourists a taste of island cuisine. Chez Liline is a glowing tribute to his vision, and to Mauritius cuisine as a whole.

Sabina Jacobs

RESTAURANTS & BARS MAURITIUS

Mauritian recipes Each month Mauritius Now will bring you a variety of delicious and exciting recipes presented to you by our very own specialist chef from Mauritius.

Visit www.mauritiusnow.co.uk for all the latest recipes, which are updated every month.

Chicken Daube

La Madrague Tamarina Golf Estate,Tamarin Bay, (230) 401 3006 Ideally situated in the luxuriant resort of Tamarina, on the West coast of Mauritius, La Madrague restaurant and beach club is an amazing venue. It offers a spectacular view over Tamarin bay, a well known surfing hot spot, and is an ideal place to taste fresh, colorful, and tasty seafood cuisine.

Seated at the feet of the luxuriant mountains of the West Coast, you will enjoy both the delightful dishes on the table and the scenery around. In addition to the fusilli, worthwhile pastas include rich spaghetti with crab, sea urchin and basil. Other dishes available include sweet cavatelli with red shrimp, controne-bean purée and rosemary, a loose cotechino sausage cut into risotto, silky with melted cod belly. One might be tempted by a few simply grilled langoustines paired with a salsa verde, or that delicately cooked Dover sole with lemon. They elevate what might be a menu cliché into something fantastic.

You might try the crab chowder accompanied by soft potatoes and bits of bacon which tastes incredible. If you fancy something different there’s an excellent rock-shrimp taco plate with slaw brightened with cumin and lime, served with a slash of crème fraîche, a Mexican debutante. It’s hard to imagine a more appealing menu. Diners are spoilt for choice between noodles, soups, dim sum, small vegetable plates, clever appetisers, and larger entree-like dishes.

Also worth trying is the dark, buttery lobster stew, simmered with sherry and cream and a lighter, saltier, but no less attractive seafood chowder in which lurk scallops, clams, shrimp, chunks of potato and the occasional rope end of haddock.

If you enjoy a cold sun downer then make sure you book a table to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, stunning views, and fantastic food while the sun sets right before your eyes. La Madrague restaurant is definitely the place to stop by when visiting the West Coast.

Jose Daniel

Ingredients 1 kg chicken (cut into small pieces) 2 large chopped onions 1 tablespoon crushed garlic 1 teaspoon crushed ginger 3 cloves 1 cinnamon stick 2 teaspoon thyme 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves 500 grams can of crushed tomatoes 3 medium chillies chopped Oil, salt and pepper to taste

Method Fry the onions in the oil and then add the garlic and ginger. Stir for a little while.

Add the chicken pieces, cloves, cinnamon stick, thyme, chillies, some salt and stir well.

Leave to cook for a good little while and then add the crushed tomatoes.

Leave to cook on low heat and add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with rice, lentils or dholl.

Fish Fricassee Ingredients (serves 6) 1/2 kg aubergines Salt 1 big onion (sliced) 4 tablespoons oil 1 teaspoon ginger/garlic mixture

2 green chillies (slit) 175g finely chopped tomatoes 6 slices fish (fried) Thyme, chopped parsley 2 tablespoons chopped shallot Method Slit each aubergine in 4 or 6 length wise.

Keep side in salted water.

Brown onion in oil, add ginger/garlic mixture, the drained aubergines, chillies and some salt. Stir-fry and cook for 2 or 3 mins.

Pour in 1/4 glass water, cover and cook till aubergines are almost done.

Add tomatoes and a little more salt. Mix well and cook till gravy thickens. (Aubergines should not get mushy).

Now add fish, thyme and parsley and about 1/4 glass of water. Mix carefully, cover and simmer for 3 or 4 mins more.

Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped shallot.

Serve with rice and chutneys.

Extracts taken from Mauritian Delights by Mrs Lalita Sookhee, which contains over 300 absolutely delicious Mauritian recipes.

To purchase, please contact Mrs Lalita Sookee: lalitabsookhee@hotmail.com 1 Farquhar Street, Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius.

Telephone: 230-425-3803/230-750-1860 Fax: 230-425-3803

RESTAURANTS & BARS MAURITIUS

Salaam Bombay Royal Road, Moka, 00 (230) 433 1003 Dinners looking to learn more about traditional Indian cuisine come to Salaam Bombay. Since its humble beginnings, Salaam Bombay situated in Moka, has built up a reputation of serving some of the finest quality food, much to public and critical acclaim. On offer is a mouth watering selection of traditionally cooked, authentic Indian dishes, with the emphasis on flavour and presentation.

In fact, the food there is delicately spiced, distinctively flavoured, and extremely fresh. Unlike the all-too-familiar braised or stewed comfort foods offered at other reasonably priced restaurants, the dishes here have an exotic charm to give diners a real sense of adventure.

The decor, for one thing, steers clear of Indian fabrics, ornate brass plates and beaded curtains, and the food gets an upgrade as well. The results, for the most part, disarm criticism. Spices are used with great skill and delicacy at Salaam Bombay, the marinades penetrating every fibre of the various meat dishes available, which arrive in a state of melting tenderness.

Tasty Lavash flatbread make the perfect compliment for the hummus, which was smooth, beany and streaked with red pepper oil, simply delicious! A range of typical Indian breads are available to complement your meal, or you could try one of the many varieties of pilau rice.

There is also the perfect selection of vegetable side dishes to make your meal complete.

The dessert menu uses a few Indian ingredients strategically, with great success. One will no doubt be delighted by the saffron ice cream sprinkled with chopped pistachios, gorgeous in both texture and flavour.

Salaam Bombay really is a special experience and whilst it caters for everyone’s taste, lovers of Indian food especially will be deeply impressed.

Jose Daniel

Special introductory offer Get the first 6 months delivered to your door for FREE! For a more rewarding read, subscribe to Mauritius Now Mauritius Now brings you unrivalled news from Mauritius and the UK every month, and provides a platform for a diverse range of passionate and authoritative views – allowing you to make up your own mind on all the important issues.

With our introductory offer, you will receive the first 6 months of Mauritius Now for free, and our home delivery service will bring every issue to your door free of charge. As a subscriber, you will also become a member, which will give you exclusive discounts, access to events and many other offers.

To subscribe, please visit www.mauritiusnow.co.uk or contact: 0843 289 5510

LIFESTYLE Lifestyle with Stef T

Sunsense Daily Face SPF 50+ (£14.30 www.sunsense.co.uk) has very high sun protection, is absorbed easily, keeps the skin moisturised all day and has a matt finish.

Excellent moisturiser also perfect under makeup. Try their Lip Balm SPF40 (£3.98) too for moisturised, wrinkle-free lips.

Skin Defender Urban Protection Emulsion SPF30 (£38.50 01827 280 080) Containing Lycopene, this effective anti-ageing emulsion sinks into the skin easily - making it perfect for those with greasy epidermis has a high SPF and can be used on its own or on top of your favourite moisturiser.

Transformulas Face Control and Lightening Crème (£34.95 www.transformulas. com). Containing US Health & Beauty New Technology Award Winning tetra peptide Eyeseryl and Gatuline Expression, this lifting and sculpting cream benefits those suffering from saggy, ageing skin. This easily absorbed formula has an immediate tightening effect and can be used around the eyes to combat fine lines, puffiness and bags. It does contain menthol, so use it at least 10 minutes before applying makeup as it can make eyes watery.

Results are immediate. Use on its own or in conjunction with a day/night cream.

Stef Bottinelli

he sun is shining, the birds are singing and spring has finally arrived. The warmer months are a good time to take a good look at skincare. UVA rays are one of the worst culprits when it comes to ageing, damage and discolouration of the skin, so if you don’t already use an SPF moisturiser, start now. It’s good to invest in a good skin care regime and stick to it. With the right face wash, serum and moisturiser, skin condition and appearance will improve dramatically in no time. After searching, trying and testing, here are my favourite products to kick start a good skin care routine:

STEP 1 CLEANSE There is not much point in slathering on expensive creams if your face is not clean.

Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser (£9, “www.soapandglory.com). With panthenol, sweet almond, orange and lavender oils it cleanses deeply and tightens pores without drying. Being Soap and Glory of course, it comes in a beautiful package you’ll be proud to display on your bathroom shelf.

Arbonne Nutrimin C Re9 Face Wash Renewing Gelee Crème Hydrating Wash (£25 www.arbonneinternational.co.uk). Packed with vitamin C, this gel/cream wash gets rid of dirt whilst moisturising and lifting the complexion.

Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System (£150 for Clarisonic Classic or £175 for Clarisonic Plus, available at Space NK, www.spacenk. co.uk and www.clarisonic.com/uk). Loved by celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Courtney Cox, this innovative face and body brush cleans the skin deeply and helps healing acne, dryness and rosacea. You can use it with your favourite face wash or with the Clarisonic range. Also comes in pink. At £150 it’s a bit of an investment, but a good one that guarantees results.

STEP 2 SERUMS After cleansing, the skin is ready to soak up the nutrients contained in your skincare of choice. Start with a good serum to brighten and exfoliate.

Bliss Peeling Groovy Facial Serum (£48 www.blisslondon.co.uk) uses AAEs (Amino Acid Exfoliators) to brighten dull skin, tighten pores and fight fine lines. Brilliant results after a couple of weeks.

Arbonne NutriMin C Re9 Reactivating Facial Serum Day and Night (£34). Fights

lines thanks to the powerful antioxidant properties of vitamin C, whilst moisturising the skin.

STEP 3 EYES The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the rest of the face, that’s why it’s important to use a cream specific for that area, as face moisturises are too rich and can cause eyes to puff up and water.

Arbonne gets it right again with their Nutrimin C Re9 Repair Corrective Eye Crème (£34), which tackles fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. Use morning and night for best results.

STEP 4 MOISTURISE AND CORRECT A good SPF day moisturiser is essential to fight aging of the skin, skin cancer, burns and to keep our epidermis in top notch condition.

CLASSIFIEDS

RNT TRADING COMPANY LTD Main importer and distributor of mauritian products in the UK We specialise in: Dhall Pouri, Parathas, Pickles, Snacks, Fizzy Drinks, Massala Powders, Fresh Vegitables, Apollo Noodles, Sirop Dowlut plus many more Mobile: 07961 366 572 Email: rnt.enquiries@googlemail.com Fax: 0208 548 4702

SKY GREEN BAKERY Patisserie Nasrullah 611B Lea Bridge Road, London, E10 6AJ Tel: 0208 521 2855 Mobile: 07588 820 729 Cakes and for all occasions Mauritian cakes also available: Mawa, Sultalfine, etc.

Briyani and cakes for weddings also catered for All Orders with 10% discount.

Green Island UK Limited Finest Mauritian Rum, Spirit, Wine and Champagne Importer Tel: +44 (0) 20 8881 8686 www.greenislandrum.com Address 21 Turnpike Lane Wood Green London N8 0EP Telephone 020 8348 3388

Rithmo Sounds Sound and P.A Equipment for all occasions Contact: 07957 491 379 www.rithmo.com

MONEY & JOBS Inflation at 2% Food and drink prices on way up I

nflation is expected to slide to 2% this year, according to latest forecasts of the Central Statistical Office. The rate of increase in the general price level for the calendar year 2009/10 will be lower than that of financial year 2008/9, when it stood at 6.9%.

Mauritius has experienced relatively high rates of inflation despite there being no underlying causes for this. One of the explanations might be behaviour of the population following the expectation of inflation.

Traditionally workers have been given annual compensation to make up for the loss of purchasing power and the quantum was based on the rate of inflation. In turn, businesses would increase their prices to make up for the higher costs of production incurred by the increase in manpower costs This method was only good as long as the country was dependent on sugar and manufacturing exports. Each year the government would devalue the rupee to boost the competitiveness of Mauritian exports. Given that this would result in an increase in the price of imports the government would compensate workers by giving them an annual wage compensation. Hence the name for this exercise.

However it led to a price/wage spiral whereby employers try to make up for inflation with increased wages, and businesses make up for the increased cost by raising prices. This creates a cycle which can cause

the inflation rate to rise by several points over a period of time. The compensation in itself then becomes a source of inflation.

To combat this price/wage spiral, the government introduced a new means of calculating wage compensation. The productivity factor was included along with inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 1.6 points from December 2009 to reach 118.8 points at the end of March 2010.

On a monthly basis, there was a higher increase in the general price level in January by one point and 0.2 point in the other two months. This increase in the CPI was reflected by higher food prices, mainly vegetables, milk, sugar, meat, fish and fruits. The price of alcoholic beverages has also increased during the first quarter of the year as well as the price of gasoline.

Comparatively, the price of air tickets has gone down. During the first quarter the price of food has increased and consumers have seen a nearly 4% rise in the price of vegetables, a 4.6% rise in the cost of milk, a 28.6% rise in the price of sugar and the price of fish, meat and fruits have also risen. Moreover the price of alcoholic beverages such as wine and spirits has also increased by 3.7% and 1.2% respectively. Clothing and housing costs also increased in the first three months of the year.

The rental cost of houses has increased by 1.4% since the beginning of the year, according to the latest figures. The cost of

private healthcare has gone up since the beginning of the year, with clinic charges increasing by 3.3% while at the same time the cost of mobile phones has gone down by 12.8%. During the first three months of the year, the price of school textbooks increased by 6.9% while the cost of newspapers has gone up by 3.4%. The cost of hotel accommodation has gone down by 15.2%.

Mahesh Bugnath This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius. Visit NewsNow.mu

“The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 1.6 points from December 2009 to reach 118.8 points at the end of March 2010”

Mauritius Union buys La Prudence

T

he Mauritius Union Assurance Company Limited (MUA) will pay Rs800 million for the acquisition of La Prudence Mauricienne Assurance Company Limited (LPM). Their boards of directors have voted in favour of proposing to shareholders a resolution to go forward with the acquisition. The total consideration of the acquisition amounts to Rs800 million which will be paid in cash to the shareholders of La Prudence on the basis of an actuarial valuation determined by Deloitte & Touche. This will be validated by a diligence exercise carried out by the chartered accountants BDO & Co. The acquisition has been approved by the Financial Services Commission, and it is now just a matter of the shareholders approving the transaction for it to go forward. A special meeting of shareholders will be held on April 27.

This acquisition will enable Mauritius Union to consolidate its capital base and maintain the profit sharing capacity of life insurance policyholders. The company wants to diversify its offer in terms of insurance products. MUA is very active in general insurance, life insurance, and car insurance among other areas, whereas La Prudence has a larger base in the healthcare insurance sector. The Mauri-

“The acquisition amounts to Rs800 million which will be paid in cash to the shareholders of La Prudence”

tius Union Assurance also purchased the National Mutual Fund in December last year.

This new acquisition will enable MUA to increase its footprint in the insurance sector and increase its market share. It is also believed that this transaction will enable MUA to achieve cost efficiency gains at various levels and enhance brand image and visibility. La Prudence has some specific products in which they specialise, and this expertise will enable MUA to extend its customer base and create cross-selling and sales opportunities.

Mahesh Bugnath This article was exclusively provided by NewsNow: The First English-language daily internet newspaper in Mauritius.

Visit NewsNow.mu

SPORT In conversation with…

Karen Foo Kune M

auritius’ number one Badminton player, Karen Foo Kune, is aiming to once more shine at African Championship level this year, even if she’s already thinking about the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She caught up with Mauritius Now….

You were awarded Sportswoman of the Year in 2009.

What did winning this award mean to you?

It was quite a surprise for me as I did not expect to win this award at all. It was nice to be rewarded for all the hard work I put in and all the sacrifices I made during the year. I feel proud to have won this award, and being named “Sportswoman of the year” has really encouraged and inspired me to continue to give my best at both national and international levels of competition.

“The National Badminton Federation here in Mauritius is doing a tremendous job in popularising the discipline” What are your main objectives for 2010?

I will be competing for the African title in Uganda and the African Individuals. I will also take part in the Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco International Championships. This year’s season has just started so I will be pretty busy in the coming months, but my most important objective will be the Commonwealth games in India. I am confident in my ability to compete at the highest levels, and I’ve really improved the standard of my overall game in training sessions.

London 2012 – has the thought of competing crossed your mind yet?

Sure! I’ve already started the training program with the new coach to be fully prepared for this major event, but before flying to London, I’m preparing myself for the Jeux des Iles which will be held next year in Madagascar. I’m very excited to be able to take part in these two competitions and I hope that I will able to bring back a medal for my country.

You and your younger sister play badminton at National level. It would seem that in your case Badminton really is a family affair…. How did this come about?

Indeed! It all started with our parents who were both professional Badminton players years ago. They encouraged us to take up the sport, and we have both been fortunate to progress to such a high level. In February of this year, my sister and I underwent a ranking contest. Unfortunately, my sister is no longer ranked number 2, but I remain confident that she will move up rankings once again. She has been winning all her games recently and is in top form. I’m very proud of what we have both accomplished since we started playing Badminton years ago.

You have helped in making Badminton a popular sport in Mauritius. What are your feelings towards this?

I must say that the National Badminton Federation here in Mauritius is doing a tremendous job in popularising the discipline. The Federation’s management is trying to identify new talents through the Badminton schools which they are opening regularly. I think that it’s important for youngsters to practice any sport as it will help them to focus in their studies and to be more responsible in their everyday life.

Compared to Australia, where I lived for a few years, Badminton is far more popular in Mauritius.

How do you feel when you see the Mauritian flag in the terraces when you compete abroad?

I completely forget about the hundreds of people yelling in the terraces and look only at that little Mauritian flag. When that happens, I really want to win.

What would you like to say to your fans in the UK? I want to thank them all for their support. I love England and I hope that they will come to see me when I will play over there in 2012.

Jose Daniel

SPORT

Getting in shape with S

pring is in the air and it’s a perfect time to turn one’s attention to getting fit for the summer. Rather than being stuck in a crowded gym, more and more people are starting to see the virtues of exercising outside, as nature intended. Throw in a competitive element, and you’ve got the making of the perfect sporting summer.

This is a concept that has been successfully picked up on by business partners Vissen Appadu, Vikash Seenayah, and Shahzad John, the co-founders of Innovation Sports, a successful Fitness Events Company based in South London.

The three friends started the company in 2003, under the guise of Maverick Sports, as a sports management service.

Prompted by the loss of Shahzad’s mother, a foundation was set up and a charity run organised in her memory.

“The road to success hasn’t been easy”, Vikash explains, “We are talking about the bare basics here. For our first event; we had measured a questionable 10k course, had conducted very little marketing, and had a turnout of about 80 runners.

Even though very little planning had gone into it, it turned our heads; people came up to us afterwards saying ‘that was a really good run’.” Shahzad adds, “We’ve learnt from all of our events: what works and what doesn’t, what people like and what they want more of.”

The three men acknowledge that there have been trials and tribulations along the way but insist that they are better businessman because of these learning processes. These days the figure of 80 runners has turned into a figure of 500, all of whom attend the Innovation Sports 10k race series, taking place on Clapham Common. This series comprises five races, between March and October, all of which attract a mixture of competitive athletes and runners attending for leisure. All in all, Vikash estimates there are 9000 subscribers to the series, although he adds that “they don’t all show up to every event, but you’d expect to see everyone at least once or twice!”

When asked about the quality of competitors the guys are very keen to stress that it is an event open to all levels of ability: “You’ve got people raising money for charity, there are people aiming to run sub-forty minute times, and there are people hoping just to finish a 10k run”, says Vikash.

“Our oldest entrant is 78”; a quite frankly astonishing revelation from Vissen, who quickly adds that the series is excellently staffed by medical professionals.

The guys believe that the Sports 10k Race Series is the complete package for running enthusiasts, offering a personalised service that they would struggle to find elsewhere with larger sports firms. Indeed, when I attended the second race of this year’s series, the beautiful weather on the Common was perfectly offset by the fun and friendly atmosphere of the race entrants and organisers.

The Race Series certainly provides a flagship event with which to develop the company, and that is exactly what the ambitious entrepreneurs are doing. Vissen tells me that Innovation Sports also has an established corporate events service: “We’ve done a number of events for Disney, who is our biggest client. They’ve requested a sports day, like the ones we had at school, so we provided the management and the infrastructure for it. They’ve also asked for scaled down events, which include more obvious sports such as tennis.”

“You’ve got people raising money for charity, there are people aiming to run sub-forty minute times, and there are people hoping just to finish a 10k run”

Innovation Sports has also provided a similar service for the mining giant, Rio Tinto. Shahzad explains that the company organised a run for Rio Tinto’s employees, “but we also provided them with ten weeks of training prior to the race.”

Personal training is yet another facet of the company; Innovation Therapy, Inoovations Sports’ sister company, provides a comprehensive personal training and therapy service. This side of the business is headed by Vissen, a qualified physiotherapist and Shahzad, a qualified fitness coach. Shahzad adds that the company has a good relationship with top spas across the capital.

I ask them about their Mauritian roots (Vissen and Vikash are both of Mauritian parentage), and whether the series at-

SPORT

Innovation Sports

Vissen Appadu, Vikash Seenayah, and Shahzad John tracts a Mauritian following. Vissen insists that attracting members of all backgrounds to the race series is a very important consideration for the company: “We’re also trying to encourage Mauritians to get involved in various events.”

For Vikash, healthy living more generally is inherently linked to the company’s ethos: “Today we’ve had a 2k event for the kids and it was the first one we’ve done. I spoke to a local resident after the race who said that it was the best thing he’d seen on Clapham Common, and how pleased he was to see a company promoting healthy living at a younger age.” This particular event is open to children up to the age of 14, and based on the success of the inaugural event that I witnessed, the guys plan to make it a staple part

“We’re looking into Finsbury Park in North London to increase awareness of our brand. We hope that our 2k and 5k series will also continue to grow” of their service. There were around thirty entrants, despite limited marketing, and the trio has high hopes for future races. Innovation also offers a 5k adult alternative, for runners that are new to the discipline and those that are starting out on the road to fitness.

This series runs concurrently with the 10k races.

I ask Shahzad where he hopes to take the company from here. He believes that the company can become a recognised name around London and beyond: “We really want to expand the races and events to a national level but we’re also looking into hosting fitness weekenders abroad. We’ve secured a location in Tuscany and we’re in the process of working out the logistics of the operation.”

An exciting prospect for readers of Mauritius Now though, is Vikash’s revelation of the guys future ambitions; “We’ve got a longer-term plan to eventually host an event in Mauritius. We’ve seen a number of sites that we’re considering for future events. We plan to take the race to there, but instead of it being a one day event; it would involve events stretching across a week in Mauritius.”

They plan to market this to their existing customers, offering them, as Vissen puts it “a beautiful island, so that they get to see Mauritius and the Mauritian community get to see what we offer.”

Shahzad also explains that they hope to collaborate with a sponsor, with the aim of sending the winner of the Innovation Sports race series to Mauritius, as a prize. He feels that it would be a mutually beneficial project, rewarding the winning entrants and promoting the Island within London.

With 2010’s series well under way, he says that they are already planning for a bigger and better event next year: “We’re looking into Finsbury Park in North London to increase awareness of our brand. We hope that our 2k and 5k series will also continue to grow.”

Vissen signs off with a fitting message: “getting people into fitness is our main aim and we intend to push the company forward with that at the forefront of our minds.”

Visit: www.innovationsports.co.uk William Mathieson

SPORT In conversation with…

Eric Milazar P

rofessional 400 meter sprinter Eric Milazar will go for the gold medal at the Commonwealth games which are to be held in India this year. He talks exclusively to Mauritius Now about his career and how he fought against illness to be back at his peak.

What are main events will you attend in 2010?

I will run at the Africa Championship which will be held in Kenya in July. I’m also planning to attend the Commonwealth games in India. Performing well at the Commonwealth Games is my main objective for 2010, and I expect to be on the podium with a medal.

You were awarded Athlete of the year 2009. How did you welcome this reward?

I was really proud to receive this prize. I have been working hard during the past ten years to perform at the top level and this makes it all worthwhile. That award is even more special to me because it gives me faith in the future. As you may know, I was very ill in 2006, and it took me almost two years to be back at top competition level. 2009 has been great for me and I hope that this year will be even better!

You had to make a lot of effort to fight back the illness.

Has it been difficult for you?

It has been a tough time but I must say that my family has been a great support for me, and I want to thank them for that. Fortunately I’m mentally strong; otherwise, I’m not sure I would have been able to come back to competing at this level. Thankfully now everything’s OK, I feel great and I’m ready for new challenges.

You have been amongst the top ten world athletes for the past ten years. Tell us more about this experience…

I have always been proud of this. It has been a tremendous experience to be among the world’s best. I had the opportunity to fly to Senegal where I trained in a world class training centre. There, I learned new performance and training techniques, and also gained valuable information regarding managing my career. I owe my success to my coach who has helped me a lot during all those years. I got the opportunity to achieve my dreams and I’m very grateful for that.

When you began your athletics career, did you think that you would one day be amongst the world’s best?

When I was a kid, my idol was Carl Lewis. At that time, my dream was to participate in a World Championship competition but I still can’t believe that I actually did it! It was one of the best experiences of my life.

In what way have you changed as an athlete?

I don’t think that I’ve changed much. It’s more the way that people view me that has changed over the years. It always feels strange when I hear people around me saying to the guy or girl next to them: “It’s him. It’s Eric”. I try to keep my head on my shoulders, stay humble, and work hard.

You have become a role model for many people, especially the younger generation. What are your thoughts on sports participation amongst younger people?

Youngsters, as you know, are more interested in Facebook, MSN, mobile phones, and fashion than in sport. Out of ten youngsters who practice sport, only two will persevere. It’s sad. I keep telling them that sport is not only important for health, but that it will teach them discipline and how to never give up in anything.

Furthermore, as studies have become more and more demanding, the young ones don’t have much time anymore to practice sport, whether at school level or at a professional level.

Whenever you attend an athletic championship, some Mauritian supporters are always in the terraces. What does it feel like to have all these people behind you?

Each time I see a group of Mauritians in the terraces, I want to win the race and make them happy. I still remember seeing Mauritian flags among the thousands of supporters in Beijing during the Olympic Games. I was really proud.

You will be turning 35 this year. Are you thinking about what you will do when you retire from competing?

Not really. I’m still focused on my career as an athlete, but I keep in mind that a time will come for me to share my experience with the new generation of athletes. I will be there to help and guide them, and to pass on what I have learnt.

Would you like to say a word to your fans in the UK? I want to thank them all for supporting me and other Mauritian sportspersons. Your support means a lot to us!

Jose Daniel