Mauritius Now

INDEPENDENCE 2010 ................................................................. 2As Mauritius celebrates its 42nd year of independence, Abhimanu Kundasamy - High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius talks about the political and economic challenges facing the country

SCOTTIE BThe face of UK urban music discusses his career – from his fi rst residency in north London to playing across the world19

mauritiusnowMauritian political temperature rises

As expected, the weekend proved to be very decisive on the political front, with the Mouvement Militant Mau-ricien (MMM) ultimately deciding that it would end

electoral alliance negotiations with the Labour Party. The move was announced by leader of the MMM, Paul Berenger, at a press conference on Saturday afternoon, just hours after he met members of the central committee to communicate the sta-tus of negotiations. On Friday, a special meeting of the MMM politburo considered the state of a proposed alliance between the Labour Party and the MMM. On both occasions the MMM made the same decision to opt out of the negotiations. Accord-ing to Mr Berenger, the main reason for opting-out was due to the lack of confi dence in Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.

Though he admitted that Dr Ramgoolam made some posi-tive moves, he insisted that on the whole the prime minister “did make suffi cient effort”. Obviously the MMM argued that they were motivated by patriotic feelings when they decided to negotiate with the Labour Party and hoped that they could build a new Mauritius together. As expected, the party will get back to business as usual when the National Assembly resumes tomor-row. They are also mobilising their supporters for the May Day rally. The fi rst of these meetings will be held in Plaine Verte on April 7 2010. The Mauritius Labour Party also took the oppor-tunity at the weekend to talk about an “alliance”, insisting that the leader of the Social Alliance, Dr Ramgoolam, never discussed any alliance with the MMM. They argue that Dr Ramgoolam only met Mr Berenger because the latter is the leader of the opposi-tion, and that he had expressed the desire to meet the prime minister. Both the party Secretary General, Deva Virahswamy, and Director of Communication, Miss Nita Deerpalsing, stated that it was Mr Berenger who publicised the proposal of an al-liance between the MMM and the Labour Party. The Secretary General of the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM), Nando Bodha, described Mr Berenger as being “Unstable”. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Mr Bodha said the MSM will not be negotiating any alliance with another political party, but insisted that the MSM would negotiate with dignity should the need for any such alliance arise… (turn to page 4)

STEPHANE BUCKLANDThe professional 100-metre sprinter talks about his attempts to qualify for the Athletics World Cup to be held in September

APRIL 2010

AKBAR PATEL ...................................30The coach of the Mauritius National Football Team talks of his plans to make Mauritius a football nation

EVENTS ................................................... 17TRAVEL ..................................................20RESTAURANTS & BARS ................ 22LIFESTYLE ............................................24MONEY & JOBS ................................... 25PROPERTY ........................................... 26SPORT .................................................... 29

CONTACT USEditor: Eshan Badal Mauritius Now Ltd, The Chocolate Factory, Unit 204A5 Clarendon Road, Wood Green, London N22 6XJTel: 0843 289 5510 Fax: 0842 289 5510Advertising: 0843 2895098Editorial: 0843 289 5510Web: www.mauritiusnow.co.ukEmail: [email protected]: [email protected]

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 oth-erwise 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.

NITIN GANATRAEastenders’ Nitin Ganatra talks about his time in Mauritius and how he plans to revisit the island again this year11 32

MSM leaderPravind Jagnauth

MMM leaderPaul Berenger

Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam

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www.mauritiusnow.co.uk

Independence Day celebrations in Mauritius

March saw the 42nd anniversary of Mauritian Independence from British colonial rule. This is a very special time for the Mauritian community as a whole, both at home and in Brit-ain. It signals four decades of progress and development that has seen the Island community evolve into a destina-tion admired around the world, with a vibrant population and a diverse economy, which continues to grow, despite global pressures.

Recent figures suggest that there are 250,000 people in the UK of Mauritian origin, so it goes without saying that this month’s anniversary was cause for joyous celebrations.

In honour of the anniversary, the Mauritian High Commis-sioner, Mr. Abhimanu Kundasamy, hosted a gathering at the Mauritian Embassy in South West London to recognise the past achievements of Mauritians, and thank the wider community for their friendship and continued support over the years.

The party began with a heartfelt speech from the High Commissioner himself, during which he welcomed dignitaries from India, Egypt, Kuwait and Senegal, amongst others. Mr. Kundasamy emphasised the importance of remembering the date, and the significance it had for the state of Mauritius.

The embassy was full to capacity, as attendants came to raise a glass to the achievements of Mauritius. The event at-tracted the great and the good from the worlds of sport, en-tertainment, politics and business, and all were treated to an array of delicious Mauritian cuisine. Camera flashes popped as soap star Nitin Ganatra could be seen standing with Air Mauritius CEO, Anthony Cowles. Footballing prodigy Riana Soobadoo was present, just weeks after being crowned ‘Young Female of the Year’ at the British Asian Sports Awards. Politi-cians and diplomats from across the Commonwealth were present to toast a member of their fraternity. There were also

a number of prominent businessmen who have contributed to the burgeoning Mauritian economy.

With the first issue of Mauritius Now recently launched, Mr. Kundasamy offered the following congratulations:

“I’d like to thank the team at Mauritius Now. I think this is an excellent initiative, which demonstrates the importance of the Mauritian Diaspora in the United Kingdom. It will help to maintain the links between this Diaspora and its roots in Mauritius. This is something that we need to celebrate; the more initiatives we have in this vein, the greater the links between Mauritians in the UK and those living in Mauritius. I want to thank everyone involved, particularly Eshan Badal. It has taken a lot of hard work so I congratulate the team, because it is good to promote Mauritius in the UK, and any-thing that does that should be celebrated. Well done!”Will Mathieson

The Independence Day of any country is a moment of pride and glory. On this special occasion, rich tributes are paid

to the ones who fought to free their moth-erland. And this year was no exception. The Mauritian Independence Day was celebrated with flag-hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes all over the country. The main event was held, as usual, at the Champ de Mars where thousands of Mauritians gathered together for an emotional moment. There, the Prime Minster, Navin Ramgoolam, unfurled the National Flag and it was saluted by guns.

This year’s festivity was even more poi-gnant. In fact, the country became a Republic 18 years ago. Mauritius holds the record for the longest period spent as a Commonwealth Realm, 24 years, with it becoming a Republic on 12th March 1992. And the theme chosen for this year was: ‘Our Country, Our Pride’. Mauritians, throughout the country, showed their patriotism and their love for their coun-try. “Unlike some other countries, we are lucky enough to have been successful, both on the social and economic level, since Mau-ritius has become an independent country. And we have to be thankful for this,” said Ra-jen, an inhabitant of Port-Louis who came to the flag-raising ceremony with his son.

Patriotic presentations were also organised in schools where children added colours to the celebrations. Added to this, the Port-Lou-is skyline was dotted with thousands of kites

taking to the sky this day. “I love seeing all these flags and kites floating on the houses, on the cars and along the road. This should be like this all year long,” said Margaret, who lives in Rose-Hill. Even the buildings of na-tional importance were all illuminated on this very special occasion.

The official celebration was followed by a musical and cultural show, which attracted thousands of Mauritians. On stage, the per-

Celebrations in the UK

NEWS

formers recreated the country’s most im-portant chapters which led to the Indepen-dence of the Island on 12th March 1968. Dancers and comedians created a beautiful show which delighted the audience. At night, firecrackers echoed in the roads throughout the country. “I’m really proud of my country when I see all these people celebrating to-gether. We are very lucky to live in such a beautiful and peaceful Island,” declared Eric.

This Independence Day Celebration that every Mauritian enjoys is about many things. It not only commemorates the founding of a new society and the formation of cultures that flourish today. But it also celebrates ideas, which are the true touchstones of our way of life, more than any material founda-tion. This was the most important thing to remember on 12th March. Jose Daniel

NEWS

Football fever2010 is a special year. Mauritians this

year will not be lamenting the end of this season’s English Premier League,

because June will see the start of the world’s biggest sporting tournament: the World Cup. And this year it’s extra special, because, for the first time, an African country will be the host nation. But while Mauritians sit back and enjoy the football, how can the country benefit from South Africa 2010 and what les-sons can be learnt?

The power of football is immense, both cul-turally and economically. As a truly universal sport, children will play it anywhere, no mat-ter where they’re from or who they are. Mau-ritians live, breathe and sleep football. This is why the football economy will be so impor-tant in Mauritius, come June and July. The up-lift in consumption in the Mauritian economy will be significant, as families invest in new TVs (LCD TVs have been the recipient of recent VAT decreases), satellite packages and flock to the bars to watch the football with friends. The more traditional beer and gambling industries will also see a peak in demand. The effects of these will be even greater if a national team that is popular in Mauritius does well.

Yet there is another dimension to this year’s World Cup. Tourist chiefs and hoteliers are hoping that tourists planning to travel to South Africa for the football will also stop over in Mauritius. Remember that tourism has tak-en quite a hit over the last 12 months. There

may have been a recovery in tour-ist numbers since November, but June is a quiet month in the hotel calendar, and any upturn in visitors should be seized upon. Consequently, Air Mauritius has in-creased the frequency and capacity of flights on its routes between Mauritius and World Cup host cities Durban, Cape Town and Johan-nesburg. Last year, FIFA announced a proposal to reserve around 3,000 hotel rooms in Mau-ritius for special World Cup packages, with the prospect of South Africa itself running out of accommodation. Yet, FIFA has now dropped this idea, and the expected extra 20,000 visi-tors and an estimated increase of Rs1bn in revenue they were expected to bring seems unrealistic. Mauritius is, after all, a four-hour flight away from the nearest World Cup city, and with Mauritius Now off the official World Cup accommodation list, tourist chiefs have their work cut out for them.

All is not lost though. Mauritius may yet be a destination for national squads before the pre-tournament period begins, and we may see a few WAGs sunning themselves on Mauritian beaches, especially if teams adopt a ‘no wives’ policy during the tournament!

The World Cup will bring Mauritians to-gether and the passion amongst the popula-tion will be feverish, especially because it is in South Africa. But Mauritians will be disap-pointed that Mauritius is not there, despite there being several African teams in the Fi-nals, and at the state of Mauritian football as a whole. The government should really take this opportunity to review Mauritian football: the facilities, the stadiums, local leagues, and the national team. Just imagine if Mauritius had a national squad good enough to com-pete at World Cup level! Forget tourists, eco-nomic growth would rocket on the feel-good factor amongst locals alone!

No less than six African teams are compet-ing in this year’s World Cup, all of them eco-nomically worse off than Mauritius. So, are we missing something? Sure, Mauritius is a small Island with a small population, but we have great sporting pedigree, full of youngsters who would love to be professional footballers. The likes of Bruno Julie and Stephane Buck-land have won major medals at top sporting events, despite a lack of facilities. Perhaps now, finally, is the time for the government to start putting money into grassroots football: de-veloping talent among the youth, bringing in experienced foreign coaches to work with the

national side, ensuring the Mauri-tian Football Association (MFA) is run

well. The Premier League could also do with some more funding. The 1999 ri-

ots killed local football in Mauritius, and local teams nowadays play to few spectators. The MFA needs to somehow find a way to reignite local football and the passion in Mauritius with-out the ethnic divisions. This could be helped by TV and sponsorship deals, as well as encourag-ing more involvement from local communities. The World Cup will bring a thirst for success amongst Mauritians both here and in Mauritius

itself, and this is an opportunity for football in Mauritius to turn a corner.

This year’s World Cup will be on ev-eryone’s lips this June, such is the im-portance of football on the Island. South Africa 2010 will bring economic positives, even if they aren’t as great as initially thought, but will also highlight the neg-atives about football and the state of Mauritian sport. It will be a time to en-

joy, but also a time to think big. 2010 will be remembered for the winning nation that lifts that most coveted of trophies at Soccer City in Johannesburg on July 11th. But it could also be remembered as the tournament that kick-started Mauritian football again.Sabina Jacobs

NEWS

The political temperature rises…(Continued from page 1)

He insisted that Mr Berenger does not have the moral right to continue to occupy the post of leader of the opposition. He explained that the fact that he has had negotiations with the ruling party disqualifies him as leader of the opposition. The MSM will now be in “construc-tive opposition”. Mr Bodha also confirmed that the leader of the MSM, Mr Pravind Jug-nauth, had dinner with his counterpart of the PMSD, Mr Xavier Luc Duval, and Mr Rama Va-layden .The Mauritius Labour Party has con-ceded that an alliance with the Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) would lead to a 60-0 election victory. Director of Communi-cation Miss Nita Deerpalsing went on to say: “If there was an alliance between the Labour Party and the MMM, there would have been a score of 60-0 at the forthcoming general elec-tions, but the leader of the Labour Party is not interested in a 60-0 score along with a person who is a source of instability. Our struggle for power is motivated by our desire to usher in social transformation. A 60-0 score does not interest Dr Ramgoolam.”

Both Deva Virahswamy and Miss Nita Deerpalsing denied there were negotiations between the Labour Party and the MMM to form an alliance, insisting that the Prime Minister had only talked to Mr Berenger. They argued that it was Mr Berenger who had pub-licised the possibility of a new alliance.

“On February 23 at the ceremony marking the 74th anniversary of the founding of the Labour Party, Dr Ramgoolam emphasised the fact that he is not interested in any alliance and that his priority is to end his mandate

and complete reforms in various sectors. It was Berenger who went everywhere to an-nounce the Labour/MMM alliance. He even went to the extent of talking about hurdles in the way of the project of the alliance,” said Miss Deerpalsing. She slammed the leader of the MMM, claiming that he wants to “dictate” everything, including the sharing of posts at the top level in government, should the La-bour Party/MMM alliance became a reality. Miss Deerpalsing insisted that the leader of the Labour Party never stated formally that there was a Labour Party/MMM alliance in the making. “No sooner had the leader of the PMSD, Mr Xavier Luc Duval, retaliated to Mr Berenger’s comments, than the lat-ter stopped talking about the Labour Party/MMM alliance,” she said. She also criticised Mr Berenger for proposing a code of conduct for the forthcoming general elections, argu-ing that Mr Berenger’s ally, Mr Ashock Jugn-auth, had been condemned by the Supreme Court for electoral bribery. “The Privy Coun-cil confirmed the judgment of the Supreme Court and Mr Jugnauth was defeated at the by-election held in Moka/Quartier Militaire in March 2009,” she said. Replying to a ques-tion from the media regarding the recent statement of MSM leader Pravind Jugnauth on his preference for a Labour Party/MSM/PMSD alliance, Miss Deerpalsing said that Dr Ramgoolam is the person who will decide on the choice in terms of an alliance. Earlier, Mr Virahsawmy also stated that

it was Mr Berenger who took the initiative of announcing that a Labour Party/MMM al-liance was in-the-making. He criticised the

leader of the MMM for “jumping to conclu-sions” and even going as far as designating those who would occupy the chairmanships of some governmental organisations. Mr Be-renger was practising doublespeak, he said. Mr Virahsawmy announced that the Social Alliance will hold its May Day rally in Vacoas. He also said the Social Alliance has started mobilising its supporters by holding meet-ings with them in the 20 constituencies. He praised Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Renewable Energy and Public utilities Dr Rashid Beebeejaun for the “successful po-litical gathering” that he organised in Plaine Verte on Friday evening. Mr Virahsawmy also expressed the satisfaction of the Labour Party that the former planters of Riche Terre have put an end to their hunger strike, adding that the prime minister took the right decision in nominating two mediators.

ThE MMMThe leader the opposition and of the Mouve-ment Militant Mauricien (MMM), Mr Paul Be-renger, has ended talks with the Mauritius Labour Party regarding an alliance. “We had decided to give it a good try with the Labour Party but on the eve of the resumption of the National As-sembly, we could not continue with such a situ-ation. We have decided to end the talks. “The politburo of the MMM decided in that direction on Friday afternoon and the central commit-tee of the party also took the same decision unanimously,” said Mr Berenger. He was speak-ing at a press conference on Saturday, flanked by members of the politburo of the MMM as well as the leader of Union Nationale (UN), Mr Ashock Jugnauth, and the leader of the Mouve-ment Mauricien Social Democrate (MMSD), Mr Eric Guimbeau. He explained that the main rea-son for dropping the alliance moves was “the lack of confidence between the Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam and the MMM” during negotiations. “There is a problem of confidence between Ramgoolam and the MMM. This dates back to 1997. “As the discussions between the MMM and Ramgoolam progressed, distrust started to crop up and confidence was lost,” said Mr Berenger. He explained that in spite of the lack of trust in Dr Ramgoolam, the MMM, with the support of the Union Nationale and the Mouvement Mauricien Social Democrate, had decided to “give it a try”. “As patriots, we dreamed of putting the country back on the rails, cleaning it up and reviewing the situation of law and order,” said Mr Berenger. Replying to a question from the media, he revealed that his most recent telephone conversation with Dr Ramgoolam was on Thursday. He admitted that the fact that parliament was resuming on Tues-day was one of the reasons that matters had to be expedited. But he added that the MMM is not suspending talks because of the resump-tion of parliament. “The MMM has decided to

The Mauritius Tourism Development Authority (MTPA) hosted a UK FAM trip to Mauritius. Product Managers of Kuoni Travel Ltd, Gold Medal Travel Group Plc, Sovereign, Thomas Cook Signature, Mauri-tius Luxury Holidays and ITC Classics, accompanied by Elaine Barrett from Hills Balfour, the newly-appointed MTPA PR for the UK, visited the island. The FAM trip was part of the MTPA integrated marketing and PR plan in the UK. It was an opportunity to showcase Mauri-tius as a destination which has a wide range of products to offer. It sought to promote Mauritius beyond the sea, sun and sand image to a larger variety of products and activities than water sports and beach holidays. This initiative is designed to drive sales this summer.

The FAM trip was supported by the following partners: Mauritours, Movenpick, Maradiva, Tamassa , Heritage Telfair, Shanti Ananda, Sofitel, Sugar Beach, Intercontinental, Le Meridien, The Oberoi, The Grand Mau-ritian, Prince Maurice, The Residence, Four Seasons, St Geran, Beau Rivage, Preskil, Anahita Resort as well as the Domaine de L’Etoile and Casela.

UK travel agents take in the sights

NEWS

end talks and talks have ended,” he said. From the beginning of the negotiations with Dr Ram-goolam, the MMM has repeatedly underlined the issues of corruption, Subutex, law and order, the proliferation of casinos and gaming houses and the MBC. “If there would have been an al-liance, it would have meant that we were go-ing to build another Mauritius.” By “another Mauritius”, he meant a more unified Mauritius, “where communalism would not be tolerated and where every community would have its place”. “Another Mauritius” would also mean a cleaner Mauritius, he said, where there would have been a serious struggle against drugs and the Subutex saga and the proliferation of ca-sinos and gaming houses. “‘Another Mauritius’ also includes a fairer Mauritius where there is fairer sharing of the gross domestic product, where purchasing power will be increased, where access to education will be democrat-ised, where social housing will be a priority and where the new labour laws introduced since 2005 and the Prevention of Terrorism Act will be reviewed”. The leader of the MMM conceded that during negotiations with the prime minis-ter, there were a few positive decisions, like the arrest of Sada Curpen and the statement of the prime minister regarding his decision to review the situation as far as the proliferation of ca-sinos and gaming houses is concerned. Several negative aspects also cropped, though. Mr Be-renger cited as an example the lack of will to struggle against the proliferation of Subutex. He also said his suggestion to appoint mediators to look into the complaints of the former planters of Riche Terre was taken up only after 19 days.

“Things have also become clearer regarding the reason behind Ramgoolam’s insistence to get a two-thirds majority at the forthcoming general elections. “In his speech on the occa-sion of Ougadi, the prime minister referred to Singapore where land is acquired compulso-rily and where it is the government that de-cides on the amount of compensation to be paid. Here, it is the judiciary that decides. This type of statement worries us,” said Mr Be-renger. In the light of the MMM’s decision “to put an end to negotiations with the prime minister”, the party has decided to organise a public meeting to mark Labour Day on May 1 with its two partners, the UN and the MMSD. “The MMM will remain strong in its role in the opposition on Tuesday. I notice that a fighting mood is evident within the politburo and the central committee,” said the party leader. Replying to questions from the me-dia, Mr Berenger said that he does not be-lieve there will be a blue/white/red (PMSD/MSM/Labour) alliance, as most of the main architects of this alliance made in 1983 have passed away. He added that if Dr Ramgoolam strikes a deal with the MSM, it will confirm the perception that he is not as strong as it is believed.

ThE MSMThe Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) party is not holding talks with the Labour Party at the moment says party Secretary General Nando Bodha, but he added that the MSM will discuss any alliance proposi-tions that are made with “dignity”. He con-firmed a dinner between the leaders of the MSM and PMSD and said that the wish was expressed by the PMSD for an alliance group-ing the Labour Party, the PMSD and the MSM. Even though he denied any current negotia-tions were taking place, Mr Bodha said that the party would consider an offer for such an alliance “if it was made” and would discuss

it while maintaining their dignity. According to Mr Bodha, the MSM will adopt the role of a “constructive opposition” when parlia-ment resumes tomorrow and make criticisms that are warranted, as well as proposals. The secretary general launched an all-out tirade against Paul Berenger, the leader of the MMM, who was partner of the MMM/MSM coalition from 2000-2005. “Berenger is unstable. All commentators ask, even before the elections, when would a coalition carrying Berenger split because of him. They talk about break-ing up even before an alliance is finalised,” said Mr Bodha. The MSM parliamentarian said there were many people foretelling signs that a proposed MMM/Labour alliance was bound to fail. Among them, he cited the re-cent declaration by the Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam, who defended the leader of the PMSD and Minister of Tourism, Xavier Duval, as a minister who performs well. Mr Berenger, he said, does not have the moral right to again sit as leader of the opposition when the National Assembly resumes, add-ing that Mr Berenger took the whole country hostage last week with his announcements

“The MMM argued that they were motivated by patriotic feelings when they decided to negotiate with the Labour Party and hoped that they could build a new Mauritius”

of an eventual Labour/MMM alliance. “Paul Berenger has manipulated public opinion and traumatised the population by saying that the country needed a Labour/MMM alliance for national unity. “He has held the country hostage for nearly a month with all the talk of a potential alliance. By looking for an alliance, Paul Berenger has taken all his militants to the slaughterhouse,” said Mr Bodha. The MP who was speaking at the party’s weekly press conference at the Sun Trust Building, said that Paul Berenger is looking at politics “as a game”. “He has taken the whole country, the whole population as part of a power game to satisfy his own desires. “The by-election in constituency No. 8 has defined the future of politics in Mauritius,” said Mr Bodha. He said his party would prove to be an opposition party that is “valid and serious”, adding that the MSM is the only party that has put for-ward an electoral pledge with 200 different measures. The MSM is now a political force that has to be reckoned with, said Mr Bodha. “More than ever, Paul Berenger remains our direct opponent for the forthcoming general elections,” he added.

MSM leaderPravind Jagnauth

MMM leaderPaul Berenger

Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam

NEWS

Mauritius has posted a lukewarm performance in terms of gov-ernance on the latest research

dataset published by the World Bank. The Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) is a set of data that has been collected over the period ranging from 1996 to 2008. Six indicators have been taken into consider-ation to gauge the country’s performance on governance. The Voice and Accountabil-ity indicator which measures the extent to which the citizens of a country are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, associa-tion and freedom of the press, shows some sign of progress. Mauritius has improved its performance in 2008, as compared to

2003, scoring 74 and 73.6 on the scale that ranges from 1 to 100. But when compared over a longer lapse of time, from 1998 to 2008, the country’s performance has gone down, by 4.4 points. The second indica-tor which looks at political stability and absence of violence gauges the likelihood that the government will be destabilised by unconstitutional or violent means, includ-ing terrorism. On this, Mauritius has made year-on-year improvements. Its score went from 66.8 in 1998, to reach 73.1 in 2003 and was at 75.6 in 2008. Effectiveness of the government, which is a measure of the quality of public services, the capacity of the civil service and its independence from political pressures and, the quality of

policy formulation, shows a slight decline. Mauritius’ performance on that indicator has gone down from 73 to 71.1 , accord-ing to the latest Worldwide Governance Indicator. There was an improvement over the ten years spanning from 1998 to 2008 with the score moving upwards from 63.5 scored in 1998.

As far as the government’s ability to pro-vide sound policies and regulations that enable and promote private sector devel-opment is concerned, that is the Regulato-ry Quality indicator, Mauritius shows sign of improvement. Its score went up from 71.7 points in 2003 to 79.2 points in 2008. The good performance is even better when looked at over the ten-year period span-ning 1998 to 2008. The World Governance Indicators also looked at the rule of law as a necessary measure of good governance. This measures the extent to which agents have confi dence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of prop-erty rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the risk of crimes. On this aspect of governance, the country has lost ground over fi ve years 2003-08. The score was 81 points in 2003 and dropped to 78.9 points in 2008. But the rule of law across the is-land as measured by the World Bank, has improved over the ten years spanning from 1998 where the indicator stood at 74.8 to reach the high levels of 2009.

The World Bank believes that the coun-try has made efforts in the control of cor-ruption over the ten-year period spanning from 1998 to 2008. The score increased from 68.4 to 72. The control of corruption indicator measures the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption. This eighth release of the Worldwide Governance Indicators is one of the most comprehensive cross-country sets of governance indicators and high-lights the serious challenges that remain for rich and poor countries alike. The World Bank says that there is a well-established link between better governance and im-proved development results. “The good news is that some countries are recogn-ising and responding to governance chal-lenges, and are showing strong improve-ments that refl ect concerted efforts by political leaders, policymakers, civil society, and the private sector,” said Aart Kraay, co-

Governance:room for improvement

author of the report and lead economist in the Development Research Group of the World Bank. “We should not presume that rich and powerful countries have the very best levels of governance and corruption control. The fi nancial crisis reminds us that the quality of governance in G8 countries is not always exemplary,” said Daniel Kauf-mann, co-author of the report and a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute.Mahesh Bugnath

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

“The World Bank believes that the country has made efforts in the control of corruption over the ten-year period spanning from 1998 to 2008. The score increased from 68.4 to 72”

NEWS

Since 1967, Air Mauritius has helped to forge a longstanding relationship between the Island community and

people around the world, who travel to ex-perience its stunning environs. During this period, the airline has always prided itself on reflecting the spirit of the Island in its service. In recent times, however, the global industry as a whole has come under attack from a number of quarters; groups concerned over carbon emissions have questioned the moral legitimacy of increased flight numbers across the world. Furthermore, the global economic downturn – which has ravaged all manner of industries – has been responsible for a sharp fall in passenger numbers and a tightening of budgets across the board.

In light of these developments, Mauritius Now spoke to Anthony Cowles, the recently appointed UK and Ireland Regional Manager of Air Mauritius.

Could you explain what your role involves?Broadly speaking, I am responsible for over-seeing our sales and marketing operations for the UK and Irish regions.

And within that remit, what sort of chal-lenges do you face?This is an extremely challenging time for the in-dustry as a whole. Never in our history have we had such adverse conditions to contend with. Yet, despite this, we are performing extremely well; we have just posted profits of €3.3million for our European arm, which proves that we’re riding the storm as well as we could hope to.

What do you attribute this to?It’s down to our company strategy; as long ago as summer 2008 (when the global re-cession was first widely reported), we were quick to reduce capacity and cut costs dra-matically. All of this was implemented very quickly and this has helped us to maintain our market position.

Analysts are beginning to speculate that the world has seen the worst of the re-cession, and that we can tentatively look towards industry growth. What is the im-mediate aim for Air Mauritius?With regards the UK market, we are certainly looking to move onwards and upwards. We will soon be running three to four flights each week (as of 28th March). During the busy summer period we will introduce a weekly Wednesday

In conversation with…Anthony Cowles

service, with additional Monday and Thursday flights from July. Looking further forward, we hope to extend this schedule to five flights by November, and increase that figure to six by Christmas. Our ultimate goal is to be running a daily service to Mauritius by 2011.

That sort of schedule suggests that there is a demand for flights to Mauritius all year round…That’s correct. It’s wonderful for Mauritian tourism, and the community as a whole. We are extremely busy around Christmas, New Year and during the summer. However, re-duced prices mean that we are also busy in October and September. All in all, there is consistent demand throughout the year.

The Mauritian community is renowned for its welcoming nature. Do you think this is evident in the service you provide to your customers?I completely agree. There is something uniquely Mauritian about the treatment vis-itors receive and so we try to recreate that atmosphere at Air Mauritius. I must give special credit to our wonderful staff, who always provide a fantastic in-flight service. We offer a wonderful range of authentic and delicious Mauritian meals; the quality of our audio and visual output is second to none; and we have a wide selection of games avail-able. There are also over 30 movies available at any one time. It is features like these that ensure that Air Mauritius provides one of the best in-flight experiences around.

You mentioned the Mauritian community. What have your personal experiences of Mauritius been like? It is no exaggeration to say that Mauritius is a pearl in the Indian Ocean. The range of luxury accommodation on offer to tourists is unbe-lievable. There is a wonderful mix of affordable

hotels and stunning five-star accommodation. The people are incredibly warm and welcom-ing, and the surroundings are lovely. I would highly recommend it as a destination to any European or British visitor.

Finally then, what will you be focusing your attentions on in the coming months?My main aim is to continue to build on our existing services, in a manner that is both sustainable and profitable. The UK market is extremely important to us and we want to reward their loyalty with an excellent ser-vice. We may well be relocating to [Heath-row] Terminal 4, from our current location at Terminal 3. This would be hugely beneficial as it would allow us to meet the demand of

increased flight and passenger numbers. It is yet to be confirmed but we are hoping that the move will be in place by November.

Thank you very much for speaking with us Mr. Cowles. Have you had the opportunity to read Mauritius Now?Thank you. I have read the first issue of Mau-ritius Now and I thought that it was very good. The number of different topics covered in each issue is very interesting, and marks a different approach to that of your competi-tors. I was particularly impressed by the range of personalities that you’ve featured, and the interview with the animator from ‘Avatar’ was a thoroughly engaging read. Will Mathieson

NEWS

Abhimanu Kundasamy has held the po-sition of High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius since Decem-

ber 2005, affording him the important role of Mauritius’ representative in the United Kingdom. During this period, the UK has es-tablished itself as the largest source of for-eign investment in Mauritius, attaching even greater significance to Mr. Kundasmay’s posi-tion. He has also overseen the development of strong diplomatic relationships in the ar-eas of health, education and security. He is a prominent member of a number of Com-monwealth committees and initiatives and acts as the Mauritian Ambassador to Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

As Mauritius celebrates its 42nd year of Independence, Mr. Kundasamy talks to Mau-ritius Now about the political and economic challenges facing the country.

Firstly, as an African state, Mauritius has practised close collaboration with the Afri-can Union on a number of issues. How im-portant is it to maintain this allegiance? Abhimanu Kundasamy: Mauritius is a very active member of the African Union and we have been so since we gained Independence. Many people may not know this but we have actually chaired the Union in 1976, under its former guise, the OAU. Our first Prime Minis-ter and father of the nation, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, was elected as chair and the cor-responding summit was held in Mauritius. At various stages we have held very senior posi-tions, be it at the continental level or within the secretariats, or at regional level, such as the position of Deputy Secretary General of SADEC. Not only do we play an active role but we are part of its very fabric.

With regards to myself, I was appointed as High Commissioner to South Africa around the time of its first free elections, which were subsequently won by Nelson Mandela. It was a privilege to be given such an opportunity by the Prime Minister, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam that I am forever grateful for. I knew that Mandela was only going to be in office for one term so, to have had the opportunity to be there was truly unique.

Upon the invitation of our Prime Minister, President Mandela undertook a state visit to Mauritius in 1998 and Dr. Ramgoolam was invited to return to South Africa in the same year. Our close relationship with South Africa was really forged during this time.

With regards to the region, we are an active member of SADEC. While I was there I was given the active responsibility to take charge of the whole of the southern African region. The benefits of these allegiances take three forms: The cultural aspect refers to the great number of Mauritians whose origins come from the continent of Africa. It is important that we not only maintain this link, but that we entrench it. The historical link is one that is steeped in blood, to the extent that a sizeable proportion of our population derived from the shameful period of slavery. We must continue to acknowledge this link because it is part of the makeup of our people and part of identity. The political issue is that we are part of the developing world. We find comfort in numbers and some of the issues that we believe in and advocate are common African themes.

The economic opportunities that our al-legiances offer are win-win situations for us and our neighbours. One of the situations that has transpired over the last 15 years is

The High Commissioner Abhimanu Kundasamy

that our private sector has been able to in-vest in agricultural projects in neighbouring states, particularly the sugar industry in Mo-zambique. For a country as small as Mauritius the issue of food security is very important and we are working closely with Mozam-bique. Given our size we are very much a net importer and it will become a major issue in the future. Consequently, we must address issues to do with food security. We have fi-nalised discussions with the government of Mozambique for the provision of land for the purpose of agricultural investments in order to address our food security issue.

As well as your allegiance with other Afri-can states, Mauritius is also a member of the Commonwealth. This affords it close diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom. As the Mauritian representative in London, could you identify some specific projects or industries that are being focused on to fur-ther enhance your political relationship?

It is a relationship that is both broad and deep. It covers not only the private sector, but the pub-lic sector. Over the last five years we have seen the amount of British interest in the Mauritian private sector grow significantly. Part of that is due to the reforms that were introduced by Dr. Ramgoolam and his government in 2005/6, which opened up the economy to facilitate investments in Mauritius. By the end of 2006 the increase in foreign direct investment from the UK into Mauritius stood at 500% _ a truly remarkable figure. This has been sustained over the years and, even during the global economic downturn, investments have been sustained. Therefore, the future looks very bright, in terms of British investments into Mauritius.

Whether it is British, French, African or Indian investors, they will only invest if our business model can deliver results. So it is a sign that they have confidence in our economy. They believe that Mauritius is a place that they can do busi-ness. This is supported by the World Bank report on the ease of doing business; we are number one in Africa and 17th in the world. Our aim now is to be in the top ten and we believe we will achieve that in the next ten years.

By any standards, including good gover-nance, freedom of the press, security etc. we rank very highly so – regarding the private sector – things look very positive. At the level of government we are collaborating within health, science, justice. We feel that we share many common values and beliefs: we have a Westminster model of democracy and a First Past the Post electoral system. It is something that is highly valued in our part of the world.

Our history has been influenced greatly by British politics. The Mauritius Labour Par-ty was very much influenced by its British namesake. It was established in 1936 to fight for the rights of trade unions in Mauritius, in much the same way it was here.

Our values are very much focused on Fa-bian socialism, largely because Sir Seewoo-gasur Ramgoolam was a medical student in the UK in the 1920s. He was an active mem-ber of the Fabian Society and this moulded his political ideology. If you look at every-thing we have achieved, be it universal suf-frage, free education, free healthcare, a wel-fare state, pensions, workers’ rights… these are all issues that are underpinned by the central theme of freedom. Mauritius today is partly a reflection of the struggle to im-prove the lives of the underclass and make the lives of poor people better.

NEWS

Despite this bond, you are currently faced with an extremely delicate issue, that of the Chagos archipelago. Could you out-line the Mauritian perspective regarding this problem and what you are hoping to achieve through ongoing negotiations? AK: Our position on this issue is very clear: the Chagos archipelago was illegally excised from our territory prior to our Independence in violation of UN Resolution 1514. The decla-ration of 1514 is not only a resolution but an affirmation of fundamental rights and a pillar of the UN Charter. In that resolution it very explicitly lays down that any attempt to par-tially or fully attempt to disrupt the national unity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. This declaration was adopted by the Director of the General Assembly on 14th December 1960. Based on the 1965 UN Resolution 2066, the following advice of the special committee on decolonisation reads:

“Any attempt taken by the administrative power to detach certain islands from the ter-ritory of Mauritius, for the purpose of estab-lishing a military base, would be in contra-vention of the aforementioned resolution.”

It is very clear then, that it is illegal accord-ing to international law. There is not a lawyer today who would look at this and under-stand the basis of the UK maintaining their claim to sovereignty over these islands. We all know why this was done: because of the UK-US military defence treaty. Our territory was what you might call ‘collateral damage’ in this particular treaty between two western powers. Apart from the illegality of it, there is the immorality and inhumanity of it. And it is that they forcibly evicted close to 2,000 peo-ple from the Chagos archipelago in order to cleanse the whole archipelago of the people who had lived there for at least 250 years.

These people were forcibly evicted, their livestock killed and their pets slaughtered. Some of the people committed suicide and we know of cases where women even had miscarriages. This inhuman fact, and the immorality of it, is something that we find very difficult to understand. What is it that prevents the British authorities from finding the moral rectitude to be able to address the issues of sovereignty and resettlement? It is something that is longstanding and, the lon-ger that they cling on to sovereignty, the worse it looks. Currently, this issue has taken another dimension because of the unilateral position of a marine-protected area, which they want to impose on the outer islands. We have informed the British government that, whilst in principle we are for environmental protection, we are against the process. If the environment is the real reason they are doing this then there is no reason why we can’t employ a joint ini-tiative between the UK and Mauritian gov-ernments. This is the question that has been

asked by many members of parliament and many members of the House of Lords.

We are extremely unhappy about the current situation; we have supported them on many oc-casions, at multilateral level, at the UN, at Com-monwealth level… we find it extremely hurt-ful that they cannot seem to understand what being a friend means. How we define a friend-ship does not seem to resonate with them. We hope that, once and for all, negotiations on the transfer of sovereignty must happen. The issue of the islanders is intrinsically linked to that: in September 1975 the Washington Post qualified it as an act of mass kidnapping.

The illegality of this occupation is not only so because of the UN resolutions, but be-cause the majority of its members recogn-ise Mauritius as the rightful owner of these islands. By this I mean the whole of Africa, in the form of an African Union resolution:

“We express concern that the Chagos archi-pelago was unilaterally and illegally excised by the colonial power from Mauritius, prior to its independence, in violation of UN Resolution 1514. It also noted with dismay that the bi-lateral talks between Mauritius and the Unit-ed Kingdom, regarding this matter, have not yielded any progress. It urges the UK govern-ment to immediately enter into constructive dialogue with Mauritius, so as to enable the early return of the islands to Mauritius.”

The majority of the UN then, recognises our right to sovereignty over these islands. The current situation is in violation of the basic principles of the Charter, of which the United Kingdom is a founding member.

Since the dissolution of the empire, the Com-monwealth has evolved greatly. What role does Mauritius take within its structure?The role of Mauritius in the modern Com-monwealth is to highlight the challenges faced by developing nation-states. At the last Commonwealth Heads of Government meet-ing, our Prime Minister played a leading role in ensuring that funding for developing island states would be increased, to address the issue of climate change. He negotiated very hard and was commended on his success.

How well has the Mauritian economy managed to resist the global recession, and what defence measures have been put in place? AK: When Dr. Ramgoolam came back to pow-er in 2005 we had to make an assessment of our economic outlook. It was clear that there were four massive challenges that were facing us: the removal of the sugar protocol by the EU – leading to a drastic fall in the price of sugar; the removal of the multi-fibre agreement, which meant that we could no longer export our textile products duty-free; the rising price of oil; the rising price of food and similar commodities.

All of these issues were facing us at the same time, and drastic action had to be taken. The government introduced a series of reforms whilst, at the same time cutting the massive deficit that had been left by the previous gov-ernment. The reforms were based on making our economy more attractive for people to invest in, opening up our economy to improve the prospects of the people of our country, strengthening our traditional sectors to make them more competitive, and to develop new sectors. These reforms were brought in to-gether with the reform of our fiscal regimes.

As it happened, the government was very successful in its implementation of these re-forms, which has resulted in the increase of foreign direct investments. In 2009, the fig-ure stood at Rs10 billion. Because of these measures we were able to resist the global recession. We had the resources to introduce a stimulus package to help the economy. This was such a success that the World Bank and the Financial Times used what we did as a model for resisting recession. Even at the height of the recession, our economy grew by three per cent.

You have been involved with a number of Commonwealth initiatives. Could you of-fer your views on the importance of the Commonwealth? The Commonwealth fraternity is something that is linked to our history, as a colony of the British Empire. The modern Commonwealth is more than just a family; it is about shared val-ues, democracy, human rights, free press, inde-pendent institutions, and improving the quality of lives around the Commonwealth. We are very active across all committees, and I myself am a member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Secretariat, which looks at its works program and the budget. The Common-wealth, especially to its smaller member sates, is very important. It is the only place where we feel we have an equal voice with those coun-tries that are members of the G7.

I am also the current chair of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Founda-tion, which deals with the civil society side of things. I have attended four Commonwealth heads of state summits, from Durban in 1999, to Trinidad and Tobago last year.Will Mathieson

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NEWS

Nitin Ganatra is the man behind the popular EastEnders character, Masood Ahmed. With his on-screen

wife, Nina Wadia, he has appeared on the soap since the arrival of the Ahmed family in 2007. He has also been integral to the success of the BBC 3 spin-off, EastEnders: E20. As well as his part on Britain’s best-loved soap opera, Nitin has a number of film roles to his name including, Bride and Prejudice and The Mistress of Spices. Most famously, however, he played the role of Prince Pondicherry in Tim Burton’s magical remake of the Roald Dahl classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Needless to say, Nitin has established himself as a versatile and celebrated actor.

He has also forged a close bond with the Mauritian community in the United King-dom, exemplified by his appearance at the British Asian Sports Awards.

Nitin was on hand to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Mauritian Independence re-cently, and was kind enough to speak to us about his ties with the friendship with the Mauritian people.

Have you been to Mauritius before?Nitin Ganatra: Yes, I went to Mauritius when I was doing a play, going back eight or nine years. I was doing a very small scale Shake-speare play, through the British Arts Council, for about 100 quid a week. The money wasn’t great but it meant we got to go to Mauritius, which was the incentive!

I can imagine it’s an extreme contrast to life in London…It felt like a little bit of paradise. There was a sense of happiness and you got the feeling that everyone was very happy to be living there. Living in this country, you hear the word ‘nationalism’ and you know you’re going to have to run away. It’s a frightening concept.

I remember speaking to people in Mauri-tius and saying, “Have you ever thought of going to London?” and they’d say “Why? It’s beautiful here.” It was a real eye-opener.

Are you planning to return in the future?Eight or nine years ago it felt like a bit of a dream to get to go there. Being in a five-star hotel and having to live in a bed-sit back home…

What did you think of the accommodation?It was stunning. Remember, I was struggling actor, and suddenly I’m in a five-star hotel

What was the link between the British Arts Council and Mauritius?I think there was someone developing Shake-speare so that it could be marketed there. They wanted to give Shakespeare more of a Mauritian feel, with music and dancing.

Was it a success?It was nice. We did the show in Mauritius and then we took it to the Seychelles to do a couple of plays there. But I must say, you really don’t forget the country once you’ve been there. There’s something different about it.

After you had been to and experienced Mauritius, what does it mean to you now?NG: The most striking thing about that place was how happy people were. I went as a for-eigner and it was very noticeable.

thinking “This is where I want to be”. After a chance meeting at the British Asian Sports Awards I was invited back again. So now we’re planning to go there. I’ve got two little boys and we never get to go on holidays because East-Enders is a year-round thing. But I’ve been con-vinced to book some time off and we’re going to try and arrange a holiday in Mauritius.

You’re here tonight to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Mauritian Independence. What has tonight meant to you?I don’t know the history surrounding Inde-pendence, but I’ve come here tonight to be part of the celebrations and I can see just how excited people are about it. I would just like to wish everyone a happy anniversary. As an Indian, I still celebrate Independence so I do know what it means. Happy Independence to everyone in Mauritius!Will Mathieson

In conversation… Nitin Ganatra

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue and her X-Factor judge sister, Dannii Minogue, recently enjoyed a luxury break in Mauri-tius, staying at the super exclusive Shanti Ananda Resort. Sources close to the sis-ters say that Kylie, who had previously visited Mauritius with fellow Aussie singer Natalie Imbruglia back in 2008, is a big fan of Mauritius and its food, and wanted to treat pregnant sister Dannii to a ‘girly break’. Suites at the resort, near Bel Om-bre, cost £3,000 a night. Mauritius is a fa-vourite haunt for wealthy celebrities, with its wealth of luxurious spa-resorts, offering lavish suites and intensely private accom-modation. Famous tourists have included Prince Harry, Roger Federer and numerous English footballers.

Kylie & Dannii visit

NEWS

The Mauritian Police Force is continuing its crackdown on crime – this time with the help of new technology. Encour-aged by the success of close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Flic en Flac – the crime rate there has dropped by 75% – 340 cameras are to be installed in Port Louis and the Grand Bay area. Also supporting the fight against crime, a new island wide digital radio communication system.

The CCTV system will be up and running by August, accord-ing to Commissioner of Police Dhun Iswar Rampersad, who gave details of the new security measures during a press conference at Line Barracks Chinese Ambassador Mrs Bian Yanhua was also at the presentation of the new system, along with Cheng Xing-zhong, manager of Chinese International Telecommunications (CITCC) which is implementing the two projects. The CCTV sys-

tem is costing about Rs200 million while the digital radio net-work – set up with the help Mauritius Telecom and Multi Carrier Mauritius Ltd – is billed at Rs270 million. The CCTV scheme will be partly financed by the Chinese government (Rs120m) while the remaining Rs80 million comes from the police budget. Of the 340 cameras, 70 will cover the city centre area, from Bell Village to Abercrombie passing through Caudan, M1 Motorway, Victoria and Immigration Square, Labourdonnais Street, Champ de Mars, Vallée Pitot, Plaine Verte, Cité Martial, Roche Bois, Le Goulet and Caro Eucalyptus. A total of 270 surveillance cameras are to be installed in the North, starting from Mont Choisy public beach through Pointe aux Cannoniers, Grand Bay, Pereybere, La Cuvette, Pereybere, Bain Boeufs up ro Cap Malheureux. The main control room for CCTV cameras will be at Line Barracks with a

sub-control room at the Grand Bay police station. “The CCTV cameras will help the police force to reduce crime and maxi-mize safety,” said the commissioner of police. “Law enforcement agencies around the world are using this technology and the Mauritius Police Force is not lagging behind.” The commissioner also highlighted that the crime rate has reduced by 75% in Flic en Flac since CCTV cameras were installed. Mr Rampersad said that he is sure that the crime rate will be reduce by 75% in the suburbs of Port Louis when CCTV cameras are installed.Jamirouddin Yeadally

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

Police enlist TV Eye in fight against crime

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said yesterday the new economy is a “knowl-edge economy” and that the future is

undeniably digital. His objective, he added, is to “bridge the digital divide” in the country. Dr Ramgoolam was speaking at the launch of the Lower Indian Ocean Network (LION) submarine fiber-optic cable system at the Mauritius Telecom Exchange Station

in Terre Rouge. “We all know that in to-day’s globalised world, distance is no barrier to communication”, said the prime minister, adding that with the rapid development of technology geography loses its importance

LION system roars into lifeand the size of a nation becomes less rele-vant. “ICT transforms our lives beyond all ex-pectations.” The prime minister recalled that when Neil Amstrong walked on the moon, millions watched his first steps on television. Many South Africans traveled to Mauritus to watch this event, as television had not yet been introduced in their country. Dr Ram-goolam insisted that investment in technol-ogy ushers in prosperity for the nation. He re-called that during his first mandate as prime minister, he set up the Ministry of Informa-tion Technology in 1997. He stated that the first minister to head this new ministry was

none other than the current Chief Executive Officer of Mauritius Telecom, Mr Sarat Lallah. Dr Ramgoolam also said that he encouraged Mauritius Telecom to invest $27 million

in the SAFE consortium, explaining that the introduction of this first network of op-tical cable allowed the development of ICT sector which today contributes no less than 6% to the country’s Gross Domestic Prod-uct. Information and communication tech-nology is “absolutely crucial” for developing key sectors like BPO, call centres, software and hardware development, website host-ing and IT consulting. Before the arrival of the SAFE cable network, he said, the prices of connectivity were exorbitant. “We would not have been able to attract the 310 global players and employ 12,000 professionals in five years if we were not connected to the SAFE network.” He explained that during his first mandate, the ICT Strategic Plan was pre-pared and in the 1998 budget the intention of transforming Mauritius into a cyberisland was first spelt out. Dr Ramgoolam said that theIndependent Broadcasting Authority was also created and a Memorandum of Under-standing was signed between the govern-ment of Mauritius and that of India for the setting up of a cybercity.

The prime minister also recalled that he had set up the University of Technology dur-ing his first mandate. Dr Ramgoolam said the connection of Mauritius to the LION subma-rine cable system will enhance connectivity. Deputy Chief Executive of Mauritius Telecom Jean-Francois Thomas said the Lower Indian Ocean Network (LION) submarine cable is in fact one of the key cable projects in which France Telecom has a stake. “The whole sub-

marine cable industry is a story of partner-ship. And obviously France Telecom is proud to have involved its partner, Mauritius Telecom, to be a full member of the LION cable sys-tem.” The Chairman of Mauritius Telecom, Mr Appalsamy Thomas, explained that the first phase of the LION cable has been completed and links Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius. “It is some 1,070kms in length and consists of two fibre pairs and has a total bandwidth capacity of 1.28 Tera bits per second, that is 1.28 trillion bits per second. “However, for a start there will be a bandwidth of 20 Giga bits per second.” He added that MT has invested Euros 8 million in the first phase of the project, which has an estimated total cost of Euro 37 million. The second phase of the LION project was initiated in February this year and will see cable extended to Mombasa in Kenya.Sunil Gopal


“In today’s globalised world, distance is no barrier to communication..ICT transforms our lives beyond all expectations”

NEWS

Mauritius are Catholics and, given the re-ligious nature of Mauritian society, it’s not surprising Christians regularly attend church for the fasting period. At the height of the prayer season, Christian groups will often bus congregations to attend services in another village, thereby creating a strong community spirit between parishes. On Easter Sunday the Head of the Catholic Church will give his annual sermon, usually focusing on a relevant social issue. Away from the churches, most other Mauritians spend the public holiday on the beach or with family. Like many coun-tries, Easter Day will be celebrated univer-sally across faiths in Mauritius, and though the religious element wouldn’t necessarily be commemorated, the family element will certainly be.

On that note, Mauritius Now wishes all its readers a happy Easter.Sabina Jacobs

Easter, the most important of Christian festivals, is also one of the most com-mercialised. Many are unaware of the

story of Easter and its signifi cance, even though it is celebrated by hundreds of mil-lions every year. We take a look at why and how Easter is celebrated, and how Mauritians do Easter.

Most of us probably don’t know all the details of the Easter story, so here is a quick summing up of the important facts. Easter is essentially the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the sacrifi ce he made for Chris-tians in his death. It marks the end of the Lent period which is supposed to be a period of prayer and repentance. Easter is therefore a time of in-dulgence. Mirroring the events surrounding his death, Easter celebrations commence from Palm Sunday, which marks the day that Jesus returned to Jerusalem to claim his title as the Messiah, up to Easter Sunday, which represents the day of his resurrection. Though the Easter weekend are the only days recognised by governments as Easter (and Good Friday and the following Monday are bank holidays in many countries), the Easter sea-son actually lasts 50 days, from Easter Sunday up to the Pentecost, and marks the end of Lent, which is a period of 40 days where Christians make personal sacrifi ces and fast.

The celebration of Easter ranges from celebra-tory church services, feasts and chocolate eggs! During the Easter week, there are many differ-ent services and celebrations in the church. On Palm Sunday, congregations carry large palm leaves during church services to represent the palm leaves that Jesus’ followers waved on his return to Jerusalem. The following Thursday is Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the

day of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, and the night that Judas, one of his disciples, be-trayed him. Catholic churches remember this event by holding foot-washing ceremonies, mirroring Jesus when he washed the feet of his disciples. Good Friday commemorates the cru-cifi xion of Jesus on the cross. The most sombre day of celebrations, it is a day of mourning. A special Good Friday church service focuses on Jesus’ death and the implications for the Chris-tian faith. It is a time of meditation. Holy Satur-day marks the beginning of the resurrection of Jesus, with midnight services held to commem-orate this. From a religious aspect, families will attend Sunday Mass on Easter Sunday before having a feast in the afternoon. Easter Sunday is the most upbeat of Holy Week as it marks the day of Jesus’ resurrection.

Typical foods eaten around Easter include hot cross buns, a spiced ban with a cross on top, and other types of bread. Because of the celebratory nature of the festival,

which ends the fasting and penance period, foods eaten at Easter are supposed to be rich and indulgent. Easter eggs and the Eas-ter bunny are relatively new symbolisms

of Easter, and represent the commercial signifi cance of an essentially religious holiday. Easter eggs are supposed to be representative of the rebirth of Christ,

whilst the Easter Bunny, rather like the Father Christmas fi gurehead, is sup-posed to deliver the eggs. Though many fi nd such commercialisation vulgar, one cannot deny that the Easter Bunny and

Easter eggs appeal to children, and the reason Easter is still celebrated universally is precisely because of the family (and choco-late) links to the festival.

Easter celebrations in Mauritius are prob-ably less commercialised than here in the UK, though you can still fi nd plenty of chocolate eggs on sale. The majority of Christians in

Easter and what it means…




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Party IslandMauritius is changing. And I’m not

just talking about the amount of skyscrapers popping up and fast

cars being driven around the Island. I’m talk-ing about the nightlife. A decade ago, night-life was limited, to say the least. Today there are double the number of bars and nightclubs with new ventures opening regularly. So, is Mauritius the new party island? And what is driving this change?

There are only two places to be on a Friday and Saturday night to let your hair down. And Mauritians now have a choice, depending on what kind of mood they are in. Flic en Flac is the new hotspot, buzzing on Friday and Saturday nights as residents from the Central Plateau swarm to popular nightclubs such as Shout and Shotz. Grand Baie, the older, more-established nightlife area, is where lo-cals and tourists in the North flock to, home to clubs such as the laid back, beautifully de-signed Ngyone, the popular and loud Buddha Bar and the more ‘upmarket’ Les Enfants Ter-ribles. And let’s not forget Zanzibar, very pop-ular with the youth, and regularly opens on a weeknight. Yes, people, you can go out on a weeknight in Mauritius! Well-established bars such as Banana (Grand Baie) and local favou-rite Julie’s Club (Pereybere) attract drinkers every night, thereby encouraging more of a drinking and socialising culture in Mauritius. In fact, from sports bars to champagne bars, there is something for everyone.

Beyond the bars and nightclubs, there have been, in the last three or four years, regular events and parties in Mauritius, though these have been less frequent of late. Green Dot Events has brought world-class DJs, such as Tiesto and David Guetta, to the Island. The Ad-dictive Tour, a VIP events management com-pany in Mauritius and worldwide, has thrown regular events and is responsible for bringing the likes of Yves Larock and Nick Bridges to the Island, as well as broadcasting its own radio show, promoting both local and international DJs on Mauritian radio station RadioPlus. Zig-gy Ruhomutally, told Mauritius Now, “Club-bing has changed here now. It’s no longer like before. People’s mentality has changed to-wards clubbing”. He’s not wrong. Recently, a new concept of partying has hit Mauritius. On a Saturday night, for Rs1,000, one can get a boat at Trou d’Eau Douce and travel to Ile Aux Cerfs for a party on the beach before being transported back to the mainland in the early hours. A unique experience that can’t really be found anywhere else, this brings a new mean-ing to the phrase ‘party island’.

So, what’s driving this new generation of party-loving people? Well, it’s no secret that

MAURITIUS LIFE

the Mauritian economy has been buoyant over the last decade, and consequently there is a rapidly rising middle and upper class. Young Mauritians and expats have money to burn, and are spending it in the bars, clubs and gen-eral socialising. It is also important to stress that the face of Mauritian clubbing is chang-ing. The increase in the numbers of clubbers has been driven by the increase in the number of young people who are going out. There is a difference in attitudes amongst locals com-pared to previous generations, because being more financially independent means they have more confidence to do as they desire. And, with Mauritius building up a prominent offshore and outsourcing industry, and with it an increasing expat population, society is be-coming more and more Westernised. Expats and tourists from Europe especially are used to going out in the evening. As a result, more bars and clubs have cropped up to satisfy this

growing demand. Mauritius, as a long-haul holiday destination, is also competing with places such as Thailand, which is famous for its nightlife. As a result, Mauritius has had to, in some way, follow suit in order become more attractive to the modern traveller.

Let’s not forget the role that social net-working websites, such as Facebook and, of course, the Internet have played. Club and bar owners have another marketing channel on the Internet, which has allowed more of a Western culture to be integrated into Mau-ritian society. Also, more bars and clubs are popping up because it can be a very lucrative business. The money can be very good, but in reality throwing a club night is hard work: “Everyone sees the glamour and thinks that big money is made. Once they pay for flyers, DJs, staff etc, they walk out with maximum Rs10,000 profit”, Ruhomutally explains.

So is Mauritius comparable to the Euro-pean clubbing scene? Not yet, according to Ruhomutally: “The clubbing industry in Mauritius cannot really be defined as night-clubs or be compared to the European or the Asian clubbing scene where you truly have VIP lounges, VIP services and also proper membership schemes with paying members owning the privillege to be a VIP!” Though clubs in Mauritius have a European influence, with DJs playing the latest European music, there are still some elements of European clubbing that don’t exist in Mauritus. “The concept of theme nights is not introduced

“Young Mauritians and expats have money to burn, and are spending it in the bars, clubs and general socialising”

here,” says Ruhomutally. There is also a lack of dress code and music policy, and of course a younger crowd.

It has not all been rosy for the industry though recently. The very reasons that cause the upsurge in clubbing culture is the cause of a decline over the past two years. “The re-cession hit the tourism market and you will find that clubs are no longer as busy as they used to be.” Ruhomutally also points out that, though, overall the volume of clubbers may have increased over the decade, that hasn’t been necessarily beneficial for club owners: “The young kids are mainly the new breed of clubber who go out to socialise and dance but you see nightclubs here don’t have big wet (drink) sales like before”. With the youth, who have less purchasing power, driving away more mature big spenders from clubs, owners have found the past couple of years tricky. There are other problems. Drink driving is on the in-crease in Mauritius, with the number of cases jumping by 57% between 1996 and 2008.

So, indeed, there has been a big change in the clubbing world in Mauritius. Clubbing’s popu-larity as a pastime has risen tremendously over recent years. But while it’s still incomparable with the clubbing world abroad, Mauritius has great potential to develop its nightlife culture. What does the future hold? Well, more clubs and bars are bound to pop up across the Island in the next few years, probably with fresh ideas and concepts to try out. Watch this space.Sabina Jacobs






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What’s onHello everyone! As you are aware, March saw Mauritius celebrate its 42nd year of Inde-

pendence and its 18th year as a Republic. There were many events to celebrate this momentous occasion, let’s have a look at a few that took place.

Firstly, Sharan J Productions held an elegant 42nd Independence Charity Gala at the Marriot Hotel in Heathrow on 13th March 2010. They did a fabulous job of commemorating Mauritian Independence with Mauritian tradition and hospitality. Over 300 guests attended this event, some of whom included the Mauritian High Commissioner – His Excellency – Mr Abhimanu Kundasamy, representatives of Air Mauritius, Imbel Travel and many other high profi le members of the community. All guests were treated to a four-course meal accompanied by spectacular entertainment from the Angel Dances, Sega Blues and an entertainer who has recently been knighted in Mauritius for his contribution to Mauritian culture – Soogum Sookha. Not only was the Gala presented with a host of guests, but the event was also fi lmed by Zee TV and aired exclusively on the channel on the weekend of 20th March. All in all, the entire event was a huge success, leaving guests happy and waiting in anticipation for the next Sharan J event.

Next up, Back2Reality. B2R provided yet another impressive and fun-fi lled evening on 13th March 2010 to celebrate its version of Mauritian Independence. This was an event defi nitely not for the faint hearted! Location: the stylish Agenda bar in Monument. As the cocktails were fl owing nicely, the sold out venue did not stop the guests from dancing throughout the night accompanied with music ranging from the latest in RnB, Bashment and Soca to of course Sega! I cannot imagine that anyone left the evening without aching legs and tired eyes – I know I certainly didn’t. No doubt from the response at the end, the many Back2Reality followers are already gearing up for the next event so watch this space, for more information visit the of-fi cial Back2Reality site: www.bepartoftheexperience.com

Not wanting to leave you too long without your monthly dose of Mauritian events, mauri-tianparty.com presents their next event at Sound Club on Sunday 4th April. It’s a Bank Holiday weekend, so no excuses of work the next day, what better way to spend it with a party, Mau-ritian style! For details on tickets or for more information you can visit their website: www.mauritianparty.com

That’s all from me for this month, but make sure you pick up next month’s copy of Mauritius Now to see how these events went and information on up-and-coming events!

If you want to get in touch, feel free to contact me: [email protected] with any information or events that you would like me to cover!

See you soon!

Tasha Chellen

Dates for your diaryPUBLIC HOLIDAYS FOR MAURITIUS

mauritianparty.com @ Sound Sunday 4th AprilLabour Day Saturday 1st MayBack2Reality Bank holiday weekend Sunday 2nd MayAssumption if the Blessed Virgin Mary Sunday 15th AugustEid-Ul-Fitr* Friday 10th SeptemberGanesh Chaturthi Sunday 12th SeptemberArrival of Indentured Labourers Tuesday 2nd NovemberDivali Friday 5th NovemberChristmas Saturday 25th December

* The exact date of this festival is subject to confi rmation as its celebration depends of the visibility of the moon.

EVENTS in association with

SHOWBIZ

Linzy Bacbotte, the popular Mauritian singer, talks about her recent album and a vocal coaching school that she’s trying to set up. She sits down with Mauritius Now and

tells us all…

Your latest album, Fam exempler, has been at the top of the charts since its release. How do you feel about this? To me, it’s much more than an album, Fam exempler is a so-cial project which I started working on long ago. My aim was to use my reputation and voice to put those women facing domestic violence and drug abuse in the limelight. That’s why I chose to work with an group called Lakaz A. This structure has been doing an amazing job to help women throughout Mauritius. It was very important for me to create an album that would help a lot of people. I was really taken back when I saw the huge positive response that Fam exempler received. Each time the album is bought, Lakaz A receives a sum of money to help those in need.

Many of your songs carry messages about hope, respect and love. Why is it important for you to share these particular messages? We all have a responsibility in trying to make the world a better place. As a mother, I’m worried about the future of my daughter. That’s why I’m trying to do my best to get people to be more respectful, more loving and to have hope in the future. Life for me has not always been easy, but I have managed to work hard and believe in my abilities to succeed.

You recently participated in a successful show called ‘From Shadows to Light’. Was this a new experience for you? The album’s intent was to have a social impact, I chose to do something different as more and more women came to me saying that the lyrics in my songs reflected their daily life. That’s why Bruno Raya and I created this show. It was a way for me to tell them that they are no longer alone and that together, they can solve their problems.

The show was an incredible experience even if the organi-sation was very stressful. Thousands of women came every night to see the show and talked about their difficulties. It was moving experience for all involved.

Linzy Bacbotte, you have been a successful singer for years. What keeps you motivated? If I keep singing and making albums, it’s to share my own experiences with others. I get my inspiration and courage by looking at my own life.

At the beginning of my career, my songs were mostly about how Mauritius is a great place to party. But with time, I start-ed to use this medium to share more important messages. We, as artists, have a responsibility towards others and we have to use our influence to promote positive things and help people. That’s what keeps me motivated.

You have been on the Mauritian music scene for a very long time now. How do you think it has evolved over the years? Even if we are still years behind what is being done abroad, the local music scene has improved a lot in recent years. Mak-ing an album remains very difficult for the artists here, and this situation is becoming even worse when we look at the piracy phenomenon in Mauritius. A lot has been done by the artists to fight this problem, but, unfortunately, the authori-ties do not seem to take the problem seriously.

In conversation with…Linzy Bacbotte

Who are the artists that have influenced you the most in your career? Among Mauritian artists, Marie José Clency, Marie José Couronne, Micheline Veerasawmy and, of course, my mother. I’m also very thankful to Marie Michelle Etienne who has done a lot for me.

What lies ahead for Linzy Bacbotte? I have plenty of ideas for the future but it would surely take some time to carry them all out. One of my most important projects is to set up a vocal coaching school to encourage peo-ple to sing and to share their own experiences and messages.

A word to your Mauritian fans in the UK? I want to thank them all for supporting Mauritian artists. With their help, Mauritian music is known abroad by a larger audience. Jose Daniel

“At the beginning of my career, my songs were mostly about how Mauritius is a great place to party”

SHOWBIZ

Twice as Nice resident, Scottie B, has become the epon-ymous face of urban music in the UK. From his first residency in north London, Scottie has gone on to play

across the world, from Ibiza to Nigeria, taking in Eastern Eu-rope and the Middle East on the way.

It all started for Scottie as a teenager, when he was intro-duced to DJing by a friend. “I borrowed one of my friend’s decks in school, and I mean one deck! So I had one deck and a Discman and I was trying to mix them together, but I thought ‘this is really cool’, so I got my own decks. Before that I was doing sports six days every week but I soon had to decide which one I wanted to do. The feeling that I got from play-ing made it obvious which one I wanted to do. I was on it for about six months straight and all of a sudden I had a set at a club in north London (Brooklyn’s, now known as New Orleans). I can’t even remember what I played but everyone started going mad. Bearing in mind that this is the first time I’ve played live, and you’ve got people banging the side of the booth, I couldn’t believe the reaction.”

Scottie has fronted the Twice as Nice brand for six years now, simultaneously producing their flagship compilation albums in the process. In fact, he cites the moment when his album went gold – for selling 100,000 copies – as one of the great-est achievements of his career to date. At the time such sales figures were unheard of for an album of its type. The success of the album series further propelled Scottie into the limelight and he has been recognised for his efforts in the form of Ibiza 2009’s ‘Best Urban DJ’ Award which, as he acknowledges, is quite an achievement considering, “it’s a house island.”

His supreme talent on the decks has allowed him to play in some of the world’s most desirable DJ booths and clubbing destinations. His Twice as Nice summer series in Ibiza attracts 3,000 clubbers every week; he also has summer residencies on the popular islands of Kos and Aya Napa. Back at home, he can be regularly seen playing all over London, where the urban scene is arguably at its most popular. Despite this, he appreci-ates upping sticks and getting to play to his fans further afield:

“Out of London you get more love… I like Cardiff, Manchester’s cool. To be fair, I just like travelling all over and doing what I love.”

As with any music impresario, Scottie’s talents are not limited to banging out tunes. He has been working on his own produc-tions for a number of years now, and is responsible for Excuse Me, a tune produced in collaboration with Asher D and Romeo. He also remixed Alesha Dixon’s Breathe Slow, with Harmony from H-Money Records. On the back of the success of these tracks, Scottie has set up his own production studio, with the aim of bringing out his own album further down the line.

Despite his hectic schedule, as one of the faces of British urban music, he has also done a lot of radio and television work, including a show on Choice FM and a programme that was broadcast on MTV Base called ‘From the Endz’. This show developed such a following that segments of it were used by Trevor Nelson on his show, The Lick.

Having achieved so much already, Scottie anticipates an equal-ly exciting 2010. “I’ve got another Twice as Nice album coming out. I’ve done four in five years, which I don’t think has been done by any other DJ in recent times. I’ll be doing a lot of productions and whole lot of DJing. The summer’s going to be really crazy so, wherever you are, be there as well. We’ll be upping the level!”

And, most excitingly for Mauritius Now readers, Scottie B will be playing at a Mauritian event near you very soon, so make sure you keep track of developments in each issue. Please visit the website to view the entire live interview with Scottie B, in which he talks about his sound, style, and where you can catch up with him. Will Mathieson

Interview:Scottie B

TRAVEL

LAkAz ChAmARELThis unique innovative hotel complex with informal charm is set amongst the fantastic tropical nature environment of the south of Mauritius. Carved in the picturesque valley of Chamarel, Lakaz Chamarel is composed of 11 freestanding chalets and two lovely pools. Here, a harmonious mix of comfort, elegance and style guarantee the ideal pre-requisites for a relaxing holiday.

The magnificent tropical gardens surround-ing the luxury lodges erected on the 100-acre domain is an invitation to idleness. This rustic resort consists of a main building with sit-ting room, kitchen and dining room open to the guests and the adjoining host’s quarters as well as several guest cottages. Scattered around the main building, each cottage is decorated in a different theme, thus repre-senting the diversity of different cultures on the island.

The interior furnishings of the chalets are unusually attractive and show indig-enous African and Indian styles. Each of the rooms has been individually designed and furnished with chosen pieces and exquisite materials. The spacious combined living-bedroom accommodation offers ample room to both energise or relax. A special and thankful attraction in the warm climate of Mauritius is the open-plan bathroom offer-ing the possibility to shower under a tropical sky; a special feature that has seduced many vacationers. Charming architecture blends harmoniously with the natural environment to combine good taste and refinement with simplicity, comfort and friendliness.

The owners of Lakaz Chamarel are Mau-ritians so you can be sure of an authentic and welcoming stay to the friendly tropical culture of the Island! Running two beautiful 5-star hotels on the island for over 15 years they have treated this lodge to the same care and beautiful finish with local architecture and decoration in all the rooms.

The owner, Frederick Desjardins, has been the director of two of the most beautiful and well-known 5-star hotels on the Island for the last 15 years and he has been in the hotel business for 25 years. His wife is ever present at Lakaz Chamarel taking care of the lodge. Together with over 20 staff, some of whom live on the property with their fami-lies, they will give you a warm welcome and treat you as if this were your home.

The Lakaz Chamarel cuisine is simple and authentic as the staff uses local products, some even from the hotel’s own garden and orchard. This resort is definitely a refreshing place with a splendid view on the West Coast of the paradise Island of Mauritius. Jose Daniel

ObEROi Staying in luxury while maintaining the unique spirit of an Island such as Mau-ritius is often a hard task, but the Oberoi has achieved this with exemplary skill. The resort nestles into the Baie aux Tortues on the North-west Coast of the Island with an impressive 600-metre ocean front of gold-en sands that melt into the turquoise sea.

Exclusive, stylish, and romantic, the Oberoi Mauritius is a haven of generous Mauritian hospitality and excellent ser-vice. Truly a dream destination! Surround-ed by an unspoilt natural environment and within a protected marine park, there is much to see and enjoy around the Oberoi. However, if it is pampering you need, the holistic Spa and a team of trained thera-pists are at hand to provide guests with the perfect opportunity to be cosseted and to unwind.

The resort is located villas with private swimming pools and luxury pavilions that offer panoramic views of the ocean. Each Luxury Villa is located in a lush sub-trop-ical garden with undisturbed privacy. The raised open-air dining pavilion, with its thatched roof and natural teak furniture, is an invitation to an al fresco breakfast or romantic dinner. Within the private envi-ronment of the courtyard most villas also have private leisure facilities.

They are decorated in subtle tones allow-ing nature to steal the show, though the ebony sculptures and headboards woven from sugarcane leaf do not go unnoticed. The hotel villas have their own lush garden and a dining gazebo overlooking a private pool. The creative architecture of stone, wood and thatch is a blend of African, Asian

and European style and reflects the fasci-natingly hybrid nature of the Island itself.

Most stunning of these are the two Royal Villas, each within a 650-square-metre com-pound. Both Royal villas have uninterrupted views of the ocean. An open air thatched dining pavilion provides the ideal setting for private al fresco dining and the most beauti-ful sunsets on the azure horizon. Intercon-necting to a second or third bedroom via the private garden, the Royal Villa is also the ideal refuge for a family holiday.

Thai therapists are on hand to massage and sooth, drawing on holistic treatments from Ayurveda, aromatherapy and Eastern techniques. Set against a backdrop any artist would struggle to recreate, you can also enjoy yoga and meditation sessions with trained and inspiring teachers.

In addition to an outdoor pool and a children’s pool, the Oberoi Mauritius pro-vides tennis courts, ski-in/ski-out access, a health club and a sauna. Business-related amenities at this 5-star property include a business centre and secretarial services.

At the Oberoi’s restaurant, Mauritius features a soaring roof of palm-thatched timbers and panoramic views across the Indian Ocean. Dine inside among the pil-lars, or outside under the stars on a fabu-lous menu featuring European, Oriental and Mauritian dishes, reflecting the multi-cultural flavour of the Island and introduc-ing fresh local fruits, vegetables and spices. With exotic flowers, candles flickering on the surface of the pool, the strange eve-ning song of the frogs and the spectacular sunsets, you could be forgiven for thinking you had gone to heaven.Jose Daniel

Mauritius is today renowned for be-ing one of the best big game fish-ing destinations worldwide. For the

serious sportsman who’s looking for a chal-lenge in some of the last primal waters in the world, the paradise Island offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thousands of big game fishing amateurs come to Mauritius every year for one purpose: to try to catch the leg-endary Blue Marlin.

Operators throughout the Island offer a vast range of services that will no doubt please you. Fully equipped boats specially designed for big game fishing, are avail-able for 1½ day rental (7am to 1pm) or full day rental (7am to 4pm). Each boat can carry a maximum of four anglers and four accompanying persons. The cost of rental includes the service of two experienced skippers and fishing equipment of interna-tional standard.

Big game fishing is best on the west coast of Mauritius because the currents swirl around the foot of Le Morne, creat-

Home to hundreds of dolphins, Tamarin Bay, situated on the West Coast of Mauritius has become a popular tourist attraction in the last couple of years. The Dolphins, the Spin-ners and the Bottlenose, have in fact made this spot a place to rest and sleep before going to the deep sea to fish. The dolphin-watch trips thus soared, giving more people the opportunity to take a closer look at these fabulous animals.

Most often seen in groups of four or five, the dolphins are more than happy to per-form their ballet in the water, as they ride alongside the boat. Dolphins form social net-works, called pods, and here they gain pro-tection and social interaction and are able to hunt co-operatively to find food. You may come across one or several pods of dolphins on each outing; the ocean is a big place and dolphins are not always in the same area. Patience is therefore recommended.

It’s quite an exciting experience to spot the sleek and very fast swimming dolphins which were lured close by crewmen who whistled on various pitches. If you want to

take a closer look at them, you will be given the opportunity to jump into the water. Swimming with dolphins in their underwa-ter world or viewing them from the boat in the wild is an absolutely magical experi-ence that you’ll hardly forget. Whether it’s watching a group quietly cruising along or marvelling at their high leaps, back-flips, somersaults and side-slaps during social bouts, dolphins are sure to please all.

With more tourists, it became vital to monitor the effects that this increased hu-man presence is having on the cetacean pop-ulations. This is why the Mauritius Dolphin Conservation Project started to study the 60 bottlenose dolphins and the 500 spinner dol-phins which reside in Tamarin Bay.

Although there is no legislation protect-ing these animals and little or no control of tourist boats in terms of how close they can go to the animals or for how long, it seems that the awareness campaigns led by the Mauritius Dolphin Conservation Project are bearing fruit. Boat operators are now careful not be too invasive.

As one can imagine, the Mauritius Dolphin Conservation Project has amazing conserva-tion value; the findings of the research team are so desperately needed they are being almost directly translated into new legis-lation to protect the dolphin populations and prevent their numbers from declining any further. And one can help protecting

the dolphins when going to watch them. The Mauritius Dolphin Conservation Proj-ect encourages tourists to send them their pictures of the dolphins so as to be able to identify and track the pod movements.

So, all you have to do is to enjoy the sce-nic cruise and taking pictures! Jose Daniel

The West Coast home to dolphins

Big game fishing:on Blue Marlin’s track

ing a marine environment attractive to bait fish, which in turn attracts the larger fish. Though, the beautiful tropical island of Mauritius is perfect for big game fishing round the year, the best time for big game

fishing in Mauritius is from October to April. Tunas, Wahoo, Sailfish, Dorados and Sharks are found in considerable numbers during this time. One must book in advance to be sure to be part of that thrilling experience.

With perfect conditions prevailing through-out the year, the possibilities to fight giant Blue Marlin and many other exciting fish are made available to experienced anglers and beginners through big game fishing in Mau-ritius. Competitions, which bring together hundreds of participants, locals and foreign-ers, are organised regularly by hotels and fishing clubs.

Trou d’Eau Douce, a small village situated on the East Coast of Mauritius, is also a very popular spot for big game fishing lovers. Moored on this side of the Island, the Spirit of Santiago, a 27-footer cabin cruiser, awaits you. Fishing onboard, as anywhere, starts in the early hours before dawn. One will help catch bait first with hand lines before using them to catch bigger fish. The sport fish-ing boats in Trou d’Eau Douce may go out several miles in search of the game fish. Al-though catching a fish is never guaranteed, a pleasant day out to sea will be part of your fishing experience.Jose Daniel

TRAVEL

RESTAURANTS & BARSMAURITIUS

LUIgI’S Coastal Road, Grand Bay, Tel: 00 (230) 269 1125In an era when too many restaurants try to be everything to everyone, Luigi’s has a specific agenda: show what the Italian savoir-faire can yield. Situated on the coastal road of Grand Bay, this restaurant, best known for its wood-oven pizzas, is an authentic place. Fur-thermore, Luigi’s earnestness, freshness and seasonality turns a seemingly ordinary menu into a road map to pure pleasure.

The chef, Raphaël Granaudo, who also hap-pens to be the owner, will greet you with typ-ical Italian style dishes. And his wife, Renata, with a smile on her face, will make you feel at home. Added to that, servers are enthusiastic and the prices are definitely right, especially for cooking this distinctive. It’s no wonder Luigi’s has become such a popular place.

One will no doubt enjoy the calm and re-laxed ambience in the rooms with light brown walls and chocolate-coloured chairs, and ban-quettes open to a warm-weather patio with about 40 seats.

Other restaurants have honourable pies, admirable lettuces or noteworthy salami. But take it from a cranky Luigi’s doubter, now a be-sotted Luigi’s believer: not many do all three with as much joy and distinction as Luigi’s.

There’s a technical accomplishment to-gether with a triumph of flavours that wind up working terrifically together. The same holds true for a dish with baked columns of fresh pasta spiralled around speck, buffalo milk mozzarella and béchamel. Mr. Granaudo

dribbles an intense truffled zabaglione around the lip of the bowl, so you can incorporate as little or as much of it as you wish.

So it’s pasta once again, and the rigatoncini with peppery pork sausage and sweet cipollini onions will have you hoping it’s pasta forever.

Artisanal pizza may be all the rage, but it’s the rare pizzaiolo who spreads dough thin enough and gets a brick oven hot enough to produce the gorgeous blisters like those on Luigi’s best pies. And the restaurant’s soppres-sata has a suppleness that would make any Italian chef blush.

Luigi’s simplicity is no doubt deceptive. The restaurant finds transcendence in dishes and genres that wouldn’t seem to yield so readily to invention or open the door to so much pleasure.

He revels in the basic glory of mild, milky cheese with cured meat, and keeps coming at this marriage in fresh ways. A recent ap-petizer special is wrapped braesola around cubes of burrata, each embedded with sum-mer truffle and set on arugula pesto and thinly sliced tomato.

Many of Raphaël Granaudo’s dishes are indeed specials, which supplement a writ-ten menu divided into about two dozen small plates, followed by pasta and main courses. Most of these dishes are more or less straightforward: marinated artichokes, aran-cini, meatballs, fusilli with tomato and olives, a fennel-crusted rack of lamb. Luigi’s food is definitely worth it. Jose Daniel

Each month Mauritius Now will bring you a variety of delicious and exciting recipes pre-sented 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.

Mauritian recipes

ChICkEN kALyAIngredients (serves 4 or 5)1 kg chicken (cut into pieces)1 cup yoghurt2 sticks cinnamon, 3cm long, each3 cardamoms (split)4 cloves2 tablespoons cumin powder2 green chillies (slit)A pinch of yellow colouring powder1 teaspoon ginger/garlic mixture5 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves4 tablespoons chopped mint leavesSalt, pepper2 big onions (sliced fine)Half a cup of a mixture of melted ghee & oilSome saffron strands MethodPut chicken pieces in a pot. Add all the other ingredients except onions, ghee/oil and saffron strands.Mix all well together and allow to marinate for at least an hour. Meanwhile fry onions in the ghee/oil mixture until brown and crisp. Remove and keep aside.Pour the remaining hot ghee/oil mixture (or less if chicken is fatty) in the pot.Soak saffron strands in 1/4 glass hot water and pour mixture also in the pot. Mix well, cover and cook over a low heat till chicken is done. Add fried onion, mix and allow to simmer for 1 or 2 minutes.Serve with rice and “carrot and cucumber” salad and “tomato chutney”. Variation:1. Potatoes, cut into pieces, tinted with yel-low powder, seasoned with salt & pepper and then browned in the ghee/oil mixture together with some fresh peas.

2. Hard-boiled eggs, tinted yellowish and fried in some oil can be added to “Kalya a few minutes before the cooking time is over. 3. Replace chicken by fried fish.

AChARd dE LégUMES(PICkLEd VEgETABLES)Ingredients (serves 5)125g finely shredded cabbage125g fine carrots, cut into matchsticks125g French beans, sliced finely, lengthwise1/2 a cauliflower, split into small bunches2 tablespoons mustard seeds4 cloves garlic3 dried chiliesAbout 7 to 8 tablespoons oil2 onions, coarsely choppedSalt to taste1 tablespoon vinegar3 green chilies (slit) MethodDrop vegetables in hot salted water and remove after 2 or 3 minutes only or until they are slightly cooked and still crisp. Drain well and keep aside to dry out.Crush mustard seeds, garlic and chilies with a little water and make into a paste.Heat oil, fry onion for 30 seconds only. Add the ground paste and some salt. Stir-fry for a minute. Add vegetables and green chil-ies, mix well and remove from heat. When cool, stir in the vinegar. Serve with bread.

Extracts taken from Mauritian Delights by Mrs Lalita Sookhee, which contains over 300 absolutely delicious Mauritian recipes. To purchase, please contact Mrs Lalita Sookee: [email protected] 1 Farquhar Street, Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius. Telephone: 230-425-3803/230-750-1860 Fax: 230-425-3803

RESTAURANTS & BARS UK

L’AUBERGE DE L’EST21 Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, N8 0EPTel: 0208 2483 388 Open Mon-Sun 12-11pmL’Auberge De L’est is a fabulous Mauritian restaurant that has fast become a favourite with locals. It may have only opened in De-cember but it has built up a great reputation for its food and level of service. Sitting on the busy Turnpike Lane, L’Auberge De L’Est is an oasis of calm. With Mauritian music playing in the background, pictures of Mauritius on the wall, and many Mauritian classics on the menu, you will soon forget you are in North London but back on the Island itself.

Owner Mervin Permalloo is a passionate man and takes his food very seriously. Clearly a perfectionist, this is refl ected in the quality and the presentation of every dish that comes out of his kitchen. The food served is fresh, most dishes are completely homemade and the business family-run. The name L’Auberge De L’est runs through the family – Mervin’s father owned a restaurant of the same name on the East coast of Mauritius. A former chef, Mervin has very high standards will examine each dish before it is served to the table.

The restaurant boasts a well-stocked bar including Mauritian favourites such as Green Island. The menu is extensive. I would

recommend anyone visiting the restaurant to not eat for hours beforehand, because the portions here are generous and you’ll want to order everything off the menu! It’s also best to visit in a group because that way you can all share different dishes and have a taste of everything. Boulettes, Halim, Bol Renversé and Octopus Vindaye are the most popular dishes, not just be-cause they remind Mauritians of home, but because the food served here is very well cooked. Besides the classic curry, rice and noodle dishes, Mervin has also introduced a special seafood menu that will grow as he fi nds the perfect dishes to add to it. Inter-estingly, the clientele at L’Auberge De L’Est is roughly half Mauritian and half non-Mauritian, as it is popular with British, Indi-an and West-Indian regulars who enjoy the unique and different Mauritian fl avours.

On my visit, I couldn’t choose what to order. So I left it in the very safe hands of Mervin, to recommend to me some of the restaurant’s sig-nature dishes. I tried the Gateux Piments (Chilli Cakes), Fish Samosa, Cotelette de l’Auberge (Chicken Wings) and spicy squid to start. The Gateux Piments were perfect: sweet and with each bite, a nice sharp kick from the chilli. The Samosa was well cooked, crispy with plenty fi ll-

ing which wasn’t dry at all, like many Samosas I’ve eaten before. The Spicy Squid and Chicken Wings were just as good and authentic tasting, both made from a homemade spicy coating. The chicken wings, I might add, were huge and tasted great with the homemade chilli paste. A special mention must be given to the chilli paste because it is so unique. Make sure you try it. I took some home with me!

My only special request was the Dholl Puri, because it is one of my favourite Mauritian snacks. I wasn’t disappointed. The Puri came served with Butterbeans, Rougaille, chilli and Achard Legumes and was as good as any you could get in Mauritius. Next came the main course and I tried both the Fish Vindaye and the Chicken Mine Frit. The noo-dles were delightful. Again the dish was well cooked and packed with plenty of chicken and vegetables. The noodles were very soft and the portion very generous. But it was the Fish Vindaye that was exceptional. The chef used kingfi sh, and it was probably the best-cooked fi sh I have tasted. It was soft and tender and not at all dry. The contrast between the sweet onion and the slightly bitter taste of the mustard-seed marinade

completed the dish. The marinade was not too bitter and the rice perfectly cooked.

Yet Mervin still had one last dish for me. I hadn’t tried Crèpe Suzette before, which were freshly made crèpes drizzled with an orange sauce and Grand Marnier (a liqueur). The crèpes were fabulous and were very well complemented by the sweet orange syrup and were completed by the alcohol-ic kick from the liqueur. They came served with a scoop of deliciously creamy mango ice cream, which tasted great in the sauce. I highly recommend this dish. It is the perfect way to fi nish your meal and it is the most authentic of desserts.

Make no mistake; this is no ordinary Mau-ritian restaurant. It is a dining experience. The ambience is warm and laid-back in true Mau-ritian style. The service is attentive yet unob-trusive. Regulars come in frequently to order a take-away so there is a communal feel to the restaurant. There is no trade-off between qual-ity and quantity here. The food is good and the portions big. If you love Mauritian food, you must visit L’Auberge De L’est. You won’t be dis-appointed and you can quote me on that.Sabina Jacobs




LIFESTYLE

Lifestyle with StefSpring has finally arrived and with it all the

new beauty, hair and scent trends for the warmer seasons. Make-up is going to be

about pastels or, as fashion insiders call them to make them sound less traumatic and cheesy, ‘sorbet’ colours. For this issue I’ve enlisted the help of renowned make-up artist Chiara Guizzetti (www.chiaraguizzetti.com) to talk us through this season’s beauty looks and I’ve tried and tested the best products around to achieve them.

My hair has been the bane of my life since I care to remember. Thick, dry and frizzy, I’ve never been able to do anything with it. So when I was invited to try the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy at renowned hairdresser Errol Doug-las in Knightsbridge I jumped at the chance. Before the mask is applied, my hair is washed with a special shampoo to open the pores. After drying, a thick layer of Keratin is brushed from the roots to the ends, section by section, wraps it in cling film and lets it develop for around half an hour. Afterwards, my hair is blow dried without washing off the product. My hair immediately looks healthy and shiny, with not a dry bristle in sight, but I have to wait three days before wash-ing off the product and during this time I must make sure it doesn’t get wet and I mustn’t use any styling products, elastic bands or hair pins.

When I am finally allowed to shampoo my hair at home, I’m rather surprised by the difference the Keratin system has made. I’ve honestly never seen my mane in better condition and, for the first time in my life, I am able to quickly blow dry it and achieve fantastic results without having to use my straighteners or tons of hair products.

Without a doubt this is the best hair treat-ment I’ve ever tried and needless to say, I’m now addicted. For enquiries and prices contact Errol Douglas (www.erroldouglas.com), 18 Motcomb Street, London SW1X 8LB, Tel: 0207 235 0110.

Spring is also the season when designers launch their fresher, lighter perfumes, to keep us smelling gorgeous in the months to come. The Perfume Shop (www.theperfumeshop.com) has a vast array of fragrances. Prada Infusion De Tubereuse For Her (£46.99 for 50ml) has notes of Indian tuberose, petitgran bigarade and blood orange from Italy. Marc Jacobs Daisy In The Air (£39.99 for 50ml) is a lighter take on the classic Daisy, with notes of vio-let, wild strawberry and ruby red grapefruit. Perfect as a day and night scent. If exotic fragrances are up your street, then Ralph Lauren Summer Romance Limited Edition (enquire for price) is the scent for you. Containing hibiscus, apricot musk and passion fruit this playful fragrance will see you through the long summer evenings. And let’s not forget men. Jean Paul Gaultier has created Le Male Summer (£35 for 125ml), a light and fresh scent with notes of mint, lavender and vanilla.Stef Bottinell

As fashion is seasonal, so is make-up. Whilst in winter we tend to wear darker, heavier make-up, the warmer months require a lighter, more frivolous maquillage. Fresh from Milan Fashion Week, make-up artist Chiara Guizzetti has all the inside beauty knowledge, being the one creating the looks on the catwalk models. “Three words: fresh, luminous and colourful!” says Chiara, “The main trends are red or brightly coloured lips, pastels and a natural look. As seen at Dolce e Gabbana, Prada, Blugirl, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith and Dior, there’s a huge lipstick comeback, in particular the classic red. No rules for texture or defini-tion: from matt to glossy, perfectly lined or just a stain of colour. Fuchsia and orange are a good alternative to the red. For the ultimate matt effect just use a lip liner all over the lips and with the tips of your fingers add a touch of lip balm before applying lipstick (try girltogo Up The Volume, £3.95, www.girl2go.co.uk). This way the lips will be mois-turised without looking shiny.” Dutch brand Ellis Faas makes the perfect blood-red shade, L101 (£21, available at Liberty’s and www.ellisfaas.com), which comes in a pen-like dispenser with a little sponge at the tip that makes it easy to apply on the go.

“For the eyes, a colour splash is fun,” con-tinues Chiara. “Versace and Mario Schwab did it with lilac and violet, Dior with pastel blue and lime green, while Derek Lam and Viktor and Rolf chose the entire sorbet pal-ette.” Invest in a palette with a good colour choice but avoid bright, sparkly shades with too much pigment as the look we want to achieve is more spring-fresh romantic than Studio 54 circa 1977. Yves Saint Laurent Ombre 5 Lumieres (£39, http://www.ysl-par-fums.com) has the perfect choice with their new eye shadows compact. I particularly love No. 9, a gorgeous palette of slightly iri-descent pink, lilac, prune, light and midnight blue. Extremely long lasting with a beautiful finish and well worth investing in. For a hint of glimmer try Bare Escentuals bareMinerals mono eye shadow in True Gold (£13, www.bareescentuals.co.uk) which can be used on its own or blended in with other shades.

Whilst colour is a must for this season, the base should be as natural as possible. There is a great choice of excellent foun-

dations and powders on the market. Miss Bollywood Glam X (£9.99, www.missbolly-wood.co.uk), a gorgeous range of founda-tions especially created for darker skin, has medium coverage without the chalky finish. If you prefer a solid, creamy foundation try the Balm time Balm (£24, available at www.cultbeauty.co.uk and www.harveynichols.com), a US brand that comes in fabulously coquettish ’50s-inspired recyclable packag-ing and has a great range of shades. If you suffer from sensitive skin or simply prefer

powder, Bare Escentuals bar-eMinerals SPF15 Founda-

tion (£22) gives you a natural, dewy com-plexion, whilst Kco Mineral Glow Sun Powder (£25, avail-

able at www.kcouk.com) works on all

skin colours and tones and gives you a beauti-fully radiant sun-kissed

finish. If you prefer to go bare-faced, use a little con-

cealer (time Balm Concealer by the Balm has good coverage and comes in a handy little pot with a sponge for easy applica-tion, £15.50) to correct imperfection and if your skin is uneven or you want to cover lines, cheat your way to perfect complex-ion with a good wrinkle filler and primer. Arbonne NutriMin C RE9 Retaliate Wrinkle Filler (£32, www.arbonneinternational.co.uk) comes in a pen-like dispenser with a felt tip at the end to make topical applica-tion easy, and their Virtual Illusion Make-Up Primer (£22) will give you a smooth and even base ready for make-up. Lulu’s Time Bomb Killer Filler Wrinkle Compound (£27, www.lulusplace.co.uk) minimises the appearance of wrinkles and contains hyaluronic acid to help you reduce them in the long term. Curative too thanks to hyaluronic acid is Dr Brandt lineless Lines No More (£46, www.spacenk.com), which goes on smoothly and dries in a couple of minutes. If you don’t like wearing too many products, combine a primer with skin serum. The all in one Natio Ageless Il-luminating Primer (£13, www.debenhams.com) is rich in organic rosehip and vitamin C, to nourish and brighten the skin whilst evening out the complexion.

The cheeks too are natural and fresh this season “The natural look never goes out of fashion,” reports Chiara from the Milan

fashion shows, “a dewy, healthy skin is syn-onymous with young and attractive. We’ve seen it at Chanel with a touch of peachy blusher on the apples of the cheeks for a Lolita look.” The sexy Cabana Boy shade by the Balm (£16) – a medium/dark light reflecting pink – is the perfect spring pink and, if you prefer a stain, their Stainiac tint in Homecoming Queen (£13) is the colour of satsumas, can be used on both cheeks and lips and will last all day and night. El-lis Faas’ does a gorgeous cream to powder blusher that’s easy to apply and is long last-ing. Shade S302 (£21) is the perfect muted coral and suits all skin tones.

Eye lashes are natural too this season, so pack away any falsies. Switch to an eyelashes lengthening and separating mascara and don’t apply more than two coats. Kco Mascara in black or brown (£12) has a bendy brush with lots of tiny combs to catch every single eye-lash, including elusive corner ones, and being mineral is particularly good for those who wear contact lenses or have sensitive eyes.

Nails are light and understated too this season. Think nude and sorbet again. Nubar (£8, www.beautyshed.co.uk) has added pastels to their already impressive formal-dehyde, phthalate and toluene free range of nail polish, with Orange Creme being a fa-vourite. Yves Saint Laurent La Laque proves that YSL are as serious about beauty as they are about fashion with a superb range of long lasting shades with a glossy finish. For the ultimate chic nails go for Mauve Pope-line 143 and Beige Mousseline 41 (£16).

CHIARA’S DOs AND DON’Ts TO ACHIEVE THE NATURAL LOOK DO Prep the skin with a good cleanser, moisturiser and a non-greasy lip balm. Wait a few minutes then apply your foundation or powder. DON’T apply too many layers of foundation and avoid the ‘mask’ look DO Apply concealer with a brush to cover imperfections, DON’T overdo it DO Apply a good, fresh shade of blusher. DON’T use too bright pinks or oranges. The Russian doll look is a no-no this season. DO Choose a good mascara to lift the eyelashes. DON’T overdo it or you’ll get ‘spider legs’ lashes. DO Apply a lip liner before applying your lipstick. DON’T just contour your lips, but fill them in with your lip pencil, this way your lipstick will last longer and you won’t get unsightly lines around your mouth.

The number of enterprises in the-export sector remains fairly steady despite the impact of the global economic down-

turn. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2009, there were 413, just one fewer than at the end of September and 412 at the end of December 2008. These latest figures were posted on the website of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) following the “Quarterly Survey on Employ-ment” carried out at the end of December last year among export-oriented enterprises (EOE). The survey took into consideration enterprises previously operating with an EPZ certificate and those manufacturing goods for exports and holding a registration certificate issued by the Board of Investment.

According to the survey, during the whole of last year, 35 enterprises closed and 36 new businesses came into operation. In wearing apparel, the most important group in the EOE, 14 enterprises closed and three were started. When it comes to employment, the survey revealed that during the fourth quar-ter, total employment decreased by 317 from 58,883 to 58,566. Female employment fell by 59 and male employment by 258. Total employment includes 18,453 foreign work-ers, 660 more than at the end of the previ-ous quarter. During the one-year period end-ing December 2009, employment in the EOE decreased by 3,710 to 58,566 from 62,276 at the end of December 2008. Employment decreased by 1,393 among males and 2,317 among females. In wearing apparel, employ-ment went down by 2,778. For the exports

ports of raw materials decreased by 7.9% and those of machinery and equipment by 31%.

The Monetary Policy Committee’s deci-sion to leave the central bank’s benchmark lending rate at 5.75% has draw the ire of the private sector. In line with market forecasts, the unanimous decision frustrated some businesses, especially exporters, who saw the low levels of inflation – projected at 4% for the next few quarters – as an opportunity to cut the rate, boost growth and ease pressure on the local currency. Raj Makoond, direc-tor of the Joint Economic Council, said the MPC had missed an opportunity to reassure business leaders in light of the uncertainties in the euro zone, a major trading partner. “We believe a concerted approach between monetary and fiscal policies, as was the case last year, is needed to maintain the growth momentum,” Mr Makoond said. The MPC

and imports chapter, EOE exports for the fourth quarter of 2009 were Rs9.411 billion, that is 3.6% higher than the third quarter and 0.1% higher compared to the corresponding period of 2008. Exports in 2009 amounted to Rs36.066 billion, representing an increase of 2.8% or Rs986 million compared to the fig-ure of Rs35.080 billion in 2008. Exports to our principal markets indicate increases to France (+Rs303 million or +4.8%) and the United States (+Rs736 million or +21.4%), and a de-crease to the United Kingdom (-Rs.1.336 bil-lion or - 10.5%). EOE imports for the fourth quarter of 2009 were estimated at R5.241 billion, representing an increase of 3.3% over the previous quarter and 14% compared to the corresponding quarter of 2008. EOE im-ports in 2009 amounted to Rs18.319 billion compared to Rs20.172 billion a year ago, that is a decline of 9.2% or Rs1.853 billion. Im-

How the export numbers stack upadopted an aggressive expansionary stance in the second half of 2008, slashing the rate by 250 basis points in late 2008 and early 2009, while the government unveiled a Rs10.4 bil-lion ($342.7 million) stimulus package in De-cember 2008. The central bank forecasts infla-tion of around 4% over the next few quarters and says the economic growth forecast for 2010 is likely to be revised upward to 4.5% from 4.3%. Annual average inflation stood at 2.1% in February, having come down from a peak of 9.9% in Nov. 2008. However, year-on-year inflation, a measure some analysts follow carefully, has began ticking upwards from a low of 0.1% in October. “Looking fur-ther ahead, however, the inflation outlook could worsen as the extent of economic slack shrinks and exerts pressure on international commodity prices,” said the committee.

Exporters have been calling for the Bank of Mauritius to ease rates further to lessen de-mand for the local currency. “Although interest rates are historically low at 5.75%, they re-main far higher than in much of the developed world where rates are close to zero,” said Mat-thew Searle, an analyst at London-based Busi-ness Monitor International, ahead of the an-nouncement. “With such attractive carry, there are risks that financial inflows from overseas will strengthen the rupee, with negative rami-fications for Mauritian exporters,” he added.


Visitors with money to spend have long clamoured for a slice of the Indian Ocean Island. With the introduction of the Integrated Resource Scheme (IRS), foreigners can now own private property, in designated nodes, for the first time.

During the last five years, investors have shown a sustained interest in the luxury residential sector. IRS is in fact one of the two existing schemes under which non-nationals are al-lowed to purchase residential property in Mauritius. The IRS caters for the upper end of the market by setting a minimum price of USD 500,000 for a residential property. Through the IRS, international buyers can become Mauritian residents as soon as they acquire a luxury property on the Island.

To date, ten construction projects comprising villages have been approved whilst others are awaiting the proper authoriza-tion. The Island will eventually have around 5,000 luxury villas.

Villas sold under the scheme form part of a complex of luxury villas of international standard and high-class facili-ties and amenities such as: golf course, marina and individual

swimming pool, nautical and other sport facilities, health and beauty centres, high class restaurants amongst others. Main-tenance, waste disposal, gardening, security and other house-hold services are also included.

Today, Mauritius has numerous IRS villas throughout the country, some of which have become world famous: Tama-rina Golf Estate, Anahita Sanctuary and La Balise Marina.

Tamarina is in fact a place where the best of beach and golfing haven meets the sharp edge of a new world spa and wellness centre. The estate sprawls across 200 hectares at the foot of the dramatic Montagne du Rempart and over-looks the cool waters of Tamarin Bay. Alluring contemporary tropical architecture is at one with the wild, sun-drenched environs. And every aspect of its integrated estate design style adds up to what must be the most exciting opportu-nity to come out of the Mauritian ground in decades.

Then, there is the Anahita World Class Sanctuary. It brings together the best of Mauritian lifestyle, culture and hospi-

tality in one superb domain. It offers a wide variety of rec-reational, cultural and social facilities and activities. As the ultimate residential hideaway, Anahita claims to offer the stuff of paradise – its climate, nature, sensory pleasures and, above all, an art of living.

The latest IRS project is called La Balise Marina. Situated in the dramatic Black River area, close to the inspiring Le Morne Peninsula and Lagoon, this resort will offer you a wonderful lifestyle, residency and investment opportunity. One will enjoy both the coastal lifestyle and the numerous activities. In fact, whether yachting or boating, fishing or cruising, snorkelling or skiing, your marina lifestyle will cre-ate whole new experiences.

Twelve hours from Europe, eight hours from Singapore and six hours from South Africa, with daily flights from the main Eu-ropean capitals, Mauritius is eminently accessible. US$650,000 for a platinum class investment, makes it all the more so. Jose Daniel

IRS: Your gateway to a tropical lifestyle

MONEY

PROPERTY

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam will lay the foundation stone for a $1 billion mega project at Les Salines in Port Louis.

Called Neo Town, it will be a new an integrat-ed township in the capital city. The contract for the biggest waterfront project in Mauri-tius has been awarded to the Mumbai based company Patel Engineering. Spread over more than 24 hectares, the scheme will involve residential, commercial and entertainment complexes. It envisages the development of an integrated township within the capital city, Patel Engineering said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). “This unique project will employ about 23 million man hours during construction, and will benefit local people of Mauritius with abundant em-ployment opportunity,” said Patel Engineer-ing Managing Director Rupen Patel. The con-tract involves construction of a tourist heritage centre, apartment complexes, office buildings and shopping malls, spanning a built-up area of over 10 million sq ft, the company said. The project is being developed in collaboration with the government, through Les Salines Develop-ment Limited, and will be executed by a sub-sidiary in three phases over seven years. The first phase of about three million square feet is expected to be ready in three years. Mauritius has a long-standing double taxation avoidance treaty with India that is currently under review by India, which suspects many overseas deals of being routed through the island to avoid paying tax in India. Analysts said with the

$1bn waterfront for Port Louis

meltdown in Dubai, the timing of the project is critical because it is expected to attract signifi-cant investments from Indians. Shares of Patel Engineering were trading at Rs459 on Bombay Stock Exchange, up 4.05% from its previous close. The company is a mid-cap construction engineer; it owns large land banks in Mumbai and Bangalore. Sanjana Bhagmal-Cadervaloo


“This unique project will employ about 23 million man hours during construction, and will benefit local people of Mauritius with abundant employment opportunity”






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SPORT

Patrice Empeigne The Mauritian free fighter The first professional Mauritian Mixed Martial Arts

(MMA) fighter, Patrice Empeigne has definitely made a name for himself in Australia. Allowing a wide variety

of fighting techniques, the MMA, also known as ‘free fight’, al-lows the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. This is exactly what fascinated Patrice in the first place. At 28, he is now a promising world-class free fighter and has recently shown on two occasions what he can do in the ring. Since these matches, he has estab-lished his grappling prowess over his future opponents.

He first heard about the MMA on TV four years ago. He be-came obsessed with this sport and started practising it shortly after. “It was a real revelation for me. I knew as soon as I saw the MMA fights on TV that it was what I wanted to do”, he says. Patrice’s apprenticeship led him to Brazil, Japan and the United States where he learnt for years to master the different MMA fighting techniques. Determined to succeed on the professional level, the young fighter trains every day and practices all MMA disciplines such as wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Furthermore, he quickly adopted a vigorous training regime. “In this discipline, a lot of hard work and dedication is required. I completely focused on my fights”, he says.

Today, his strengths lie in his boxing ability and his devas-tating leg lock submissions. Some regard him as one of the most exiting fighters in the super lightweight category. Pa-trice won his first professional fight at the end of 2009. He managed to win his second fight in February. But this time, he faced his opponent in a cage. It was the first time he expe-rienced a cage fight. “Before a fight, I’m kind of nervous. But when the bell rings, it stops and it’s like I’m someone else”, he adds. And since winning that one, Patrice is now known as “Mr Champaign”. A nickname which comes from a mispronuncia-tion of his family name by the event’s announcer.

Even if his parents have not yet attended one of his fights; “My mother can’t bear watching me fight”, they both support their son and are very proud of his recent achievements. When he got engaged in the free fight, his mother used to pour a little amount of holy water on him before each fight. “She’s now getting used to it as she accepted the fact that I really like what I’m doing”.

His objective in 2010: to become Australia’s number one! Patrice will fly to Japan in a couple of months to attend a number of free fight events. If he wins those competitions, Patrice will manage to get a professional license which will enable him to enter the Asia professional free fight circuit. “I will then be able to settle in Japan and earn my living from the free fight,” he says. No doubt we will soon hear from Patrice’s achievements in the years to come.Jose Daniel

“It was a real revelation for me. I knew as soon as I saw the MMA fights on TV that it was what I wanted to do”

SPORT

In conversation with… Akbar PatelAkbar Patel, coach of the Mauritius National Football

Team talks with Mauritius Now about his plans to make Mauritius a football nation and about the dedi-

cated players of the National squad.

This is your second spell with the Mauritius National football Team. Why the come back? I love training football players. All the players of Club M have been training hard during the past years, even though the re-sults are not very good. When I was asked to coach the foot-ball team, I immediately accepted because I think I can help the team to improve its overall game.

The players need to be trusted and encouraged to play football at their best. That’s why I’m here. I’m convinced that Mauritius can be a great football nation. We have great tal-ents within the team to achieve that.

The National Football Team has been through difficult times lately. Has the situation improved yet? Being a professional football player in Mauritius is not easy even if the situation has improved a little bit. I’m sad to see that some players, who have been involved in football for years, have not received any recognition. What Mauritians do not seem to realise is that players don’t play football for money. All of them work during the day and have their train-ing sessions after working hours. They are dedicated to the game and for that, they deserve respect and support. The players need to feel that their country is behind them.

Why can’t the National Team players be full-time play-ers? Won’t it be better for the team? Definitely! Unfortunately, the Federation doesn’t have enough money. We have been in discussions with the Minis-try of Sport regarding this issue. We hope to be able to have full-time players on the team a couple of years from now.

Football in Mauritius has many difficulties in attracting people to the game. Why do you think this is? Well, instead of attending matches and supporting our play-ers, it is a common fact that Mauritian people prefer to stay indoors and watch the English Premier League. English foot-ball has clearly done a lot of harm to local football in Mau-ritius. Mauritians prefer to pay to watch the Premier League than to go to stadiums and support Club M. But I realise that as long as the National Team do not win any major games, there’s no chance of people coming to watch us play. We are working really hard to change things and inspire people again. It won’t be easy, but we’re working on it.

How does the Mauritius Football Federation encourage youngsters to practise football? The Federation is undertaking detection programs through-out the country to identify the future talents and improve the level of the National Team. Mauritian people, whether they are young or old, love to play football. The Football Federation is making great efforts to make the sport more popular.

What are the main events that Mauritius will attend this season? We’ll participate in the qualifying pool of the Africa Cup of Na-tions, to be organised in Angola this year. We will face teams, like Egypt, Senegal and Cameroon. We know that it’s going to

be tough, but it will also give us invaluable experience. This is an opportunity we cannot miss. Furthermore, we hope to progress well in next year’s Jeux des Iles which will be held in Madagas-car. We are confident that we will achieve good results.

What does the team need from Mauritius and abroad to progress to the next level? We need support. Motivation only is not enough. We need a twelfth man in the terraces!

Can we ever hope to see a Mauritian National team qual-ify for the World Cup? We have to push forward one step at a time. But why not? This is the dream of every Mauritian…

A word for the Mauritians in the UK who have been sup-porting the National Team for years… I would like to thank them for their unfailing support. We’ll do our best to make you proud. Jose Daniel

“English football has clearly done a lot of harm to local football in Mauritius. Mauritians prefer to pay to watch the Premier League than to go to stadiums and support Club M”

SPORT

Over the last 15 years, a tournament has been run in south London, offering Mauritian footballers from across the capital and beyond to compete against

each other in the fort to be crowned the best Mauritian team. Winning the tournament is seen as the pinnacle of a Mauritian footballer’s career, and this year’s competition is set to be the most competitive yet. With the big day fast approaching, Mauri-tius Now met with the organising Committee’s Chairman, Vishnu Soobadoo, to discuss the tournament’s history and its future.

Could you explain how the Mauritian football tournament first originated?I have been Chairman of the Committee for eight years now, but the competition was originally the dream of a Mauritian foot-baller, Girish Daby. We started in 1995 with our first tournament, on Tooting-Bec Common, but it was on a very small scale and largely unstructured. A year later Peter Chellen formed a Com-mittee and we had our first tournament on Clapham Common. The tournament, as we know it now, has been going ever since.

Who plays in the tournament then?The Committee itself is multicultural and this is the only tourna-ment that I know of that caters for a mixture of religions and races, such as Hindus and Tamils. Our aim has always been not to discriminate. We don’t get involved in any politics whatsoever. To date we have relied on Mauritian businesses to support us. It is an extremely popular event that people look forward to all year round; it is the FA Cup of Mauritian football! We cater for teams from the Greater London area, including Essex and Surrey. We would like to invite teams from further afield to future tourna-ments, but, as yet, it hasn’t been practically feasible.

And how is the tournament organised?The Committee consists of Mauritians who have a special inter-est in football, in terms of their knowledge, skills and experience. The majority of these Committee members have been long-standing, but we have recently recruited two younger members, Vikesh Seenayah and Kevin Nelliah. We are always seeking young blood, in the hope that we can move with the times.

How big are your aspirations for the tournament’s future?We are planning to expand the competition to include more teams in future years. We would even like to bring in some international teams, from Italy and France. We have had contact from teams in those countries in the past about playing, and adding an interna-tional element to the tournament would be really good for both the level of competition and the tournament’s profile.

It sounds like the tournament is conducted in a very pro-fessional manner then… This tournament is very well organised and there are strict rules and regulations in place. We are very fortunate that we have been able to recruit Grade 1 referees from Chesham, led by Victor San-assy, and it helps that we are affiliated to the London FA. It is a day for Mauritian football but to be fair to the competing teams we allow non-Mauritian players to play in the tournament as well.

How is the tournament received by the general public?The tournament is always held on the last Sunday of the May Bank Holiday, which means that lots of spectators can come along. Over the years we have had as many as 2,000 specta-tors in attendance. We will be hoping for a similar number this year but the weather can play its part in that. Only once though have we had to cancel, due to flooding!

What can these spectators expect from the event?VS: We have a number of stalls on the day that sell souvenirs, clothing, as well as lots of delicious Mauritian specialities! All of the teams will have their own marquee and they’ll bring their own food and drink as well. It all adds up to a really good family atmosphere. We really appreciate the work of our vol-unteers who help us on the day, as tournament coordinators, to ensure the smooth running of the competition.

So it must produce a real carnival atmosphere then…Absolutely, although in Mauritius we say, a ‘Fancy Fair’ at-mosphere! The spectators come to support their team, but they are also there to enjoy a Mauritian occasion. We have been very fortunate to have a good link with Power League Norbury, where we have hosted the event in recent years. As a competition we are very popular because the teams are so competitive, and everyone wants to lay their hands on the Mauritian trophy. The majority of the competing teams play in local leagues, although there are some teams who get to-gether solely for the competition.

What sort of format does the tournament take?This year there will be 12 teams divided into three groups.

Each team will play each other and this will be followed by the quarter finals, semi-finals and final. It is 11-a-side and all play-ers must be over the age of 16. Each game is played over 20 minutes each way. If the scores are still level after 40 minutes, the match goes straight to penalties. The Committee members usually arrive at the site at around 7:30 to set up, as the tour-nament kicks off at 9:30. The final kicks off at around 4:30.

Having been involved with the tournament for many years, you must have witnessed a lot of excitement. Could you name any moments that stand out. You’ve put me on the spot now! I suppose one of the most memo-rable moments took place during our tenth anniversary tourna-ment: Skylark was playing Real Maurice. The match was extremely tense. Real Maurice won the title on penalties and the tears in their eyes proved just how much it meant to the players.

So, to really put you on the spot, how do you see this year’s tournament going?VS: The last two or three years, I have been very impressed by the standard of the Clavisque and Hans Sporting players. We have really discovered a lot of talent amongst the younger players, none more so than Vissen Appadu, who has played for the Mauritian National team. He has played against Totten-ham in the past, during their pre-season tour of Mauritius. He will be playing in the tournament this year for Real Maurice, but that doesn’t necessarily make them the favourites. We have a number of teams who have won it more than once, but in recent years some smaller teams have come through to win it. It all means that it’s going to be very interesting to see how it pans out this year.Will Mathieson

The Mauritian football tournament

Committee chairmanVishnu Soobadoo

Winners of 2009 trophy:Club Des Iles FC

In conversation with… Stéphane BucklandThis year, professional 100-metre sprinter Stéphane

Buckland will attempt to qualify for the Athletics World Cup, to be held in September. He talks about his career

and explains why he now wants to coach young athletes.

What are the main events you are going to attend in 2010? My principal objective this year is the Africa Championship, which will be held in Kenya in July. It’s an important event as I will try my best to qualify for the Athletics World Cup in September. I hope that I will be able to represent the Africa region once again. I also hope to be part of the Commonwealth Games.

In 2009, injuries prevented you from participating in the Berlin Athletics Championship 200 meters final. How did you feel then? I must say that my physical condition is ok now. I will try not to get injured this year because I want to be able to give my best in this year’s international competition.

It was very hard for me to quit the competition at that stage but I had no choice. I could not take the risk of worsen-ing my leg injury by staying in the final run.

You have said that the time is right for you to take your ath-letics career to another level. What do you mean by this?I turned 33 in January. I have always given my best and I think it’s time for me to share my experience with the young ath-letes who will step forward on the international scene in the years to come. I have already started to coach athletes and I must say that it’s a really gratifying experience. I’m planning to bring new technologies to Mauritius and the latest training techniques to help give local athletes a chance to shine on a regional and international level.

You’ve been among the world’s top ten athletes for nearly nine years now. How have you changed as an athlete? I have learnt to be a real perfectionist. I always want to improve my techniques, my times and the way that I race. But on a personal level, I don’t think I have changed much. I rather think that it’s the way people look at me that changed a lot. I’m just a simple guy who has had the opportunity to do what he loves the best: run.

It’s been a long way since my first athletics competition in 1992. I won my first medals that year in the 80m and 150m in the under 16-category. Later, when I started to practice athletics on a professional level, I never thought that I would one day be among the world’s best. I’m very proud of what I have done.

Whenever you attend an athletics championship, many Mauritian supporters are in the terraces. What does it feel like to have all these people behind you? It has always been a great pleasure to meet Mauritian people who have attended the competitions abroad. I want to thank them for having been so supportive. I was surprised to see Mau-ritians in the terraces in countries like Norway and Finland. I did not even know there were any Mauritians living there. Their support has definitely helped me to get to where I am today. Jose Daniel

SPORT

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