News on Sunday 904

CHRIS DESJARDINS

“We are studying the option of night cycle race in Mauritius” DUKE OF YORK CUP

Going for Gold!

25 - 31 OCTOBER 2013 | N° 904 | 40 PAGES | RS 15 | WWW.DEFIMEDIA.INFO

RAISSA BOYER

Charm from the sister island

THE ENDURING ALLURE OF PEARLS

A THRIVING

“All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster’s autobiography,” said Italian film director Federico Fellini. Natural pearls are very rare as well as expensive, which makes cultured pearls a thriving industry. The core of cultured pearls is larger as compared to natural pearls.

While white, pink and cream have always been popular pearl colours, black, gold and silver are as well turning popular these days. With the Government’s vision to develop an Ocean Economy, pearl culture is one of the marine activities envisaged.

BUSINESS

THE 2014 BUDGET

What are the expectations of society?

NEWS Waterpark closed, death probe starts Following the recent cases of death at Le Waterpark & Leisure Village, Belle Mare, all the activities of the Village have been suspended and a Committee of Enquiry has been set up to determine the circumstances leading to the death of two children at the Village; carry out an audit in respect of all security measures at the Village and make recommendations in respect of the above. The Committee of Enquiry will be presided

by Mrs Shameem Hamuth-Laulloo, President, Intermediate Court.

Internet Watch The ICT Authority will, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the Internet Watch Foundation, deploy an Online Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Portal in Mauritius that will enable the online reporting of the child sexual abuse content for assessment by Internet Watch Foundation experts.

30 years’ struggle through art

The Chagos Refugee Group is launching a photography exhibition in the context of Chagos’s thirty years of struggle today, Friday 25 October at the Allé du Café du Vieux Conseil, Port Louis.

The theme of the exhibition is ‘30 years dedicated to the struggle of the Chagossian people for their rights and homeland’. The photos of the island’s landscape as well as poignant ones showing the people during the struggle time will captivate you. Those who will not be able to visit the exhibition on Friday will have the chance to do so next week as it will take place again at the Lisette Centre at Pointe aux Sables.

« Intelligent Building » faces Wi-Fi snags The CyberTower 1 in Ebène is tagged as the “Intelligent Building”. Being the first such building in Mauritius, it is the flagship of the island’s ICT Sector. However, on several occasions, poor Wi-Fi connections have been noted.

For instance, last week during the Assises de l’Education, several participants deplored having trouble getting connected. And this is not the first time that this issue has been raised. If the “Intelligent Building” of the country cannot provide a good Wi-Fi connection, it seems that we are way far to become the CyberIsland promised.

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Wheat cultivation a reality in Mauritius THE MAURITIUS Research Council is presently involved in an experimental Wheat Cultivation Project. The field trials under Phase I were initiated in June 2012, with the evaluation of six wheat varieties at three sites. This year, the Council is spearheading Phase II of the project. Six arpents of land are under cultivation at Saint Aubin, Saint Antoine and Petit Merlot and harvest is scheduled for the end of this month. Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in the world after rice.

It provides 21% of the food calories and 20% of the protein to more than 4.5 billion people in 94 developing countries. Wheat production in the world has been steadily increasing from 612 million tonnes in 2007 to 685 million tonnes in 2010. However, only 8% of total wheat production takes place in African countries. According to Rouillard and Guého, wheat was one of the crops grown by the Dutch during their settlement in Mauritius. Around 1598 and from 1806 to 1816, about 1688 hectares were under wheat cultivation which then

declined to about 127 hectares by 1830.

Constraints to wheat production in Mauritius are numerous. Production costs are high, labour and water resources scarce; attacks by predators such as mice, birds and hares are severe. Other problems include pests, diseases and weeds manage-

ment and mechanisation of plantation and harvest. Growing concern over the food security issue in Mauritius has led the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, with the Mauritius Research Council, to undertake a feasibility project on wheat cultivation in Mauritius.

CPE 2013 – Exams botched by bullying incidents The exams for the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) 2013, contrary to previous years, recorded several acts of bullying on school premises. First-sitting CPE candidates from different examination centres have reported bullying acts from Prevok candidates taking the same exams at the same examination centres. CPE exams 2013 started on Tuesday 22 and end today at 10h45 with the Mathematics paper. On the first day itself, bullying incidents were reported to the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES). Incidents occurred at Raoul Rivet G.S (Port Louis), Jean Lebrun G.S (Port Louis), Louis Nellan G.S (Qautre Bornes) and Aryan Vedic Aided School (Vacoas).

A candidate from Raoul Rivet G.S reported that he was beaten by a Prevok candidate during the break between the French and Science papers. “A boy from Prevok assaulted me. I received hard blows on the face. I also got blows in the abdomen and on the head,” said 11-year old Fardeen Karrimbaccus.

With blood-stained clothes and in pain in the abdomen, he had to sit for the other paper. “No one took him to the hospital nor was I informed about his condition. I filed a case at the Line Barracks on the same day,” said Zareen Sham, his mother. Her worry is that the incident may affect his son’s performance for the exams. At Aryan Vedic Aided School, a candidate reported being the ‘punchbag’ of Prevok candidates. “My son is traumatised,” said the father. At Jean Lebrun G.S, a commotion was caused by Prevok students on the stairs while similar acts were

reported at Louis Nellan G.S. Parents deplored a lack of supervision and security on the school premises. A demonstration was held in front of Raoul Rivet G.S on Wednesday to show their discontent.

Following the incidents, it was decided on that Prevok candidates from MEDCO Trinity and Alpha College were to take the remaining papers on Thursday and Friday at their respective colleges. The Government Teachers’ Union (GTU) denounced these acts. “Arrangements must be made so that Prevok candidates take the exams in their respective colleges,” said President Vinod Seegum.

The Director of the MES, Professor Lucien Finette, explains: “These incidents should not cause panic. This has happened due to the great number of Prevok candidates. Compared to last year where we had only around 2,000 candidates, the figure has reached some 4,500 this year. There were last minute registration by the candidates and it was difficult to have new examination centres in a short span of time. It should also be noted that the problems are localised and all Prevok candidates cannot thus be stigmatised.”

Education Minister Vasant Bunwaree said that the matter is under control. “These incidents were not expected. Henceforth, more precautions will have to be taken though it is not a huge task. It is a positive sign that so many Prevok candidates have decided to retake the CPE exams,” he declared.

Madagascar on the road to democracy

A coup in 2009 has plunged the island republic into poverty. But presidential elections on Friday 25 October 2013 could reverse that trend. The February 2009 coup has made life in Madagascar increasingly precarious. The coup, led by Andry Rajoelina against the president, Marc Ravalomanana, was widely condemned by the international community. Sanctions swiftly followed: Madagascar was suspended from the Africa Growth Opportunity Act, which led to the collapse of the textile sector; international aid, which accounted for 75% of the infrastructure budget, was put on hold and foreign investment stalled. As a result the economy has nosedived. Some 92% of the population now lives below the poverty line. According to the World Bank, that makes Madagascar the poorest country in the world among those that have not suffered a conflict. For a nation blessed with so many resources – oil, precious stones, iron, coal, uranium, fisheries, and agricultural land it is a desperate fact. Madagascar is holding its first presidential elections since the coup. The polls are seen as a necessary step out of the crisis, although the Malagasies are under no illusion.

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NEWS

Education and training

How do we tackle the country’s main asset?

THE FORUM on Education and the International Conference of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) held recently, almost simultaneously, have reminded us that, beyond politics, our human resources remain the main wealth of the country. The importance that we attach to education and training, through smart management, will determine the place that Mauritius will occupy in the global village. More significantly, given the challenges of education and training, it is our children’s future which is at stake.

We do know the figures! Our educational system leaves many by the roadside, crippled for life: 25% of students are removed from the system at the level of the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE); only 35% of the remaining 75% reach the Higher School Certificate (HSC).

And they are just about 27 % to follow tertiary education.

But what studies and how are they linked to life and the employment world?

There is unanimous agreement on the current situation: the huge mess of the school curriculum. Not only does the system eject 75 % of its students at the end, but it fails to produce graduates who are employable. Worse!

The latter, considered to be the icing on the cake, often lack personality. They cannot cope with the real world, [interview published in Le Défi Plus last Saturday]. This conference. Some were unfortunately of a questionable having been subjected to bookish learning. system would have the advantage of removing children level. A study on SMEs, carried out by the main tertiary The ultimate question is: What is the use of educa- from an environment marked by poverty and other social institution of the country and led by three lecturers, one tion? Simply obtaining a piece of paper to get a job? Or ills, so that they can concentrate on their possessing a PhD, has delved on ... three helping the student develop his full potential, becoming studies. Why not, given the number of companies employing a total of less than Mauritians are no mature so that he not only integrates but transforms so- CPE failures? After all, aren’t the children 90 people in a sector that, according to ciety harmoniously? This approach to education is now of the rich admitted to boarding schools longer in competition the authors, probably employs more not even a philosophy; it has become a necessity in a abroad, where they not only get a good with each other; they than 240,000 employees spread over are now competing constantly changing society, which incidentally, is suffer- education, but also ‘life skills’? tens of thousands of companies. with the rest of the ing from all sorts of ills: financial, economic, social, enviIn any case, even those who argue in Another study, also on SMEs, makes world, in a single ronmental, moral and even existential. favour of competition, and even of elitno mention of the informal sector, where global market.

Our teachers are aware of the issues. Those who are ism, cannot ignore, given the research of thousands of small entrepreneurs start fully involved make honest diagnosis and propose solu- Howard Gardner (1983), that there are (from the hawker to the small non-regtions (not just palliative), but who is obstructing the re- different levels of intelligence. We cannot istered contractor by getting through a forms? The views of Vina Balgobin, who is a graduate in make of everyone an academician, but we can, with ex- range of intermediary service providers). It is necessary educational sciences, are thought-provoking. Here’s what isting resources, allow everyone to get a basic education. for some scholars to understand that imported literature she said in an interview published in the latest edition of And then get each specialised in a sector for which he often has no connection with local socio -economic realMauritius Times (we translate): “Any educational policy, would have the necessary aptitude, skills and talents. ities. Students could be involved in this kind of research, devised by the Ministry of Education and endorsed by This is how entrepreneurs, inventors, artists and inter- which will by the way help them face the world of emParliament will remain null and void if the actors in the national level athletes are groomed. And there is still a ployment and getting immersed in the real society. educational system are not mobilised to make it effective need to create the necessary conditions with adequate Let us recall here the exercise undertaken by Sheila in practice. This has been the case in Mauritius for de- support from the school and the family, the neighbour- Bunwaree and some of her students, on the occasion of cades as private tuition, an extreme form of corruption, hood and society. The National Empowerment Founda- the International Poverty Day, as published in the “Fodominates the mindset not only of teachers but also of tion (NEF) could, in this context, be proactive upstream, rum” of Le Mauricien. One way to help young people many school inspectors and parents. The vast majority of rather than reactive, downstream, as is the case now, develop a critical eye and to challenge society in which the teaching world, at primary and secondary levels, re- when the damage is already upon us. they will have to evolve without assistance. This is also mains bound to this form of corruption in the educationThe inherent bureaucracy is also an impediment to- education and training. al system, without making their mea culpa, and without wards reforms. This is the case with the mismatch beOur insularity leads us to believe that Mauritius is the shame.” tween education and employment, as navel of the world, and the one who holds a degree is the Of course, private tuition which, Dr. K.S Sukon put it at the HRDC Inter- master of the universe. We must learn to face the facts: The ultimate question is: national Conference: “it takes a period it is now possible for a local company to hire a foreign according to Vina Balgobin, has gained What is the use of eduground even at tertiary level is not only of six years, from the introduction of a professional, with an MBA or MSc for Rs 30,000 (60,000 cation? Simply obtaining new subject and the first class of grad- Indian Rupees). At this rate, there are millions of Indians, an obstacle to reforms, but is indeed a a piece of paper to get real cancer at the heart of the system. uates in the field, including two years Chinese and Africans who are willing and able to take the a job? Or helping the However, the school does not exist in just to design the curriculum. And at job. It might be a bitter reality, but this is the new reality student develop his full a vacuum. ‘Consumers’ of education the end, the subject may no longer be of the world. potential, becoming macome from different backgrounds, of importance.” This explains why we Mauritians are no longer in competition with each ture so that he not only including those from disadvantaged have a surplus of accountants and doc- other; they are now competing with the rest of the world, families. How to help these in partic- integrates but transforms tors on the market, while the world is in a single global market. And if we do not develop our society harmoniously? ular, so that they thrive and eventulooking for software engineers and mi- human resources according to international standards, ally become productive members of crobiologists. we will end up, at best, by producing a precarious nation society instead of having to rely on Teacher’s training, as well as the of boys, petty officials and frustrated middle -managers. assistance from generation to generation? For his part, level of some tertiary institutions, is also a subject of deFaizal Jeeroburkhan, another expert in education, advo- bate. Several very interesting studies on different sectors NEMESIS cates a radical solution: specialised residential schools of the Mauritian economy were presented at the HRDC nemesis@defimedia.info

INTERVIEW

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Chris Desjardins: “We are studying the option of night cycle race in Mauritius” Since when is CRA Events organising cycle racing in Mauritius?

CRA World Events Management started organising sports events in Mauritius 5 years ago for companies who want to associate their names to a sport activity. CRA organises road cycling and mountain bike events like the Coast 2, Coast Mauritius MTB Challenge over 3 days but also the Deutsche Bank Mauritius 100 km Cycle Tour. CRA Events Management has a sister company in South Africa where it organises the Mountain Bike World Cup for the last 5 years. We employ 2 people fulltime in Mauritius and our offices are in Mon Loisir.

What are the events that took place last week end?

We organised the 4th edition of the Vets and Masters Tour of Mauritius last week end ( 18, 19 and 20 October) including the ‘Under 23 Tour de Maurice’ where cyclists of all ages got together and cycled in safe condition along with other cyclists from around the world.

These tours have now become international events where by a lot of foreign cyclists come to the island to compete. In the YOP under 23 Tour, we proposed young cyclists under 23, a 75 kilometre race in two legs that took place on Saturday 19 and on Sunday 20 October with the starting at Mon Choisy. The 4th edition of Salchain Vets and Masters was held from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 October covering 245 kilometres in three stages. This race was reserved for professionals aged above 32. This race started near Plaisance airport towards Choisy passing along the eastern coastline and finally the 5th edition of CRA International Classic took place on Sunday 20 October, starting at Choisy Shopping Promenade covering 80 kilometres. Cyclists of any age were allowed to take part in this race 80 kilometres long.

The winners of each of the three competitions won prizes offered by Lux Resort and Air Mauritius and medals were given to all the competitors.

Has the cycling community recovered from the tragic loss of life of one the most brilliant cyclists of Mauritius?

Well, after the tragic death of Jerome last year, cyclists in Mauritius became more aware that cycling can be dangerous on our roads and that they will have to be more careful while training. I must say that the cycling community did shrink a bit since his death.

Cycling remains quite discreet on the Mauritian scenery, with very little mass participation whenever there is a national event. What should be done to prompt people to be more

involved in this sport like what we see around ‘Tour de France?’

Like any other sport, it starts at ground level with the kids, teaching them about the sport, organising safe races for them and getting the schools and teachers involved. Once we have that in place, cycling will become more popular. The only thing which is in place at the moment is a cycling school where only about 20 kids are involved which is not enough. Each region should have a cycling school.

Is Mauritius relevant for the practice of cycling- training, competition and international meet? Is it not too small a place for cycle races?

You know with the help of the Police everything is possible. Our local Police are very competent and the federation has organised some international events like the Tour of Mauritius which is held once a year.

Is there safety on our roads whenever there is a cycling competition? Do you think that such cycling races should rather take place during the night for security reasons?

When CRA organises a cycling event we take maximum precautions and make sure that there is a lot of security on the roads in terms of marshals, police riders, ambulances etc., but we are aware that an accident can happen anytime as our roads are not closed to traffic. We are studying the option of night racing which we think will be better if the Police can close a section of roads where the competition takes place.

Cyclists from Mauritius and from Reunion Island and South Africa competed in three classic racing events last weekend, namely the fourth edition of Salchain Vets and Masters Tour, the 3rd edition of Yop Under 23 Tour of Mauritius and the 5th edition of CRA International. More than 100 cyclists were on the roads of Mauritius participating in the tour organised by Chris Desjardins, director of CRA World Events. News on Sunday wanted to know from Chris Desjardins whether cycling in Mauritius, which gets very little attention from the public, should be better known, whether the morale of those who practise this sport is the same after the tragic death of a brilliant cyclist last year and whether our roads are secure enough for such a competition.

Cycling in Mauritius has remained within the hands of private organisations. Do you think that such a sport should be open to all Mauritians, that it should be included in the Olympic committee and that it should be under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports?

Cycling in Mauritius is already under the umbrella of the Ministry of Sports and of the Cycling Federation. For sure they should be doing much more than what they are doing at the moment as both of them have come out with a plan of action for Mauritian cycling for the last 10 years or more and this is the reason that there are fewer cyclists in the peloton.

What would you tell a youngster who wants to choose cycling as a sport?

I will tell him that he has chosen the best sport in the world but that he will have to be very committed and be ready to make a lot of sacrifices to top the list.

Indradev CURPEN

WEEK IN REVIEW

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Six friends win Loto

New CEO for Bank One

Six residents of Albion never believed that their friendship would have brought them millions of rupees. Four policemen, a carpenter and an employee of the Mauritius Telecom will share the whooping sum of Rs 14,145,647, half of the jackpot of the 207th draw of the National Lottery. The six friends went to the headquarters of the National Lottery on Monday to pocket their gains. Having played a multiple of 8 at New Albion Supermarket, they found the winning combination of 05-08-11-12-18-22.

It was not until Sunday that they realised that they were the lucky winners. One of the six friends, Seeneevasen Narrainen said, “We told ourselves that luck has finally struck and in the afternoon we all returned home to celebrate. This friendship we share is priceless. And winning the lottery together was unexpected.”

Bank One has appointed Ravneet Chowdhury as Chief Executive Officer designate to set up its international banking strategy in Africa and the region. He takes office on 1st January 2014, replacing Mr Raj Dussoye, who remains with the bank but in a different role. Chowdhury has had a long career in the banking sector, having occupied various positions at the Standard Chartered Bank before being nominated its MD in Oman. He has a vast experience dealing with Africa.

Twin fires reduce waste to ashes This week was marked by two fire incidents in the Mare Chicose Landfill and the dumping site of Roche-Bois. The Mare Chicose Landfill was ravaged by a violent fire on Monday. Throughout the day, firefighters from various parts of the island were on site to put out the disaster. The fire caused thick black smoke in the South and consumed acres of trash. The firefighters battled the flames throughout the night. The landfill site is managed by Sotravic company. Given the magnitude of the blaze, the firefighters of Curepipe, Mahebourg, Quatre -Bornes and other fire stations in the country were summoned for the daunting task. Firemen faced a mountain of household waste 25 metres high. Another fire broke out at the dumping site of Roche -Bois on Tuesday evening. Firefighters managed to control the blaze, whose origin is yet to be known. The Prime Minister’s office issued a communiqué to reassure nearby residents that, after tests were carried out, the air quality was found to be normal.

Water supply in the red Almost all of our reservoirs are half empty. With the average fill rate at 50.5%, the authorities have no option but to adopt drastic cuts to ration out water supply. It is felt the situation is likely to worsen as the dry season has only just started. The public is advised to save water. Bruno Carta, a consultant in environmental sciences stated on Radio Plus on Thursday that there is too much wastage of water in Mauritius. According to him, this is due to the low water rate here, compared to other countries. “In Mauritius, water costs Rs 5 or Rs 6 a cubic metre whilst in France it is 3.39 Euros (Rs 120),” he explained. He feels that an increase in water rates will force people to save water. However, a system should be devised so as not to penalized poor families.

Suttyhudeo Tengur, Director of the Association for the Protection of the Environment and of Consumers disagreed with his views.

“It is wrong to blame Mauritians for wasting water. The reality is that 50% of our water is lost through leaking pipes in the CWA network. There is sufficient water in Mauritius,” he claimed.

Sungkai and Ponzi revisited The investigation into allegations of financial scams allegedly committed by some investment companies is not yet over. Five suspected agents of Sunkai Company Ltd were interrogated by the Central CID on Tuesday. These five ‘agents’ solicited investments from clients. Sunkai headed by the former municipal councilor of Quatre-Bornes, Bhimla Ramloll was in the spotlight earlier this year. The investment company allegedly operated a ‘Ponzi-style’ scheme, offering them the opportunity to double their investment in three months. Many customers claim to have been conned after investing in Sunkai. Bhimla Ramloll was arrested and released on bail in connection with this case. She had promised to repay all the customers “once the procedures of the Bank of Mauritius and CCID completed”.

Om Lombard to host Sonu Nigam’s concert After hosting the Shreya Ghoshal Live Concert, the Black 30/3/2013 and shooting with Alian Ramanisum and DJ Assad music video (which reached 8 millionviews on YouTube and it Tube of summer in France), Om Lombard is back with a

bang. He will be on stage to host the live show of the King of Romance Bollywood singer, Sonu Nigam. The concert which will be held at the J&J Auditorium with SpelMedia is all set for November 1, 2013.

Police and street vendors in conflict

Conflicts rose on Wednesday at Victoria bus station between the police and street vendors. According to sources, the tension mounted when police officers were conducting a routine check.

The street vendors did not appreciate the act. The situation rapidly deteriorated. According to a woman who confided to Radio Plus, the police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. She alleged that her son was ‘assaulted’ during this incident.

ID card: Queue jumping now possible There is no need to wait for your turn as per the age group schedule to apply for your identity card conversion. A new ‘Conversion Centre’ has been set up at the Cyber Tower, ​​ Ébène on Monday.

Unlike the other operating registration centres, this is a new walk-in centre irrespective of age group. The purpose is to facilitate the conversion exercise. There are also mobile units that visit companies so that employees do not have to travel to conversion centres. Since the launch of the campaign, 18,000 people have been registered, and 20 000 more registrations are expected this weekend.

Overseas units bag CIEL Chairman’s Award 2013 The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights ratified in 1948 The CIEL Textile ‘Chairman’s Award 2013 for Manufacturing Excellence’was held last Saturday at the SVICC, Pailles, in the presence of Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Arvin Boolell and Mr Sean Thisleton, Regional Manager of Woolworths, one of CIEL clients. This year, two units of CIEL Textile located abroad have won the awards: Aquarelle India and Aquarelle Antsirabe. CIEL textile operates 14 units in Mauritius, India, Bangladesh and Madagascar under the brand names of Floréal Knitwear, Tropic Knits and Aquarelle Clothing and its clients are found worldwide. The group employs more than 17,000 workers.

EDUCATION THE MINISTRY of Tertiary Education will be organising its first ‘Assises de l’Enseignement Supérieure’ on October 30 and 31 in Ebène. The Forum on Higher Education is one where various stakeholders will gather for a brainstorming session about how to build a culture of continuous improvement and have future orientation that benchmarks our educational practices against the best in the world. According to the Ministry, its mission is to promote science and research for preparing our country to face societal, cultural, environmental and economic challenges and hence make levers for growth.

Three priority objectives have been set: Ensuring success of students; Reorganisation of research; Review of governance of institutions and policies of sites and networks.

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Forum on

Higher Education next week

STUDENTS’ SUCCESS Guidance, employability and national plan for student life have been identified as the three major factors that need to be considered to ensure success of students. Also, the implementation of a framework based on teachers’ training in universities should be considered as another pillar for paving the way for student success.

REORGANISATION OF RESEARCH To start with, the significance of research in society, economy, environment, institutions and international strategies should be defined. It should be followed by the setting of a national itiative for technological research that can aid industrial fabric enterprises, particularly Small and Medium Entreprises (SMEs) and Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI).

REVIEW OF THE GOVERNANCE OF INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES OF SITES AND NETWORKS The Forum should come up with new approaches or

ways for institutional autonomy. Also, the possibility of new forms of coorporation among institutions should be reviewed.

TOPICS THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED ARE: l Guidance, pre-employment training and employability of students which will eventually lead to skill projections that can be used by the nation itself for economic and national development. l Emphasis on innovation, creativity and research which will act as a lever for transforming Mauritius into a

knowledge-based economy. l Provision of fund for research since investment in research is a vital way to attract top scientists and scientific companies. This can perhaps facilitate universities like University of Mauritius and University of Technology, parastatal like Mauritius Research council to establish research partnerships with leading universities around the world with focus in interesting fields like bioinformatics, information sciences, renewable energy and medical technologies. l Alignment of education system with the economic development goals l Creation of broad array of subject matter courses according to the abilities and interests of students so as to provide more flexibility and choice for students. l Autonomy of institutions so as to encourage more innovation than “tightly-coupled” system. Greater autonomy for institutions leads to a laser-like focus on identifying and developing highly effective institution leaders who can lead institution transformation. l Professional training for tutors to produce to high quality teachers, ultimately building leadership capacity to carry out reforms at the institution, faculty or department level. l Bridge the gap between policies and their implementation with a close tripartite relationship between policy implementers, researchers and educator at the institutional level will generate both policy coherence and implementation consistency. l Commitment towards vocational or technical education Premita LEELACHAND

‘Assises de l’Education’: Preparing our children for life A four-day forum on education was organised by the Ministry of Education last week whereby several issues in schools were raised by the participants. Moreover, 19 major recommendations were made so as to “prepare our children for life”.

Committees will be set up to deliberate on these. It was also decided that the opinions of students through meetings with Student Councils will be sought before going further with the review of our education system.

Those interested to contribute their ideas or comment on the recommendations can do so on MOE Connect Platform.

Six issues present in schools were highlighted during the forum: ABSENTEEISM Absenteeism was found to be more frequent in secondary, especially for students taking the School Certificate (SC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC). This phenomenom has started extending to lower classes and the reasons advanced are mainly revisions and private tuitions. It was suggested that educators who absent themselves from class be sensitize to be more responsible and the conditions of the student bus pass be reviewed. The time-table of third term should be reworked and classes should be more pleasant. Parents should be questioned on the absence of their wards. In primary, pupils are often absent due to socio-economic factors.

INDISCIPLINE AND VIOLENCE

19 MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

Violence, verbal and physical, on educators are more common nowadays. A protocol was proposed for all schools, and all schools to have a discipline master, a vigil at the school entrance and CCTV cameras. It was also recommended that Zippy, a programme in BEC schools where students can express themselves, to be extended to other schools and that parents and children are counseled on.

l Setting-up of MOE Connect platform l Further discussions on modalities on nine-year basic schooling l Integration of Continuous Assessment for Certification in CPE l Curriculum review l Teaching of life skills which will embedded in continuous assessment in primary sector and Civic Education in GP for the secondary sector l Reinforcement of Enhancement Programme (EP) by including life skills and giving more training to resource persons and whether to make EP optional or mandatory. l Co-education l Proposals for curbing indiscipline and absenteeism l Appointment of Counselors in schools; careers guidance l Concept of ZEP/SCAN to be extended to all Primary Schools l Reinforcing the management structure at school level l Evolving role and empowerment of Educators l Recruitment of teachers: what criteria? l Education des parents: how to get parents to engage more – Adaptation of EE for parents l Partnership with all stakeholders, Ministries, NGOs and other agencies l School + programme : Establishing a strong permanent bridge between the school and the community l School Autonomy: degree of autonomy to be determined l Board of Governors for schools l Appointment of specialised working groups on topical/thematic issues

ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND SEXUAL ABUSE Students resort to various ways to bring alcoholic drinks and cigarettes to school. Since searching school bags is prohibited, it was proposed that students are asked to empty their bags themselves.

MUTILATION Mutilation has been noted as a common problem in teenagers. Influence of elders and a way to vent their frustration were noted as the main causes. Strangulation with scarf was reported as a ‘game’ played by students. It was suggested that the behaviour of students should be monitored and that values should be inculcated in the students. The Education Minister announced the setting-up of a unit to follow such behaviours and take measures before it is too late.

PRIVATE TUITIONS

PTA’S ROLE

It was suggested that private tuitions should be legalised in secondary as well, as is the case for STD IV. Private tuitions to be banned on Saturdays, Sundays and during school hours.

It was sadly noted that parents rarely participate in PTA meetings. Teachers hoped for more parents participation and that the executive committee of the PTA be reviewed so as to include more parents on board.

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Aeronautics maintenance

Training centre in September 2014

A training centre in Aeronautics Maintenance will soon be set up in IT IS AN ambitious project, says the The courses will be dispensed in English Mauritius. The project will be carried Education Minister. “It is a leap forward for and some modules will be adapted to the training sector in Mauritius. With the out with the collaboration of ‘Institut de the Mauritian context. “The courses will Maintenance Aéronautique’ (IMA) of opening of the new airport terminal and be of duration three to four years. In the Bordeaux, France, after accreditation an air space of 9 million Km2, the country beginning, the training will be carried out from the European Aviation Safety will need trained persons in aeronautics

by IMA trainers who will also train MauAgency (EASA). The courses will thus maintenance. The ‘Centre de Formation en ritians to be the future trainers. As far as gain international recognition and Maintenance Aéronautique’ will be not only finance is concerned, we are already in a centre for Mauritius but also a centre of ex- students will have the possibility of pur- discussion with the Ministry of Finance,” cellence in the Indian Ocean and the Africa suing their studies abroad. The training adds Vasant Bunwaree. is due to kick off in September 2014. region,” explains Vasant Bunwaree during a The centre will be in the vicinity of the working session with representatives of IMA airport, more precisely in Beau Vallon, at at the MITD House, Phoenix, on Wednesday. the former textile industrial zone. “We For the time being, the project is at the evaluation and consul- have visited the site and it seems appropriate for the training tation stage with different partners whose collaboration will be centre,” underlines Professeur Roger Lalanne of IMA. The instinecessary: the civil aviation, the University of Mauritius (UoM), tution already has several branches outside France in Lebanon the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD), the for example. “Aeronautics is a very complex field and our training Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), and other insti- courses cover all specialties and terminology in aeronautics. 80% tutions in the region. In January, IMA will be submitting a report of our students have been employed by known airlines. to the Ministry of Education after obtaining accreditation from The training centre will be under the aegis of the MITD. ChairEASA. man of the Board François de Grivel underscores that the project For the first intake, 18 to 24 Mauritians will be admitted while is part of the new structures of the institution: “the MITD aims to the total capacity of the centre will be 200. Neither a School Cer- offer courses which are more adapted to new technologies which tificate (SC) nor a Higher School Certificate (HSC) will be manda- will help in the economic development of Mauritius.” tory since intakes will be preceded by a foundation course. The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will also be taken into account.

Premita LEELACHAND

EDUCATION GTU invites teachers for a free health check up In the wake of the Teachers’ Day activities, the Government Teachers’ Union (GTU) will be organising a Mega Health Day on Saturday 26 at the Teachers’ Centre in Quatre Bornes from 9am to noon.

“Nowadays, teachers undergo several stresses. We have also noted a lack of activities on their. The Mega Health Day will offer free screening tests of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to our members and their relatives as well as counselling sessions and preventive measures,” says the president, Vinod Seegum.

Activities will include: NCD screening (Body Mass Index, blood pressure,

blood test, vision tests, and consultation by medical officers, Counselling / Health Education, exhibitions on NCDs, counsel by dieticians, oral health, breast and cervical screening and a blood donation.

Chevening Scholarships 2014/15 APPLICATIONS FOR Chevening Scholarships, the prestigious global scholarship programme of the UK government, are now open. The Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and operate in 118 countries worldwide. They are awarded to exceptional individuals with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one-year Master’s degree, in any subject and at any UK university.

The Chevening programme, marking its 30th anniversary, provides a unique opportunity to leaders of the future to build a global network of continuing professional significance. It enables talented individuals to establish social, cultural, academic or commercial partnerships with the UK. This year, applications are encouraged from professionals who can demonstrate the ability to achieve positions of leadership and influence in the following fields: Environment - Climate Change and Sustainable Development; Justice - Law Enforcement and the Judiciary; Human Rights – Gender Equality and Disability Rights; Governance – Public Policy and Democracy; Economy – Trade Policy and Business Leadership; Education – Tertiary Education and Standard of Education.

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship, applicants must hold a first degree that is equivalent to

at least a good UK second-class honours degree, and have at least two years of work experience in a field directly related to their proposed master’s course.

Applications can be submitted at: https://www.chevening.fco.gov.uk/CheveningApplications/CA_Start.aspx before November 15 2013. The British High Commissioner, Nick Leake, pointed out during a presentation

on Monday, that the Chevening Scholarship is a unique opportunity for future leaders to build an international network in their professional life. “The scholarship allows the laureates to establish social, cultural, academic and commercial partnerships with the United Kingdom (UK). We hope that this year the scholarship will continue to attract the best,” he said.

Dr Jack Keel and Mr Hiding

ECHOES AND WHISPERS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 8

Thieves’ Republic DR JACK KEEL: Have you noticed?

MR HIDING: Yes, I have.

DR JK: What have you noticed?

MR H: For one thing I’ve noticed that your question is very vague, senseless, even stupid.

DR JK: Why did you answer it then?

MR H: I never said that I didn’t answer stupid questions.

If you could come to the point now, that would be great.

DR JK: Which point?

MR H: The point of no return. What is it you wanted me to have noticed?

DR JK: Have you noticed that we are fast turning into a nation of thieves?

MR H: I don’t agree.

DR JK: What is your cause of disagreement?

MR H: We are not becoming a nation of thieves. We have already become a nation of thieves, having arrived there since quite some time. Don’t we excel in all types of burglaries, thefts, robberies, frauds, larcenies, stealing, swindling and other such activities including piracy, plagiarism, forgery and match fixing?

DR JK: Our dailies and weeklies have become catalogues of these crimes. Not a single day passes without the report of ladies losing their jewellery in public places or bandits having broken into houses.

MR H: As things evolve, the robbers change their targets and methods accordingly.

DR JK: How do you mean?

MR H: Haven’t you noticed that since shops and banks have gone under CCTV surveillance, the thieves have

The father…

The MSM pulled a huge crowd at its 30th anniversary celebration at the Swami Vivekananda Centre the other day. The party’s founding father, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, delivered one of the most pathetic speeches of his career on the occasion. In a flight of nostalgia he recalled the time when in the early days of independence, he was a Minister in SSR’s government, and solemnly declared that he didn’t agree with the then Prime Minister’s decisions, especially the one regarding the Relief Workers, colourfully known as “4 Jours a Paris” after the popular opera starring Luis Mariano. SAJ has promised to look into that and redress the matter once he comes back to power!

The son…

While the father Jugnauth is haunted by the ghost of SSR, the son Jugnauth is haunted by the eerie vision of chacha Ashok’s Union Nationale. “As far as I’m concerned, the Leader of the UN, Ashok Jugnauth, doesn’t exist for the MSM,” Pravind Jugnauth has solemnly confessed to the press. That was in retaliation to Ashok Jugnauth’s declaration that if ever the MSM

changed their base of operation and are moving towards private houses?

DR JK: Especially as many houses with working couples and school-going children are left unattended during the whole day.

MR H: There are many who still perform night duty when the whole family is at home.

DR JK: Like the family in Grand Bay last week. Four men in masks irrupted into a household, tied up the three occupants and carried away cash and valuables worth Rs 2 million.

MR H: It must be admitted that the gangsters were kind enough not to have caused any bodily harm.

DR JK: We can say they were motivated by humanitarian considerations.

MR H: There is a thief lurking in every corner, in every station of life.

DR JK: If we are sincere to ourselves, we’ll admit that there’s a thief lurking inside each one of us.

MR H: If you say so.

DR JK: I do say so. The world in which we are living, and the people among whom we are living, have turned all of us into occasional, if not habitual, thieves.

MR H: It’s not only those who steal mangoes and litchis from our premises; it’s not just the ones who steal water from the CWA pipes or who squat on land not belonging to them; it’s not only the parasites who stand at street corners and pounce upon unsuspecting victims, or the ones who attack tourists and walk away with their money and other possessions.

went alone to the next general elections it would disappear from the country’s political horizon.

“Let Ashok have a good look at himself in the mirror before making such statements,” advised the nephew to the uncle. Pravind Jugnauth’s assertion as to the inexistence of the UN reminds us of those who don’t believe in the devil. It is not because they don’t believe in the devil that it doesn’t exist. Likewise for those who don’t believe in God. Their believing or not believing makes absolutely no difference.

On the other hand, the Leader of the MSM has unabashedly confirmed that “More than 15,000 people had come to the Swami Vivekananda Centre for the celebration on Sunday.” As usual, it is evident that Pravind Jugnauth is very poor at estimating the sizes of crowds. According to an impartial estimate, there must have been at least 25,000 people in the highly stretchable auditorium of the Swami Vivekananda Centre on Sunday.

And the Holy Ghost While the father and the son are impatiently waiting

DR JK: You’ve got a very strong point there. Many otherwise respectable looking individuals in expensive suits and travelling in luxury cars are engaged in the lucrative thieving business.

MR H: Once in a while we get to hear about brigands looting banks, but we don’t hear much about the banks that loot the people daily in very subtle ways, or the insurance companies that fraudulently appropriate their clients’ money, or seemingly respectable traders that hoodwink consumers with bogus ads.

DR JK: People in the legal profession have been known to cheat their clients in order to extort money from them. I personally know of doctors who fleece their patients.

MR H: Officers in top positions do often use their offices and influence in order to defraud the state and the people.

DR JK: Others claim bribes in order to do jobs for which they are employed and paid.

MR H: Bribes are given and taken in order to circumvent the law and to escape penalties. Corruption is ever polluting the atmosphere.

DR JK: In the government offices employees think nothing of using government property for their own benefits.

MR H: Pirates operate freely on the roads and pavements, even in their shops, selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs. DR JK: Even the noble field of sports is not spared, especially where horse racing is concerned.

MR H: And match fixing too. Jockeys, players, managers, trainers are bought and sold like goods.

DR JK: Long live Mauritius!

MR H: God save Mauritians!

for the general elections to get the MSM to perform its role of crutch to the MMM, this party’s Leader Paul Berenger, is giving the twosome high hopes in public. In private, however, the perception is quite different, as it is being persistently believed that, as the days and nights slip by, the MMM is getting more and more steadfast in its quest of a role as crutch to the Labour Party.

It is true that, in a moment of desperate bravado, the Labour Leader had let it be known that his party was going to the next elections “without any crutches.” But nobody, not even himself, took this piece of rhetoric seriously, much less the MMM Leader. He, like everybody else, knows that when the appropriate moment comes, the question of crutches will appear too. Until such opportune time, Paul Berenger will continue lulling both father and son.

For his comeback at the National Assembly last Tuesday, Paul Berenger’s maiden comment, on seeing Kalyanee Juggoo superbly draped in a vivid red sari, was “I wish Kalyanee was wearing a mauve sari.” Red and mauve had made a good combination in the past.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 9

FSC hosts IOSCO meeting

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) Mauritius this hosted the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Committee 1 on Issuer Accounting, Audit and Disclosure (C1) meeting from 21 to 24 October at the FSC House, in Ebène.

The IOSCO C1 regroups representatives of 28 member countries around the globe and focuses on the quality of financial information provided to investors by listed companies and financial institutions, and the Accounting and Auditing standards that underpin this information. The FSC is the only African Regulator on the IOSCO C1. As an active member, the FSC aims at sharing experiences and best practices with other regulators and international financial institutions, and at the same time increasing the visibility of Mauritius on international platforms. IOSCO is the international standard setter for the Securities Sector. It develops, implements and promotes adherence to international standards for securities regulation.

HRDC promotes good HR practices About 200 local and international delegates attended the HRDC conference at Le Meridien Hotel, Pointe aux Piments, last week, to share valuable human resource development perspectives, best practices and insights on dealing with human resource development issues. The theme of the event was “Excellence in Human Resource Development for Sustainable Growth”.

The conference, organised at the initiative of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), focused on how businesses are managing and

empowering their people to be successful in times of crisis. In his opening address, the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Dr Vasant Bunwaree, pointed out that HR is the nexus of all key functions of an organisation while highlighting that HRDC is playing a key role in joining up a wide range of initiatives to achieve Government’s vision to have a creative and competent human resource. Total budget expenditure for education and training has risen from Rs 9.7 billion in 2011 to Rs 12.6 billion in 2013, and Government is investing massively in

education and continuous training so that every Mauritian can be empowered with the necessary skills to enjoy a good living standard, he said. For his part, the Director of the HRDC, Mr. Raj Auckloo, recalled that in today’s complex fast-paced workplace, managing human capital is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage.

Human capital is the very foundation for productivity and growth and as such it is important to acknowledge that human resources constitute the backbone of a country’s economy, he added.

Business forum strengthens Mauritius-Gabon economic ties

The Board of Investment and the Agency of Promotion of Investment and Exportations (APIEX) of Gabon jointly held a Business Forum last Thursday at the Grand Bay Conference Centre. The objective was to strengthen the economic cooperation between the Republic of Gabon and Mauritius. The President of Gabon, Mr Ali Bongo Ondimba stated that Gabon is a land of opportunities characterised by political stability, strong economic indicators, infrastructure and special economic zones, regional hub, economic diversification, abundant resources and favourable business environment. He said that Gabon aims to build its economy which encourages sustainable growth focused on three main pillars, Industrial Gabon, Green Gabon and Services Gabon. Gabon aims to become a regional benchmark for sectors such as financial services, new information technology resources, service jobs linked to the green economy, and the specialist areas of health and higher education. He invited Mauritian businessmen to invest in Gabon.

Czech investors focus on Rwanda opportunities

A delegation of 30 Czech business representatives has expressed deep interest in investing in Rwanda. Leading the delegation, Czech Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jan Kohout told media “We have chosen Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Ghana as our economic mission in Africa and I hope our business community will find investment opportunities in these countries.” The delegation said they are interested in investing in among others energy, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, services, import and export promotion. Hon. Kohout explained that they chose Rwanda because it offers potential business opportunities as the country performs well in global rankings. The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) assured the visiting business Executives from the Czech Republic of an enabling business environment in the country. The group also toured Kigali Special Economic Zone. Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies on the continent because many countries are choosing the country as a potential area of investment.

The 2013World Bank Doing Business Report ranked Rwanda the third easiest place to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa, after Mauritius and South Africa.

Orange appoints country manager to drive growth in Africa Orange Business Services has appointed Yannick Decaux as country manager for South Africa and sales director for Sub-Saharan Africa. He will be based in Johannesburg and is assigned with driving the next phase of the company’s growth strategy within the Sub-Saharan region.

He will also serve as director of the Board of Orange Business South Africa. “Orange Business Services’ aggressive focus in Sub-Saharan Africa is in line with our Conquests 2015 objective to be the leader in the world’s high-growth markets,” said Yannick

Decaux.

“The region’s economic potential is at its highest in generations, we will continue to invest in high speed networks, in innovative IT solutions and in our people to support the needs of our multinational customers which operate in Africa and engage strategically with the African companies to help them grow in the global markets.”

Orange Business Services has had a presence on the African continent since 1949 and is established in 40 African countries, with a business-to-business base of more

than 3,750 multinational companies. It remains the only strong geographical player and supports growth across the region with the world’s largest data and voice network to deliver connectivity and IT services to multinational corporations in all verticals, including mining, oil and gas, finance, and government. More than 1,750 people are employed across the continent to provide localised service.

Orange Business Services has major service centers in Egypt and Mauritius and its South African headquarters is in Johannesburg.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 10

Team SYNthesis (Mauritius & Africa) Ltd, in collaboration with the University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM), is holding its 5th Annual Leadership Gala Dinner at the Meridien Hotel, Pointe-aux-Piments today 25th October 2013. The President of the Republic Mr. Kailash Purryag will be the Guest of Honour at the annual gathering of more than 300 business leaders from Mauritius and the region.

Team SYNthesis

Developing Future Leaders …

Team SYNthesis: a niche market solution provider …

“The Annual Leadership Gala Dinner provides an annual platform for the PLC participants and other local and regional leaders to interact and exchange views, apart from catching up on the latest innovative business ideas. We are grateful for the supTeam SYNthesis offers the Project Management port of industry leaders and leading organizations Office (PMO) and Corporate Planning Office that make this annual event a roaring success,” Mrs. strategic enabling tool for the senior management of Naina Chong, Marketing and Business Development organizations to manage their daily critical activDirector of Team SYNthesis told News on Sunday. ities. Team SYNthesis also forms the backbone in Over the years, the Project Leadership Certificawhich a best-practice Project Management training tion (PLC) Programme has become a highly-acclaimed programme can be formulated. Team SYNthesis is one that has successfully attracted more than 4,100 a business process management tool that has been leaders from Mauritius and 59 other countries in the successfully implemented in our region for comparegion and from other parts of the world. The course nies with employees ranging from 5 to 5,000. The is actively run in Asia & Africa across many countries. critical Team SYNthesis value proposition is enabling The motivation behind this Leadership initiative is vision-centric companies in enforcing compliance to develop future leaders that can make things hapand governance, two very challenging areas that pen, with credibility and good qualitative judgment. require constant top management attention in order The course emphasizes on the people-centricity apto foster continuous growth and success. Any practical proach which, sadly, has sometimes been ignored. automation in these two areas saves top management PLC provides a Leadership Lab, to prove that over time and more importantly, enables them to focus on a very intense five energy-drenching days, one can their core competencies which are business growth reflect on proven techniques, identify personal gaps strategies and client engagement. and find motivation to start the journey of climbing the next S-curve of excellence.

“The outcome of this annual event is to instil clar- good business and operations to great ones”, Mrs. ity on the importance of innovation in fostering col- Chong added, “which is in line with the aspirations laborative leadership which is critical in transforming of Mauritius to be the centre of excellence in the

development of human capital, leadership and management”.

The key to successful PLC practice, like any others, is alignment. “We believe there must be only one persona, one that works well for you in attaining personal happiness and professional satisfaction.

Gandhi said the key to happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are consistent, and we would like to add, everyday in your personal and professional lives”, stated Mr. Trishan Ramchurn, Project Manager and PPM Consultant at Team SYNthesis.

PLC is a methodology-independent and is applicable to industries from all sectors. Organisations will benefit from sending their key personnel entrusted to make things happen to the course. The shock-andawe commando training approach has left indelible mark to both seasoned and budding leaders, reaffirming best practices, opening of the third eye hitherto areas thought as impossibilities and stretching the mind to new frontiers of practice par excellence.

Miss Kirtee Somoo, Talent Management Administrator at Team SYNthesis explained that PLC comprises best practices sessions covering CBT (questionnaires), course work, case studies (Project Experience Report) and group work. “It also offers value-add 1-on-1 review sessions as well as a personal PM Leadership profiling. Most uniquely, there

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 11 are also the Industry Guest Speaker (IGS) Leadership series sessions where the C-level Speakers share their personal ‘moments of truth’ experience,” stated Miss Somoo.

Since its inception 7 years ago, PLC’s participants hailed not only from the private sector but also from governmental departments, semi-governmental bodies and municipalities. The published Certification Results Announcements indicated PLC alumni are from the Top 100 Companies: from all major banks and insurance companies, the largest ICT organisations, leading Consulting firms, the largest Hospitality groups, largest Sugar groups, largest Textile groups, key Ministries and parastatals. It counts among its past participants key leaders and personalities in Mauritius and the region.

PLC is a national Management and Leadership certification programme conducted by the University of Technology, Mauritius in collaboration with Team SYNthesis (Mauritius & Africa). Having completed 27 sessions of the PLC course, the 28th PLC session, its final session in this 7th year of the programme, will be conducted from 4 to 8 November 2013 at Sugar Beach Hotel, Flic en Flac. Those who are interested to join the PLC course have to submit registration forms to UTM before Monday 1st November 2013. For more information, they can also call Team SYNthesis on 465-0048 or 5256-3090.

The Chief Instructor driving the PLC Talent Management programme has been assisting Mauritian companies to build high performance teams since 1994. As part of this programme, Team SYNthesis runs PLC Masterclasses, PLC Agile, Influencer, Crucial Conversations and The Science/Art of Innovation courses. The next PLC Masterclass event is the 3-day PLC Procurement & Stakeholder Management Masterclasses, scheduled from 28th to 30th October 2013 and 2nd to 4th December 2013 respectively at Le Meridien, Pointe-aux-Piments.

“This PLC Masterclass courses aim at empowering the programme managers, project managers, opera-

About the PLC Chief Instructor: Tan Chee Peng Mr. Tan is the founder and CEO of Team SYNthesis and Business Technovise International (BTI), a strategic services firm specialising in Business / IT Strategy, Programme & Project Management (PMO/PPM) large systems and business process integration projects. Mr. Tan, an ASEAN scholar and a First Class Degree holder from Imperial College, UK, has more than 28 years of consulting experience in financial services industry, helping MNC clients in Business IT Strategy Formulation and Implementation, Business Process Reengineering, Programme and Change Management, Performance Management and, e-Commerce strategy and Implementation. He was previously the Vice President, Technology of Citibank N.A, Singapore. Mr. Tan was conferred the (CITPM, Senior), the Singapore National IT Project Management Certification on 26 November 1998. Based on his professional work in Singapore, Mauritius and Africa, he was independently nominated and ad-mitted to the International Who’s Who of Professionals for 1999. Mr. Tan also sits on the Board of Assessor for the Singapore National IT Skills Certification Programme – IT Project Management since its inception. He is also a Fellow Member of the Singapore Computer Society and has been listed on the “SCS Roll of honour” in recognition and appreciation of his valuable support and contribution to the Society. Mr. Tan has given Project/Programme Management Conferences, workshops and training sessions to more than 4,100 PMs world-wide and has successfully completed assignments in more than 59 countries. Mr. Tan is also a Mauritius SAPES recipient & invited member, Honorary 300 of the Singapore National Infocomm Registry for ICT Professionals 2011 -2013 He can be contacted at tancp@biztech-i.com.

tions senior engineers, team leaders, managers and others who want to apply best practices for planning, managing and controlling procurement and stakeholder management. This is the tenth and final 10-part knowledge areas to develop high performance teams that can drive initiatives to successful completion and obtain the desired organisation outcome. Certified PMs will find the missing links in their PPM practices and relish its inherent challenges,” emphasized Miss Somoo.

SME organisations are also critical to the overall growth and success of a country. “We are aiming at reaching more participants, especially from the middle-sized companies. We are facilitating talent development and we will impart to your staff the required skills,” Mrs Chong said. She added that the bottom line of all companies is to make profits and

insisted that this can only be achieved if the senior management team is imparted with the right skills.

“Companies want their employees to deliver. We will share the best practices to engage your stakeholders and to resolve challenges”. Mrs Chong told News on Sunday that in-house training programmes are also available.

“The reason why our key instructors have been at the forefront of programmes like PLC is personal satisfaction. One always starts with good heart and good thoughts, and being passionate in one does is key. Believing that one can make a difference is also equally important. If you combine these two potent factors, the rest is easy. This explains why we have never cancelled any public courses since the PLC programme inception”, concludes Mr Ramchurn on the key driving philosophy behind Team SYNthesis’ Talent Management programme.

Sunil GOPAL

Working Lives Singapore Singapore has achieved what only a handful of countries have - joining the so-called First World from the developing world. The city-state transformed itself from a British colonial outpost into the country with the third highest average income in the world within a matter of decades.

Not only that, it has become an international financial centre attracting expatriates from across the globe. Foreign workers make up 40% of Singapore’s labour market.

Exporting consumer electronics has been the driver of growth for Asia since the 1960s, including for Singapore, which has also made the most of one of its few natural advantages, a deep water sea port.

For Working Lives, the BBC’s Linda Yueh has been meeting people around the island.

Wang Han, a young Singaporean design engineer, is the type of highly skilled worker that leads international companies to set up plants in such an expensive country. She works on the innovative digital motor that powers hand dryers and vacuum cleaners for UK company Dyson. The motor is made in Singapore, but the products using it are assembled in Malaysia and sold around the world.

That international outlook and the government’s

promotion of skilled workers also attracts foreigners to Singapore. Frazer Macdonald Hay came to teach young Singaporeans how to integrate design into engineering. He heads a 10-year programme between the Glasgow School of Art and Singapore’s Institute of Technology.

Chris Gill was attracted by the government’s promotion of the financial sector, and a safe, clean envi-

ronment to bring up his young family. He is the general manager of a global insurance company’s Singapore branch.

Property developer Satinder Garcha, who according to one survey is Singapore’s 46th richest person, plays polo each afternoon in the middle of the city, giving him a rather enviable work-life balance.

But it’s not just the rich who have a good standard of living. Office cleaner Liew Siew Giok works all day on her feet but goes home to a meal cooked by her Burmese maid.

She lives with her extended family, who pays for the domestic help and her flat.

The influx of foreigners has created social tensions and the rapid growth of the financial sector has raised some concerns about the future. However, what is clear is that Singapore has grown by being at the leading edge of know-how, giving not just the rich, but most people, a good quality of life.

(Source: BBC)

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 12

“All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster’s autobiography,” said Italian film director Federico Fellini. Natural pearls are very rare as well as expensive, which makes cultured pearls a thriving industry. The core of cultured pearls is larger as compared to natural pearls. While white, pink and cream have always been popular pearl colours, black, gold and silver are as well turning popular these days. With the Government’s vision to develop an Ocean Economy, pearl culture is one of the marine activities envisaged.

The enduring allure of pearls

A thriving business Shaffick HAMUTH

Apart from providing direct jobs to the fishing community, and indirect jobs in other sectors, locally produced pearls can go in pair with the Mauritius luxury tourism brand. As a result, these pearls can also be used in our high-end jewellery industry which represented an export value of USD 60 million in 2012. The US market alone for cultured pearls is projected to exceed $1.6 billion by 2015. Mauritius now aspires to join the global players in the pearl sector.

The Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) this week held a three-day workshop on marine pearl culture at La Cannelle, Domaine Les Pailles. A team of four Chinese experts from the Third Institute of Oceanology–State Oceanic Administration (TIOSOA) shared their knowledge and experience with the local participants, mainly from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Fisheries, MOI, University of Mauritius, Mauritius Research Council, Maurice Ile Durable, National Coast Guard, Sotravic and Ferme Marine de Mahebourg, amongst others.

The foreign experts made presentations on several topics, namely: pearl oyster biology, development, aquaculture and utilisation; how to set up a pearl oyster hatchery; pearl oyster breeding; diet microalgae culture for pearl oyster and pearl oyster aquaculture technique. The workshop also addressed issues such as infrastructure facilities needed for a hatchery, controlled maturation and spawning, larval rearing, larval feeding, pearl oyster grafting, farm management and pearl processing. Demonstration and seeding sessions are scheduled to be held at the MOI farm site at the Albion Fisheries Research Centre. It is the first time that grafting of Mauritian oysters will take place so they may produce pearls in the country. This workshop allowed the possibility of technology transfer, training and support for the local aquaculture industry.

In his address, Professor Xie Longwei from TIOSOA said that the objective of his visit was to discuss and exchange information about pearl oyster cultivation while helping to improve the industry in Mauritius. He pointed out that although the types of oysters in China and Mauritius are different, the technology of pearl cultivation is similar. He expressed his confidence that the cooperation between the MOI and TIOSOA in pearl oyster cultivation will bear fruits and that he would like to see success in this new endeavour.

The Officer-in-Charge of the MOI, Dr Daniel Marie, stated the workshop represents a unique opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations between the Republic of Mauritius and the People’s Republic of China. As regards pearl culture in Mauritius, Dr Marie pointed out that the MOI has undertaken a lot of research and much work has been carried out since the project was launched in 2007.

farms. Several thousand oysters are nucleated and then cared for during the 2-5 years required for a pearl to grow and develop. Pearl production is a thriving business for coastal communities. Prior to establishing and operating a pearl oyster hatchery, the correct biological conditions must be present to allow pearl oysters to grow well and produce high quality pearls.

Through a feasibility study, it is possible to determine if the right conditions for growing pearl oysters are available.

Except for the highly skilled procedure of grafting, pearl culture requires simple farm structures, and more importantly, no artificial feeds. Production of high quality pearls is only possible under certain conditions, including a suitable farm site. Several varieties of pearl oysters are used for pearl culture. Pearls are formed naturally when the oyster is irritated by the presence of a foreign particle in its body. This is usually a small piece of rock or a grain of sand. To get rid of the irritant, the oyster lays down a layer of the shiny, iridescent nacre around the particle to form the pearl.

RISKS

PEARL FARMING

Like any other form of farming, pearl farming can be as dependent on luck as it is on skill. An entire bed of oysters can be completely devastated by unpredictable and uncontrollable factors, such as water pollution, severe storms, excessive heat or cold, disease and many other natural and man-made phenomena.

Although pearl farmers attempt to control as many of these variables as possible, pearl farming can indeed be a risky business!

PEARL CULTURE IN MAURITIUS

Pearl farming is the industry responsible for grafting pearl mollusks and producing cultured pearls. Cultured pearls are grown on what are known as pearl

In May 2013, the Board of Investment, together with the Ministry of Fisheries, the Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) and the Mauritius Research

Council (MRC) invited expressions of interest for the development of commercial pearl culture in our lagoons. (Interestingly, the official logo of the BOI depicts an oyster unfurling a radiant pearl). Recent research findings have demonstrated a strong potential for commercial pearl culture in Mauritius. A pilot pearl culture undertaken by the MOI in the South-East of the island has demonstrated a healthy growth rate for Pinctada margaritifera and Pinctada maculata pearl oysters. This results from the natural characteristics of the identified site including, quality of the lagoon water and its nutrient content, water temperature, dissolved oxygen content, and its salinity among others.

These species are suitable for commercial exploitation. An abundance and distribution survey revealed that these species have a better yield in the lagoon of the east coast. Pearl oysters spawn several times throughout the year with highest amounts of juveniles collected mostly in the month of January. Three pilot farms have been set up in the South-East region of Mauritius. Underwater trestle-type culture system is being used for growing juvenile pearl oysters. Juveniles of size 20-30mm are grown in box cages made of mesh. The rearing density is 100 per box cage. As the pearl oyster grows, number of juveniles in the cages is reduced to accelerate growth. The relative growth rate of pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, is rapid up to the third year and thereafter it stabilises. This decrease with age is strongly linked with the reproduction phase. Additionally, the coastal waters have the required physico –chemical conditions for pearl farming activities. About 22 sites for in-lagoon based activities have already earmarked.

JEWEL OF THE SEA: JAPANESE PEARLS Famous the world over, Japanese pearls have gained their reputation since artificial cultivation techniques

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 13

Fees for ‘sea lease’

were established in the 20th century. Pearl culture developed in the Shima Peninsula at the southern part of Mie Prefecture, a place with an intricately indented coastline. Here, calm waters of sheltered inlets, gently warmed by offshore currents, provided an ideal environment for pearl culture. Ago Bay, in particular, from ancient times has been a home for pearl oysters, which in Japan are called akoyagai. Since the development of pearl cultivation which began from around 1910 the region has become to be known to the world as an important centre of pearl culture. Located on an island of Kashikojima, the National Pearl Research Laboratory is known as the centre for research and development of pearl cultivation technology. However, in recent years, China has overtaken Japan in freshwater

The fees applicable for aquaculture concessions in Mauritius are at MUR 1.2 million (approx.

USD 38,700) for circular sites with a radius of 300 m. Investors benefit from preferential concession fees during their initial years of operation. Fees payable per year are as follows: Year Concession Fees Payable (MUR) 1 300,000 2 600,000 3 900,000 4 1,020,000 As from year 5 1,200,000

pearl production, making it the world’s leading freshwater pearl harvester. Pearl culture is also popular in the Philippines, Thailand, Burma, Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Hawaii and Mexico. India is a fairly recent pearl producing nation, with its main oyster fisheries located in the Gulf of Mannar (Tamil Nadu) and the Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat).

PATH OF PEARL “Pearling” may seem an unusual word but it suits

Budget Proposals of the GSA Government servants made their voices heard after the announcement of compensation for the private sector a few weeks ago. They take this opportunity to call upon the Minister of Finance to include in the 2014 Budget a few measures that would make of their daily living less difficult. Here are their proposals, in a very brief manner, sent to us by Radhakrisna Sadien: 1. To introduce a Minimum Living Wage 2. No dismantling of Welfare State 3. Participatory Management and Profit Sharing 4. Value Added Tax to be reduced to 10% 5. Income Tax (increase in personal deduction) 6. Food Security (Increase local production of food) 7. Stop the closing of Agricultural Centres

to describe almost every aspect of life on the islands of Bahrain for many centuries. The island society developed an economic, cultural and social system that was based on a singular source of income, a natural product of incomparable beauty: the pearls of Bahrain. While during the pearl-diving season everybody took up his or her role in facilitating harvesting of the oyster beds and later the collection and trade of the pearls brought forth, during other times of the year they may have had different occupations. But it was their role in pearling which defined income and social status and it was pearling that gave the island reputation all over the world. The unique story of pearling in Bahrain is now listed by UNESCO as World Heritage site.

8. Pre-primary schooling to be rendered free 9. Health (computerisation of public health institutions and invest in equipment and recruitment of the medical and paramedical staff) 10. Renewable energy 11. No to introduction of toll 12. CSR 13. Stop privatisation 14. Set up a Public Service College 15. Training - Sufficient resources to be put at the disposal of Ministries, Departments and Parastatal bodies for training of staff 16. To speed up the decentralisation process 17. Allocate sufficient resources to ministries to fill vacancies 18. Funds for new equipment and decent work environment 19. Payment of overtime (immediately after the work is performed) 20. Pensions reinforced 21. Creation of a Parastatal Service Commission

WOMEN

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 14

International Youth Forum Promising future women leaders The first ever International Youth Forum (IYF) took place in Mauritius last week. Organised and hosted by Konectenu, this event lasted from 11 to 18 October. Various topics were addressed including leadership, politics, humanities, entrepreneurship, career, unemployment, social work, volunteerism, environment, culture & tradition and others.

The IYF saw the participation of 20 Mauritians and international delegates from 26 foreign countries including India, UK, Mexico, Russia, Poland, Kenya, Pakistan and China. Through dialogue and interaction, the delegates and current leaders from different agencies invited to speak during the event shared knowledge views and visions about global and regional issues. News On Sunday seized this occasion to gauge the feelings and impressions of some of the promising future women leaders.

JUSTYNA KMIECIK – FROM POLAND This was the first participation of this Postgraduate student in Geography and Urban Planning. “It’s my first visit in a developing country. It has been a really interesting experience. As a Geography and Urban Planning student, I have been able to see Mauritius from a social and economic development perspective,” she told us.

Justyna is also the President of an NGO in Luxembourg called Erasmus Student Network (non-profit international student organisation) which aims at making exchange students feel at home in their new surroundings. She believes that the knowledge she gained from the forum will make her even more engaged in her role as an NGO President.

Through interactive and outdoor activities organised during the forum, the delegates have not only learned or discussed about theories, concepts or issues but also shared ideas, values and beliefs and discovered the island. “We visited so many interesting places. Our outing to Alexandra Falls was the best experience I ever had in my life. I have also been delighted by the hospitality and kindness of the Mauritians including that of our welcoming Mauritian delegates. We have shared so much in terms of culture. Now I can say I have many good Mauritian friends. This experience is truly enriching. I really like the cultural mix here which is very different from Poland,” she added. Besides, Justyna confided that she has had the chance to visit a Hindu temple for the first time in her life during her stay in Mauritius and revealed that she is fascinated by the Hindu culture. She thinks that through the IYF, the delegates are now more connected and this will enable them to do something concrete together in the future.

CHEN-XIN – FROM CHINA A graduate student in Chinese Literature, ChenXin said that she has never been to an African country and Mauritius is all new to her. “I have seen the beautiful ocean, beaches and the country. This event has been so much fun together with the other

JUSTYNA KMIECIK

CHEN-XIN

BHAGIYA SIVARAMAN

ISMA SEETAL

delegates. We have shared our cultures and views on the various topics such as leadership and politics. This has given me new ideas and has personally helped me a lot. I have learned that sharing and letting people know what happens in your country is important. Other delegates and I have gained a lot from this experience in Mauritius,” she revealed.

Chen-Xin is delighted to have had the chance of learning new languages through her friends such as Swahili and Mauritian Creole but for her the most important thing was that she has learned about other’s culture. She greatly appreciated the friendliness of the organisers, officials and leaders during the forum and confided that this forum has encour-

WOMEN

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 15 aged her to study abroad for her Masters degree.

She truly believes that communication skills are significant for a person. “Communication can resolve conflicts around the world. I believe that you should make people understand what you think and you should also be a good listener and understand what others think.”

ISMA SEETAL – FROM MAURITIUS A teacher at Northfields School, Isma Seetal claims the IYF is a lifetime experience for her. Isma Seetal, also President of the Rotaract of Port Louis, is very satisfied with the outcome of the forum and of the quality of the workshops. She confided that the forum has personally enabled her to meet other people working in NGOs. “We had great exchanges with all the delegates sometimes even during relaxed moments or over a cup of coffee.

I have also learned how to mobilise and captivate people.” The Mauritian lady said that she will always keep in mind the bonding and friendship that has grown between all the different people.

“The forum and the discussion sessions have been very interactive ones. The workshop on leadership has been enriching and we have received a lot of advice which will help us to affirm ourselves and become leaders. The opinions and views we have heard from all those foreign delegates coming from all over the globe have been very enriching. Moreover, the workshop hosted by WIN on women leadership appealed to me. The exchanges have been very passionate and interesting,” she explained.

BHAGIYA SIVARAMAN – FROM INDIA This has been her second visit to Mauritius and it was quite an exciting experience for her. “I have got to meet such wonderful individuals. Powerful women and men who could in the future collaborate. I see myself working with them in the future and do best for the world,” she said. For Bhagiya, the forum has been an eye-opener. “I have learned every day that everybody has their own views about issues and we must respect them. There is something called controversy with severity. I have learned not to judge people for their belief and their stance they have taken on certain issues. I have learned that if I have problem with anything, how should I handle them calmly and how to approach people. I have learned to walk out of my comfort zone.” The young Indian lady is delighted to have participated in the IYF where she has met people who are focused on their way to change the world. She pointed out that she had learned the value of patience from the Mauritian IYF organising team. “They have definitely set an example.

They have given us a chance to interact,” she exclaimed. She visited the Botanical Garden and GrisGris which she considers as inspiring and conveying spiritual openings for her. “I did scuba diving and it was a pure bliss,” she added. Bhagiya said that the IYF week was just powerful. “I have no words to describe it,” she stated. Concerning her future plans she elaborates, “I have decided to dedicate my life to children who come from difficult backgrounds and orphans. I want to help in funding their education. This is my fancy dream. I want to help children also in their spiritual growth.” Her message to people, “The change is inside and not outside. One has to do something for which people will remember them for who they are and that hard work and love are the elements for change.” She has no doubts that the IYF Mauritian organisers will definitely raise the standards next year.

Jameela JADDOO

Dear Shakespeare My dear Billy, The release of a book is always a moment of exaltation. When the book comes form the pen of the Muse herself, the event achieves a sublime dimension and turns into an extraordinary experience of joy.

Such is the encounter with Shakuntala Hawoldar’s latest book, The Sun Does Not Set, slated to be launched this evening by the President of the Republic. The publication of this collection of poems and short stories comes to add a new gem to the treasure trove of Mauritian literature, and opens yet another window on the fascinating world of literary creation.

The Sun does not set and other works – that’s the complete title of the book – comes to consolidate the conviction that good books and their writers are the most powerful ambassadors of global brotherhood, goodwill and peace. Here, the poet moreover delves into human sufferings, trials and tribulations, but also pours in a message of hope for a better world.

In her preface Shakuntala Hawoldar questions the very ethos of man’s confusion and uneasiness characterized by a guilty submission. “Do we really see the contradictions and paradoxes with which we have strangled ourselves?

Do we see the failure of leadership and blind followership? Do we see the hypocrisy of democracy and the lie of our individual lives?

How do we pretend to be Christian while we practise Hitlerian values? How have we propagated our “vulture culture” while we nourish our predatory instincts? Have the terrible World Wars taught us nothing of human suffering and terror, atrophy, ugliness and squalor?”

And that’s a heavy charge sheet, my dear Billy? The answers to these indictments are subtly couched within the poems and short stories, as in: “Agaiinst the great swirl of collective chaos/Where am I?/Against the great sloshiness of relating minds/Unrelated am I/ Where am I? Who am I?/And if ‘nowhereness’ is definitely where I am,/‘Nothingness’ is who I am.”

The works in this collection span a period of over four decades, almost half a century of creativity. Those who are fortunate enough to have read the earlier works will be swayed by a wisp of fresh nostalgia and rediscover the same, rare original freshness as they revisit the new edition. Everybody is bound to agree with Malcolm de Chazal that “Shakuntala is a poet, and a great poet. Imbued with a sincerity that rises like a fountain of water and falling into flames. The heart expands.

It becomes light and fire. The woman’s heart is revealed, totally naked, in her poems. But a heart that wants to transfigure. Hers is the search for the Absolute.”

Reading Shakuntala Hawoldar’s works is a mind-opening experience, as they are endowed with the power of leaving an indelible imprint on one’s heart and awakening one’s soul. They take us on a journey inside our own hearts and make us discover facets of life within us as well as around us. They engage all our senses and sensibilities and expand our faculties of imagination, wonderment, questioning and self examination.

In the process, my dear Billy, not only do we become aware of the richness and iniquity of the life around us, but also of the richness and inequity of our own personalities.

Going through these poems and stories is like undertaking a journey that crosses all barriers of time and space, of country and culture, and where the sun never sets.

When the sun

refuses to set

Shakuntala Hawoldar has given world literature a new halo of brightness, a new realm of experiences, unfurling passions and complexities. Her writings are a powerful and influencing force on the literary scene, never faltering, fearing, concealing or whispering, but distinctly and unequivocally voicing unpalatable truths, exposing new vistas, new areas of thought and emotion, revealing a new vision, a new interpretation. This selection focuses on the poet as a witness to her own truths.

As you know, a poet’s mind possesses its own system of assimilating and reacting, my dear Billy. Thus, Shakuntala Halwoldar ‘s creative potential traverses subjects beyond her own self.

In a bright introduction to The sun does not set and other works, Farhad Khoyratty writes, “To me, Shakuntala Hawoldar is a gift to the world – every time I meet her (or her writings), brave new worlds open, or rather, the world itself as it is opens. But wrapped up like a brand new gift…Poetry is a gift which in turn is given as a gift to the world. And it is an inclusive world, opening the door of one’s life to a guest, Humankind’s sacred ‘other’ to the guest, the fellow traveller, the gift of experience, of vicariousness, of empathy, or rest.”

Indeed, my dear Billy, let us all cherish Shakuntala Hawoldar’s great gift of poetry. It will only help us to become more human and more humane.

Bhishmadev SEEBALUCK

PEOPLE

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 16

Raissa Boyer

Charm from the sister island

This former Miss Reunion may have cheekbones that can cut and an incredibly sweet smile that could melt the hardest of hearts, but there is more to the lady than just looks. Raissa is a perfect representative of the new breed of models. Where 20 years ago it would have sufficed to have a stunning face and incredible posing skills, today it takes more.

Mumtaz SOOGUND

• Date of birth: January 1, 1987 • Profession: Marketing Assistant, TV… • Childhood dreams: I have had many but there is only one that I could achieve! At 12, I wanted to be one of the dancers of Kamel Ouali! At 15, I wanted to become a model at Elite. At 17, I wanted to represent my island! And thanks to the people of Reunion I had the opportunity to represent my island in France!

And this is a role I always adopt when given the chance. Oh yeah, those were the childhood dreams.

• One beauty rule I always follow: Keeping it natural- a little mascara, and dash of fruity labelo on the lips.

• Latest fashion buys: Shoes from Aldo; it’s black and the heels are fully adorned with of rhinestones! Simple yet classy. I love it!

• In my bag: My phone is very important for me; it’s almost never away from me! If I am trying on a call, I am connected to the internet (Facebook, Skype,...). My red fruity Labelo is also essential because I almost never do makeup. Hence, it serves as my little beauty touch.

• Dream man: I have no typical profile. I do not base myself on the physical, but if he has charm it is even better. He must be nice, outgoing, simple, tender and oozing charisma. I like men with style, who manage to valorise themselves without ​​ being too effeminate.

• Favourite places to shop: Bangkok is for me one of the leading cities for shopping. There is everything ... shoes, bags, jewellery, designer clothes to trendy clothes by not so popular designers! And it’s like in the big cities of fashion, Paris, Milan, London ... It’s a panoply of styles.

BEAUTIES are a dime a dozen, and the women who ascend to the highest levels of success in the fashion world go beyond the call of duty. Blessed with a remarkable look and an assiduous work ethics, Raissa has distinguished herself across a variety of platforms and she is undoubtedly a class by herself. She is in our country for a modeling assignment by Secret Models LTD, but we bet, she will set some hearts of fire before she leaves. News on Sunday asks Raissa to tell us more about herself and share some advice for those who want to break into the fashion industry.

First of all, please tell us why you are in Mauritius? Do you think that Secret Models Ltd is on the right track by bringing models from abroad?

I love Mauritius, and I have many Mauritian friends. I had the occasion to work in Mauritius before. Coming back to work with Secret Models Ltd is a real privilege for me. I think it may be a good thing; it is gratifying for the image of the Vanilla Islands. Having professional exchanges in the world of fashion

can be very rewarding for both the Reunion people and Mauritians. In Mauritius, you have the chance to work internationally unlike us. And this is a chance for us to work with the agency, which is very professional! I love the work done by the the Secret Models agency, I see real investment from their part.

You’re surrounded by images of beauty

in your job, what do you find beautiful in a person?

I am a former Miss Reunion (2006), the Second runner-up for Miss France 2007, coordinator and chaperone for Miss Reunion since five years. I worked with Elite, Miss Mayotte and different pageants in Reunion. I feel the physical does matter in this line of career. But I also believe that beauty is also what we communicate with our eyes, a personality, an aura. You can be a bombshell but if you cannot transmit anything, you will go unnoticed! We are more and more demanding with ourselves, so a person must be beautiful but also complemented with other characteristics which is of course dependent on the context.

What message do you have for our young Mauritians who aspire to be the next Raissa Boyer?

I do not really have a message to share other than - just go for your dreams.

Believe in yourself and put forth your humility and simplicity. But also, do pay attention to the proposals that might come across to you along way because you can land up with bad people. Try to have a healthy life, especially be surrounded by your family members and people you love; it allows you to progress.

How is it to work with Pratyush,

COURT NEWS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 17

Money lender jailed for having embezzled a car

Shamsheed and the Secret Models Ltd team?

Working with Pratyush, Shamsheed and the Secret Models Team is a real challenge for me, for they are real professinals. I was lucky to have met Pratyush and I see in this an opportunity to make a come-back to the modeling world. For some months, I have stopped telling myself that I am too old for all this, especially when I look at icons like Heidi Klum, HYPERLINK “http:// mannequinsinternationaux.skyrock. com/1036280802-Noemie-Lenoir.html”Noémie Lenoir, Kate Moss, etc. And it is especially thanks to the support of Pratyush that I am able to have this comeback.

A MONEY LENDER, Presram Sookur, has been sentenced by the District Court of Curepipe to six months’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of embezzlement in breach of Section 333 (1) of the Criminal Code.

In a judgment delivered last week the Acting Senior District Magistrate, Padmini D. Mauree, has found that the prosecution has proved its case against the accused party beyond reasonable doubt for his having embezzled a private car registration number BM 786 to the prejudice of the complainant.

The said car had been delivered to the accused in pursuance of a contract of deposit on the condition that the car be kept as guarantee upon receiving a loan of Rs 30,000 from the accused.

As per particulars, the complainant, being in financial difficulties, went to the place of the accused whom he knows as money lender for a loan.

The accused accepted to lend him the sum of Rs 30,000 and that same be refunded within one month with interest of Rs 7,500 on the condition that and he has to deposit car No BM 786 as guarantee which he did. On June 28, 2007 the complainant called at the place of the accused to refund the sum of Rs 37,500 and to take back the car. However he failed to do so as the accused had already sold the car for Rs 60,000 to one R.L on June 26, 2007. The accused refused to take the money saying there was a mistake as his son had met with an accident with the car and damaged its rear booth so that the car had been sent for repair at Plaisance. The complainant went to see the accused several times in order to get back his car but to no avail. A few months later the complainant got information that his car was being driven by somebody else. He went to meet that person to ask why his car was with him. The latter said that he

had bought same for Rs 60,000.

Accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and conducted his own defence. In her ruling the Magistrate underlined that the accused party struck the court as an experience conman, schemer well versed in the art of make believe, deceit, strategy and all types of artful devices to achieve his dishonourable aims. First he made use of his position as usurer to demand the imposition of a security as a guarantee for the sum of money to be refunded by the complainant. Secondly he made use of the complainant having foolishly left the sale paper of the car and a copy of same. On one of the sale papers which was left blank accused got his name and signature inserted afterwards. Thirdly he then used the paper to sell the car to Mr Luttoo.

Fourthly the accused tried to make use of this sale paper to try to throw discredit on the complainant that the car was bought by him and not the complainant.

Given the particular nature and circumstances of the case and the se-

riousness of the charge, the trouble and annoyance, hassle caused to the complainant and Mr Luttoo to whom the accused illegally sold the car without title, the various stratagems and subterfuge which the accused resorted to in this case to cover up the matter, the length of time of the police enquiry and the prosecution of the accused party, the Court is of the opinion that a probation order, conditional discharge or a community service order would not meet the interest of justice in the present case. Hence the magistrate decided to convict the accused to a term of imprisonment. “I have taken into consideration that the accused party is an old man. However, I am of the view that a custodial sentence is warranted in order to have a deterrent effect and send a strong signal that such types of offences and conduct would not be leniently dealt with. I therefore sentence the accused party to pay a sum of Rs 10,000 fine along with 6 months’ imprisonment and Rs 100 costs,” the Magistrate concluded.

Sentence reduced by one year in larceny case INSTEAD of four years’ penal servitude, Hassen Eid En Rummun will have to undergo a term of three years’ imprisonment. It is the ruling given by the Supreme Court constituted of Justices Bushan Domah and Saheed Bhaukaurally in a ruling delivered last week. In the present case the judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) has remitted the case to the Supreme Court to assess the appropriate sentence to be passed on the appellant in the light of the guidance provided by the Board and the factors that should be examined following the observation made by the Law Lords in their ruling. The appellant and three other persons (Lall Sujore, Beny Lutchoomun and deojit Vallacanna Beeharry) had been sentenced by the intermediate Court for the offence of larceny armed with an offensive weapon. The four per-

sons had on 30 December 2099, followed the victim from his business premises in a car. When the victim stopped his car at a spot, the four convicted persons approached him wearing masks. The present appellant was carrying a sabre. The windscreen of the car was smashed. The victim was made to hand over Rs 800,000 under threat of being killed. The appellant had been sentenced to undergo 4 years’ penal servitude. That sentence had been maintained by the Supreme Court on appeal, taking into account the role played by the appellant in immobilising the victim in his car. The JCPC considered a number of authorities on the issue of the breach of the appellant’s constitutional right in view of the substantial delay which had occurred in this case, and concluded that there were matters to be considered.

PARLIAMENT

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 18

CIVILITIES and the Constitution The Second session of the fifth National Assembly resumed its activities on Tuesday 22 October with the Honourable Speaker, Razack Peeroo, in the chair. On the Order Paper were the Private Notice Question of the Leader of the Opposition, Questions to the Prime Minister and to Ministers and two Public Bills- the first reading of the Supplementary Appropriation (2012) Bill presented by the Minister of Finance and the Food and Agriculture Research and Extension Institute Bill presented by the Minister of Agro Industry and Food Security. But the main attraction of the day was the comeback of the Leader of the Opposition in the House after being absent for the first part of the session, that is since the beginning of March this year until the National Assembly was adjourned in July, because of his medical treatment abroad.

Indradev CURPEN

SEPARATION OF POWERS

WARM WELCOME At the very start of the session, the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly made a short and warm speech full of civilities to welcome the Leader of the Opposition. The Speaker was quickly joined by the Leader of the House, Dr Navin Ramgoolam, whose words of warmth could not let members insensible.

Both sides of the House tapped the tables showing approval. Paul Bérenger, visibly in a happy but fighting mood, was nonetheless quite surprised by the atmosphere, so much so that instead of returning the compliments to the chair and to the Leader of the House, he was lost in an anodine comment on the colour of the sari worn by the secretary general of the Labour party: ‘I thought that Mrs Kalyanee Jugroo would wear a mauve sari for the occasion!’

Then started serious works- for it is very rare that the Legislature has to debate on the Judiciary. But the first Private Notice Question of the Leader of the Opposition was exclusively meant to discuss of the state of affairs at the Supreme Court. Twice Paul Bérenger mentioned of a ‘situation pourrie’ (corrupt situation) within the Judiciary as he expressed his discontent that judges are doing private arbitration works in matters dealing with millions of rupees.

The PNQ targeted to the Prime Minister ran as follows: Whether, in regard to the Judiciary, he will state if- the President of the Republic has consulted him on the appointment of a new Chief Justice on the office becoming vacant following the retirement of the incumbent, indicating when the said office will become vacant; he has discussed the current appointment of an Acting Chief Justice and Senior Puisne Judge with the President of the Republic or the Chief Justice; and he has recently advised the President of the Republic regarding the approval of requests for Judges of the Supreme Court to undertake any other work?

The reply of the Prime Minister indicates the mastery way in which he had to navigate in order to underline the separation of powers between the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. In this context News on Sunday has no other choice than to give in extenso the answer of Dr Navin Ramgoolam (as from the Hansard) so as not to get involved in any controversy on such an important issue: “Mauritius is fortunate to have a Constitution that provides for separation of powers of the Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislature. The President of the Republic is required by his oath to execute the Office of the President to the best of his ability to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and the Law. Likewise, our Judges are required by their oath of office to serve Mauritius and the Constitution “without fear or favour, or affection or ill will”.

“Of late, it has been noted – I should say – with

great concern that a number of persons have been making public statements and engaging in acts and conduct likely to be perceived as undermining the independence of our institutions including the Judiciary.

We have witnessed that conduct in relation to certain high-profile cases dealt with by the Supreme Court.

In regard to part (a) of the Question, section 77 (1) of the Constitution provides that the Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister. Furthermore, section 64(5)(a) of the Constitution provides that the question whether such consultation has in fact taken place, even if required by the Constitution, shall not be called in question in any Court of Law. The substantive Chief Justice is still in office, and is expected to remain in office until his retirement on 31 December 2013 at which point in time the office will become vacant. I am expecting such consultation to take place prior to the appointment of a Chief Justice in a substantive capacity.

Regarding part (b) of the Question, section 77(5) of the Constitution provides as follows, I quote “Where the office of Chief Justice is vacant or the person holding that office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, those functions shall be discharged (and I stress this point) by such one of the other Judges of the Supreme Court as may be designated in that behalf by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the person holding the office of Chief Justice: Provided that if the office of Chief Justice is vacant or if the person holding that office is on leave of absence, pending retirement, or if the President, acting in his own deliberate judgment, considers that it is impracticable to obtain the advice of that person owing to that person’s absence or illness, the President shall act after consultation with the Prime Minister” In regard to the appointment of an acting Senior Puisne Judge, section 77(6) of the Constitution provides as follows and I quote -

PARLIAMENT

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 19 “When the office of the Senior Puisne Judge is vacant or the person holding that office is acting as Chief Justice or is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, such one of the Judges of the Supreme Court as the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Chief Justice, may appoint shall act in the office of Senior Puisne Judge.

It is pertinent to refer to certain appointments in the Judiciary in the past in which seniority in the Judiciary was not adhered to - because I see many people making comments that it is the first time; there have been cases where seniority has not been adhered to - and presumably not found to be a determining factor. No doubt, this must have been on the strength of section 77(5) which I have just quoted and 77(6) of the Constitution which provide that appointment as Acting Chief Justice or Acting Senior Puisne Judge shall be made from, and I emphasise, “such one of the Judges of the Supreme Court as may be designated by the President acting on the advice of the Chief Justice”.

Nowhere is it specified in the Constitution that the Senior Puisne Judge will automatically act as Chief Justice in the absence of the latter or that the next Judge in line will automatically act as Senior Puisne Judge when the office of Senior Puisne Judge is vacant.

There are cases, in the seventies, on the demise of former Chief Justice Rivalland, the then Justice Garrioch was appointed Acting Chief Justice instead of the then Justice Latour Adrien who was senior to him as far as in the Courts are concerned; in 1995, when the then Chief Justice Forget was to retire, Justice Sik Yuen was appointed Senior Puisne Judge instead of Justice Pillay who was senior to him. This led to a long debate between myself and the President. I would rather not go into the details, but if need be, I will.

I should like to point out that in February 2012, during the absence of the Chief Justice from 19 February to 03 March, when the former President, Sir Anerood Jugnauth was in office, Senior Puisne Judge Matadeen was appointed to act as Chief Justice. But Mrs Justice Peeroo, who is junior to Justice Balancy on the Bench was appointed to act as Senior Puisne Judge from 19 to 26 February and Justice Lam Shang Leen who is also junior to Justice Balancy on the Bench – I say on the Bench because when they were called to the Bar, the seniority is not the same - was appointed acting Senior Puisne Judge from 27 February to 03 March. I gave those examples because these are examples where this has been done. In fact, in the case of Justice Balancy it had happened in February 2012.

The question of my discussion regarding appointment of Acting Chief Justice and Senior Puisne Judge does not arise as this is not required by the Constitution. As I explained, the Constitution is very clear on this.

As regards part (c) of the Question, section 7(3) of the Courts Act provides that no Judge shall with or without remuneration, undertake any other work without the approval of the President. Also section 64(1) of the Constitution provides that in the exercise of his function under the Constitution or any other law, the President shall act in accordance with the advice of Cabinet or a Minister acting under the authority of Cabinet, except where the Constitution empowers the President to act in his own deliberate judgment or in accordance with the advice of any other person or authority.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7(3) of the Courts Act and section 64(1) of the Constitution, the practice in line, it seems, with the view held by Supreme Court Judges, has been that such approval is tendered by the President without seeki n g the advice of the Prime Minister.

The House will appreciate that

Mauritius has always been recognised as a vibrant economy with the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary, and the separation of powers being the fundamental tenets of our Constitution.

We should not act in any manner that may be perceived as undermining the independence and the credibility of the Judiciary or of any particular Judge.

I would invite all those concerned to refrain from any such conduct in view of the deleterious effect it may have on our social fabric and the business environment of the country.”

During supplementary questions, Dr Ramgoolam indicated that the current Chief Justice will leave his post on 31 December 2013, that a new Chief Justice will be nominated in consultation with the President of the Republic; that the recommendations of Lord MacKay will be the base for reforms in the Judiciary and that he will consult the Leader of the Opposition for any amendment to be brought to the Constitution in this connection.

TV LICENCE FEE INCREASE Dr Ramgoolam answered Rajesh Bhagwan of the MMM Opposition party of the reasons why the MBC had to increase its fees as from 1 August 2013.

“Economic realities have made it imperative for the television licence fee to be increased. Apart from the fact that the channels have been increased, the Corporation has had to meet the costs arising from the implementation of the three Pay Research Bureau Reports in 2003, 2008 and 2013. In addition, over the last ten years, there has been substantial increase in the cost of goods and services, such as, electricity, fuel, spare parts, and transmission fees, among others.

The Prime Minister underlined that ‘The Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (Collection of Licence Fees Act) was enacted in 1984; since the coming into effect of the Act, television licence fees have been revised on several occasions. As a matter of fact, the television licence fee for domestic consumers was increased five years later,that is in November 1989, from Rs 15 to Rs 75 monthly, that is, a 400% increase on a monthly basis. Again in February 2002, the television licence fee for domestic consumers was further in-

creased from Rs 75 to Rs 100 monthly – that is, a 33% increase monthly.

He also pointed out that the increase in television licence fee from Rs100 to Rs150 monthly, effective as from 01 August 2013, concerns only domestic consumers who consume more than 396 kilowatt hours of electricity annually in mainland Mauritius.

This means that 21,859 domestic households in Mauritius who consume less than 396 kilowatt hours of electricity annually have not been affected, they will continue to pay a licence fee of Rs20 monthly. In terms of the arrangements between the MBC and the CEB, the Corporation will start collecting the television licence fee for the month of August 2013 in the course of this month.

FARE BILL VOTED The Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Bill was voted at the National Assembly on Tuesday without amendment. The Bill provides of the merger of AREU and FARC to make of the FARE. In his presentation of the Bill, the Minister for Agro Industry, Satish Faugoo said that this new piece of legislation provides for the establishment of an important institution in the landscape of our agricultural development, in line with our vision of producing enough quantity and more importantly high quality of food and vegetables for the country.

‘The creation of the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute will go a long way in attaining our targets; the annual food crop production of our country turns around 25% of the total food requirements, we are targeting an increase in self-sufficiency level of selected products with the dual objective of increasing our annual food crop production and decreasing our importation bill.

Our agricultural sector is facing numerous challenges and that the institute will be important at • Promoting sustainable intensive agricultural production; • Providing technical, marketing advisory services; • Promoting value addition of primary farm products; and • Promoting commodity chain and agribusiness development.

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Sonu Nigam

It is difficult to be insensitive to the natural and man-made beauty that a trek along the tea route unfolds. It is strewn with a thread of colonial houses, mountains, hills and valleys, Sugar cane plantations, tea cultivation, vegetables and hunting reserves. There is hardly any space that does not attract by magnificence of its own. Love of the countryside and curiosity oblige. Starting from Curepipe and passing through Forest side a colonial building catches the eye. It is one of the feathers in the cap of colonial architecture. It is located on a piece of land that extends over an area of thirty acres.

Trekking along the tea route

The world famous talented singer Sonu Nigam will give the Mauritian public a 3-hour musical spectacle at the J & J Auditorium on November 1 at 7.30 pm.

The singer will share the stage with 18 musicians and six dancers for the grand performance. Sonu Nigam promises to revive some of the most beautiful retro songs for the public. Tickets are at Rs 2,975 (VIP, cocktail included), Rs 2,300 (Platinum), Rs 1,850 (Gold), Rs 1,450 (Silver) and Rs 850 (Bronze). Tickets can be bought at Mado in Bagatelle, Jumbo, Shoprite and Port Louis (next to the MCB bank).

Tickets are also available at Super Unic in Quatre-Bornes.

Mussels and shrimp Festival

Mussels and shrimp Festival will be held until October 30 at the Escale Restaurant in the Labourdonnais Hotel in Caudan.

Those interested are encouraged to make reservations by calling 202 4000.

Zulu and his tribe Zulu and his tribe will perform a concert at Le Bar & Vous in Grand Baie on October 26 at 9.30 pm. All the hits from their new album and crowd favorites such as “Tir Bousson” and “Gabriella” will be performed in a live concert. Those interested must booked their place. Only 200 places are available.

DISCOVER

Sheer exotic beauty

THE COLONIAL mansion unveils treasures that linger a long while after visiting it. The building itself stands in the middle of a huge compound. It is made of wood and its roof is covered with shingles.

The white façade, the blue maxi doors and the black painted roof carry the visitor back to the early days of the twentieth century. Only the big landowners with special taste could afford such a big mansion.

It has a glazed veranda. It offers the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding as it dominates the lush green vegetation along the road to Midlands and the many industries that have cropped up in the area. Nothing stands in the way, even the cold weather and the fine showers that keep on falling. It was till recently inhabited by Mr Philippe Guimbeau and his family. It has now taken the mantle of an antique piece. Visitors passing by cannot help stopping there for leg stretching and a little rest or for a light breakfast. It is reminiscent of Chateau Robillard in Ville Bague converted into a luxurious hotel. It is a classic example of the period’s architecture. The distinctive timber, shingle and glass are familiar with other iconic buildings of the time. The design is not at odds with the historical setting. With big trees and shrubs standing by its side, from the road it looks a sure attraction with a stunning view with its gardens and lawns. Greenery and other colours play riot and withhold the visitor on his trek.

Beds and borders are in their pomp. Its beauty lies in the fact that it stands away from other properties that through lack of proper care are on the verge of becoming eyesores due to the tangled stems perennials, overgrown shrubs and self seeded plants. The Municipalities have rightly asked owners to do the needful for preserving the splendour of the town.

The garden is tamed; it has greatly improved its look.

The grasses are trimmed to ground level. All are nicely pruned. Along with ornamental grasses and

shrubs, the seed heads add sculptural interest and at the same time provide food to birds. The yard is given the utmost care not to spoil the rare spectacle the domain presents. Long root plants are meticulously cut, from time to time. There are many flowers grown according to the seasons. No odd ones invade the premises. Geraniums, roses, marigolds, pansies, betunias make the delight of florists and botanists.

Begonias, lys and hortensias grow side by side and embellish the front of the house. Flowers that outgrow their allotted space are duly hacked for symmetry sake.

Such big houses do post sparkling ponds of water and a pool at the back for fish farming. These add a rare and romantic touch for they enable long walks in the labyrinth of alleys and path in the shade of big trees that used to adorn these houses in days of yore.

Their unusual charm casts a magic spell on all age groups. Water irises, marigolds and other marginal plants are very carefully and subtly divided. Aquatic plants are not lacking. They serve for feeding the fish that move about nonstop. They do sometimes scurry to holes or under rocks on hearing noisy steps

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IN

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History

A difficult era The years spanning over the thirties, forties and beyond were in fact tough times as events during those years had an overall effect on the island and its people. It spared nobody. The rich as well as the poor were hard put to it Wars, cholera, epidemic, cyclones treated all alike. These are situations when everyone goes through the same trauma. It is unfortunate that people do not derive any lesson from it as they continue with their arrogance, looking down upon weak and vulnerable. Very few heed to the lessons nature imparts to them.

or strange voices. They delight children who take pleasure in throwing pieces of bread to them. The pond and the water canals or swamps are cleaned regularly to clear of algae, to oxygenate the water to prevent mosquito breeding and provide shelter for pond life. Falling leaves are picked up to prevent them from rotting. Some are fenced by stretching a net pegged to the ground.

The lawns look very sprightly. With fat patches of grass and compacted areas. The ground is well worked into wiggled by fork moving forward and backward. Digging, raking, levelling go all the year round for maintaining the fabulous appearance. There is netting for protection against birds that eat the seeds.

Deciduous shrubs are pruned. Diseased, damaged or dying plants are removed to prevent infection spreading to other plants. The beauty of it is that the plants are planted in such a way that fit nicely in the space allotted to them and a uniform growth appears to the eyes.

Way ward branches are trimmed and crossing shoots as well. This provides good information to gardeners and novices in this field.

The veggie side, too, is attractive.

There is a medley of vegetables properly planted in beds that are parallel to each other. Netting and other measures are taken to ensure protection from birds and stray animals. The garden boasts of all types of vegetables that spare the owner a lot of expenses. Tomatoes, beans, cauliflowers, cabbages, carrots and other greens amply justify its raison d’être and the good husbandry of a few people belonging to any class.

Devanand RAMPERSAD

The forties have had its share of the difficulties. 1943 witnessed strike, sugarcane fields put on fire, hunger strike and shooting. Four persons were killed and several injured in the process. The situation was made doubly difficult because of the war that was still raging in Europe and Asia. Consequently, the war imposed lots of restraints on the population. Food rationing, curfew, entertainment restricted, no new horse were imported and the same horses were raced year in year out. No new films were available and those available were shown during the day. Even the seaside was not trouble free as enemies’ submarines were plying up and down the Indian Ocean.

Natural calamities added fuel to fire. The 1945 cyclone was a bane. It brought in its wake the deadly polio that took a very heavy toll, paralysing most children at that time. A generation of handicapped was born. No vaccine or remedy existed. Quick and immediate action was needed to escape the bitterest enemy. The affected ones were called Johnny after the Indian comedian Johnny Walker who had adopted a walking style that was his own. He limped and accordingly the poor polio victims were nicknamed Johnny. It took quite a long time to get an effective remedy. However, it continued to affect children for a long time to come. Credit must be given to British medical teams who visited the victims, treated them, advised them, tendered them and provided them with special shoes and crutches. Children from rich parents, too, were hit by this malevolent disease. I still remember the days when the schools were closed and we rode in jeeps along with the officers and showed them the houses of the affected. The cyclone had already closed temporarily many schools. Polio helped to prolong the closure for fear of infection spreading. More than three months pupils stayed at home. Exams took place in July as in Europe but due to the long forced vacation and pupils losing classes exams were postponed to October and since then no change in exams holding has taken place.

Healthwise, malaria also was widespread and was fatal.

More than 400,000 died of it. Slowly and surely with the help of World Health Organisation and the relevant authorities this scourge was eradicated. As a result, there was a baby boom in the years that followed. Existing schools could hardly accommodate the large number of school going children. Government resorted to the shift system. The lower classes were run in the morning from 8.30 to 11.30 and the upper primary from noon to four. There was a scarcity of teachers as well and new recruits with one week crash course were sent to schools to teach a specific class. In the early fifties more than 40,000 children aged five sought admission to Primary schools. A similar situation cropped up in 1977 when the Free Education programme was implemented and the then Minister of Education converted the 21 science labs into Junior secondary schools dispensing course up to Form 3 and later to Form v to cope with the problem Mauritians are versatile. They turn adverse conditions into positive ones. Mauritius has faced many such events in its short existence but its rulers have surmounted them.

Back to the forties when adverse events forced many unpalatable decisions and the population had to bear with them. The 1943 labourers’ strike at Belle Vue Harel and the subsequent shooting gave more ground for workers’ leaders to manifest and ask for reforms that as a result culminated into constitutional changes inaugurating a new era in the political history of the island. In Great Britain the Attlee government advocated a policy of independence of the colonies. The Mauritian Labour Party at its inception had by and large a Creole leadership with Dr Cure, Anquetil and later Guy Rozemont who enjoyed tremendous popularity with the Creole population. He did not hesitate to share a peg in taverns in their company. He was rightly perceived as the real king Creole. Dr S.Ramgoolam had just returned from completing his studies in medicine from UK imbued with socialist ideas picked up from the Fabian Society whose member he was. Furthermore, he had acquired lots of experience in political matters and that served him right in his campaign for independence. Later, he was appointed nominee to the National Assembly in 1940 that gave him the opportunity to hone his political acumen.

Professor Bissoondoyal too started the Jan Andolan another means to draw the attention of the British and remedy the grievances of the labourers and other workers.

SSR launched Advance with A.Beejadhur as Chief Editor writing on behalf of the poor. During the war years, scarcity of paper led the three dailies to come out as a single paper Advance, le Mauricien and Le Cernéen add to split later at the end of the war in 1945.

Jwala KALLEE

SOCIETY

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The 2014 Budget

What are the expectations of society?

With the 2014 Budget scheduled to be presented in Parliament on November 8, a feeling of hope and fear pervades among the nation. Many Mauritians are longing for an improvement in their standard of living, through appropriate fiscal measures, a consolidation of social measures and incentives for investment and savings. News on Sunday has gauged the views of diverse stakeholders on what they expect from the next annual Budget exercice.

THE ECONOMY is currently undergoing through tough times and one cannot help but wonder what the outcome of the 2014 Budget is going to be. Although the government is making big efforts to support socio-economic endeavours, many feel that innovative initiatives in numerous sectors are still lacking. Will this budget bring forth more innovative measures, designed to improve public services, curb unemployment and reduce poverty? Will elderly pension and disability allowance be increased? These issues figure amongst the many questions that members of the public have in mind.

SOS POVERTY: “A national minimum wage needed” Saajidah Dauhoo, Chairperson of SOS POVERTY stated that our society is currently facing the pressures of widening income disparities and it is critical the government sets a minimum wage system. “It is essential that we establish a

minimum wage for the people of Mauritius. Lowest-paid people need to be guaranteed an income that pulls them out of poverty and helps ensure they can meet the rising cost of living. The government recognises the need to tackle the rising cost of living as well as other important issues like housing and security. Furthermore, significant support needs to go to older members of society, to help them with their medical costs for instance. The government needs to reshape its policies and drive new initiatives to sustain social mobility and strengthen support for elderly citizens. We need to enable our seniors to have a sense of economic security and fulfillment in their retirement years,” Saajidah Dauhoo.

Lakaz A: “Give back the homeless their dignity” Liseby Rungen of the Groupe A de Cassis (Lacaz A) states that she would like the government to tackle the housing and homelessness problem. “There are many homeless

persons sleeping on our streets and nothing is being done about it. It seems that everybody has forgotten that these homeless individuals are also victims of society. Providing small housing or even just a room for these individuals could end the suffering and give them their dignity back.

Furthermore, Mauritius still faces an alcohol and drug abuse problem. Though the use of needles has dropped, we have witnessed a surge of numerous other killer drugs emerging in Mauritius. The government needs to revise its strategy as many youngsters are today using different drugs and are becoming alcoholics,” stated Liseby Rungen.

MSJM: “Restoring power to the people” Jean Philippe Provence, secretary of the ‘Mouvement Social de la Jeunesse Mauricienne (MSJM)’ states that he hopes this budget will focus more on the lower and middleincome Mauritians. “Raising incomes and reviewing the

SOCIETY

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children alone are now a common feature in our society nowadays. There are many fathers struggling to make ends meet because of the lack of facilities available to them. For instance, the law states that social aid should be provided to ‘distressed women’ and does not mention anything for men, yet we have many poor men attending to kids alone, but who do not qualify for social aid. This is gender-based discrimination. Although social services state that fathers too have the right to social aid, it seems, nothing is mentioned in the law.” Darmen Appadoo also proposed that alimony payment by fathers becomes tax deductible. “It is unfair that alimony payment is not an allowed deduction for tax purposes, given that alimony is meant to spend on a dependent. There are many cases where fathers continue to support their dependents not in their custody but cannot claim the expenditure as tax allowance.” Darmen also deplored that a proper family-friendly Family Court is not being set up, though this was announced in previous budgets. Finally, he proposed that family-related legislations be amended to make them more gender equal.

Arc-En-Ciel Disabled Group: “Better transport facilities for the disabled” The President of Arc-En-Ciel Disabled Group, Gridevi Seegoolam told News on Sunday that there are many initiatives still lacking for disabled persons and she hopes the upcoming budget tackles the matters. “The main concern is the methods of transport for the disabled. Proper transport for disabled people is inexistent. There have been numerous talks of initiatives from various parties, but nothing has been implemented. Families of the disabled are still suffering and their cries for help fall on deaf ears. The government has taken a noble initiative by encouraging companies to employ people with disabilities. However, there are many who are uneducated but have a gift for craft work. Incentives to help the disabled promote their work enabling them to stand on their feet should not go unnoticed in the upcoming budget,” said Gridevi Seegoolam.

minimum wage is the best way to help lower- and middleincome people cope with rising costs. The power to buy even the most fundamental items has reduced considerably not to mention the added stress of paying for their children’s education, housing, and healthcare amongst others. The minimum wage will help those in need and it will be a milestone that many Mauritians will be thankful to,” he said.

Salim Muthy: “We need to drag the people out of their debts” Salim Muthy, social worker, spoke on the debt issue everyone is facing in the country. “We have become a debt nation, everyone from the government to middle class individuals owe high amounts of money to banks. Although Mauritius today portrays a more prosperous nation, our balance sheets tell a different story. Our cars, houses, investments are in the majority of cases paid for with debt: credit card debt, student loan debt, mortgage debt, business debt, national debt. Unless we come up with a solution we will never be able to limit poverty. The government needs to set up a financial ombudsperson. In the last budget the government announced that it was going ahead with this but nothing has been seen yet. Furthermore, the Governor of the Central Bank need to be given more power to intervene in banking transactions so that abuses relating to high fees, heavy penalties and high interest rates can be tackled firmly,” he proposed.

Sister Elizabeth Songor: More money should be allocated for training of care givers Sister Elizabeth Songor, President of the NGO ‘Association pour l’accompagnement, la rehabilitation et l’insertion Sociale des Enfants’ states that for the country to overcome its many social difficulties, the government needs to allocate more money to the training of caregivers. She also opined that we must do more to mitigate inequality. We should make our fiscal system more progressive, by tilting our taxes and benefits in favour of the lower- and middle-income groups. Moreover, to sustain social mobility, we need to give equal opportunities to all children from a very early age. We cannot change the fact that children have different family backgrounds that bring different advantages and

Greenlife: More concrete and efficient schemes needed

disadvantages. But we want to find every way, at the preschool and primary school levels, to help our children from poorer or less stable families to develop confidence and the self-belief that gives them aspirations of their own, and to help them catch up when they fall behind,” she said.

SOS PAPA: More help for ‘distressed’ fathers’ Darmen Appadoo, President of SOS PAPA, an NGO which fights for the rights of fathers, children and family welfare, states he wants to see more being done for fathers who raise their children alone. “Single fathers bringing up their

The NGO Greenlife which aims at the betterment of society proposes that aid-related schemes need to be more concrete and efficient, to alleviate the hardship of the needy.

“Can you imagine, we are told that there are about 7,000 families living in abject poverty, and we have more than 7,000 NGOs in Mauritius. If each NGO had taken care of only one family, absolute poverty would have become history!

Also, there are too many social aid related schemes that are overlapping, or duplicating. There should be a revamp of all schemes, and the setting up of efficient and concrete ones that target the needy, to avoid wastage,” explains Rishi Callychurn, its President. For Bilal Neeyamuthkhan, VicePresident, there are certain issues that need immediate attention, for example the elderly who are bed-ridden needs adult diapers which cost a lot. Poor families cannot afford this item, however there are no schemes to address this issue, and even in hospitals, patients are not provided with these items. Similarly, it is easy to donate a wheelchair to a disabled person, but there is never anything done to see whether the person’s house or room or toilet is disabled friendly, and it costs a lot to modify infrastructure. Hence, we need more proactive schemes to assist the needy,” he said. Greenlife also proposes the setting up of a Road Accident Victims Fund, to which revenue from road traffic fines should be directed, to assist victims and families of victims of road accidents; a Social Victims Fund, to which fines paid by offenders in Court are directed, to compensate victims of crimes and a special levy on profitable sectors of the economy, such as banks.

Yousouf BUGLOW

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The new Identity Card

What’s wrong?

THERE IS nothing wrong in the introduction of the new ID for it would serve a good cause sparing troubles such as waste of time, running here and there in search of information that easily gets lost. With the new card there is more security and safety.

We would be spared a lot of unnecessary cares and trouble. It must be admitted that it is the IT age and we should follow the trend and live like wise. We must not look at what is happening elsewhere and condemn the project wholesale. But where the shoe pinches terribly is that the timing is not conducive. The world is going through a period of uncertainty and economic slowdown whereas we in Mauritius are resorting to unprecedented largesse not caring for the danger that is lurking and threatening. Advisers it is said are appointed right

and left deserving and undeserving to the point that bus conductors and gardeners are taken on board for the mere fact that they are political agents. The astronomical cost of the project is disheartening at Rs I.2 billion! Where the government is going to get it to foot the bill? It would pass it on to the unborn generations. Many wouldn’t care for the huge debt as they are miserable in the sense that the Almighty has not blessed them with such a boon and bliss. It is unfortunate that a socialist government that claims to alleviate sufferings is increasing it. All expenses need be made in view of the prevailing situation. In virtue of what the government has taken such a step? It is as if adding insult to injury.

VIEWS

Vote at 16

A new “gadget” for the youth

RECENTLY, there has been much hustle and bustle about reducing the right to vote to 16 in our island. 142 countries have age 18 as their voting age. Countries such as Taiwan and Japan do not give their young people the right to vote until they are 21.

But in several countries the voting age is younger - in Korea, Sudan and Indonesia it is 17, in Brazil, Cuba and Nicaragua it is 16.

The question that arises is whether our country is prepared enough to bring in this change. Certainly, it is neither a sensible nor wise act to perform so soon. Lowering voting age to 16 would not boost political participation or make the system

fairer.

Seeing the condition and the way our country is turning to, lowering the right to vote to 16 will only worsen the present conditions. We are already facing major crisis in the country, hence lowering the right to vote will not help in any way. The age 16 is not a right age for youngsters to take such serious decision. Our youngsters are not mature enough to take part in politics.

Youngsters of aged 16 are not allowed to buy cigarettes, drinks, do not have driving licence and cannot even marry without parents’ consent, so how can one expect them to be part of a country’s major decision-

taking process? In past years, we have been witnessing societal norms being violated by youngsters. The number of youngsters being involved in crimes and association in different kinds of negative vibes only pinpoint to the fact that if they are unable to take a decision in their own life, how then will they take a good decision for the future of the country?

Moreover, how many youngsters are interested in politics? Many of them have the perception that politics do not affect their everyday life, when it in fact does. Youngsters are very much interested in other things like technology rather than politics. Rarely do we see groups of youngsters discuss political happenings in the country. So, in such a case, giving them the right to vote will not help as much. They will vote for fun and will be easily influenced by political parties.

The right to vote at 18 has been existing since long and big and advanced countries are following this trend, so why should we as a small developing country engage ourselves on baseless debates and changes when we can devote all this energy, time and resources to other useful projects.

Nafissah Fakun

Why a new card if it means nothing?

Why a new card if it means nothing?

Listening to various arguments from both sides of the debate over the new ID Card, it seems we are going to implement a new card costing a fortune but which isn’t going to be much different from the existing plastic-laminated one. Let me explain. Whilst opponents have been painting a dark picture of the new smart card, claiming it is a new Big Brother bringing a surveillance society, with all the risks of seeing data being hacked, and erosion of freedom, liberty, privacy etc, the authorities have remarked that such fears are baseless, since the card will only contain our basic personal details, and will not contain any other information such as driving licence, blood group, or sensitive information, etc, neither now, nor in the future.

I then conclude why should we go for such an expensive card if it is not going to have much extra features compared to the existing one? It would have been better to upgrade the existing one, at a fraction of the cost of the new one.

A citizen

Second consecutive African Award for Duval

ECO SAYS: The funny thing is that reforms started in 2005 with Sithanen, and policies started bearing their fruits later; Duval just happened to be there at harvest time and got all the credit. We should see how the economy is in about 3 to 5 years’ time, since the result of Duval’s current action will be seen in the near future, then only we can judge his performance!

The post-Mansoor era

DISCOU SAYS: Whether Mansoor is in or Manraj, policies will continue to be dictated by the WB, IMF or EU because they are the real rulers of the economy!Predictable twists in the plot AYDEE SAYS: So many happenings and so many new events, which are making us forget other issues like Medpoint, Sicom, TEC, etc. At the pace new controversies are seeing the light of day, even the ID card debate will soon become history!

IN

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& OUT

High heels

Four inches closer to heaven?

LIFESTYLE

High heeled shoes are an absolute obsession for a lot of people and if you are in the lot, consider this as an ode to your most cherished accessory.

But for the whole legion of people out there who just cannot understand that passion for heels, here is your chance to finally understand them.

HISTORICALLY, shoes were most probably intended to protect one’s feet but today the shoe has evolved from its practical origins to grandiose heights, and at the highest level is of course, the high heel. Heels are not something one simply wears on their feet, but a passion, a hobby, a personal expression, a source of authority, a sexual independence, joy and/or a rebellious statement.

Those towers of female footwear that combine a plethora of complex contradictions: empowerment, vulnerability, sexual allure, femininity, subversion, fetishism. Whatever they mean to you, it seems one thing is consistent: Women can never get enough of them. Women choose to wear high heels for many reasons; the key is that they indeed are the ones who choose to endorse the high heel, often at the expense of their own physical comfort. Some women stagger around the streets blithely wearing pencil-thin heels, which gives an ankle sprain to non-heels-enthusiasts just by looking at them. Blame it on the women of Sex and the City. Not surprisingly, women spend hours, not to forget money on acquiring the perfect pair. For the fashionably forward, heels are more than just footwear. They are a fashion statement.

Heels first became a fashion statement during the 16th century

in France, and have been a part of the modern woman’s wardrobe since the mid-19th century. Since then, high heels have come in and out of fashion repeatedly. Today heels are widespread everywhere- in books, calendars, photographs, album and malls, dangling in miniature jewellery versions from bracelets to chains and women’s closets. But let’s not forget their most significant place of abodethe women’s feet.

Any woman who has experienced that terrific feeling of glamour while wearing a great pair of high heels will attest that there is no substitute for these beauties. And the benefits are also tangible: They give shape to the calf muscles and elongate the look of legs to make you appear longer and leaner. Wearing high heels may even improve the pelvic floor muscle.

By all means wear high heels if they make you feel good, but remember that it’s not worth the effort if you are not comfortable enough. Women are told that they must do many things in order to look glamorous or properly feminine which can be quite misleading. Wear high heels but do it for yourself. So if it gets to a point where you’re breaking your ankles, it is better to forget about it.

As the footwear historian William A Rossi points out, “most women prefer a trip to hell in high heels than to walk flat-heeled to heaven”. So which trip would you tag along for?

Mumtaz Soogund

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Medical Conference

HEALTH

Minister announces new rule for graduates THE MEDICAL and Dental Conference on Health Care Management and Primary Health Care organised in partnership with Imperial College, London, took place at the Grand Bay Conference Centre on 22 October 2013. It was an opportunity for dental and medical professionals to address emerging issues in healthcare.

The conference focused on healthcare management and primary healthcare education. It provided a platform for international and local speakers to share their expertise, experiences and challenges in healthcare transformation in their countries. The Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Lormus Bundhoo said that the event is relevant to Mauritius as the country seeks to review its healthcare system to make it more efficient and cost effective. Several internationally renowned experts in chronic disease management, primary care education, public health, health quality innovations, dental health and clinical governance were present to share their khowledge and experiences with local doctors. He highlighted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advocated the need for change in medical education and has proposed a series of activities intended to meet the current and future requirements of society, there is still a huge disparity in medical education being offered in countries across the globe.

With a view to ensuring quality healthcare workforce in Mauritius, Lormus Bundhoo revealed that the Government has come up with legislative reforms which aim at an improved level of competency among medical professionals. In fact, it has been noted that in Mauritius, for many

years many students did not possess the proper background academic qualifications for the profession and consequently Government has decided that the minimum basic qualifications would be required, henceforth, before enrolling for medical and dental courses. In order to reinforce the quality of health care services in the island, the Minister announced series of measures. “As from January 2013, any prospective Medical or Dental Student should achieve a minimum set of standards at advanced level at one sitting, or its equivalent. Secondly, with a view to assessing the level of competency, all new medical graduates, whether qualified locally or abroad, will have to undergo a written examination after successful completion of their pre-registration training. Similarly for postgraduate degree holders, a Board of Postgraduate Medical Education is in the process of being set up to advise the Medical and Dental Councils on the registration of Medical and Dental Practitioners for specialist practice.

This measure will ensure that these practitioners possess the required level of knowledge, skills and experience to practise as specialists. Another measure which is in line with international

practice and that promotes upgrading of knowledge and skills is the planned introduction of Mandatory Continuous Professional Development for all medical practitioners. Professional Development will be made mandatory for all serving registered medical and dental practitioners.”

Lormus Bundhoo announced that a Master Plan on Primary Health Care was prepared by Professor Jaakko Tuomilehto, Professor of Public Health at the University of Helsinki, Finland and submitted in 2011. He highlighted that the plan is in line with the recommendations of WHO which calls for strengthening of PHC in order to effectively address the issue of NCDs and other pressing health concerns.

“Among the main recommendations in the plan is the introduction of Primary Care Physicians (PCP) cadre to manage chronic diseases at Primary Health Care Level (PHC). This will be based on a Family Doctor Scheme that already exists in certain countries. It puts emphasis on prevention and on health promotion. Primary Care Physicians (PCP) will deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive medical care services. In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, they will also provide

preventive care, including routine check-ups, health-risk assessments, immunisation and screening tests, and personalized counselling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. PCPs will also manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases,” he said.

The Minister reiterated his wish that the training project mounted by the Imperial College (UK) in collaboration with the University of Mauritius will materialise. “The implementation of the PCP scheme will contribute to improve our health indicators which will then become similar to those of middle income countries,” he added.

Jameela JADDOO

Presentation on Paediatric Orthopaedic Cases A press presentation on Paediatric Orthopaedic Cases was held by Atul Bhaskar, Paediatric Orthopedic Surgeon (FRCS (Tr. & Orth), FRCS (Glas), M.Ch (Orth) UK, M.S. (Orth), D.N.B. (Orth), MBBS Fellowship Training in Paediatric Orthopaedics & Spine (Hospital for Sick Children – Toronto) CP and Gait Analysis (Gillette’s Children Hospital – USA) ) on Tuesday 22 October at SSR National Hospital, Pamplemousses. Dr Atul Bhaskar has been coming regularly to Mauritius since 2008 and he is on his 8 visit to operate and intervene on complex paediatric orthopaedic cases which otherwise would have been referred for surgery overseas. During his visit, Dr Bhaskar is collaborating with the Orthopaedic Unit of SSR National Hospital and at the same time attending to complex paediatric orthopaedic cases from all the five regional hospital.

Team-Based Hospital Efficiency Costing Project launched THE LAUNCHING of the Team-Based Hospital Efficiency Costing Project and opening ceremony of a Five-Day Training Workshop took place on Monday 21 October at Domaine les Pailles, by the Minister of Health and Quality of Life.

The main objectives of the Team-Based Hospital Efficiency Costing Project is to provide the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, through the five Regional Hospitals, of an insight into the real costs of all clinical and non-clinical interventions undertaken at hospitals and to provide evidence-based data to policy-makers. The World Health Organization is providing technical support for this project. Dr Mark Bura, WHO Consultant will be in Mauritius from 17 October to 30 November 2013, to train officers who have been assigned

the duties of Costing Accountant. The Health Economics Unit of this Ministry will be responsible for the monitoring of the project. During the launch, Lormus Bundhoo said that the implementation of the TeamBased Hospital Efficiency Costing Project will be a key driver to provide evidencebased information on the use of hospital resources and contribute to the cost effective delivery of health care services.

The Minister seized the occasion to reveal the Government’s expenditure on health care services. “For the current financial year, Government expenditure on health amounts to Rs 8.67 billion, which represents 2.7% of the Gross Domestic Product and 8.8% of total government expenditure. Per capita government expenditure on health has more than doubled, from Rs 3,301 in FY

2005/06 to Rs 6917 in FY 2013.

With expenditure in FY2013 amounting to Rs 8.67 billion, the public health system employs more than 13,000 workers and has for the period January to June 2013 year funded 2.0 million attendances at primary health care institutions, 118,738 attendances at dental clinics, 356 cardiac surgeries and 2,948 eye surgeries, 757,394 cases managed at the Accident and Emergency Departments of Hospitals and 839,819 cases managed at Outpatient Departments, 107,222 admissions recorded at hospitals and 23,058 surgical interventions performed, 4,124,708 pathological tests carried out at the Central Health Laboratory and 4,368 cases attended

by SAMU.” He also pointed out that the Ministry

of Health and Quality of life has acquired new state of the art biomedical equipment for replacing old and obsolete ones as well as for the provision of new and better services to patients during the period 2010 up to June 2013. “Some of the main equipment purchased include, inter-alia, 25 haemodialysis machines and accessories for extension of dialysis services, C-Arm Image Intensifiers, Lithotripsy machine for Victoria Hospital, Nucleic Acid Extractor for Central Health Laboratory, Angiography machine for Victoria Hospital, MRI for Dr A G Jeetoo Hospital, one Mammography machine for Victoria Hospital, a Combined Phaco Emulsification Vitrectomy for S Bharati Eye Hospital and Portable Ultrasound Machines and Autorefractometer for all AHC’s,” he stated.

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Most parents unaware of kids’ cyber bullying

TECHNO

A RESEARCHER has claimed that parents would be surprised by what their kids are doing on the internet. Sahara Byrne, is a professor of communication at Cornell University and an expert in online communication who studies social media use by kids and teens. She asserted that youth believe that social media is their turf and they are somewhat correct.

Byrne explained that parents sometimes have no idea what their children are doing online until it’s too late. She said that their study found while 30% of youths admit to having been cyber bullied, only slightly higher than 10% of their parents reported that they knew. Byrne said that about 15% of the youths in the study admitted to cyber bullying others, under 5% of those parents were aware.

Nokia leaks 6-inch Lumia 1520’s specifications JUST TWO days ahead of the Nokia World Event, the company has accidentally revealed the specifications of its upcoming topend phablet. Nokia China has listed the Lumia1520, which will be a biggest handset in the Smartphone maker’s portfolio after launch, on its official Tmall store, an online marketplace.

According to the listing by Nokia

China, the upcoming Lumia 1520 will have a 6-inch display, 20MP PureView camera and quad-core Snapdragon 800 chipset. This phablet will cost 4,999 Yuan ($819), according to the listing. These specifications are in line with previous speculation about the device.

Other rumoured specifications of the Lumia 1520 are Full HD screen (1920x1080p resolution), 2GB

RAM, 32 and 64GB storage options, 3,400mAh battery and NFC. Several leaked images of this handset have emerged on the internet, showing a big screen and new layout of home screen tiles.

The Lumia 2520 will compete against Samsung Galaxy Note 3, HTC One Max and Sony Xperia Z Ultra.

Apple is also said to be testing a handset with 6-inch display.

Apple to launch new iPads APPLE is expected to rev up its iPad line on October 22 as the tablet market heats up with competition from devices powered by software from Google and Microsoft. Analysts agree that iPads will star at an invitation-only event being held in San Francisco on the cusp of the prime year-end holiday shopping season.

Tablets face mounting competition from touch-screen notebook computers powered by Microsoft Windows software and priced between $350 and $500, according to the analyst. Apple is also under pressure to adapt to the popularity of premium tablets with high-quality screens in the sevento eight-inch (18- to 20-centimeter) range where the Mini competes.

Unconfirmed reports are that Apple will show off a new version of

its full-size iPad that will be thinner than its predecessor and boast improved camera capabilities.

Scrutiny of Apple’s supply chain has industry trackers thinking the new iPad will get “narrower, thinner, and lighter” and possibly be built with processors at least as powerful

as those used in the freshly-launched iPhone 5S, according to Gartner analyst Van Baker.

An upgraded version of the iPad mini with an improved screen is also expected. Analysts agreed that top-end, full-size iPads may get a fingerprint recognition security feature that has been a hit in the iPhone 5S. Such upgrades would promise to entice buyers to pay a bit more for full-size tablets from Apple instead of choosing lower-priced Mini models, boding well for the company’s bottom line. The iPad remains the largest-selling tablet, according to surveys, but its market share is being eroded by rivals using the Google Android operating system. Apple was also expected to discuss its computer operating system and its MacBook laptop line at the event.

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World’s best-known monuments’ 3D backup created

A nonprofit named CyArk has created digital copies of more than 100 of the world’s best-known monuments, mapping Roman ruins, ancient statues, and even an entire island. Now it plans 400 more, with the goal of preserving the world’s most important sites against war, wear, and the impact of climate change. Oakland, California-based CyArk works by using 3D laser scanners, radar, and a host of other technologies to create detailed maps of famous monuments - from Mt. Rushmore to the Learning Tower of Pisa measuring nooks and nicks with millimeter precision. Not only do the lasers capture minute damage invisible to most cameras, the 3D data can be used to create hyper-realistic models and flyover programs used by tourists and educators. Master copies of the measurements are kept by Iron Mountain, which stores some 2 petabytes’ worth of data on magnetic tape in its secure underground archive at the bottom of a former limestone mine in Pennsylvania.

Helmet that shows driving directions A new Android-powered, Bluetooth-linked motorcycle helmet features a display that appears in front of our right cheek. “The headgear, called Skully Helmet, is capable of showing driving directions, the weather and other basic interface elements,” Discovery News reported. The Redwood City, California, startup’s helmet can also show the view behind you, which is captured by a 180-degree camera that has been placed at the back.

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Saturday 26 October 15:10 MBC 2

Tere Mere Phere Sunday 2 October 20:45 Directed by Roland Emmerich Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Ally Walker, Ed O’Ross

Directed by Deepa Sahi Starring Vinay Pathak, Riya Sen, Jagrat Desai, Sasha Goradia Tere Mere Phere is a story about a newly married couple, Pooja and Rahul, who have a perfect love affair and a perfect marriage and set out on a perfect dream honeymoon in a motor home, driving through the breath taking Himalayas ? but then can life ever be perfect?! If ?distance makes the heart grow fonder? then too much proximity should have the reverse effect! And it does ... As Pooja and Rahul get too close for comfort, the gilt of romance begins to rub off, a series of absurd fights follow and soon they get embroiled with a local Himachali small town guy ( Vinay Pathak) and his girl Muskaan, the ?Pahadi Mirch? (Riya Sen).

Saturday 26 October 21:05 MBC2

7 Khoon Maaf

Drama directed by Vishal Bhardwaj Starring Priyanka Chopra, Neil Nitin Mukesh,John Abraham The film tells the story of a beautiful Anglo-Indian woman Susanna AnnaMarie Johannes (Priyanka Chopra) who goes on to kill all her husbands.

[8] Susanna tries to find love but six of her seven husbands have a fatal flaw so she kills them. These killings and her yearning for love is explained by the fact that she had lost her mother at very young age. The story is narrated by a young forensic doctor Arun (Vivaan Shah) to his wife (Konkona Sen Sharma). Arun has observed Susanna since his childhood and has nurtured a secret crush on her. The boy owes his whole life to Susanna as she funded his education and made him what he is today. He starts off by declaring to his wife that Susanna has committed suicide leaving him a note congratulating him for his marriage. The doctor is now in charge of confirming whether the body found is Susanna’s. Unable to overcome the grief of her death he lets out his feelings to his wife who listens to him patiently.

Universal Soldier IN 1969, an American special forces squad receives orders to secure a village against communist North Vietnamese forces. Private Luc Deveraux (Jean-Claude Van Damme) discovers members of his squad and various villagers dead, all with their ears removed. Deveraux finds Sergeant Andrew Scott (Dolph Lundgren), who has gone insane, with a string of severed ears and holding a young boy and girl hostage. Devereaux, who is near the end of his tour of duty, tries to reason with Scott, who becomes infuriated and shoots the boy. He then orders Devereaux to shoot the girl to prove his loyalty.

Deveraux refuses and stops Scott from shooting her.

The girl attempts to escape but Scott kills her with a grenade. Devereaux turns on Scott and both shoot each other to death. The next morning, a U.S. Special Forces squad finds their bodies. The commanding officer orders the bodies bagged and iced, and to officially cover up their deaths as “missing in action”.

In 1992, terrorists have taken over the Hoover Dam, and the police are ordered not to intervene or make any attempt to rescue the hostages. The

“Universal Soldiers” (or “UniSols”), an elite counter terrorism unit, are brought in. Among them are the long-dead Luc Deveraux (now designated “GR44”) and Andrew Scott (“GR13”). They are wearing hightech lenses over their left eye and have apparently been reanimated with no memory of their previous lives. Devereaux and Scott are sent in to dispatch the terrorists, with Devereaux using efficient means but Scott using excessive force.

Their camera feeds cause concern among the project technicians; even though the UniSols are supposed to be emotionless, Scott is clearly enjoying himself. As the team infiltrate the area, they demonstrate their superior training and physical abilities against the terrorists, such as when GR74 (Ralf Möller) withstands close-range rifle fire. After the area is secured, Devereaux begins to regain patches of memory from his former life upon seeing two hostages who strongly resemble the villagers he tried to save in Vietnam. This causes him to ignore commands from the control team and become unresponsive.

Sunday 27 October - 12:10 MBC 2

Mausam Directed by Pankaj Kapur Starring Shahid Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Aditi Sharma Mausam is the story of two lovers, Harinder Singh, known as Harry (Shahid Kapoor) and Aayat (Sonam Kapoor). Harry is a unjabi happy-go-lucky, whereas Aayat is a Kashmiri girl. In 1992, the two meet and fall in love at Mallukot, Punjab, where Harry’s family is from. But before they get to spend some time together, Aayat leaves for Mumbai with her uncle and aunt; and Harry joins the Indian Air Force. In 1999, Harry, now a Squadron Leader meets Aayat in Scotland, where they get closer once again. However, before their marriage, the Kargil occupation happens in Kashmir, and Harry is called back to India to fight in the war, fate separating them once more.

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Kreol Komedi Klub The Kreol Komedi Klub invites the public for a night of laughter on October 26 at Le Barbizon Chamarel, Black River at 8: 30 pm. The highly anticipated show has been tipped to be an unforgettable event.

Envole-Moi! A grand live spectacle ‘Envole-Moi!’ will be presented at the J & J Auditorium, Phoenix from October 25 to 27 at 12 pm. The highly anticipated show will include music, an atmosphere filled with colors, sound effects, games, lights with 3-D effect, and many more. The purpose of this event is to support the poor people of Richelieu.

‘Villages en fête’

Adnan Sami Accompanied by his band, Adnan Sami, the Indo-Pakistani singer will be performing live in Mauritius on October 31 at J & J Auditorium, Phoenix at 8 pm. His hits from latest films will be performed. Furthermore, classic hits including ‘Kahin to nazar milao,’ ‘Tera Chera,’ ‘Chand Nikla,’ and also the unforgetable ‘Lift Kara dey’ will be performed on this special night. Ticket prices range from Rs 800, Rs1,000, Rs 1,200, Rs 1,700 to Rs 2,300.

Adnan has won many international awards, including the Nigar Award, the Bolan Academy Award, and the Graduate Award. He was given a special award by UNICEF for the song he wrote for famine-hit Ethiopia as a teenager and a United Nations Peace Medal for a song he wrote and performed for Africa. A review of his piano solo performance on Channel 4, UK, in Keyboard Magasine acknowledged him as the Keyboard Discovery of The 90s. In 2001, he was awarded the Breakthrough Artist of the Year by MTV. He has won many more awards with his latest being the BrandLaureate International Brand Personality award by the President of The BrandLaureate, Dr KK Johan, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

What’s

The Minister of Tourism and Leisure is currently organising an event entitled ‘Villages en fête’ to promote different areas across the Island. The public will discover cultural sites, tourist spots, and also the history behind specific locations. Every weekend a village will be explored with numerous activities taking place throughout the day from 11 am to 4 pm.

Artists from these villages will also get a chance to show their talents.

Schedule as follows: October 27- Rivière-duRempart, November 10- Goodlands, November 17- Triolet, November 24- Grand-Gaube.

ON? Tel: 292 4497 - Fax: 213 1096 E-mail: newsonsunday@defimedia.info Website: www.defimedia.info Director of publication : Ehshan Kodarbux ehshank@defimedia.info Sub-Editors : Sunil Gopal, Shaffick Hamuth

Yousouf Buglow

Kite Jam The 2013 edition of the Kite Jam, the kite event long-awaited by the Russian amateurs, will take place between 28 October and 10 November in Le Morne at 9 am. A major innovation is the participation of riders from around the world. Russian professional riders will also participate in the event.

Programme: Kite battles, amateur racing, pro racing, freestyle and of course wave riding.

On the leisure side: 4 DJs from Moscow, Yoga classes, beach bars, and lots of fun.

Senior News Editor : Indradev Curpen Editorial Team : Premita Leelachand, Jwala Kallee, Jameela Jaddoo, Mumtaz Soogund, Yousouf Buglow Chief Designer : Krsna Coopoosamy Designer Team : Frédéric Li Ching Yan, Kersley Aristhene Sales Executive : Khoshla 7884990, Uma 7807375, Joceline 7790663 Printed by : FEMI Publishing Co. Ltd

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25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 30

Crossword

JustWordSearch.com

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

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

1. Who had a hit with the song ‘Caravan of Love’ in the 1980s?

2. What colour is a New York taxi?

3. What does a soldier keep in a frog?

4. How would you say thank you in Spanish?

5. What is the abbreviated word ‘fax’ short for?

6. Popeye has a tattoo on his arm, what is the tattoo of?

7. What is the biggest manmade structure on Earth?

8. Which is heavier, gold or silver?

9. Which song included the lyrics ‘Wake up in the morning with a head like ‘what ya done?’ This used to be the life but I don’t need another one’?

10. How many lines are there in a Sonnet?

5 x 5 Symmetrical Word Boxes

Sudoku

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

Word Boxes are like miniature crossword puzzles, except that each word is filled in across and down the grid. That is, the answer to 1 across is the same word as the answer to 1 down; 2 across is the same as 2 down; etc. Can you solve these 1. recoils 2. swivel enabler 3. below, beneath, or inferior to 4. great, snowy, white, or cattle bird 5. chairs or benches

Down 1 Powerful (6) 2 Tend (5) 3 Crisp, smooth, lustrous fabric (7) 5 Ceased (5) 6 Stare down (7) 7 Force (6) 8 Remembered (11) 14 Refuge (7) 15 Overall chief (7) 16 Texas city — old soap (6) 17 Pace between trot and gallop (6) 19 Poisonous (5) 21 Balloon — movement of the sea’s surface (5) Help

Riddles 1. At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they?

2. What has many keys, but can’t even open a single door?

3. You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside.

What did you eat?

4. What is as big as an elephant, but weighs nothing at all?

5. You answer me, although I never ask you questions. What am I? 6. What happens when you throw a yellow rock into a purple stream?

1. Stars.

2. A piano.

3. An ear of corn.

4. The shadow of an elephant.

5. A telephone 6. It makes a splash.

Free Entertainment Quiz

Across 1 Unit of time — very small (6) 4 Unit of time — after No 1 (6) 9 The largest ruminant (7) 10 Dissuade (5) 11 Ether (anag) (5) 12 Tribulations (7) 13 Set up (11) 18 Germ-free (7) 20 Penne, rigatoni etc (5) 22 Exalt (anag) (5) 23 Factor (7) 24 Tree — dapper (6) 25 Tree — London area (6)

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Tips to get healthy skin

& OUT

Aries

Your inbox is probably crammed with party invitations. There’s no such thing as a simple RSVP for you. Every call to accept or decline results in a lengthy conversation as you catch up with relatives and old friends. It’s possible that you’ll receive a communication today that turns your life in a new direction.

Doors that you’ve never considered may be opened wide for you.

Taurus

The planetary energies today are emphasizing family. This may be a good time to do some research, delving more deeply into your roots. Have you picked your grandmother’s brain about her mother and grandmother? You’ll be surprised at what you learn. You’ll feel more connected with your family, and you may learn some facts that make you proud of your heritage

Gemini

Your hard work is finally paying off. You can expect to receive acknowledgement and advancement, along with a possible salary increase or substantial bonus.

You should receive the good news soon. Celebrate tonight with family and friends. They could also have some good news of their own to report, which makes for happiness all around.

Cancer Our personality is the wholistic representation of who you are in another persons eyes. And hence, your skin plays a very important role in how you are perceived. Beautiful and healthy skin, it will add to your personality by simply saying that i care enough about myself to care about everything around me as i am a part of my surroundings. That is why we spend thousands of bucks on cosmetics and in beauty parlors for skin care treatments. As much as those work for the last minute touch up, there are many things you can do on a daily basis to keep your skin healthy.

But before we give out the healthy skin tips, we have to make a mention of what is it that causes so much damage to your skin.

Below mentioned are the reasons.

1. Lack of hydration: Just as you need to hydrated to avoid feeling the sensation of an extremely dry throat, it is essential to hydrate to keep away the dry and stretchy feeling from your skin. The skin cells are also made of water and need to be replenished for the skin to stay hydrated. Drinking a lot of water is the only way to go about this because water is claimed to be the best food for skin.

2. Smoking: Whatever the reasons you started, by now you must have realized that it does nothing to reduce your stress levels. The only thing it does manage to do apart from making you prone to various respiratory and heart troubles is dry your skin out and make you look like a cracked board. So quit!

3. Sun damage: How amazing those few hours of fun in the sun make you feel!

But then when you look at yourself in the mirror, you face falls.

Literally. For the damage your skin has suffered due to exposure to the UV rays is apparent. You cant avoid the sun but you can use sun protection. Never forget it.

This is a day for good news, particularly regarding the home. It’s likely that some positive changes are occurring or are about to occur. You may be considering a move or a major renovation. Whatever it is, all signs indicate that the changes are for the better. One way or another, by this time next year you’ll be living in a bigger, better house.

Leo

Good news from distant lands could have you feeling good about your life and eagerly anticipating the future. Your thinking is sharp and clear. This is a good day to make plans, particularly if they involve travel or education. If you have the feeling that the coming weeks bring some dramatic changes for the better, your instincts are likely correct. You have reason to celebrate.

Virgo

When you give your imagination free rein, you have a creative way of expressing yourself. Today you might feel like doing some public speaking or creative writing. You may devise a unique way to make a presentation or put together a proposal. Communicating in a more intimate way will warm your heart and the hearts of your audience. Don’t hold back.

Libra

Your mental acuity is high today. A recent innovation of yours could bring you some much-deserved recognition. Your mind is especially sharp at this point, and ideas come thick and fast. You have tremendous talent. If you focus it, you’ll make some positive inroads toward building your success.

Scorpio

Today you’ll feel inspired to express yourself in fun, creative ways. Don’t be afraid to let loose with your wild sense of humor. You could play a prank on a friend that makes him or her laugh and creates good feelings. Or you could share some jokes with others that make them smile and feel better. You enjoy playing the clown, and you’re good at it!

4. Lack of exercise: It makes you fat of course and that introduces very many more health problems but it also plays a role in the lack of lustre in your skin. There isn’t enough flow of blood which is essential for the oxygen to travel across the body to each cell including the skin cells.

Sagittarius

5. Bad eating habits: The skin needs different nutrients and those fast food joints you love are not where you will find it! Feed your skin the right food and it will respond with that lovely look you want. Tit for tat!

Ladies, can you please minimize makeup usage? It is really not necessary to always use a blush, concealer, foundation, mousse or whatever it is. It may add a fine coating to your skin making it glowing skin, but what about your real skin? Is it really glowing?

No matter how expensive the brand is, it damages your skin to a large extent. We are not asking you to throw them off your shelf; keep those away for special days. The rest of the days, tone and moisturize your skin, use sunscreen. Let your skin breathe.

Capricorn

Last week’s solution Free Entertainment Quiz 1. Six 2. Mike Tyson 3. 5 feet, 8 inches 4. Fabio Grosso 5. One under par 6. Fifteen (15)

7. Geoff Hurst 8. A black and white chequered flag 9. Advantage 10. Stanley Matthews

Expect a visitor to put you in touch with people who could make a real difference in your life. Changes are manifesting more quickly than you realize.

Certainly all that’s occurring is exciting, but the speed may have you feeling a little apprehensive. Fear often accompanies success. You can’t move ahead without taking some risk. You’re up to this challenge!

Today’s celestial configuration may leave you feeling more spiritually inclined than usual. As your thoughts turn to more positive horizons, you’ll be optimistic about your future and the future of humanity. Don’t hesitate to express these opinions to others. They’ll be cheered by your point of view.

Aquarius

This is bound to be an interesting day as you meet some new people who have fascinating ideas about esoteric subjects. Listen closely and later jot notes on the conversation. Don’t be surprised if you get some good news about advancing in your professional field. It looks as though a raise or promotion is coming.

Pisces

t’s time to admit that your hectic lifestyle is catching up with you. Today you must start to get organized. Waiting until the last minute to take care of important tasks only causes anxiety. Make a list of everything you need to get done and prioritize it. Consider yourself lucky if you can confine the list to one page!

Producer of film based on sex workers walks out of project midway

An upcoming film based on the life of sex workers has landed in some major soup after the producer backing the film recently staged a walkout. Ankoosh Bhatt’s Kamathipura also faced a hurdle when Konkona Sen Sharma and Sakshi Tanwar apparently refused to be a part of the project. Insiders say there were some budgetary issues that led to producer Irshad Khan opting out. However refusing to pin-point matters, Khan says, `There were some internal issues, which is why I had to let go of the project. But I have a few other projects coming up and I will love to collaborate with Ankoosh.` Sources close to the actresses had earlier blamed their characters’ risque image for turning the film down.

Anurag Kashyap does a disappearing act

After ‘The Good Road’ versus ‘The Lunchbox’ controversy, Anurag Kashyap has done a disappearing act.

The filmmaker has been lying low and remains inaccessible after he deleted his social networking site. Incidentally, Satya was penned by Kashyap, a former assistant of Ramu. Kashyap had locked horns with his mentor when he had proclaimed Ramu had ‘lost it all’ after RGV Ki Aag. So no one was really expecting Kashyap at the event.

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 32

Tigmanshu Dhulia Needed a superstar to pull off ‘Bullett Raja’

REVELATION

CINEMA

Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia says he roped in Saif Ali Khan for his upcoming action-crime thriller ‘Bullett Raja’ as the movie required a superstar to rake in box office earnings.

The 46-year-old director, who has made films like ‘Haasil’, ‘Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster’ and ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ among others, said a high budget film demands the “stars” of Bollywood.

“When you are working on a high budget film, the pressure requires you to have an actor, who can pull that off at the box office.

And I think only he (Saif) can justify that kind of budget. So, we had to get a star. Luckily, Saif was interested in this space,” Tigmanshu said.

Tigmanshu has often chosen serious topics for his movies but this time around he found it interesting to come out with a masala entertainer.

“I have never made a film like this before. As compared to ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ and ‘Sahab Biwi and Gangster’, which were serious films, this is an entertainer. ‘Bullett Raja’ has all the aspects of a commercial film which you can enjoy in the theatre,” he said.

“I was apprehensive initially if I would be able to pull it off. If I roped in somebody who had already done a film like this it would have not been a challenge,” he added.

Actress Sonakshi Sinha will be seen playing the leading lady op-

posite Saif in the movie and the director says he found the chemistry between the two actors extra-ordinary. ‘Bullett Raja’ will hit theatres on November 29.

“Sonakshi is a star and she has done successful films, so we needed somebody like her. But the reason we cast her is that she looks Bengali because of her big eyes, dusky and classic looks.

She was perfect to play a Bengali character in the film. Other reason is that I feel that when you’re casting male and female lead, there should be some contrast between them because then their chemistry gets better. Saif is very fair and Sonakshi is dusky, they look fabulous together,” he

said.

Besides direction, Tigmanshu has acted in films like ‘Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster’, Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and Hansal Mehta’s ‘Shahid’, but he has no plans to take up acting as a full time career.

“I think I have just done two scenes in ‘Shahid’ because Hansal, who is my friend asked me to do it. I did it for Anurag because he is a friend. I only work with friends, when they ask me to act.

It is not that I am looking at it as an alternate career,” he said.

‘Bullett Raja’ also stars Jimmy Shergill, Chunky Pandey, Ravi Kishan, Gulshan Grover and Vidyut Jamwal.

CINEMA

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 33

Cold vibes as Hema, Sridevi share the stage Things apparently got uncomfortable as two veteran actresses, Sridevi and Hema Malini, came together under the same roof Though they didn’t belong to the same era in Bollywood, Sridevi and Hema Malini were not known to be friends with each other. They both came from similar backgrounds (Sri and Hema hail from Tamil Nadu) and even started their film careers down south, later making their foray into the Hindi film industry.

But looks like even now Sri and Hema prefer to keep each other at an arm’s length. Onlookers at a recent awards ceremony in the late filmmaker Yash Chopra’s memory, the two veterans kept their distance and chatted up with their own sets of friends.

According to a source from the event, the actresses arrived at the venue within minutes of each other.

Interestingly, they not only refused to be photographed together, the duo also retired to their own corners after the regular meet-and-greet session with their acquaintances.

Says an insider present at the event, `Sri and Hema were standing right next to each other on two oc-

Parineeti celebrates 25th b’day on sets

casions but did not exchange a word.

Also, towards the end of the event, they ensured that they did not stand together in a picture. To avoid further awkwardness, Pamela Chopra took her place between the two and the trio then proceeded for a snap.` However, a source close to the ac-

tresses say, `Sri and Hema are very cordial with each other. This time, we are not sure about what happened.` However, insiders at the show say that both actresses were at the event as the brand ambassadors of two separate water purifier brands. Perhaps, the professional rivalry continues?

Three ‘Heropanti’ actors

had a close shave with death Actors of an upcoming film narrowly avoided being mowed down by a train after an accident on railway tracks.

What could have turned into a catastrophe was averted at the last minute, with three actors from Heropanti having a close shave with certain death. The car they were travelling in turned turtle in the middle of a railway track in Patiala. However, quick action prevented the cast members from being mowed down by a train.

The actors had been shooting in Patiala for their film and were returning to their hotel around midnight after wrapping up the day’s work.

Onlookers say the SUV vehicle they were travelling in overturned when one of its tyres burst, sending the car hurtling on to the tracks. Says a unit member, `The drive back from the sets to their hotel room should have lasted 45 minutes. But it turned out to be a nightmare for them. It could have turned into a major accident.` Actor Vikram Singh, who was sitting in the front seat of the car escaped unhurt, while his co-star Arun Verma received 12 stitches in his head. The other actor, Prashant Singh suffered from some internal injuries on his hand, while the SUV’s driver

Vicky suffered from a major fracture in his hand.

Says Vikram, `We were all talking in the car and suddenly it happened.

The car flipped over, banged on an electric pole and went flying onto the tracks. There were no lights on the road and I immediately informed the

others about what had happened.` Fortunately, for them, another car from the sets was enroute the hotel, which drove them straight to the hospital. `Director Sabbir Khan reached the spot along with other crew members. After a day’s break, we resumed work.`

Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra turned 25 years of age on Tuesday.

The actress, who has won hearts with her performances in just three films, said she will be celebrating her birthday on the sets of the film ‘Dawaat-e-Ishq’, which is directed

by Habib Faizal. “Tomorrow! Celebrating my 25th b’day on the sets of Daawat-e-Ishq :) bullied Habib (Faizal) sir into bringing desserts for me :p,” Parineeti posted on micro-blogging site Twitter on Monday. She has been cast opposite actor Aditya Roy Kapoor in the film. Parineeti, who initially wanted to become an investment banker, made her debut in the film ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’, where she was cast along with actors Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma.

No family pressure to get married

Actress Priyanka Chopra’s younger brother recently got engaged, but she is not under any pressure to get married. “My brother wanted to do it and in my family we all support each other. Thankfully, I don’t have any pressure to get married from my family. My dad never put this pressure on me to settle down,” Priyanka, who lost her father to cancer, said in a group interview.

But the actress, who turned 31 this summer, admits that her mother wanted her to get married ever since she turned 18. “My mum is on her own track, but I never had any pressure because I am very work driven. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be in a relationship or can’t get married. India has also changed and you can be a working woman and also have a family.”

WORLD NEWS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 34

US ambassador to Germany summoned in Merkel mobile row GERMANY has summoned the US ambassador in Berlin over claims that the US monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone.

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will meet US envoy John Emerson later in what is seen as an unusual step between close allies.

Mrs Merkel has demanded a “complete explanation” of the claims, which are threatening to overshadow an EU summit. sShe discussed the issue with US President Barack Obama on Wednesday. President Obama told Mrs Merkel the US was not monitoring her calls and would not in future, the White House said.

However, it left open the question of whether calls had been listened to in the past.

On Monday, France summoned the US ambassador over reports in Le Monde newspaper that the US National Security Agency (NSA) had spied on millions of French phone calls. A day later, Le Monde reported that the NSA had spied on French diplomats in Washington and at the UN. French President Francois Hollande had already called for the issue to be put on the agenda of the summit, where EU leaders are due to discuss Europe’s digital economy, economic recovery and immigration.

Other leaders are also likely to want further clarification from Washington over the activities of its NSA in Europe, says BBC Europe Editor Gavin Hewitt.

‘Completely unacceptable’ The German government has not said how it received the tip about the alleged US spying. But news magazine Der Spiegel, which has published stories based on material from former CIA contractor Edward Snowden, said the information had come from its

investigations.

State-monitoring of phone calls has a particular resonance in Germany - Mrs Merkel herself grew up in East Germany, where phone-tapping was pervasive.

Her spokesman said the German leader “views such practices... as completely unacceptable” and had demanded a “complete and comprehensive explanation”.White House spokesman Jay Carney said the US “is not monitoring and will not monitor the communications of the chancellor”.

He said the US was reviewing the way it gathered intelligence, to ensure that “we properly balance the security concerns of our citizens and allies with the privacy concerns that all people share”.

A number of US allies have expressed anger over the Snowden-based spying allegations.

Veteran French European Commissioner Michel Barnier told the BBC on Thursday that “enough is enough”, and that confidence in the US had been shaken.

Singapore’s curious bicycle island JUST A five-minute ferry ride from Singapore’s busy streets is Pulau Ubin, a near pristine island oasis with some of the best city-fringe cycling and mountain biking in Southeast Asia, perfect for those seeking a little respite from the city.

For many years Pulau Ubin – which mean “granite island” in Malay – was used as a quarry for the granite used in many of the nation’s major structures, including the causeway that links Singapore to Malaysia. But quarrying started to decline in the 1970s and only small-scale operations exist on the island today.

Despite being earmarked for high-rise housing development and a proposed MRT tunnel link to the mainland, Pulau Ubin has managed to remain green and natural. There are no traffic jams or shopping complexes, not a single KFC or Starbucks, and very little urban stress, making it a favourite weekend retreat for both locals and visitors.

There are very few motorised vehicles on Ubin, and even fewer roads.

Bicycles are the way to get around, and in 2007 a superb mountain bike trail network was put in place; the 45 hectare Ketam Mountain Bike Park, an all-weather, manmade route that has solidified the island’s unofficial title of “Bicycle Island”. The park even

has International Mountain Bicycling Association endorsement, which pays testimony to its quality riding. Stepping off the old “bumboat” ferry onto Ubin’s narrow wooden jetty is a relief, with the hustle and the stress of the city suddenly a world away.

Just a few metres from the shore is a tiny kampong with a few restaurants, all set in traditional, single-storey wooden shops.

There are also bikes – hundreds of them – that are purely for visitors. Rent a bike (or bring your own) and follow the only pathway out of the village. This is the start of 10km of mountain bike trails.

Weaving through calming woodland and across open grassland on gently winding singletrack trails is a tonic to the heat and hurry of the city. For experienced mountain bikers there are demanding single sections, with short but tough climbs, hillside switchbacks and rocky sections.

For less-skilled riders, Ubin also has a network of rolling and flat gravel roads, and even the odd sealed stretch. By using the gravel roads you can reach the more remote areas of the islands, including the 100-hectare Chek Jawa wetland area, which has a walkway and viewing platform, affording great bird and marine life spotting opportunities.

Mexico clown convention rejects cartel killing link

Clowns gathered at a convention in Mexico City have denied any of their colleagues were behind the killing of a former drug cartel leader last Friday. Francisco Rafael Arellano Felix, 63, was killed in a beach resort in Baja California in north-western Mexico. Gunmen dressed as clowns opened fire on the former leading member of the once-powerful and violent Tijuana cartel, authorities say.

Around 500 clowns at the convention held a “laugh-a-ton” rally for peace.

A clown leader said if a real member of the profession had been involved in the shooting, they would have been easily identifiable by their costumes, masks and painting.

“The people who do that, they’re not clowns. I can swear on my mother’s grave it wasn’t a clown,” Tomas Morales, whose stage name is Clown Llantom, told Associated Press news agency.

WORLD NEWS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 35

Abused, exploited Indian domestic workers from Gulf finally return home THE WOUNDS on her hands are flaking and her hair, cut forcefully by her employers, is slowly growing back, but it will be quite some time before Sundari Manickam is able to pick up the pieces of her life. The 45-year-old is among several women who fell victim to agents who promised them a better future in the Gulf, only to be abused and underpaid by employers or pushed into the sex trade.

“When the agent, my neighbour, told me I could earn a good salary as a domestic help in Kuwait, I didn’t think twice,” says Sundari, who took a loan to pay the agent Rs 60,000. Her dream turned sour the day she landed in Kuwait and began working for a family. “They made me use acid to clean the bathrooms without any protection. When my skin broke into blisters I asked to be taken to a doctor, but they refused,” she says.

The family cut her hair after they found a strand in their food. “They denied me food for an entire day. I escaped to the embassy the following day.”

More than half a dozen workers returned here this week with tales of abuse, harassment and sexual exploitation. Most of them are from

broken families and were duped by citybased agents.

“My agent got a handsome amount after selling me to a household in Kuwait.

When my employers refused to pay my salary, I called him repeatedly, but he did not answer. My papers were with my employers and I had nowhere to go,” says Anushya Begum, 27, who escaped by slithering down a drainpipe.

“I sought refuge in the embassy and had to wait two months for my passport to be returned,” says the woman whose husband deserted her and their one-yearold daughter.

The women say thousands more are languishing in the Gulf without help. “At the embassy, we met so many women with shocking stories,” says Nadhiya Pazhani, 30, who escaped from a sextrafficking ring.

According to the overseas affairs ministry, about 5 lakh Indians work in Kuwait, 48% of whom are in the unroganised sector.

The workers have appealed to the government to bring back the thousands of workers in the embassy shelter and in jails.

Secret memos show Pakistan ‘knew of US drone strikes’

SECRET US documents reveal that senior Pakistani government officials have for years known of and endorsed CIA drone strikes, an American newspaper reports.

The Washington Post obtained CIA documents and Pakistani diplomatic memos which indicate officials were routinely given classified briefings.

Analysts have long suspected Pakistan gave tacit consent for such strikes despite publicly condemning them. Pakistan’s PM Nawaz Sharif has urged US President Obama to halt such attacks. “I also brought up the issue of drones in our meeting, emphasising the need for an end to such strikes,” Mr Sharif said after they met on Wednesday.

The attacks by unmanned US aircraft have been a critical source of tension in the relationship between the countries

and came up amid wide-ranging talks between the leaders in Washington.

They are also deeply unpopular with the Pakistani public and Pakistan has consistently stated that they violate its sovereignty. The Pakistani government is yet to comment on the report. The documents obtained by the newspaper focus on at least 65 drone strikes in Pakistan over the last few years and were labelled as “talking points” for regular CIA briefings. A spokesman for the Pakistani embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment from the newspaper and the CIA also declined to comment.

Correspondents say the files expose the explicit nature of the arrangement between the countries in the period when neither acknowledged that any drone programme even existed.

Westgate attack

Kenyan police warn journalists KENYA’S POLICE chief has warned journalists over their coverage of last month’s attack on the Westgate shopping centre, following reports of looting by soldiers.

David Kimaiyo said reporters should not “provoke propaganda” or “incite Kenyans” in their coverage.

CCTV footage has been leaked on local media which appears to show soldiers taking items from a supermarket.

The army has said the soldiers were only taking water during the siege.

At least 67 people, including six members of the security forces, were killed after Islamist militants stormed one of Nairobi’s biggest shopping centres, staying there for four days.

Somalia’s al-Shabab group has said it was behind the attack.

As well as the looting, local media have also reported that some members of the security forces were killed by friendly fire during the siege, raising concerns about the command structure.

Mr Kimaiyo said two investigative journalists from KTN, a private Kenyan television station operated

by the Standard Group, were among those threatened with arrest.

“We are looking within the law very closely for those individuals who in one way or another might have committed crimes,” the police chief told journalists in the capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday.

They would soon “be apprehended and appear before the court, and face the consequences of this”, he said.

Mr Kimaiyo said that journalists should not “issue statements that can amount to hate speech” or statements that “could affect the life of another person”.

SPORTS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 36

Entries & Draws for 34th meeting on Sunday 27th October

Football Betting Odds MATCHES H D A BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE CRYSTAL PALACE - ARSENAL 870 490 140 ASTON VILLA - EVERTON 340 330 220 LIVERPOOL - WEST BROM 140 490 870 MANCHESTER UNITED - STOKE CITY 130 500 960 NORWICH - CARDIFF 215 335 345 SOUTHAMPTON - FULHAM 160 380 625 SUNDERLAND - NEWCASTLE UTD 215 335 345 CHELSEA - MANCHESTER CITY 215 335 345 SWANSEA - WEST HAM 140 490 870 TOTTENHAM - HULL CITY 140 490 870

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA VFB STUTTGART - NURNBERG 140 B.LEVERKUSEN – AUGSBURG 140 BAYERN MUNICH – HER. BERLIN110 900 HANNOVER - HOFFENHEIM 215 MAINZ - BRAUNSCHWEIG 140 SCHALKE - DORTMUND 340 WOLFSBURG - WERDER BREMEN140 490 FREIBURG - HAMBURGER 215 B. M’BACH – E. FRANKFURT 215 SCOTTISH PREMIER ROSS COUNTY - INVERNESS 340

(25-27 October)

490 490 2500 335 490 330 870 335 335

870 870

330

220

345 870 220 345 345

DUNDEE UTD - ST. MIRREN HIBERNIAN - ABERDEEN KILMARNOCK - HEARTS PARTICK - CELTIC ST JOHNSTONE - MOTHERWELL DENMARK SUPERLIGA VIBORG - VESTSJAELLAND NORDSJAELLAND - MIDTJYLLAND AALBORG - SONDERJYSKE RANDERS -FC COPENHAGEN ODENSE - BRONDBY ESBJERG - AARHUS

165 215 230 735 215

365 335 330 480 335

510 345 300 140 345

215 215 175 560 215 215

335 335 350 340 335 335

345 345 450 190 345 345

SPORTS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 37

Going for gold… contenders at training!

A thrilling finish in perspective

THE MAIN event of the 34th meeting will be run over 1600m. 11 horses rated 65 +, appear in the entries of ‘The Bank of Mascareignes Duke of York Cup’, a Group 1 race at equal weight.

Ice Axe (M. Neisius) ran outside Captain Tempest (A.Fortune). This duo made it thus over 800m : 12.66s - 12.17s - 12.89s - 14.56s. Intercontiental (J. Geroudis) galloped superbly beside Up Company ( Teeha ). They are credited with 1.03.51s , finishing in 25.38 . Under the saddle of Andrew Fortune , Tales Of Bravery trained on the small track in 50.91 , finishing in 25.21 , and displaying sparkling form .

Polar Bound was tiptoeing when PC Orffer launched him from the 600m to the post: 12.39s - 12.81s - 11.96 . He slowed the pace uphill, making it 28.01 for 400m. Tandragee worked over his stamina. In a ‘ grass gallop ‘, with Nooresh Juglall on board. A round of ‘light canter and a gallop over 800m thus: 13.92s - 13.23s - 12.06s and 16.44s . Vettel regained his shiny coating of his debut. The black gelding gave a beautiful replica to Soweto Slew on the grass. They are thus timed : 16.29s - 13.91s - 13.87s - 14.16s - 11.00s 14.19s and 14.90s .

Krugger Rand (S. Rama ) opened Tuesday’s session alongside Liquid Motion (C. Ségéon ) , which was impressive.

They made it 23.23s from the 800m to 400m , then sprinted in 11.07s before ‘slowing down’ . Seattle Ice (J. Victoir ) proved too strong against La Foce (B. Bhaugeerothee ) . After a ice canter, the duo picked up the pace. Elusive River just warmed up before returning to the stable. Seeking Angelo was eye-catching in a ‘speed work’ with Johnny Geroudis on board. The chestnut is credited with the following laps : 13.25s - 10.99s - 11.31s and 13.69s in the 600m at 1200m ..

Naushad Korimdun

Gold Cup

Only one double win in 22 years GONE ARE the days when a horse won two or even three times, the Gold Cup .

The last time any horse won three times this classic race dated back to three decades Azul in 1977,78,79 respectively.

In 22 years, only one gelding was able to make it two. Rhythmically is the last horse to win the Gold Cup on two occasions.

That was in 2003 with Jeffrey Lloyd and in 2005 with Kevin Shea. Before him here was Sea Warrior in 1989 and 1990 with Karl Neisius and Kevin Shea respectively.

Noble Salute was the last to make a hattrick in 1983/4/5 successively .

Why is it tough today? Rai Joorawon, YEAR HORSE 2003 Rhythmically 2004 Hinterland 2005 Rhythmically 2006 Chief Warrior 2007 London Del 2008 Ritz Cub 2009 Captain’s Knock 2010 Disa Leader 2011 Green Keeper 2012 Tandragee

WT 57 58 58 58 58 58 58 58 57.5 57.5

the most talented Mauritian jockey at Champ de Mars and three times winner of the Gold Cup, detailed: “In the past there was less stables and fewer meetings.

Horses ran less over a year. They manage to keep their condition over several seasons .

But since the 7/8 last seasons , several stables have purchased quality horses, while the number of race meetings have significantly increased.” Besides, the level of competition is very tough.

This Sunday Tandragee will have the opportunity to emulate Rhythmically.

N.K.

JOCKEY Lloyd Taylor Shea M.Neisius Joorawon Joorawon Dye Geroudis Geroudis Joorawon

STABLE P.Henry Gujadhur P.Henry Gujadhur M.Ramdin M.Ramdin Rousset Rousset Rousset Gujadhur

TIME 1.37.21 1.35.76 1.38.10 1.37.50 1.37.97 1.36.32 1.36.42 1.34.46 (R) 1.36.08 1.35.00

l This race was run on the ‘ mile’ since 1980. Holdall is the last to have won the Gold Cup over this distance.

In 1981, when the MTC opted for the metric system, Laldheer won. l Only three jockeys won three times this classic. They are Len Hill (1978 /79 and 81) , Karl Neisius (1988 /89 and 91) and Rai Joorawon in 2007 /08 and 2012. l Other local boys who shone in this event are: Deanan Doyal (Peace Parade-1976) , Anil Doyal ( Dambuster -1986), Pravind Nagadoo ( Bold Statement-1994) and Samraj Mahadia ( Botanique - 1995). l The record of 1600 has evolved since 1981 : 1981 Laldheer 1.38.70 1984 Noble Salute 1.38.20 1987 Expertise 1.38.10 2002 Johnny B Good 1.36.70 2004 Hinterland 1.35.76 2010 Disa Leader 1.34.46 (R)

Rhythmically, nicknamed ‘L’extraterrestre’ was a fantastic gelding. But was beaten four times by Hinterland!

SPORTS

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 38

Champions League

Ibrahimovic scored quadruple for PSG Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a stunning four-goal haul as Paris St-Germain beat Anderlecht convincingly in Champions League Group C.

Man Utd held on to beat Sociedad Manchester United moved a step closer to the Champions League knockout stages with a narrow victory over Real Sociedad.

Inigo Martinez’s second-minute own goal - which also owed much to superb work by Wayne Rooney - ensured United maintained their unbeaten record in the competition this season.

United manager David Moyes will have made three points his sole objective after the disappointing 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Southampton on Saturday and in a week when their European campaign has been reduced to a sideshow by revelations in former manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s new autobiography. And on the night when United gave a trial to Old Trafford’s new ‘singing section’, they at least had something to celebrate - unlike the 6,000 colourful visiting fans who followed Sociedad.

The La Liga side made United work hard for the win but it was one they fully deserved despite some anxious moments, particularly when Antoine Griezmann hit the post with a first-half free-kick.

Rooney was once again United’s main source of danger as he continued the outstanding form he has shown this season.

If there are any complaints from Moyes, they will have centre on his side’s inability to finish the game off earlier - as well as some questionable defending that offered Sociedad hope.

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE RK. 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

TEAM ARSENAL CHELSEA LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER CITY TOTTENHAM SOUTHAMPTON EVERTON MAN. UNITED 8 HULL CITY NEWCASTLE UTD SWANSEA WEST BROM ASTON VILLA FULHAM WEST HAM STOKE CITY CARDIFF NORWICH CRYSTAL PALACE SUNDERLAND

P 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 3 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

W 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 0

D 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 3 2 2 1 4 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 1

L GOALS 1 18:9 1 14:5 1 13:7 2 20:9 2 8:5 1 8:3 1 12:10 11:10 3 7:9 3 11:14 4 12:11 2 7:6 4 9:10 4 9:10 4 8:8 4 4:7 4 8:13 5 6:13 7 6:17 7 5:20

PTS 19 17 17 16 16 15 15 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 8 8 8 7 3 1

THE SWEDEN striker found an empty net to open the scoring and added a second with a sublime flicked back-heel.

He scored a spectacular third in the 36th minute, firing in a venomous first-time effort from 25 yards.

Edinson Cavani made it 4-0 after the break before Ibrahimovic struck his ninth goal in four games.

The Sweden striker’s stunning third goal was even applauded by the home crowd, with Ibrahimovic returning the gesture to all four corners of the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

“Scoring a goal like this, it is good for the memory,’’ Ibrahimovic said. “It was a big honour for me to have the home fans clap.

“I feel good. This year we are stronger, we have stronger players. We could win the competition but remember that the further you go, the harder it is.”

The 32-year-old also scored a brilliant flick at the weekend in a 4-0 win over Bastia.

PSG lead the group with three wins from three games, while Anderlecht are still without a point.

Racist chants

Man City : referee should be banned THE REFEREE for Manchester City’s game against CSKA Moscow should not officiate again after failing to deal with racist abuse, according to Kick It Out chairman Lord Ouseley.

City’s Yaya Toure complained to Ovidiu Hategan about racist chants from CSKA fans during the Champions League win.

“The referee should not be refereeing again,” Ouseley told BBC Radio 5 live.

“He failed to do his duty last night and that is a clear issue that Uefa should be dealing with.” Under guidelines issued in 2009 by Uefa - European football’s governing body - referees have the power to try to stop racist chanting from supporters.

A referee can, as a first step, stop the match and ask for announcements to be made over the public address system.

The second step is to suspend the match for a period and, finally, to abandon it.

Since Toure reported the abuse to the

referee during the game and spoke to him afterwards, the incident will be included in the official’s report, which will be sent to Uefa on Thursday. Manchester City have also lodged a formal complaint with Uefa, though the BBC’s Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg said CSKA Moscow claim Toure was the only person to hear the chants.

Lord Ouseley, who heads Kick It Out, one of the leading anti-discrimination bodies in England, continued: “Firstly, why did the ref not do his job which was to stop the game and to make sure that problem was dealt with?”

And he added that the incident would also test new sanctions issued by Uefa.

In May it announced that in the case of racist incidents involving spectators a partial stadium closure would be applied for the first offence and a full stadium closure for a second, coupled with a fine of 50,000 euros (£42,800).

SPORTS

9 - -15 2013 l N° 893 3939 25 31August October 2013 l N° 904l PAGE l PAGE

Equestrian sports

The Cardinal

still going strong

THE 4TH jumping show for season 2013, was held in front of a nice assistance two weeks ago at the ‘Club Hippique de Maurice’, at Floreal. It is without surprise that riders such as Chasteau, Jouana , Cautrès and Rolando were outstanding s in their respective categories.

Among horses that impressed, we noticed Blarney Stone, Splendid Man, grey gelding Optima Maximo, London Del and Horn Beam. The Cardinal, however, was very spirited in his Open 80 cm. Led

by Naim Currimjee, the 2009 champion horse has not lost his superb and the class which make him a nightmare for rivals at Champ de Mars.

Naushad KORIMDUN

Gotze cool on Bayern Champions League hopes

OPEN 80 CM The error-free are: Claire Burckel on Blarney Stone Celia Halbwachs on The Raj Tessa Maroussem on Love Got a Hold of Me Alexander Rogers on Spirit Clemence Lahuec on Splendid Man Naim Currimjee on The Cardinal CATEGORY E ( 80CM ) 1st Amaury Chasteau on White Face with 0pts in 45’58 ‘’ 2nd Saskia Bax on Come & Dance with 4pts in 49’60 “ CATEGORY ( 90CM ) 1st Aiden Jouana Rene on Seventeen ‘s Lucky with 0pts in 47’88 ‘’ 2nd Clemence Rivalland on Mast Abeam with 4pts in 55’49 3rd Maveriq Jubber on Optima Maximo with 9pts in 52’91 ‘’ CATEGORY C ( 1MT ) 1st Julie Cautrès on Roofing with 0pts in 53’18 ‘’ 2nd Tessa Maroussem on Eastern Exodus with 11pts in 58’65 ‘’ 3rd Valentine Rivalland on Paranui with 4pts in 80’04 ‘’ CATEGORY B ( 1M10 ) 1st Julie Cautrès on the Joint Case with 4pts in 80’18 ‘’ 2nd Jerome Ferrat Del London with 4pts in 86’44 ‘’ 3rd dead-heat between : Florence Espitalier Noel on Esto with 12pts in 78’47 ‘’ Severine Hirtz on Horn Beam with 12pts in 84’49 ‘’ CATEGORY A ( 1M20 ) 1st Nathalie Rolando on Fire Cat 0pts in 59’77 ‘’ 2nd Isabelle Labat on Sunblast , 3rd Hyder Joonas on King Cool with 13pts in the first round 89’72 ‘’

ANCELOTTI

Chiellini red card changed game Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says the dismissal of Giorgio Chiellini changed the complexion of the game following the 2-1 victory over Juventus.

Referee Manuel Grafe chose to issue the Italy international a straight red card on 48 minutes for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese bagged a double either side of a Fernando Llorente equaliser, which proved sufficient in dispatching the Bianconeri, but Ancelotti believes the outcome could have been different had his team not been handed a numerical advantage.

“The game changed,” he told reporters. “There are five referees, then they decide to penalise Juventus and we must accept it.” The former Paris Saint-Germain boss went on to claim he was pleased with the result - even if his team failed to put the 10-man Italians to the sword. He added: “We could have played better, but the win is what’s important to us. “The team is confident and developing well. It’s a good result.

We won the game after playing well for an hour, then we slowed down. “I liked that we played well at times and we had balance, though we tired towards the end. “The intensity has to be different; we had two clear opportunities [at 2-1] and did not take them.” The Blancos, who are yet to drop a point in the competition so far, are in poll position to qualify as Group B winners, with second-placed Galatasaray sitting five points adrift of the Spanish giants on four points.

VOLLER

Mario Gotze has played down the prospect of Bayern Munich becoming the first team in the Champions League era to successfully retain their European crown. The reigning champions coasted to a 5-0 victory over Viktoria Plzen at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, with goals from Franck Ribery (2), David Alaba, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Gotze doing the damage.

Pep Guardiola’s men recorded 70 per cent possession and 35 attempts at goal, and while the former Borussia Dortmund starlet admits to being dazzled by the statistics, he believes it is too early to “jump to conclusions” regarding their title hopes.

“There’s great things at Bayern,” the 21-year-old told reporters. “We had a lot of opportunities, a lot of corners and it is high praise if you look at the statistics. “But the group stage is always different from the other rounds, so we should be wary of jumping to conclusions.” The Bavarians sit top of Group D, three points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.

Saleem Moosa (right) is a born champion, in whatever discipline he engaged himself.

Kiessling showed lots of character

Bayer Leverkusen’s sporting director Rudi Voller has praised the character of striker Stefan Kiessling in the 4-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. The German marksman bagged a double in the emphatic victory over the Ukrainian giants, with Sidney Sam and Simon Rolfes also among the goalscorers.

The 29-year-old has endured a mixed time of it recently, having come in for MBSF CHALLENGE 2013 some criticism for failing to own up to his ‘phantom goal’ against Hoffenheim on Friday, but Voller believes WednesWe did not witness a great final for the Mauritius Billiards and Snooker Federation Challenge 2013 last day’s display was the perfect riposte to Saturday, since Saleem Moosa has been a top notch when he literally swept his friend and opponent, his detractors of recent days.

Farhad Soyfoo by a stinging 4-0. Previously Moosa dominated Iqbal Muttur semi final while Soyfoo was “I was very happy for Stefan. The last defeated by Paul Marino. And in the final Moosa left no chance to Soyfoo , as evidenced by the heavy few days have been very difficult for score. Besides, the SNOOKER OPEN 2013 has started with twenty participants . him and he was confronted with a lot

NK from all angles,” the 53-year-old told Results Sky Deutschland. “But he is a tough Winner Finalist guy and handled the situation well.

Salem Moosa/ Farhad Soyfoo He showed a lot of character.” Victory Score Frame Score Frame over the Eastern Europeans means that 83 (1) 24 (0) Leverkusen extended their seven-game 54 (2) 16 (0) unbeaten run at home in Europe’s elite 67 (3) 20 (0) competition.

58 (4) 24 (0)

Saleem Moosa champion once more

ICON

25 - 31 October 2013 l N° 904 l PAGE 40

MANNA DEY Legendary Indian singer passes away Indian singer Manna Dey has died in a Bangalore hospital at the age of 94. He had been ill for the past few months and was in hospital for a respiratory infection.

BORN PRABODH CHANDRA DEY in 1919, Dey was popularly known as Manna, and chalked up a number of hit Bollywood songs in a career spanning over six decades. He sang in several languages including Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Marathi, Kannada, Punjabi and Bhojpuri.

His long career saw him win several awards for his contribution to music, including state honours like the Padma Shri in 1971 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2005. He was also given the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2007.

Dey sang more than 3,500 songs, including romantic ballads, intricate raga-based songs, Qawwalis and fast-paced modern numbers in his career. Along with Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, and Kishore Kumar, he made up what was known as the “famous quartet of singers” who dominated the Hindi film music industry from 1950 to 1970 and even beyond.

Many of Dey’s tracks for Bollywood films became huge hits and he sang for some of the biggest Bollywood names like Raj Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra. His most popular numbers included Zindagi kaisi hai paheli (Life, what a riddle it is) from the film Anand; Poocho na kaise maine raen bitayee (Don’t ask how I spent my night) from Meri Surat Teri Aankhen, Ek chatur naar (A clever woman) from Padosan and and Eey bhai zara dekh ke chalo (Oh brother, look where you’re going) from Meraa Naam Joker. He also sang for Bollywood super-hits

UNIVERSIADE 2013:

Sholay and Amar Akbar Anthony. He visited Mauritius twice the first time in 1960 and performed to packed houses.

In the last few years, he had largely withdrawn from public life. Tributes have been pouring in for the singer from the film industry and his fans on social media sites.

• Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari led the nation in paying tributes to “a legend who enthralled a whole generation”.

• “Manna Dey, stalwart of the music world, passes away. Flooded with memories and his songs,” tweeted Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

• In another tweet, Bachchan said: “Strange how we connect events of our life with his songs.”

• “Manna Dey passes away. His voice shall linger forever. R.I.P.” tweeted film-maker Mahesh Bhat.

• Actor Manoj Bajpai tweeted: “Manna Dey is no more! A great singer! Let’s pray for him! My condolences to his family!

His music will live for 1000 yrs. RIP” • Actress Shabana Azmi wrote: “Manna Dey had a unique voice. He will live on through his songs Ai Meri Zohra Jabeen/ dil ka haal suney dilwala/ poocho na kaise maine. RIP.” • He is survived by his daughters Shuroma and Sumita. His wife, Sulochana, died of cancer last year.

S.H

The inter university sports competition This is the third year that Universiade 2013 - the inter university sports competition - is being organised.

UNIVERSIADE is an initiative of the Tertiary Education Commission. It is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. This activity has become an annual event, featuring in the calendar of all the universities. It has even attained the objective of creating a platform to allow tertiary students to engage in sports activities and build linkages. “Sports activities are one of the ways to sensitise the youth to engage in sports activities to lead a healthy life. It teaches us sportsmanship, sharing, discipline and accountability. It also increases our endurance power- to face the hardship of a sport activity – to concentrate and most importantly it teaches us to rise after a failure. The number of sports activities in which university students are engaged in the Universiade has been increasing yearly… We have to make more efforts to include disciplines such as swimming, boat racing, cycling and others next year.

Universiade 2014 should also consider including some activities for students with disabilities”, says Dr Jeetah, Minister of Tertiary Education. The Opening Ceremony was held on Monday 14 October at the University of Mauritius Gymnasium, Réduit. The competition has had the participation of 22 institutions and some 1500 participants. The tertiary students performed in various sports disciplines namely Athletics, Football, Volley Ball, Basket Ball, Table Tennis, Badminton, Cricket, Tug of War, Cross Country, Rugby and Hand Ball. The closing ceremony of the Universiade will take place this Friday 25th October from 3pm to 6pm on the football ground of the University of Mauritius, Reduit. All tertiary students of Mauritius are invited and entrance is free. Note also that local artistes amongst Alain Ramanisum and the national champion kick boxers will perform at the closing ceremony.

Jameela JADDOO