In order to know exactly what happened, News on Sunday went down memory lane with one of the main actors of this most extraordinary event which marked the history of Mauritius with indelible ink. Harish Boodhoo explains to our readers why the MMM/PSM government did not survive to accomplish the ideals of one whole generation of Mauritians.

How did you join politics?

The small village of Belle Terre where I was born and bred was staunch labourite as many other villages. My uncle and other family members were leading Labour Party agents. Thus, de facto, I developed a passion for that party. But later I turned more Ramgoolamist than labourite. On bicycle or on foot I attended most of his public meetings in the region. I was present in almost all big rallies in the towns. With the advent of Seva Shivir, a socio-cultural organisation, I met Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam very often. A friendship developed between ‘small’ Harish and the ‘mighty’ SSR. That was my first step on the LP threshold. The then PM became even closer to me after his 1970 by-election defeat at Triolet. I resigned as a primary teacher in mid-1976 and also from the Seva Shivir movement to join the LP officially. I stood as an LP candidate in 1976 at Riviere des Anguilles/Souillac and got elected.

As from then on, started my hectic life as a politician- full of bumps and thorns strewn along the way.

Was it easy for you to carve a place in the Labour Party?

Once I was in the Labour Party I discovered that it was an autocratic movement ruled by Sir Seewoosagur who had the support of close old friends History has it on record that I made two important sacrifices in only four months: After the 1976 election the LP/PMSD alliance formed a government with 36 parliamentarians facing an opposition of 34 MMM members. It was visible that SSR had difficulty to manage unity among his troupe. In order to help him I relinquished my post of Parliamentary Secretary to the benefit of late Mooneshwar Hurry.

Then I became chief whip. Even there I had to face adversity as late Angidi Chettiar was threatening to resign if he not made minister. At last he accepted my offering him the post of Chief Whip. Both sacrifices remained unrewarded by an ungrateful party; on the contrary they paved the way for a string of many other sacrifices in my political life.

On the other side, the MMM was very active, controlling the trade unions and excelled at grass-root level in keeping contact with the population. They were also very aggressive in the Legislative Assembly.

At the same time the country, in spite of the sugar boom, could not alleviate poverty, control prices of foodstuffs and fight unemployment. Corruption and fraud showed its ugly face to the profit of a few cronies while at the same time the Labour Party started to show its traditional ‘laisser-aller, laisser-faire and laisser-passer’ attitude during moments of crisis. Indecision, Inaction, and Inattention were ingrained and observers could see that ‘there was something rotten in the Kingdom of Ramgoolam.’

SSR old guard still believed that the people are emotional and would show sympathy to ‘the old man’ during elections. In fact the people, even though did not show its anger, adopted a resigned attitude and waited for the proper time to show that ‘enough is enough,’ while at the same time Paul Bérenger was gathering wind to create a storm.

In this unstable political environment, 16 young members of the Labour Party gathered around me to form the first LP splinter group…

What about your actions inside the Legislative Assembly ?

In fact the MMM was no match for me in the Assembly, but first let me finish with the last reply. The 16-member splinter group chose me as their leader. We started to bring our complaints to the leader of the party and discussed our willingness for change within the four walls of the party headquarters. SSR and his old guards resisted and treated us with contempt. Their pride forbade them to accept their mistakes and particularly newcomers in the party that they had failed, that to there was need for change, that a new Labour ideology should be adopted in the wake of a new wave of industrialisation and the development of tourism.

Thus they were more and more cut off from the population, the realities of the day and the sufferings of the common man. Instead they listened to sycophants and the State Security Service, helped by foreign elements, who infused sweet music in his ears by deliberately hiding the truth in order not to suffer his wrath.
All the ingredients were there for his downfall and the recipe for a political disaster was well prepared for the country to welcome a new revolution.

Leaders of socio-cultural organizations who pledged loyalty to him were mainly responsible to have given SSR the fatal blow in 1982 in his own constituency as well as elsewhere. They blackmailed him for gains and changed colours on the eve of Election Day.

To come back to parliamentary activities, I should say that I have reason to believe that I was the most active of the lot. At times I even dwarfed the then leader of the Opposition. I can also add that I set a record in the number of questions asked in the Assembly… unbroken until now. Through my questions I forced the Government to undertake many infrastructural works- a footbridge at Ilot, Camp Diable, free access to beaches after demolition of walls, abolition of advertisement on alcoholic drinks and cigarettes and pornographic films; and the gradual demolition of sugar industry workers camps.

My interventions also prompted strict measures to curtail government overseas missions and the recruitment of foreigners as advisers were simply stopped. They had a hell of a time so much so that at times the press did put the question; Who’s the Opposition- Harish Boodhoo or the MMM? One of my record interventions at Parliament was my speech on Ringadoo’s budget which lasted more than 8 (eight) hours!

As a backbencher I accomplished a lot of work. I was the first to instigate government to put up a Commission of Enquiry on two sitting ministers. They were found guilty and convicted. Few could do that much.

This raised you to heaven and you sought more power by concluding an alliance with the MMM?

It’s true that after the victory over Daby and Badry I became greedy and asked for another inquiry on 2 other senior ministers with the result that Gungoosingh, Beedassy and myself were expelled from the Labour party. Out of 16 members of my ‘contestation group’, there remained only the 3 of us; betrayed by the 13 others. Remember that I carried out 3 pilgrimages in the villages and urban housing estates in 1978, 79 and 80, to know better the country and the population It is then that the MMM got interested with me and the newly formed PSM and some persons came for negotiations. At first I was not interested as I was a Labourite.

The MMM proposed the post of DPM to me. Jugnauth was against the proposal and he was against any alliance as before between the IFB of Sookdeo Bissoondoyal and the MMM. He could not withstand such alliances as Sookdeo and Harish would have outclassed him by far. Had there been an IFB/MMM alliance in 1976, the Labour party would have been wiped out of the political scene. So, after several working sessions between the the PSM and the MMM, an alliance was concluded- 18 tickets for the PSM with Harish Boodhoo as DPM and 5 Ministries. We went for the June election and won a record 60-0 victory.

This week on 12th of June, Mauritius celebrated the first 60-0. Do you think it worth while?

The writing was on the wall since 1976 but Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam failed to read it or he did not want to see things as they were. Those who asked him to turn his head towards the signs and spoke the naked truth to him were ridiculed and treated with contempt. The atmosphere smelt the rotten, the people were suffocating and there was need for fresh air. New ideas and new attitudes were badly needed. Therefore the people were right at voting for a change and we gave the world a lesson- the best democratic way to topple a government.

SSR respected the verdict-with magnanimity. He could have hatched a coup with foreign help, particularly by the Americans to keep himself in power like some leaders in Africa. But he didn’t. Yes, that drastic change was all worth it. It gave a lesson to one and all. Never take the people for granted. They are the most important factor in a democracy. However such a strong majority had its own germ of destruction- a political vacuum leads to a form of opposition from within. In a democratic set-up there should be brakes and not only accelerators to press ahead blindly. There should be checks and balances. Those in power should never be given a blank cheque.

Everybody knows that such a resounding victory was mainly due to the contribution of the PSM of which you were the leader. Why did the MMM/PSM government fail?

There are many reasons. The main ones could be:

-There were problems inside the MMM; they cut off from the masses and from their own people. Some MMM MPs turned out to be arrogant and created tension within their own party. They were behaving just like George Bush Jr after his conquest of Iraq.

Anerood was too weak and hopeless as leader. His powers were not respected by the MMM politburo. Paul was doing all the work and interfering in all ministerial matters; just like in communist Russia it is the politburo governing and as in Libya it is the supreme commander of the military taking all important decisions and where the Constitution loses its supremacy. This situation brought conflicts with Anerood.

The first tremor was felt when Kader Bhayat, minister of Commerce, had problems with Paul Bérenger, minister of Finance over price control. It followed by a hate campaign. During Cabinet meeting, Anerood could not lead and it was Paul taking all decisions turning ministers wild. There were constant conspirations by some MMM parliamentarians, who aspired to become ministers, to send off the 5 PSM ministers. Permanent Secretaries and heads of departments often dealt directly with Paul Bérenger. Anerood did not like it and felt humiliated. The 1967 anti-Hindu and anti-Independence syndrome raised its head again and wanted revenge by lobbying to have Paul Bérenger as head of government. Paul resisted. But Hindus took it very badly.

Paul learnt of my frequent meetings with SGD, SSR and the Bissoondoyal brothers and thought I was plotting against him. He took refuge with those who wanted him to become the head of government. Libya was openly interfering with the affairs of the country. This created a strong negative reaction among Hindus and the general population. The MBC stopped mentioning  my actions.

It was finally the expulsion of Kader Bhayat and Anerood Jugnauth which brought the break in October 1982 followed by violent incidents at the Quatre Bornes municipality and the first ‘ transfuges’ Kailash Ruhee and Jocelyn Seenyen of the PSM were harboured by the MMM. Everybody wanted fresh general elections.

Don’t you think that the failure to stand together- Paul Bérenger and Harish Boodhoo, gave a twist to peaceful co-existence and promoted communalism?

Well, the MMM/PSM alliance itself was based on communalism. It is a Mauritian reality. We should not make a fuss of it. Think of the 1967 general election for Independence or Integration where the anti-Hindu campaign by the private sector and one of the main established religions was openly voiced; the main newspapers belonged to the anti-independence section of the population with their mixed-breed journalists humiliating the Hindus.  In 1982, the MMM presented Anerood as Prime Minister, Harish as the VPM  and fielded all 60 candidates with profiles so as to satisfy all races, religious beliefs and even castes. That was the time when Libya was close to some MMM prominent members using as base Muslim sensitiveness.

They looted a lot of Libya money. One of them was even caught by Police Intelligence officers within the precincts of the Libyan embassy with a bag full of money. This was followed by socio-cultural organisations lobbying with PSM/MMM leaders for more favours based on their racial denominations and the anti-independence press who wanted to take revenge on the 1967 defeat.

So, only fools will say that no communalism was present in politics. Even when I proposed Parvez Hossen, a career diplomat as ambassador in a European capital, some MMM Muslim parliamentarians protested saying that ‘Hossen is not a true Muslim but that he belonged to a Muslim sect.’ Then all of a sudden Cassam Uteem, only two months after the 1982 MMM/PSM victory, went to Libya to attend an Islamic conference giving the impression that Mauritius is a religious state when during the electoral campaign we underlined that secularism should govern the country. As we installed ourselves in various ministries, some wanted to eradicate traditions and cultures inherited from India and Pakistan to establish a firm ‘creole’ culture. Radio and TV local programmes were suddenly changed into creole language; even the main French news bulletin was read in creole language. The section of the Mauritian people belonging to the general population was themselves against such changes. They preferred to go to their African and Malagasy roots whose cultures and traditions were completely lost, wiped out deliberately by the colonizers. And now that they are studying French and English to reach a vertical social mobility, they are asked to keep with the creole language and maintain their servile status.

We foolishly lost our culture and traditions brought here by former slaves. To-day we would have been richer culturally if the slaves culture were preserved. So I put the question – Why should we toy with religion, culture and traditions and languages? I strongly objected and was taxed as a ‘racist.’ Don’t forget that Anerood came from the extreme Hindu movement called the ‘Hindu Congress.’ Where was racism then? In truth those who do not share our Oriental cultural traditions and languages have never forgiven those who voted for Independence. Some remnants are still here to-day!

There is a tendency in Mauritius to tax only Hindus as racist when in fact it is a community that has integrated 100% in the Mauritian society while others fled, leaving their Motherland, thinking that it would end up in famine and underdevelopment! All these were ingredients for a PSM/MMM government failure.

The day after the victory following the 1982 elections, you paid a visit to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam. What were your feelings when you first saw him in sleeves, without coat and tie? Did you regret to have given him such a crashing defeat?

I was a Ramgoolamist when I joined politics. Even after he expelled me from the Labour party in September 1979, we met several times in secret while I was negotiating with the MMM for an alliance in 1981. Both attacked each other during political meetings. I was more virulent while he was mild and always left the backdoor ajar for friends to come in. Even during the six-month electoral campaign, from January to June 1982, I had secret meetings arranged by common friends with SSR who came home every Thursday at 11.00 p.m. We talked but I never betrayed the MMM. He liked my company. He regretted my expulsion. I knew he was on his way out. This forced me to owe him respect the more so that he gave independence to Mauritius and gave emancipation to workers.

We both never thought that it would be a 60-0 verdict but I repeatedly told him that he would be defeated. As election time approached, he started to have doubts of his success. So don’t blame me. It was a shock for me when I learnt of the defeat of SSR in his own constituency. Late at night I rang him at Desforges street. He wished me well.

The following day when I was with the MMM at La Caverne forming a Cabinet of ministers in the house of Anerood Jugnauth, one of my PSM elected members rang me and informed me that a mob was in front of the house of SSR . I shared the news to all present. I proposed that a visit to his place would calm down the people there. Anerood was not in favour of such a visit. I insisted that SSR won 25% of the votes and ‘that if something happens to that living legend, we shall not be able to run the country.’ Paul said “Bye Harish is right.”

It was then that we paid that historical visit to the old man. I was shattered at seeing him. Some notorious Labour agents looked at us with fiery eyes and someone tried to handle me. SSR stood up with much difficulty and said: ‘Here is my son. Why you people are worried?’

Gilbert Philippe est provisoirement inculpé d’entente délictueuse et de blanchiment d’argent. La police lui reproche d’avoir empoché 25 000 euros (environ Rs 945 000) de Siddick Chady, ancien président de la Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA). Les enquêteurs soupçonnent que la provenance de cet argent est douteuse. Trois charges provisoires (deux accusations d’entente délictueuse et une charge de blanchiment) ont été logées contre  Chietanrao Luximon.

Gilbert Philippe et Chietanrao Luximon ont été longuement interrogés aux Casernes centrales hier jeudi 14 juin avant qu’ils ne soient autorisés à rentrer chez eux. Ils nient les accusations portées contre eux. L’ancien conseiller du Premier ministre a expliqué aux enquêteurs qu’il avait prêté la somme de Rs 945 000 à Siddick Chady et ce dernier n’a fait que la lui rembourser. En présence de son avocat Neil Pillay, il a dit ignorer la provenance de cet argent dans sa déposition.

Siddick Chady, et Prakash Maunthrooa, ex-directeur de la MPA, ont été également arrêtés dans le cadre de cette enquête. Ils ont été libérés après avoir fourni chacun une caution de Rs 75 000, mercredi 13 juin.
 
Siddick Chady est provisoirement accusé d’avoir obtenu, sur le compte bancaire de sa compagnie Blockbuster Video Network Ltd, 55 450 euros (environ Rs 2 096 010) et 110 000 dollars américains (environ Rs 3 300 000) de la firme néerlandaise Boskalis International B.V Holland afin que celle-ci obtienne un contrat de dragage dans le port. Le délit allégué aurait été commis entre 2006 et 2007 dans les locaux de la MPA.

Quant à Prakash Maunthrooa, il est accusé provisoirement d’avoir « agi de concert avec Siddick Chady, Chietanrao Luximon, Raymond Lagesse, Gilbert Philippe et Pieter Boer pour commettre un délit de blanchiment d’argent ». Il conteste l’accusation retenue contre lui soutenant qu’il n’agissait pas en tant que directeur général de la MPA entre 2006 et 2007, mais en tant que consultant pour la firme Boskalis. C’est en sa qualité de consultant qu’il a obtenu des virements d’argent auprès de Boskalis.

Le président du conseil d’administration du CEB, Balraj Narroo, a, lors d’une conférence de presse, ce vendredi 15 juin, avancé deux raisons principales pour expliquer cette baisse des profits : le coût élevé du charbon et des produits pétroliers sur le marché international et un investissement massif dans plusieurs projets qu’entreprend le CEB actuellement pour améliorer sa production d’énergie.

Suite à une motion de Me Rama Valayden, avocat de l’un deux accusés dans cette affaire, l’ACP Soopun a produit les enregistrements des caméras de surveillance de l’hôtel Legends. La victime y séjournait en compagnie de son époux John Mc Areavey dans le cadre de leur lune de miel. Cette enseignante de 27 ans a été retrouvée morte dans sa chambre d’hôtel le 10 janvier 2011. L’autopsie avait révélé qu’elle avait été étranglée. 

Ces enregistrements concernent certaines séquences du 9 et du 10 janvier 2011. Contre-interrogé par Me Valayden, l’ACP Soopun a expliqué que c’est un couple de nationalité allemande qui apparaît dans la séquence prise entre 14h 54 et 15 h 05 le 10 janvier 2011. Le couple se trouvait à ce moment précis à la réception de l’hôtel. 

Cet enregistrement est au centre d’une polémique dans la mesure où des doutes subsistaient quant à l’identité du couple figurant sur la vidéo. Depuis qu’il a été question qu’un enregistrement vidéo allait être produit en cour, les spéculations allaient bon train : le nom du couple John Mc Areavey-Michaela Harte a été même évoqué comme étant celui apparaissant sur l’enregistrement. L’identité du couple est importante car le Dr Sudesh Kumar Gungadin, qui avait procédé à l’autopsie de la victime, estime que celle-ci est décédée entre 14h 30 et 15 heures. 

L’ACP Soopun a expliqué à la cour que la police a interrogé, hier jeudi 14 juin, des employés affectés à la réception de l’hôtel Legends ce jour-là. C’est à la lumière de leurs témoignages que la police estime que c’est un couple de nationalité allemande qui figure sur la vidéo.

Cependant, le juge Pritviraj Feckna a souhaité qu’une meilleure qualité de la vidéo soit projetée pour établir l’identité du couple. Le procès se poursuivra ce lundi 18 juin. 

Dans le box des accusés, Avinash Treebhoowon, 32 ans, et Sandip Moneea, 40 ans, deux anciens employés de Legends, sont poursuivis pour le meurtre de l’Irlandaise. Selon le dossier à charge, les deux prévenus auraient tué la victime après qu’elle les a surpris en train de commettre un vol dans sa chambre.

La baguette de 100 grammes coûtera Rs 2,80 au lieu de Rs 2,60. Le prix de la baguette de 200 grammes passera de Rs 5,20 à Rs 5,60 alors que la baguette de 400 grammes coûtera Rs 11,20 au lieu de Rs 10,40.

Quant au pain moule (200 grammes), son prix passera de Rs 5 à Rs 5,40. Celui de 500 grammes coûtera Rs 13, 50 au lieu de Rs 12,50 ; celui de 1000 grammes sera vendu à Rs 27 au lieu de Rs 25 ; celui de 1500 grammes coûtera Rs 40,50 au lieu de Rs 37,50 et celui de 2000 grammes passera de Rs 50 à Rs 54.

Nazir Hosany, président de l’association des propriétaires de boulangeries, dit accueillir favorablement cette majoration même si « l’association avait réclamé une hausse de plus de 20 sous sur le pain maison ». Cette hausse, dit-il, est amplement justifiée. «  C’est le seul produit alimentaire de base dont le prix n’a pas été revu à la hausse depuis trois ans et demi », a-t-il indiqué à Radio Plus ce vendredi 15 juin. 

Suttyhudeo Tengur, président de l’Association for the Protection of the Environment and Consumers (APEC), condamne cette hausse. Il estime que c’est « une décision inacceptable ». « Dans la conjoncture actuelle, ce sont ceux au bas de l’échelle qui souffriront le plus. Les prix des denrées de base ont accusé une baisse au niveau international. Ici, la politique de prix est incohérente. Ceci explique pourquoi les consommateurs continuent à souffrir », soutient-il.

DR JK: There’s a job at the university for you.

MR H: Oh, I don’t want to waste my time giving silly lectures to uninterested students.

DR JK: I’m not talking of a lecturer’s job.

MR H: What else can I do at the university?

DR JK: Why, the Vice-Chanchellor’s job is still vacant.

MR H: You must be joking!

DR JK: Do I look like I am joking?

MR H: Don’t you know that the vacancy has already been filled?

DR JK: What I know is that the job has been offered to an expatriate and it would seem that he has not yet accepted it.

MR H: So?

DR JK: So, you could always try. There’s no harm in trying, is there?

MR H: Have you really lost your head or what?

DR JK: Not at all. As a Mauritian, you stand a very good chance.

MR H: I can hardly situate myself in the shoes of the Vice-Chancellor. They are too large for my feet.

DR JK: That’s never a problem.

MR H: What do you mean, it’s not a problem?

DR JK: What I mean is that this is Mauritius, there are always lobbies that can make your feet fit any size of shoes.

MR H: No, thank you. I’m not interested.

DR JK: It’s such a pity. You could really have got a push you know. Being a Mauritian is a qualification that can beat any chain of degrees that any foreigner can possess.

MR H: What are you talking about? Have you gone utterly and irrevocably mad?

DR JK: I am in full possession of all my senses and faculties and I can confirm that you stand a better chance than all foreigners put together.

MR H: Stop babbling, will you?

DR JK: Why don’t you understand?

MR H: Understand what?

DR JK: You have the whole of the student population of the university, headed by the Students Union, to fight for you. It seems they now have the power and responsibility to appoint the VC and other senior staff.

MR H: The students have no other business than minding business that’s not within their compass or competency?

DR JK: You’ll be surprised. No sooner was the name of the newly selected VC announced than they started protesting on the campus. “We want no foreigners here,” was their war cry.

MR H: Have our students been inhabited by such a xenophobia all of a sudden?

DR JK: So would it seem. Or rather they have been possessed by an acute sense of patriotism.

MR H: Flabbergasting! Won’t these students ever go abroad for studies or for any other purpose if they are given the chance? Are we really living in a global world?

DR JK: In any case they have made their views heard.

MR H: These views are highly spurious. I don’t know whether these are their own machinations or whether they are simply echoing and transmitting their master’s voice.

DR JK: I don’t know either. I must confess I was pretty shocked when I learned about the Students Union move.

MR H: These students must be told the story of the frog that wanted to make itself as big as a bull.

DR J: Maybe they are not so much to blame. Maybe they are only puppets on a string which is being pulled by others.

MR H: These students would do well to behave like students. Their duty now is to study hard and prepare themselves for tomorrow. They would be doing a fine job by attending classes and tackling their assignments and dissertations. Don’t you think so?

At the time, the mother was just 18 weeks into the pregnancy. The doctors said the findings, reported in Science Translational Medicine, could eventually lead to foetuses being screened for thousands of genetic disorders in a single and safe test. However, they also caution it would raise “many ethical questions”. The scientists at the University of Washington used pieces of the foetus’ DNA which naturally float around in the pregnant woman’s blood.

These fragments were then pieced together using the parents’ DNA as a guide to build a complete ‘map’ of the foetus’s genome. They then compared the genetic map drawn 18 weeks into pregnancy with the foetus’ actual DNA taken from the umbilical cord after birth. It was 98% accurate. The researchers hope their findings will one day be used to test safely for genetic diseases.

The event was organised by the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) in collaboration with the UoM. The training workshop held in Mauritius aimed at providing participants with required skills in research and innovation management, particularly in securing funding. Discussions focused on the national factors influencing institutions/ individuals to fund research, current structure and function as well as funding activity of participating institutions, presentations on international practice, identifying research funding and funding innovation.

Dr Rajesh Jeetah, Minister of Tertiary Education, highlighted the importance of research in advancing the reputation and performance of any university and in strengthening the role of the institution as a centre of advanced research. He called for a change in mindset with the development of an active research culture that leads to innovation, as such funding is a prerequisite to improve research quality and output, he added.

Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre - Exhibition on Climate Change
Since 14 June, the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre (RGSC) is organising an exhibition on the theme “Climate Change: threats and challenges” at its seat at Bell Village. The aim of the exhibition is to further sensitise the public to questions relating to climate change and global warming.

The new exhibition will integrate the permanent exhibitions in the galleries of the RGSC so as to allow the public to learn about the causes and consequences of climate change as well as its potential impact on daily life. it aims at encouraging the public to become eco-friendly by adopting a lifestyle in line with sustainable development. The exhibition comprises boards, interactive stations, games and documentaries and will highlight latest studies on climate change. Solutions and ways to reduce global warming will also be presented during the exhibition.

Note that the project got the financial support of the government of Japan through the adoption in Africa programme, under the aegis of the United Nations Programme.

Exhibition at Fashion and Design Institute
The second annual exhibition of the Fashion and Design Institute (FDI) is currently being held at the MITD Complex at Ebène, Réduit and will end on Saturday 16 June.
The exhibition which represents the culmination of learning, research and development by the students aims at presenting to the stakeholders and professionals the achievements and talents of those students. Some 75 graduating students and 62 non- graduating students of higher national diploma will be presenting their works.

LMBS, previously MALEM, has been one of the pioneers in the private sector as far as tertiary education is concerned. At a time when people believed that international degrees could not be obtained in Mauritius, Vijay Appanah, through MALEM, started giving young students the opportunity to obtain a degree from the prestigious international institution, the University of London, at affordable prices.

“If you want to do a degree from the University of London through LMBS, it will cost you only Rs 300,000. This sum comprises the application fee, the registration fee and the exams fees,” says Vijay Appanah.

LMBS offers eight degree courses from the University of London: LLB Hon., Bsc Management, BSc Computing & I.S, BSc Bank & Finance, BSc Sociology & Law, BSc Management with Law, BSC Economics & Management, and BSc Economy & Finance. It also offers Chartered Secretaires Qualifying Scheme, Hotel Management and Tourism Management courses of the Confederation of Tourism & Hospitality.

Pre-University School
Moreover, for those who have not completed their School Certificate (SC) or Higher School Certificate (HSC), they can apply for diploma courses and higher diploma courses which will be accredited by ABE.

The pre-university school caters for students who while doing their secondary schooling will be aiming at moving to a diploma, a higher diploma or advance diploma or degrees. There are two levels to each courses: Form I to SC/ O level and HSC/ A level.

LMBS, for the benefits of its students, proposes three deliveries: daytime (9h to 15h) three times a week; evening time (16h30 to 19h) three times a week; whole Saturday (8h30 to 16h30).
The courses are dispensed by Mauritian tutors, all MQA qualified. The examinations are organised by the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES) and are corrected and accredited by the University of London.

For further information, attend the seminar organised by LMBS on Saturday 23 June at LMBS in Port Louis. Graduates of LMBS will be glad to share their experience with you.

He seized this opportunity to attend celebrations marking the diamond jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. Chagos was on the sideline of his agenda and was only mentioned to the British Prime Minister.

However at this Tuesday’s session of the National Assembly not a word was raised on captured Somali pirates who will now be brought to our soil for trial and its negative implications as to our national security when we know of the close relationship of Al Qaeda with some Somali pirate groups. The leader of the Opposition, Paul Bérenger, in his Private Notice Question to the Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam, astonishingly linked the visit to whether the head of Government discussed the Chagos issue with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, in London.

His PNQ’s run as follows:
Whether, in regard to the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, he will state –

• if he discussed same with Mr David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, during his last visit thereto and, if so, indicate the outcome thereof;
• if he proposes to meet Mr Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, in relation thereto and, if so, when;
• if Government proposes to take new initiatives to make out our case in relation thereto and, if so, give details thereof; and
• the stand taken by Government, if any, at the April/May 2012 Meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission held in Australia, following the intervention of the officials of the so-called “British Indian Ocean Territory”?

In his reply, the Prime Minister stressed that “the main purpose of my mission to the UK last week was to have a bilateral meeting with Mr David Cameron, the British Prime Minister.” No mention was made of the Chagos or Diego Garcia. 

The meeting with the British Prime Minister was held at 10, Downing Street in the presence of Henry Bellingham, Parliamentary under-Secretary of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and John Dennis, Head of Africa Desk at the Foreign and Commonwealth.

In attendance on the Mauritian side were the Secretary to the Cabinet, the Solicitor-General, our High Commissioner in London and our Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

Dr Ramgoolam reminded the British Prime Minister of the repeated undertakings by the UK that the Chagos Archipelago would be returned to Mauritius when no longer needed for defence purposes.  “I indicated that there is an excellent window of opportunity to redress the injustice caused by the excision of the Chagos Archipelago from the territory of Mauritius with the expiry of the UK-US arrangements on the use of the archipelago in 2016.  And, in this connection, I stressed the need for formal talks between Mauritius and UK and the US to be initiated with a view to reaching an agreement on the effective exercise of sovereignty by Mauritius while safeguarding the continued use of Diego Garcia for US defence purposes.” 

The British Prime Minister observed “that there were some concerns about the multiplicity of litigations pertaining to the Chagos Archipelago that are currently ongoing.  He added that the presence of a military base in Diego Garcia further added to the complexity of the issue.”
“In regard to part (b) of the Question I informed the British Prime Minister that I intend, during a proposed visit to Washington, to put across our proposal that all three States sit together and come to an agreement on the sovereignty issue without causing any prejudice to the continued use of Diego Garcia as a military base to meet prevailing security needs. The British Prime Minister took note of this initiative vis-à-vis the US.”

“Regarding part (c) of the Question, “the House will surely appreciate that in view of the sensitive and complex nature of discussions on this subject, it will not be in our interest to delve into details of the strategy we have chartered out for attaining our ultimate objective. The House can rest assured that we will continuously explore all legal and diplomatic initiatives with the assistance of our local and external lawyers or advisers.”

“Regarding part (d) of the Question, I am informed that Mauritian Officials attending the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission held in April 2012 in Australia had made the following statement, I quote,
“The Government of the Republic of Mauritius does not recognise the so-called “British Indian Ocean Territory” (“BIOT”) which the United Kingdom purported to create by illegally excising the Chagos Archipelago from the territory of Mauritius prior to its independence.  The Government of the Republic of Mauritius reiterates that the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius under both Mauritian law and international law.
The Government of the Republic of Mauritius does not also recognise the existence of the ‘marine protected area’ which the United Kingdom had purported to establish around the Chagos Archipelago.”

Abortion-the ‘Ayes’ have it
The Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill was voted on Tuesday night with one major and a few other amendments. The new law allows abortion in four specific cases:  save the life of the mother, physical anomaly of the foetus, rape, and incestuous sexual relations not having reached 14 weeks conception.

Fifty parliamentarians voted for the amendments of the Bill, 14 including one from the government bench voted against and with one abstention. Kalyanee Juggoo, Shakeel Mohamed and Arvin Boolell were absent in parliament at voting time.

It took five sittings for 52 parliamentarians to speak on the proposed amendments of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill which was the talk of the town for more than two months since it was announced at Cabinet meeting, followed by a campaign against the proposal by the Catholic and Anglican churches. What was to have been a choice based on social and medical and physical conditions of the Mauritian women suddenly turned out to be who will side with the Church and who will be against; and with Muslim parliamentarians laying stress on religious beliefs.

One major amendment from the leader of the Opposition was accepted by the Attorney General who proposed the new Bill to parliament. Paul Bérenger proposed that two doctors who are specialists, instead of one, give their consent for an abortion to take place. Yatin Varma, the attorney general, said ‘it is good that there are two doctors. This will reduce the probability of a wrong opinion on the case.’

Human Rights Commission: 303 complaints
“303 complaints were received at the Human Rights Commission from May 2010 to May 2012, out of which 248 have been disposed of and 55 are still being investigated,” Dr Ramgoolam told the National Assembly on Tuesday in reply to a question put to him by Lysie Ribot elected member for Stanley and Rose-Hill.

The National Human Rights Commission which was set up in 1998, had Consultations with different stakeholders and it was in a first instance decided to have four Divisions namely:
(1)an Equal Opportunities Division;  
(2)a Police Complaints Division;
(3)a Human Rights Division; and
(4)a National Preventive Division.

“It is for these reasons that Members of the Commission were not replaced upon expiry of their contract.  However, the Chairperson of the Commission is still in office and is examining and conducting investigations on the complaints received. The National Human Rights Commission submitted its last annual report in 2008. Fifteen employees are posted to the National Human Rights Commission and the total expenditure incurred in 2010 amounted to Rs9,842,573.00 and in 2011, it was Rs11,092,546.00 in 2011.

Live debates
Government is in favour of live radio and television broadcasting. The Prime Minister, in an answer to Rajesh Bhagwan, informed the House that he tabled a motion on 05 April 2011 for the setting up of a Select Committee on live broadcast of the proceedings of the National Assembly.  
“The Select Committee was subsequently constituted on 12 April 2011 and Nando Bodha of the MSM party was elected as Chairperson.
The Committee met on 11 occasions between 21 April 2011 and 31 January 2012.
The Chairperson of the Select Committee was reportedly planning to submit the Committee’s report by end of February 2012 or beginning of March 2012.  However, no report has been submitted as Parliament was prorogued on 14 March 2012.”
“Consequently, the Select Committee will now have to be reconstituted and in due course, I shall give notice of the motion for the setting up of the Select Committee anew,” Dr Ramgoolam announced.
Following a supplementary question by Prithiviraj Roopun, the prime minister said that FM radios also would benefit from the decision taken by the select committee.
By Indradev CURPEN