Mauritius News

NARADA: “I sing instead of crying”

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News Articles - Events

Written by Editor Wednesday, 16 May 2012 12:23

'I was born over 14250 days ago in a beautiful Argentinian city named Mar del Plata', so begins the interview with Narada, who started her own band at the tender age of 12 and has never looked back since. 'As my mother was the main breadwinner, I remember my father singing or whistling while doing the housework and he used to say, I sing instead of crying (canto por no llorar). It was this that made me want to express myself with words and melodies'. She herself admits her music is tricky to pin down. Influenced by blues, rock and trip hop which she describes as downtempo electronic music, a kind of melancholic version of breakbeat with exciting possibilities.

A talented singer, song writer, drummer and guitar player, Narada's life is a musical adventure that incorporates aspects of her life experience in her music. 'Like most people I guess, I felt a need to know what's beyond this limited and temporary human existence. I asked myself the usual question, what's the meaning of life and opened myself up to every angle. Eventually, when I was just over 7300 days old I attended a Sunday Program at a Hare Krishna temple in Mar del Plata and I believe I found the answer there. A year later she came to London and got lost in the madness of the big city and it was her religious belief that brought her back down to earth. 'I believe we can reconnect through sound vibration and chanting,' It is all this and more that makes Narada's sound a collage of diverse style and worldly rhymes.

While she searches for a new line up for her group Shallow Ends, she has formed a songwriting partnership with her niece, Cintia, under the name of, Carlos & Carlitos. Later this year they will record the songs they have written. Music is inbedded in our daily life and artists and performers stimulate and inspire us reaching out beyond language and national divide. Catch her sound at the Mauritian Open Day on 1st July 2012.

Mylene

 

Mauritius: Abortion to be legalise in specific circumstances

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News Articles - Current Affairs

Written by Editor Wednesday, 16 May 2012 12:20



Following a Cabinet decision to legalise abortion in specific circumstances-, the Attorney General is working on an amendment of Section 235 of the Mauritian Penal Code regulating this offence. Thus, abortion will be allowed in specific cases: risk to life and health of the mother, fetal malformation, pregnancy following a sexual assault when the victim is less than 16 years.

The Cabinet of ministers has unanimously agreed to review the law regarding abortion. More than a century after the introduction of this law, the Attorney General is working on the proper way to ammend section 235 of the Penal Code,- provision regulating abortion in Mauritius-, so as the new law does not conflict with present statutes.

The ammendments will be presented in front of the National Assembly in a near future.Thus, abortion will be allowed in specific cases: risk to life and health of the mother, fetal malformation, pregnancy following a sexual assault when the victim is less than 16 years .

If the reform suceed, it will constitute a major step towards the modernisation of the Mauritian legal system-, adopting the views of the United Nation regarding the legalisation of abortion in Member States-. On the other hand, religious bodies such as the Mauritians Catholic Church and Anglican Church are objecting to the legalisation of abortion.

The heads of these organizations have asked the ministers and members of Parliament to set aside this law reform and to ignore the “diktats” of the United Nations.

A report from the UN on health as a human right, published in 2011, state that all states must provide safe abortion and contraception for women. The report was prepared by the UN special rapporteur,Arnand Grover, and emphasized on the fact that countries that are prepared to prosecute and jail a woman who seeks abortion are infringing woman’s human right. Grover explained in his report that “states must take measures to provide safe and legal abortion services and to ensure that they are available, hygienic and accessible. According to the UN Special rapporteur, absolute prohibition could be dangerous to a woman’s life in some cases where abortion is a life saving procedure.

The Mauritian legal system is quite a complex one. The provisions governing abortion are a result of the fusion of articles governing abortion found in the French Napoleonic Penal Code of 1810 and the British Offences against the person Act 1861. More than a century after the implementation of those provisions, the rule regulating abortion in Mauritius have not yet been changed or reformed. The section 235 of the Mauritin Penal Code, - regulating abortion in Mauritius-, has even survived the 1938 revision of the Penal Code of Mauritius. However, under the general principle of law of necessity, an abortion may be “legally” performed to sav the life of the pregnant women. Otherwise it is illegal to terminate a pregnancy before term; even if the woman has been rape or victim of incest. Those performing an “illegal” abortion could be subject to imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Following the joint press conference of the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, the Mauritian Council of Religions (MCR) has also given its view on the issue.  The secretary of the council,Abdool Majeed Korumtollee, declared that its members are ready to approve abortion only in specific circumstances, as stated by the miniters. The Catholic Church position on this issue is well-known, they are not ready to make any comprimise.The Church has always condemned abortion and also contraception and is not ready to abide to the  “diktats” of the United Nations.

J.T

References United Nations report on Mauritius

 

 

 

 

 

Survey: 77% of Mauritians appreciate the work of their Prime minister

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News Articles - Current Affairs

Written by Editor Wednesday, 16 May 2012 12:12

According to a survey ordered by Afrobarometer, and conducted by the Mauritian firm Straconsult, Mauritians are satisfied with their Prime minister and most of them approved the Government's actions. However, the survey also showed that the population is concerned and worried about issues such as law and order, corruption, poverty, unemployment and the state of the country's economy.

According to his rivals, Navin Ramgoolam’s popularity is steadily falling. They tend to play down the accuracy of opinion poll and continue to argue that the population has lost faith in his leader. However, the new index created by the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Michigan, United States, ordered Afrobarometer, provides information about the state of democracy, governance, social and economic reforms in African countries. This is the first time that such opinion poll is conducted in Mauritius.
The Afrobarometer survey shows that 64,1% of the population are not satisfied with the way the authorities handle the issue such as the fight against corruption “prevailing in many sectors”. 69% of those questioned by the pollsters are worried about the current situation of Law and order. However, in terms of governance, Mauritians are divided. 52.8% believes that the country is heading in the right direction and 40% of them think that much improvement must be done. Despite these signs of dissatisfaction, the survey revealed that 77% of Mauritians think that the Prime Minister is efficiently dealing with the State's affairs. It indicates that they appreciate the work done by Navin Ramgoolam; and 68% approved the initiatives taken by the chief of the Government.
According to the pollsters, the survey was conducted using a strict methodology to produce an objective relection of the public opinion on social issues in a “non-partisan and independent” way. Opinions’ polls are meant to be the mirror of the population mood, whether, or not, the people are satisfied with the executive and the balance of power. According to the index created by the Falcuty of Political Science of Michigan University, this survey demonstrates that the Prime Minister’s popularity is in the “green.” These statistics show that the Mauritian political arena is stable and that popular uprisings- witnessed in many North African countries during the arab spring-, are not to be feared.
Julien Tuyau