Titbits from Mauritius October 2010

Written by Editor Wednesday, 06 October 2010 14:38

News Articles - Current Affairs

60% diabetic patients treated by dialysis in Mauritius

50% of diabetic patients die of cardiac diseases in Mauritius.  50 to 60 per cent of diabetics suffering from renal problems have to undergo dialysis in Mauritius and half of them die of cardiac failure.
Diabetes is the main cause of blindness. Damage to the retina happens progressively to 10 and 20% of diabetics without any symptoms. Elsewhere , 80% of limbs amputation are due to diabetes. These statistics of the Ministry of Health show that diabetes is an alarming problem among the Mauritian community partly due to hereditary factors but also due to unhealthy eating habits. However, being diabetic is not always a fatality.  A diabetic can lead a normal life as this condition can now be kept under control by following a strict diet, taking medications and doing regular exercise.

Nepotism at the Tobacco Board

The president of the Tobacco Board and two other members of its board of administration have been found guilty of nepotism and of conflict of interest on Friday the 17 September, 2010 by the Intermediate Criminal Court and sentenced to 3 month imprisonment each.
The magistrate found the president and two members of the board’s administration guilty of conflict of interest for giving permits to their relatives instead of adhering to the legal procedures.
This case was initiated by ICAC. On passing sentence, the magistrate had this to say: “the dignity of functions required that the accused should have stepped down by themselves” since knowing that certain of their relatives have made request of permit for the plantation and production of tobacco.
Death of the Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius
The Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius, Angidi Chettiar aged 82, died in the evening of Wednesday 15 September., 2010 at his home in Moka. Mr Chettiar was very ill for sometimes and could not attend many public and state functions. His funeral took place with all military and State honours.
Angidi Chettiar was the last of the Mohicans of the Labour party. He served under SSR and his son PM, Navin Ramgoolam. He was made Vice-President on 2 occasions by the present PM, for the periods 1997 to 2002 and 2007 to his dying days.
Many VIP personalities attended the funeral including the Leader of the Opposition, Paul Bérenger. The funeral rituals was performed at Cipailles at Vallée des Prêtes on Monday the 20th September 2010.

Journalist involved in child trafficking

A private radio journalist is involved in an allegation of child trafficking. It was the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare Sheila Bappoo who released this information at a press conference on Thursday 16th September in Port-Louis.
Mrs Bappoo said that such kind of thing should not be tolerated at any cost.
The  unnamed journalist had in fact acted as a mediator between the mother  of a newly born baby and the couple who wanted to adopt the infant. A sum of about Rs 400,000 is involved in this trafficking business. The baby who was born in August 7, was not registered by the Civil Status Office. Police is investigating this matter.
Violence against children
Following the appalling situation concerning child abuse in Mauritius, MACOSS, a private NGO wants to sensitize parents of their responsibility to take an active interest in the welfare of their children.
To implement  this project, they have set up a committee  consisting of several NGO’s.  A group of social workers will go around the country to sensitise parents to the problem. This sort of training will involve mostly families living in precarious conditions and who are vulnerable to societal problems.
This training program aims to eradicate the problem of child abuse. So far, according to statistics we have about 3,800 cases of child abuse registered in Mauritius.

Diplomat’s death case unsolved

The sudden and unexpected tragic death of Dev Seetahul, the Acting Ambassador of Mauritius  in Pakistan, has raised doubts as to whether or not he was a victim of cardiac failure or subject to foul play.
What puzzles the police is that the diplomat was not at his home and was not seen by any of his close friends. All the hospitals of the areas where he lived in Pakistan were searched but no trace of him.
In the end, his body was found in the room of a hotel. What is more mysterious is the fact that the cook who lives in the same hotel adjacent to the diplomat’s room, did not hear any noise.
The body of the diplomat arrived in Mauritius on September 16 2010. His funeral took place on Friday September 17, 2010
MBC maintains its stand
The Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) maintains its stand over the case of its employee namely Mrs Rehana Ameer who was suspended on duty, following an allegation of distributing anonymous letters to other employees.
Mrs Ameer is a trade unionist  employed by the MBC. She was asked on Tuesday September 14 2010 to give her defence regarding the allegation made against her by September 21 the latest.
Since her suspension, it is the first time that Rehana Ameer has been officially charged with having released an anonymous letter, considered to be highly defamatory, among staff members.
Sada Curpen Judicial case
The lawyer of Sada Curpen has gone to London with the intention to make an appeal to the Privy Council against the verdict of the Supreme Court of Mauritius regarding his client.
The court had ruled against the decision of the Pamplemousses Court to grant Curpen bail. Sada Curpen was arrested in connection with the murder of Denis Fine last January in Pamplemousses.

Haunted factory causes panic to workers

Bangladeshi  employees working in a Roche-Bois textile factory believe that the place is haunted. On September 17, one of their colleagues suddenly started screaming and running around, without any reason.
The same incident happened several times again later, making the others think that the place was haunted. The “victim”, who is of good health, both physically and mentally, suddenly “lost control” according to her colleagues as “she started running in all directions, throwing everything in her way and screaming horribly.”
Helpless, the girl’s colleagues could not do anything to control her and it was not until she finally lost consciousness that she could be taken to hospital.
Uncle raped and burnt alive 7 years old niece
47 yrs old, José Tristan Casimir, uncle of 7yrs old Joannick Samuella Martin of Riche Lieu , has finally confessed to police that he assaulted, raped and burnt her niece alive in an abandoned field.
This incident took place on September 13, 2010.  The charred body of Joannick Martin  was found approximately 300 metres from her home the following morning.
There was a big hue and cry by many Mauritians and a big manifestation of many people calling for the re-introduction of capital punishment. Many questions are asked about the role of the Child Development Unit of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare.
The suspect is in police custody awaiting trial.

Missing at sea

Gérard  Gervais Carcasse and two other Mauritians, Ludovic Vurdapa Naicken and Jason Beejadhur are still missing at sea since September 7. Till today, there is no sign of them.
On Monday September 13, Gérard’s wife travelled from Réunion Island to Mauritius to notify the disappearance of her husband.
Described as a religious person, Gérard never had any trouble with the law in the past and therefore the question of escape does not arise. A search for the three Mauritians by coast guards is still on.
A rapist father
The father who raped his 14yrs old daughter on Saturday September 11 claims that he remembers nothing of what happened that night due to his drunkenness.
The father who is a fisherman lost his wife a few days ago.  While still mourning his lost wife, he could not however control his sexual desire.
In a drunken state, the father dragged his daughter to a corner and sexually abused her. He was about to sodomise her when his brother-in-law saw him and intervened. He was arrested on Sunday morning and taken to Port-Louis Court where he was charged with rape and sodomy on a minor while the victim was taken to her home by the Child Development Unit (CDU)

Salesman attacked

A salesman was attacked and robbed in broad daylight at Tranquebar on Tuesday September 14 2010.
Wearing a helmet, the thief threatened his victim before stealing Rs 35,000  which the salesman had on him. Once he committed his crime, he fled on a stolen motorcycle. Police investigation is underway.
Police inspector arrested
Mamode Warsalee Rashid, a police inspector, was arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption  (ICAC) a few days ago for corruption.
He was formally charged with corruption under Section 4 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (POCA) 2002 under the charge of “Bribery by Public Official.”
The case dates back to 2007 when the officer agreed to turn a blind eye to a hawker on four occasions when the latter paid him Rs 1,500 each time after he was warned by the officer for not having a work permit.
The matter reached ICAC after a lengthy investigation, Mamode Rashid Warsalee was formally charged with corruption and was  presented at the Intermediate Court. The case will be taken on merit on October 5. If he is found guilty, the offender risks a ten-year imprisonment.

Motor show

Pradan World Limited, a recently Limited Company incorporated in Mauritius, will be presenting the Vegas Motor Show at the Trianon Shopping Park from October 1 to November 30.
The event will be organized with the collaboration of Beach House Events. The Vegas Motor Show includes acrobatics and stunts involving trucks, cars and motorbikes with a team of 30 people from France on a world tour presently performing in Réunion Island.
The promoter of the show, Alex Choisenet, is a well-known Frenchman established in the world of acrobatics and stunts.