Enquiry into the death of Benoit Charlot

The ministry of Health is investigating the death of 24-year old Benoit Charlot, who was admitted to the Jawaharlall Nehru hospital with acute inflammation of the pancreas. He was found dead in a shower on 25th April. The autopsy confirmed the diagnostic of pancreatic inflammation and 15% of his body was scalded by hot water. The investigation has revealed that death was not caused by the treatment administered to the victim or by electrocution. But the staff looking after Benoit Charlot did not do their job properly since they did not notice when he went to the shower alone and he was found only 40 minutes later. The minister declared that disciplinary measures will be taken against the people who did not fulfil their responsibilities. During the regional management meeting at the hospital, he demanded details about the medical personnel on duty that night and the safety measures in the bathrooms. He was informed that the water temperature in the bathroom had been reduced.

Another raid on Ralph Lauren products

557 items branded Ralph Lauren were confiscated in the shop Juddoo Fils in Quatre- Bornes last Saturday. This is the second raid since Marcel Lapierre filed a complaint with the police following a purchase test. On Friday, 143 items were confiscated in the Sneha Fashion shop by the police and the Special Supporting Unit. The police has a list of another 58 shops suspected of illegally selling Ralph Lauren clothes. Ralph Lauren has already lodged a complaint in the Supreme Court against 46 operators- over and above the 108 who have accepted to stop their activities by the end of the year. The US representatives are demanding Rs 920 million from them, that is Rs 20 million per shop.

Commissions of enquiry questioned by opposition

The commission of enquiry on Mare-Chicose, chaired by former judge Robert Ahnee, heard Navin Ramgoolam and Madan Dulloo last week. Both opposition members tried to convince the chairman that the commission had to extend its enquiry to after the expiry date of the contract with the Société de traitement et d?assainissement des Mascareignes (STAM) in September 2003. They gave many reasons to support their argument but Robert Ahnee explained that the commission couldn?t take the decision to extend its own duties. ?This is a political matter.? As a result, Navin Ramgoolam has asked to meet the president of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, to ask him to reexamine the commission?s duties: ?The duties of enquiry commissions should not be selective.? This suggests that such commissions are not really independent. As for Madan Dulloo, he questioned the objectivity of the commission?s president by saying that his judgment may be biased.