<B>New conference centre ready in one month</B>

“We have a world class conference centre,” claimed the prime minister, Paul Bérenger, while visiting the new building in Pailles. The cooperation between Mauritius and India for the construction of this building has been a success. India has given nearly Rs 430 million and the State Investment Corporation has also injected funds in the project. The new conference centre, which will be ready in about one month, will welcome the delegates of the conference of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) between 10th and 14th January 2005. But it will also be used for concerts, conferences, gala nights and international exhibitions afterwards. The main room can cater for 2,500 seats, which can be extended to 8,000 standing places. On the whole, the conference centre covers 17,000 m2 including work rooms, conference rooms and annexed lecture halls.

<B>Chasteau family: father and son can breathe…</B>

Jacques Chasteau de Balyon has reasons to be relieved. The former minister was acquitted in the case of an alleged harassment of a hairdresser. Diane Chetty had asserted that she was harassed by Jacques Chasteau on 12th September 2002 in her salon. But she couldn’t give any evidence and the former minister had two strong alibis. His servant and his uncle confirmed that Jacques Chasteau was at home at the time he was said to be at the hairdresser’s. As a result, he has been acquitted by the magistrate Razia Janoo-Jaunbaccus. Likewise, his son, Jean-Christophe, who was accused of manslaughter after his mother Jannick died in a road accident while he was driving, has seen the charges against him removed.

<B>Grand-Bay coastal road reopened</B>

Grand-Bay shopkeepers may rejoice. The coastal road has finally been reopened. They asked for this just after the blast on 25th July but the government considered it was dangerous. Finally, work started at the beginning of last week to demolish the building and the road reopened on Friday. The Grand-Bay Store complex is not yet completely demolished but the authorities consider there is no risk in reopening the road. Shops, which have suffered a lot from the closing, should start to see their customers coming back.