<B>PM denies fraud allegations and cover-up at MCB</B>

The opposition leader, Navin Ramgoolam, sticks to his point. PM Bérenger too. The former asserts that there has been ?a fraud of Rs 1.5 billion at the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) to the detriment of sixteen customers? while the latter firmly denies it. ?This is totally false, irresponsible and ridiculous,? he said. But Ramgoolam returns to the fray and asserts this time that a manager of the MCB is involved in illegal transactions. This was enough to make the PM furious: ?I say it again: there has not been, there is not and there will not be any cover-up in the MCB-NPF case or in the crime and hold-up of the MCB.?

<B>The grand old man of the press has passed away</B>

The most senior member of the Mauritian press, René Rivière, died last week following a cardiac problem while he was on holiday in Australia. The 76-year-old journalist was a model of simplicity and integrity for the whole profession. He was also admired for always acting with conviction. He contributed to ?Le Dimanche? and ?Le Socialiste? until recently but he spent the major part of his career at ?Advance? with colleagues such as Malcolm de Chazal, Jaynarain Roy, Max Moutia and Marcel Cabon. His funeral will take place most probably next Saturday.

<B>A Mauritian training centre in London</B>

After suffering from problems linked to student life, Hasmine Rajbally decided to help those coming for tertiary studies in England. AT Institute was thus set up four months ago and is already welcoming 100 students. The training centre offers possibilities for studying at affordable prices. But more than just providing their students with academic knowledge, Hasmine and her brother, Nazim, want to help foreign students in their daily lives.

<B>Fishing is a promising sector</B>

The government is trying to give back hope to fishermen. PM Paul Bérenger, and the Fisheries minister, Joe Lesjongard, asserted that fishing is a ?sector of the future? at the launching of the ?information caravan? in Grand-Gaube. Technicians of the Fishermen?s Welfare Fund, the Development Bank and the Small and Medium Industries Development Organisation are going all over the island to reassure fishermen that their craft has a bright future ahead. Most professionals, however, prefer to wait and see if those encouraging words will be translated into facts.