Mugged for a cigarette

Mauritian society is definitely in a bad way. One more horrible case of violence to add to the already long list. A young man aged 23 was savagely attacked on the way home from work. He was going to join his family in a wedding and was waiting at the bus stop in Curepipe at 11 pm when a group of 13 young men came to ask him for a cigarette. After he had given one, he was asked for a second and finally they wanted all his money. As he refused and was trying to run away, they started hitting him with a brick and left him unconscious and bleeding. Eight of the attackers have been arrested by the police thanks to witnesses. But the victim is still fighting for his life in hospital.

Offenders will be taxed

Ministers Sithanen and Kasenally gave more details about the payment of a levy during a meeting with the sponsors of the wastewater sector.

They said the government had agreed ?in principle? to the introduction of such a tax. Abu Kasenally, the minister of Public utilities, explained that the levy will be imposed on those who are not connected to a sewage system. This levy will be included in the wastewater tariffs. The government also intends to intensify its programme to connect the majority of inhabitants to the sewage network. 22% of the island is already connected but the goal is to attain 50% in the next five years.

Welcome changes at the MBCTV

The Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is innovating. New programmes are part of an overall decision to get closer to its audience. ?The MBC should reflect Mauritian reality and this is why special attention is given to local productions,? said the general manager, Bijaye Madhou. Not only will it broadcast more interesting international programmes ? educational, informative and entertaining ? but it will also promote cultural and entertainment programmes by local people.

Bakers want a rise

The Association of Bakeries? Owners has threatened to stop selling ?pain maison? and ?baguette? if the government does not agree to raise the price of bread by 90 cents. It has granted a 15-day deadline to the government before it starts to create an artificial shortage of bread on the market. Bakers say they can no longer afford to produce bread according to prices fixed by the government because production costs have rocketed and they have to pay their employees the end-of-year bonus. They have also threatened to start a go-slow and deliver bread to shops later than usual. The minister of Trade, Rajesh Jeetah, said he has not been informed of these threats and asserted he had met bakers recently and told them they should discuss their problems with the authorities.