● MALAGASY PRESIDENT WANTS TO COPY MAURITIUS. As the guest of honour of the 12th March ceremony, Malagasy president, Marc Ravalomanana, was in Mauritius until Wednesday. During his whole visit, he made it clear that he valued the strong relationships between our two countries and how he wanted the cooperation to go even further. After several years of stagnation, Madagascar now wants to grow rapidly. ?I want growth to reach between 8 and 10%?, he said at a press conference just before leaving the country. He also insisted on instilling ?pride of Madagascans in their country. As I?ve seen it here. I am going to copy you.? He left with a donation of 500 tons of rice from the Mauritian government as a token of solidarity with Madagascar after the passage of cyclones.

● MORE STUDENTS? DETERMINATION. Students do not appear ready to give up their fight! The national platform against the abolition of the 50% subsidies on SC and HSC exam fees organised their second protest in the streets of Rose-Hill last Friday. Even though this protest was quieter than the one in Port-Louis ? there was no violence ? their determination looked intact although the government has turned a deaf ear to their recriminations so far. A third protest is to take place in Flacq on Friday 23rd March before a gathering at Champ-de-Mars on the following Friday. Students will simply not attend classes and assemble there on 30th March.

● TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE YOUTH. The government is seriously considering the possibility of implementing community service for our youngsters. Even though all the modalities have not been discussed yet, the possibility of setting up such a project has been mentioned at cabinet level. Young people would have to engage in such a service just after leaving secondary school. The programme will aim at promoting community service, as well as a sense of civic responsibility and citizenship to all the young people before they engage in adult life.