● Political conflicts. Like every year, Mayday has aroused much passion. The tone and speeches of all those who talked in the political rallies gave the impression that general elections were very close. Two and a half years before the next elections, the major parties are already getting ready and do not hesitate to criticise one another. The main scapegoat of the Social Alliance was Paul Bérenger while the latter and his colleagues of the MMM castigated the government for its incapacity to deal with major economic and social tensions. The Social Alliance also virulently criticised ?l?express? for reporting that the MMM gathered the largest crowd.

● Violent parents released on bail ? The parents of the little Nischaye, 16 months, have been released on bail. The accusation against Khoosoomul Rosseawon ? known as Sanjiv ? and Manishabye Buddea ? was reduced from murder to manslaughter. After the child was sent to Lorette Clinic on Sunday 15th April in a coma, Dr Boodhoo informed the police that he suspected that the child had been battered. Less than a week after, when the child passed away, the autopsy of Dr Satish Boolell, chief police medical officer, confirmed that Nischaye had died following a brain haemorrhage due to violent jerks.

● Delays in port operations ? Textile companies are worried. The port is facing a congestion problem and delays in both imports and exports. The chairman of VIEO Industries Ltd and of the Mauritius Export Processing Zone Association (MEPZA) on textile, Ariff Currimjee, rang the alarm bell at a meeting with the Cargo Handling Corporation and the Mauritius Ports Authority at the beginning of the week. The problems started with Gamede but the windy weather has not helped since then. Moreover, the absence of a direct line between Port-Louis and Europe makes it harder for Mauritian products to reach Europe in due time. The textile companies are asking for direct lines to preserve the confidence of customers.