Increase in the price of construction. Within one year, the cost of construction for a house has increased by 10 %. However, Holcim, a company that imports cement, has asked to increase the price of cement because it does not want to absorb the swell in the cost of construction. The rise in the price of metal, of 37 % between the beginning of April and the end of June, is the key factor in the increase of the price of construction. But as cement is a key product in the making of other materials; such as bricks, other increases in price are consequently expected. According to Bushan Ramloll, director of a construction company, the time has now come to start considering the option of importing a bigger variety of cement in order to counter the high price of the product.

Closing of St.-Felix factory. Until yesterday afternoon, the employees of the sugar factory of St.-Félix were still uncertain as regards their jobs. Indeed, their future was threatened by the closing of the factory. The leader of the opposition, Paul Bérenger, raised the issue during last Tuesday?s parliamentary session. He said: ?I believe that the Government and the Société Usinière Du Sud (SUDS) are not just towards the 135 workers of the factory of St.-Félix. The Government has made them hostages and prisoners of their fight towards the sugar industry.? Elsewhere, the latter stated his wish to see the end of the ?martyr? of the employees. Paul Bérenger has even personally evoked that wish on the phone with the Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam.

Domaine Les Pailles restaurants sold. The five restaurants of Domaine Les Pailles have been bought by GIDC, a South African company specialized in the breeding of monkeys. The five restaurants are, namely: Le Clos St.-Louis, La Dolce Vita, La Cannelle, Indra and Fuxiao. Those restaurants were owned by the State Investment Corporation (SIC). According to someone occupying a high position within SIC, the amount of the selling nears Rs 500 millions. The area covers around 9 arpents of land. However, the point that remains unclear is the security of the employment of the current employees. It is believed that the new management is not going to keep such an important number of employees. The named restaurants had already suffered losses estimated at Rs 80 millions in 2000. For some employees, the losses were due to bad management, lack of leadership and, also, to an undisciplined staff.