COVER STORY

Constitutional reform: What the Mauritian model might look like

The establishment of a second republic with a directly elected president is one of the main planks of coalition talks between Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and Leader of the Opposition Paul Bérenger. To help the process along, Bérenger pointed to the presidential systems in Malawi and Zambia as possible roadmaps to reach a deal. What do these models look like? Can they work in Mauritius? Do they work in their own countries of origin and how is such a project in Mauritius likely to look?

INTERVIEW

Anil Gayan: “Unless we do something, this election will be a walkover for Bérenger and Ramgoolam.”

Anil Gayan, former minister of foreign affairs, speaks to Weekly about why he has chosen to re-enter the political arena, how our democracy is being threatened and gives his response to Nita Deerpalsing’s recent attack on him when he was the tourism minister.

HEALTH

Food supplements: A shortcut to a better life or money wasted?

Food supplements that promise the masses longevity, sharper brains, model-like bodies and protection from illness are now widely available in Mauritian stores. Do they deliver what they promise?

WHAT’S ON

The online translation revolution: Do you speak computerish?

What if you could speak Creole to your business partners in China during a video conference and have them reply instantly in Mandarin without skipping a beat? It might be possible in the future, thanks to a new generation of extremely sophisticated online translation tools.

EDUCATION

Studying taxes: Becoming a taxman

Mauritiusis seeking to extend its network of tax treaties across the globe as part of its strategy to position itself as a financial centre for investments into Africa. Undergirding this strategy is more focus on taxation and more demand for taxation expertise. So is Mauritius seeing a growing demand for education specifically in tax matters and how would one go break into the field?

THIS IS MAURITIUS

Territorial surveillance : Mauritius taking the lead

Last month, the Mauritian government ordered military vessels and military hardware from the Indian government. Delivery of a 75m-long patrolling vessel is also expected this year. A major actor in the fight against piracy and a pioneer in the ocean economy, could the insular state be slowly turning into a regional political behemoth?