A first ringleader arrested under the Pota ? Iqbal Ghani was the first ringleader to be arrested after the illegal protests held last week in Port-Louis. He is provisionally charged with ?threatening to do an act of terrorism? under the ?Prevention of Terrorism Act? (Pota) when taking part in an illegal protest in Plaine-Verte on Monday 9th April. After being arrested last Monday, he appeared in court yesterday morning. His lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, thinks that the accusation under the Pota is ?grossly exaggerated?. The Central Criminal Investigation Division said it had a list of about ten ringleaders who would soon be arrested. They are waiting for advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions as to whether they should be charged under the Pota.

No visa needed for EU soon ? Mauritius is reported to be halfway from concluding an agreement with the European Commission for visa exemptions. This has been made possible thanks to a ruling of the EU council of 21st December 2006 that modified the list of countries which need to present a visa when they arrive in Europe. ?As far as Mauritius is concerned, we are ready to sign the agreement anytime,? said the minister of Foreign affairs, Madan Dulloo. For Michel Roux, the first secretary of the French Embassy, the agreement would mean, ?Mauritius is believed to be safe in terms of migratory risks?. While this agreement would surely put an end to the lengthy and costly administrative procedures at the embassies, the risk of being questioned and even deported from the territory will be there.

Interaction between employers and potential employees ? Putting the employees in touch with those who can provide them with jobs. This is the main objective of the Job Fair organised by the Empowerment Programme launched yesterday at the University of Mauritius. 9,000 jobs are reported to be available in sectors such as the hotel industry, the building industry, the export processing zone and Business Process Outsourcing. There will be interaction between potential employees and about 30 companies at the UoM until Sunday.