<B>Maigrot referred to the Assizes Court. </B>Bernard Maigrot, main suspect in the murder case of fashion designer Vanessa Lagesse in March 2001, was obviously disappointed. The verdict did not meet his expectations, as senior magistrate, Azam Neerooa, announced he was referring his case to the Assises Court and ordered his imprisonment until the trial. However, the Director of public prosecutions did not object to his release on payment of bail of Rs 200,000 and a recognizance of debt of Rs 1 million. He is also interdicted from departure and has had to surrender his passport. The magistrate said he had found enough evidence for Bernard Maigrot that accuse him of the murder of the fashion designer whose body was found in her bungalow in Grand-Bay nearly seven years ago.

<B>PM to convene meeting with MSPA. </B>The prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, gave fresh hopes to the sugar producers when he announced he would convene them to a meeting ?soon?. The Mauritius Sugar Producers Association (MSPA) sent another letter to the PM last Monday expressing its ?wish to have the opportunity of discussing (their) proposals with the government?. The MSPA has sent a number of proposals to the PM for almost a week and have been waiting for a meeting since then. No compromise was found for an ?all-inclusive package?. The sugar producers keep insisting that the consequences will be disastrous for the industry and for the whole economy if no solution was found, as several financial grants depend on the success of the reforms.

<B>Possible boycott when school resumes. </B>Trade unionists are threatening to take action. As the ministry has not listened to their recriminations, they could boycott the beginning of the school year. Each union has a different cause for indignation but they all agree on the fact that something must be done. Managers of private schools are also angry with the National Transport Authority because the latter is asking for their list of students for 2008, which is not available yet. However, the minister of Education, Dharam Gokhool, said he could intervene to make things better. Other complaints concern the review of procedures to appoint deputy head teachers or SC/HSC exam fees.