<B>Man kills friend in drunken squabble</B>

The Ramdin family want to believe they will soon wake up and forget this horrible nightmare. Dass Ramdin was killed by his “friend” last Friday. His widow, Sambawtee, is as inconsolable as her two daughters, Reshmi and Reshma, who came back from England and France for their father’s funeral. The Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) has arrested his friend Oomarduth, 27, who confessed to the crime. During a violent quarrel, the latter stabbed the victim in the heart with a screwdriver. The latter died on his way to hospital. Dass had been with Oomarduth and another friend, Kamal, on the river bank and they had drunk a bottle of rum and one of beer. As they came back to Kamal’s home, they started a quarrel that quickly degenerated into physical violence. Dass was found in a pool of blood in front of his house with a sabre next to him; his wife doesn’t understand why he didn’t use it to defend himself . The Ramdin family now only hope the guilty will pay for his/their crime.

<B>Preferential tariffs on oil for a breath of fresh air</B>

It will not solve all the problems but it should give the State Trading Corporation (STC) a breather.

The country will now be supplied with oil products by an Indian company that offers preferential tariffs. Thanks to this agreement between the STC and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), the former will save Rs 350 million as from 1st August. With the rising prices of oil products on the world market, the fact that the STC will no longer have to go through invitations to tender to obtain the products may help the budget deficit decrease. The risks linked to freight costs and supplier’s profits will be reduced with MRPL. These risks have led to a 60% increase in oil prices within the past three years. However the minister of Trade, Rajesh Jeetah, made it clear that the consumers may not be the winners. The final consumer price not only depends on oil prices but also on world rates. “If the oil barrel price reaches 100 dollars, we will have to pass the reality of world rates on,” he explained. The partnership with the Indian company will certainly be beneficial to the economy while the country is still studying alternative energy sources to reduce our dependence on oil products.

<B>No direct evidence </B>

Superintendent of police (SP) Raddhoa revealed in Court that he had no direct evidence against Bipin Ittoo in the murder of his sister and the latter’s lover in Bassin-Blanc. However, he made it clear he had circumstantial evidence – particularly regarding his schedule on the day the lovers were killed. He said his version contained contradictions according to “genuine and independent witnesses”. Bipin Ittoo is provisionally accused of the murder of Anshi Itttoo and Tagoresingh Sandooram even though he has always denied any involvement. The judicial enquiry is taking place three years after the event with magistrate Jaunbaccus attempting to unveil the mystery around these deaths.

<B>Promising seafood hub</B>

The Taher family has extended its business. After more than a century in the fishing sector, Hassen Taher and his two sons, Bahim and Feroz, are proud to contribute to the setting up of the seafood hub. Hassen Taher Seafoods Mauritius (HTSM) has bought three long liners for tuna fishing from Japan. The company will also invest in the construction of a tuna-processing factory in Rose-Hill that will be ready by the end of the year. The factory will not only use their own hauls but also those of foreign companies operating in Port-Louis. HTSM has already planned a second factory for next year with the final objective of producing 100 tons of tuna fillets and steaks every month in two years’ time.

<B>More “supply sources” for more tourists</B>

The government looks definitely determined to boost tourism. With the difficulties in the sugar and textile sectors, tourism appears as the saviour. As a result, the prime minister doesn’t miss any opportunity to recall the government’s willingness to welcome two million tourists by 2015. The launching of a new magazine, Nouveaux Rivages, at Beau-Rivage hotel was one of them. He made it clear that the only way of achieving the goal is to diversify the markets – and eventually review the conditions for delivery of visas.

<B>More help to sugar industry</B>

The sugar sector has reasons for rejoicing. The accompanying measures of the 39% price drop have been reviewed upwards. According to the Financial Times, the African Carribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries could obtain about 200 million euros every year. As Mauritius produces about 38% of the sugar quota of the ACP, the local industry could receive Rs 900 million in 2007. Even though this is a “step in the right direction”, as the minister of Agro-industry, Arvin Boolell declared, it is not enough to face the crisis. “The lobbying has to be intensified at all levels,” he added.