<B>Enterprise Mauritius is born</B>

The new regulating institution in the industrial field – a sort of merger between the Mauritius Industrial Development Authority (MIDA), the Export Processing Zones Development Authority (EPDZA) and Subex-M – has finally been created. After much shilly-shallying from both the Small and Medium Industries Development Organisation (SMIDO) chaired by Vassan Appanah – that feared it would be engulfed in such an institution – and a report by the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council submitted to the government stating that the SMIDO should be integrated into the institution, the Cabinet has made its decision. The SMIDO will not be part of the institution but it will not have any influence on medium enterprises anymore. The new institution will be managed by both public and the private sectors under the responsibility of Industry minister Sushil Kushiram.

<B>Two drowned in harbour</B>

An attempted robbery on a boat in Port-Louis harbour led to dramatic events: two deaths and an imprisonment. Marco Nanette decided to steal ropes from the Maan Hung Chin N°16, a foreign trawler in the dry dock at Taylor Smith’s. His two colleagues, late Jerry Giovani and Suraj Mangola, decided to accompany him. A security guard noticed their presence on board and called for reinforcements. As the three robbers saw them, they jumped into the sea to avoid them. The sad result is that both Jerry Giovani and Marco Nanette drowned in Port-Louis harbour as they could not swim. The third one, Suraj Mangola, is in prison.

<B>Beekarry doesn’t budge</B>

The commissioner of the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC), Navin Beekarry, seems to have no pride. Despite the numerous attacks to which he has been subject, he has not deemed it necessary to give any explanations. He has not answered the allegations of fraud by Jack Bizlall against him. As a result, there are more and more signatures everyday on a petition in favour of his suspension from his post. Even Cassam Uteem, the former president of the Republic, has declared that the ICAC commissioner could at least have made a move to defend his honour. But nothing has happened: Navin Beekarry remains silent.