<B>Courts Mauritius for sale </B>

The thirteen shops belonging to Courts Plc in Mauritius and the one in Rodrigues will be on sale in about three months. Because of the financial difficulties the parent company is facing in Great Britain, it will sell all the shares it has in the capital of Courts Mauritius that is 84%. This sale will be done through invitations to tender but some groups ? British American Insurance, an important audiovisual supplier and Rogers among others ? have already expressed interest in the repurchase.

<B>Sad anniversary</B>

Four years ago, Vanessa Lagesse was found badly beaten and strangled in her bathtub in her bungalow in Grand-Bay. Her relatives are still waiting for the criminals to be tried. Bernard Maigrot was formally charged with murder on 14th April 2003 but the examination of witnesses has not yet started. The main suspect in the case has asked for the documents of the prosecution to ?guarantee a fair trial?. Judge Asraf Caunhye will hear the arguments of Maigrot?s lawyer, Ivan Colendavelloo, on Friday.

<B>Air Mauritius more severe on check-in time</B>

Air Mauritius has implemented new instructions for check-in and boarding of passengers. As from today, check-in desks will close 45 minutes before departure for all Air Mauritius flights. As people will not be accepted after this time limit, they are strongly advised to arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to departure. After check-in, passengers are expected to proceed through immigration at least 1 hour prior to departure and to be at the gate ready for boarding 15 minutes before take-off time.

<B>Hawkers? Palace starting </B>

About a thousand hawkers should finally get a roof over their heads in Port-Louis. The construction of the Hawkers? Palace should start in May and it should be ready at the end of next year. Three floors out of sixteen will be reserved for hawkers, who will probably pay a monthly fee of Rs 2,000 as well as Rs 500 for maintenance. Six firms are competing for the building contract but Gamma Civic Ltd seems to be likely to get it since it has offered the cheapest bid at Rs 536 million. This project is financed by the Development Bank of Mauritius and the municipality of Port-Louis.