<B>Diesel price down and no change for petrol</B>

The price of diesel is decreasing while that of petrol remains stable. This is quite good news for motorists. With the automatic pricing mechanism, the prices of diesel and petrol are reviewed every three months to make sure the State Trading Corporation doesn?t incur losses when it imports these products. The evolution of the price of crude oil and the exchange rate of the US dollar are the two main criteria used to decide whether the prices will go up or down.

<B>Jayen Cuttaree shows less self-confidence</B>

While Jayen Cuttaree seemed quite ?confident? so far, he has suddenly changed his strategy and remains cautious about his possible accession to the post of director general of the World Trade Organisation. ?We are a small country with limited resources. We do not have the same means as the big powers such as the European Union to lead our campaign. It will be almost a miracle if we succeed.? However, the lobbying campaign goes on for the Mauritian candidate and the other can-didates. The nameof the winner should be known at the endof May.

<B>Bagatelle dam to end water shortage</B>

Thanks to the construction of a dam, a big reservoir and a water treatment plant, the Port-Louis and Plaines-Wilhems regions should not face water shortage anymore. Moreover, it should improve the irrigation situation in these same regions. ?The construction of the dam should start towards the end of 2006 or early 2007 to end in 2010 or 2011. The dam only will cost around Rs 1 billion,? said Alan Ganoo, the minister of Public infrastructure.

<B>Mare-Chicose inhabitants soon relieved? </B>

The inhabitants of Mare-Chicose were reassured by the prime minister?s words last week. Paul Bérenger gave them the assurance that the government will do its best to reduce social and environmental problems. After a first study by Carl Bro, which states that the technical waste landfill could become a major one after the infrastructure is improved, the government is now waiting for a second study to make a decision ? the Environment Impact Assessment. Meanwhile, the PM said the Environment squad would remain there all day long.