<B>Form I to VI colleges back in the picture</B>

The government insisted that it would reinstate Form I to VI colleges during the electoral campaign. This will be done in seven schools: Camp de Masque, State College, Piton SC, Sir Abdool Raman Osman SC, Bon Accueil SC, Nouvelle France SC, Port-Louis SC and Rivière des Anguilles SC. Admission to Form 1 in these colleges will be done on the basis of the existing system of regionalisation and grading. The nine high- demand colleges, which will continue to operate as Sixth Form colleges in January 2006, will be converted back into Form 1 to VI colleges as from January 2007.

<B>Dangers of bird flu</B>

Migration of birds between October and March could be a potential danger for Mauritius. The Terre Rouge estuary, to which birds from the Northern hemisphere fly, could become the point of entry for bird flu in Mauritius. The authorities and heath professionals are keeping an eye open for trouble. The ministry of Health has ordered some Tamiflu – known as the only cure so far – just in case. This has cost Rs 75 million. Shell was the first private company to order some as a preventive measure.

<B>New Club Med in Albion by 2007</B>

A second Club Méd in Albion has been talked of for several years now. The project will become reality in 2007. The construction of the new hotel will start in October if it obtains all necessary permits. This second Club Med will allow the group to double its number of rooms in Mauritius and receive more tourists. The hotel in Pointe-aux-Canonniers will specialise in the family niche while the new one will target mainly couples. The project estimated at Rs 1.5 billion should create about 500 jobs.

<B>Nature Watch goes to Court… again</B>

Nature Watch is disappointed and feels betrayed. During a visit to the construction site of the South Eastern Highway, members of the non-governmental organisation realised that the bulldozers were at work again at the entrance to Ferney forest despite the government’s promises to spare the forest. Nature Watch has revived its request for a judicial review of the project after suspending it in June because of the government’s promises. The minister of Environment, Anil Bachoo, has merely declared: “I am not concerned by this case.”