<B>Arrogance irritates</B>

The US embassy seems to have irritated the government. The speech of ambassador John Price, delivered by Bisa Williams at the AMCHAM general assembly, was not well received, some observers report. A comment on counterfeits in connection with the Ralph Lauren affair and how they could become the ?sixth pillar of the economy? was considered ?excessive?. The reaction of the US embassy to the bomb threat received in the post was also deemed ?excessive?. The police was deployed all around the embassy but finally it was just a joke in poor taste.

<B>Lawyer couple battles</B>

Pramila Patten, lawyer and expert in gender issues, and Ivan Collendavelloo, also lawyer, MMM general secretary and MP, are in the midst of legal turmoil. The couple?s private problems are now a legal concern. The MP swore an affidavit to prevent, among other things, his partner from selling their house in Albion. The latter then swore a counter-affidavit containing details on their personal life. This has led the MP to obtain an injunction from Judge Premila Balgobin to prevent the press from publishing the contents of the affidavits. Pramila Patten has also asked for a protection order because she is ?afraid of his (the MP?s) violent reactions.? The case will come up in court on 31st March.

<B>High-powered drug deals </B>

Notary Veenay Deelchand was arrested on his arrival from Madagascar and admitted to the detainee?s ward of Nehru Hospital. His driver, Antoine Chetty, was arrested last week with his partner, Anju Lallah, in possession of heroin worth Rs 8,2 million. The driver cleared her but confessed that he had committed a series of offences, following instructions from his employer. He said the latter had asked him to look after 800 grams of heroin until he was back in the country. Moreover, Soobiraj Haton, a gardener closely related to a politician, has been arrested with 200 grams of heroin worth Rs 2 million.

<B>ADSL television coming</B>

Mauritius Telecom (MT) will offer its customers interactive television through Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) by the end of the year. This means that viewers will have, in addition to usual programs, a wider choice of services, such as program listings of digital quality. In addition to that, options like email, SMS, tele-shopping or chat will be available. MT is importing the technology from its shareholder France Telecom, but still has to decide on the suppliers to appoint for the programs.

<B>Workers camp at embassy</B>

After a protest by more than 300 Chinese employees of Tropic Knits in front of their embassy during the weekend, five of them have been taken to hospital. They wanted explanations about the death of one of their colleagues, but it all went wrong when they tried to force open the doors of the embassy and the police had to intervene. Yesterday, the workers had still not left the embassy, and were asking for ?better working conditions?. A delegation from Nimbo in China and the recruiting agent are expected to arrive soon.