<B>Enough is enough! </B>

Importers and retailers are fed up with the price control the government has been trying to impose since it came to power. They have decided to join and work with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) to urge the Trade minister, Rajesh Jeetah, to clarify his price policy. They say they have often sent letters to the minister of Trade, to express their discontent and to ask for a meeting with him but in vain. As they do not know what the minister intends to do in the future, some are afraid to import products since the latter could well be subject to a decrease in the profit margin and mark-up. Others have already stopped importing a certain number of products?

<B>Cement importers sound the alarm</B>

Cement importers are requesting that an Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) like the one used for oil products be used for cement. This should help importers with currency fluctuations. Lafarge Mauritius Cement, one of the biggest importers of Baobab cement, said it could stop its operations in Mauritius in 2006 if nothing is done. Its manager also believes that the profit margin of cement should be reviewed, as it has remained the same since 2002. Holcim, which markets Kolos cement, has also faced tough times during the past two years. A discussion between representatives of the Lafarge parent company and the State Trading Corporation (STC) has been held. The company would also like to meet the minister of Trade but nothing has been settled yet.

<B>Bus laneto reduce traffic jams</B>

The minister of Public infrastructure, Rashid Beebeejaun, stated in Parliament that the most appropriate way of reducing traffic jams appears to be the Guided Bus System. It will be the least expenssive method of those so far proposed. Even if certain measures have been taken to try and reduce congestion in the short term, the minister reminded that no long-term solution had been found. This system consists in setting up a special bus lane on the motorway. Although the authorities seem satisfied with it, the government will still have to discuss it with the World Bank before taking a final decision.

<B>Prison officer tarnishes job reputation</B>

A second prison officer was caught with illegal products at Beau-Bassin prison. Vinod Ramsurn was arrested by members of the Prison Supporting Squad (PSS) with 35 tablets of Subutex. This arrest took place only fifteen days after that of Elahee Doomun, who had been caught with drugs on him. Prison officers are afraid that these arrests will give a bad image to their reputation ? which is already not so good. These two arrests were made thanks to information given by both officers and prisoners.