Teeren Appasamy still wanted

The Independent Commission against Corruption (Icac) returns to the fray with its extradition request against Teeren Appasamy, the Mauritian businessman based in London. He is considered the main beneficiary in the financial embezzlement scandal of Rs 881,6 million at the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) to the detriment of the National Pensions Fund. The magistrate has accepted to renew the warrant of arrest against him. The case has been postponed to 8th March. The Icac has already started the extradition process and the file has reached the Crown Prosecution Service in London. It will have to ascertain if there is a prima facie case against Teeren Appasamy. But it will certainly take some time.

Mare-Chicose residents win their ?case?

The struggle of the residents of Mare-Chicose to get their rights recognised has been successful. The cabinet has accepted that they be relocated to another suitable spot in view of the nuisance and odour associated with the landfill. A committee under the chairmanship of the minister of Local government has been set up to oversee the project that includes resettlement. The area will then be developed into a mega landfill, as advised by International Development Partners Ltd consultants, to cater for waste disposal beyond 2030.

Ciel goes east

Ciel Properties has joined forces with one of the wealthiest persons in the world, Saudi prince Al-Waleed, to launch an Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) project in Beau-Champ called Anahita. The construction works for 300 houses and luxury villas and a hotel started last Friday in the presence of the minister of Tourism, Xavier-Luc Duval. The latter is convinced that this project will boost tourism; the minister expects a 10% growth in this sector this year, which implies there will be a need for additional hotel rooms. The project also includes a golf course. The chief executive of Ciel Investment, Jean-Pierre Dalais, is convinced that Anahita village will help surrounding villages to develop.

Future price war?

The Indian competitor of Mauritius Telecom, Mahanagar Telephone (Mauritius) Ltd (MTML), has started its business of cordless land lines. Not only does it offer cheaper local calls but it is also innovating with new services such as the SMS between fixed telephone lines. For the moment, only the five towns will benefit from the offer but the company expects to cover the whole country as from March.