<B>STC to import cheaper medicine</B>

The State Trading Corporation (STC) wants to help Mauritians face rising prices. It intends to import generic medicine at more affordable prices than present private companies. According to sources close to the government, the medicines concerned target those affected by diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. For private companies, the import of medicines by the STC is not a problem ?if the STC works under the same conditions as other operators?. However, they made it clear that this will in no way help decrease the price of other medicines, as it depends on the value of the rupee and freight Moreover, they would have liked to propose generic medicines at more affordable prices to patients but the lawprevents pharmacists from switching medical prescriptions.

<B>EU financial aid in abeyance</B>

Sugar producers are worried. The European Union (EU) cannot give the promised financial aid if the reform of the sector does not take place rapidly. According to the director of the Mauritius Sugar Producers Association (MSPA), Jean Li Yuen Fong, the conditions added by the government ? access to lands of sugar producers and opening up of shareholding ? have delayed the implementation of the reform.

The problem is that consequences could be felt in emerging sectors that were also relying on this aid.

<B>Farewell to Raddhoa</B>

The controversial police superintendent, Prem Raddhoa, suffered a fatal heart attack last Monday in South Africa. He had flown to Pretoria on a business trip although he was feeling palpitations and a bit tired on that day. His cremation was held yesterday afternoon. His family and members of his squad could not believe it when they heard the news. Prem Raddhoa was a very complex character: some deplored his methods ? as his team was accused of police brutality on several occasions ? while others saw him as the defender of the most vulnerable who had achieved results in the field.