Contre-offensive des expulsés du Ptr

Les cinq membres expulsés  du Ptr seront face à la presse ce vendredi après-midi pour donner la réplique aux dirigeants du Ptr  Même si deux d’entre eux notamment Krishna Molaye et Raj Pentiah se sont exclus du Ptr avant les élections du 7 novembre. 

La première PNQ de Boolell sur le Coronavirus

C’est le lundi 3 février que Arvin Boolell nouveau leader de l’opposition posera sa première Private Notice Question (PNQ). Sans doute ce sera sur le Coronavirus,  à moins qu’il y a d’autres sujets plus importants. .  Arvin Boolell dispose de beaucoup d’informations sur cette épidémie. Il avait tenu une conférence de presse sur ce virus lundi dernier. Mais après huit jours, soit entre sa conférence de presse  et le jour de sa PNQ, les choses ont évolué rapidement. 

Air Mauritius suspends all its direct flights to Shanghai

Air Mauritius, has on Wednesday decided to suspend all its flights to Shanghai with effect 31 January 2020.

This decision follows a review of the situation with the authorities and several stakeholders on the coronavirus outbreak, and taking note of massive cancellations from and to Shanghai.

The airline said that “alternative arrangements are being made for our passengers travelling to and from mainland China via our hubs in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.”

A hotline has been opened for all passengers who wish to modify their travel arrangements.

Air Mauritius further indicated that it is closely monitoring the situation and has intensified precautionary measures in line with the recommendations of local and international health authorities and according to its own internal procedures.

7 tons of products unfit for consumption seized in 2019

7 tons of unfit for consumption products were seized in 2019 and 18,249 inspections were carried out by the Public Health and Food Safety Department of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. These products include meat, fish, milk, vegetables and fruit. Among the products which did not comply with health regulations, some had been thawed overnight. This is a practice punishable by law, and that certain signs do not mislead. With the heat raging at the moment, the preservation of food in the refrigerator should not exceed two days, however it can be more than a month in the freezer. It is strongly recommended to take the usual precautions to avoid food poisoning.

Coronavirus kills 106 people so far

According to Chinese authorities, 106 people have died from the new coronavirus. The number of newly infected cases has almost doubled. The total number of confirmed cases in China rose to 4,515 as of January 27, compared to 2,835 the day before.China has tightened travel restrictions to try to curb the spread of the virus. 

The country has postponed the start of the spring semester in schools, colleges, high schools, universities and higher education establishments in the country, the education ministry said on Tuesday. The coronavirus causes a severe acute respiratory infection and there is no specific cure or vaccine. Most of the deaths are due to elderly people or to preexisting respiratory problems.

Cases have been confirmed in 15 countries around the world: Thailand: 8, Australia: 5, Japan: 4, Malaysia: 4, Singapore: 4, South Korea: 4, United States: 4, France: 3, Taiwan: 3, Canada: 2, Vietnam: 2, Cambodia: 1, Germany: 1, Nepal: 1 and Sri-Lanka: 1.

Flu vaccines for the elderly

The Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity would proceed with the anti-influenza vaccination exercise during period April to May this year.

 Vaccines would be provided to elderly persons aged 60 and above, children with disabilities attending specialised schools and inmates of charitable institutions and private licensed Homes. The vaccination exercise would also be extended to Rodrigues and Agalega.

Augmentation du prix du pain


Une demande grossièrement exagérée des boulangers


Est-ce que le gouvernement va céder à la demande des boulangers et accorder une hausse de 70 sous sur chaque pain de 100 g ? Si cette hausse est octroyée, le prix du  pain maison qui coûtait Rs 2,60 passera ainsi à Rs 3,30 l’unité. Ce qui pèsera très lourd dans la corbeille ménagère quotidienne de ceux qui se trouvent au bas de l’échelle et dont les conséquences politiques pourraient être désastreuses pour le nouveau régime gouvernemental surtout à l’approche des prochaines élections municipales bientôt.

Il est clair que la demande des boulangers est grossièrement exagérée. Le gouvernement, particulièrement le Ministre du Commerce devrait commanditer un exercice comptable très rigoureux sur les chiffres soumis par les boulangers concernant tous les intrants et autres coûts relatifs à la production d’un pain maison, qui disons le sans ambages, ne pèse jamais 100 g. Le prétexte de manque de main d’œuvre est aussi farfelu car on sait que le coût de la main d’œuvre importée, n’est pas aussi lourd que les boulangers veulent y faire croire. Si les Mauriciens boudent les boulangeries c’est avec raison car ils sont sous payés et exploités. Par contre, on notera un certain engouement des jeunes qui se joignent aux boulangeries opérées par les supermarchés. Alors….

Aujourd’hui, avec l’évolution de la production du pain à Maurice, on note une mécanisation à outrance et l’appel à la main d’œuvre est assez minime. Donc, un investissement dans les équipements est à long terme plus profitable pour les boulangeries privées. Pour ce qui est des intrants de base, le prix de farine est déjà largement subventionné par l’Etat tant et si bien qu’il n’y a pas de taxe sur la valeur ajoutée à ce produit. Ce qui représente un gain assez important pour les boulangers.

Nous sommes surpris pour une telle demande d’augmentation. C’est pourquoi nous demandons une étude approfondie par un comité d’experts sur toute la question avant de prendre toute décision d’accorder une augmentation ou pas. Le pain, c’est le quotidien de tout mauricien qu’elle que soit sa religion ou sa couleur. Donc jouer avec le pain c’est jouer avec le feu.

Suttyhudeo Tengur

Président

20 janvier 2020

Alcohol kills 143 people every year in Mauritius

In Mauritius, alcohol is responsible for 143 deaths. 339 people including 40 women have been admitted to Brown Sequard Hospital for alcohol-related behavior problems, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. 

The World Health Organization reports that 50% of the world’s population consumes alcohol. Drinking alcoholic beverages can lead to serious health problems. The ministry wants to make this scourge a fight through prevention campaigns and the treatment of alcoholics. Apart from treatment by health professionals, an alcoholic person needs the support of his loved ones to get out of it.

Schengen: Introduction of a compulsory travel authorization in 2021

Nationals of countries hitherto exempt from a visa for entry into European territory will have to obtain a travel authorization from 2021. This authorization is not a visa, specifies the ambassador of the European Union in Mauritius. Mauritians will therefore not need a visa to enter Schengen territory. The request must be made online against a payment of Rs 280. A light and fast procedure with an almost instant response.

The aim of the European travel information and authorization system is to strengthen the borders of the Schengen area by checking travelers’ data in advance before entering the area.

The oldest material on earth discovered

Scientists analyzing a meteorite have discovered the oldest known material on Earth. They found grains of dust in space rock – which fell to Earth in the 1960s – that are up to 7.5 billion years old.

The BBC said the oldest grains of dust formed in stars that roared long before the birth of our solar system. A team of researchers described the result in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. When the stars die, the particles that form there are projected into space. These “pre-solar grains” are then incorporated into new stars, planets, moons and meteorites.