Month: January 2020

Distribution of MECard Student in the coming weeks

The Metro Express Ltd (MEL) has announced the distribution of the MECard Student, in the coming weeks, to students above 12 years old and who are currently in full-time education. MEL strictly follows the prevalent Free Public Transport policy of the Government and priority will be given to students whose educational institutions are within the catchment area of Metro Express corridor.

The Government Information Service (GIS) said the MECard Student will be issued against payment of a refundable deposit of Rs 100. Moreover, full time students who opt for the MECard Student will benefit from free travel on board the Metro Express only for their journeys from their residences to their educational institutions, and vice versa, during school days only.

Students will need to have both their valid Free Travel Bus Pass issued by the NLTA and their personalised MECard Student so as to benefit from free travel on board the Metro Express.

 During the distribution phase of the MECard Student, which is expected to be a long one, students, with their valid Free Travel Bus Pass issued by the NLTA, will be able to travel between their place of residence and their educational institution for free on the Metro Express up to 29 February 2020.

Furthermore, MEL encourages the public in general to use the MECard which is a quicker, easier and more convenient travel experience on board the Metro Express. The MECard (Adult and Child), which is valid for a period of at least 10 years and is currently on sale at Rs 200 (with Rs 100 Credit that allows for immediate travel), offers a quicker, more sustainable and environment friendly way of travelling on board Metro Express. It may be credited with at least Rs 100 and up to Rs 2 000 at any of the seven Metro Express stations via 16 automated Ticket Machines during operational hours of the Metro Express (06:00 hours to 22:00 hours).

Single Use Tickets are still available at the Ticket Machines and passengers are encouraged to use coins instead of notes to purchase them. All passengers are reminded that it is mandatory to validate (Tap On) their ticket before they board the Metro Express and Tap Off before they leave the station at their destination.

A new system to make life easier for bus travellers, with all information regarding the timetable, route and location of a bus available on a smart screen or on your mobile phone, has been launched.

The Passenger Information System is meant, for the moment, for  the Curepipe-Port Louis route.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness said 178 people received treatment in public hospitals between December 24, 2019 and January 2 of this year for excessive alcohol consumption.

69 of these cases were registered on the first and second day of this month. 65 people have been admitted for advanced treatment and 23 of them have returned home to date. 

Doctors said consumption of more than 14 units of alcohol per week causes an excess in the body, which can lead to harmful effects such as imbalances in blood pressure and diabetes among others.

Plague kills 20 in Madagascar

Tsiroanomandidy, located in the center of Madagasar, is particularly affected by the plague epidemic. Whether bubonic or pulmonary, the plague is recurrent in Madagascar. The toll of the epidemic affecting Madagascar continues to worsen. 20 people have already died from this disease.

The President of the Republic, Pradeep Roopun, was on the Metro Express this Friday morning, January 10, to make the first paid journey, from Rose-Hill to Port-Louis.

He thanked the residents of Rose-Hill in Port Louis for their patience and understanding. He said he recognized that there were “drawbacks” during the work.

“This is a great milestone in the history of our country,” said Pradeep Roopun, who also believes that the country will come out “grown up.” The President of the Republic also specifies that he wishes the population to use this means of transport “to the maximum” while respecting safety standards.

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Le nouveau ministre de l’Agro-industrie, Manish Gobin, a agi avec promptitude après le passage de la dépression tropicale et les fortes pluies pour, d’abord éviter une pénurie de légumes surtout en marge des fêtes religieuses dont le Thaipoosum Cavadee et le Maha Shivaratree dans les prochains jours, et aussi et surtout pour sécuriser les planteurs qui ont encouru de grosses pertes.

L’action du ministre ne peut qu’être saluée car en autorisant l’importation des légumes, il évite au consommateur d’être saigné à blanc. Car on sait toujours en cette période de carême précédant les fêtes religieuses les prix des légumes prennent toujours l’ascenseur. Au grand dam des consommateurs.

Cependant, les autorités sous la tutelle du ministre dont l’Agricultural Marketing Board, devraient veiller à ce que ces légumes soient bien mises à la disposition des consommateurs et non pas offrir la possibilité à une petite poignée de commerçants malhonnêtes de tout accaparer et dicter leur prix. Cela dit, nous souhaitons que malgré les récentes intempéries, la situation sur le marché local surtout en ce qu’il s’agit retourne à la normale.

Par ailleurs, le Ministre Gobin a voulu sécuriser les planteurs dont les plantations ont été ravagées par le mauvais temps. Les planteurs devront se mettre en contact avec les organismes responsables de l’Etat et les officiers de ces institutions devront agir au plus vite pour évaluer le montant des dégâts avant que les planteurs ne soient indemnisés.

Dans une telle éventualité, nous demanderons aussi au ministre d’intervenir auprès de la Banque de Développement afin de mettre à la disposition des planteurs des crédits nécessaires avec un faible taux d’intérêt, comme cela a été le cas pour les éleveurs de porcs,  pour leur permettre de relancer leurs plantations.

L’action du Ministre Gobin est un signe encourageant et démontre que ce gouvernement « means business » et n’attend pas la dernière heure avant de circonscrire l’incendie…

Suttyhudeo Tengur

Président

7 janvier 2020