Given the indispensable role of food and the basic need for food supply stability, the Minister pointed out that there is a need to reconsider our food systems, the way we produce, process and consume locally, and take into account sustainability, distribution channels and the avoidance of food waste.

The Food Systems Summit will be convened by the United Nations next October, as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The Summit aims to launch bold new actions to deliver progress on all seventeen SDGs, each of which relies to some degree on healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has alerted all countries including Mauritius, to take stock of respective vulnerabilities regarding food systems. The pandemic has not only been a health calamity but has also caused economic hardships, severe disruption in services as well as restrictions on movement putting the food, health and economic system under severe stress.

Taking note of the rising prices of several essential commodities, the government has agreed to – (a) introduce a measure of price control by fixing a maximum price for edible oil, pulses, canned tomatoes, milk powder, margarine, cheese and canned fish (sardines and pilchards); (b) introduce a subsidy on these products with a view to compensating the loss in revenue to importers, manufacturers and wholesalers or distributors who sell the goods to retailers; (c) re-establish the former Price Observatory in order to provide the public a greater visibility on prices of essential products for more informed buying; and (d) allow the State Trading Corporation to import certain essential products in order to reduce importation costs, stabilise retail price and make the product more accessible and affordable to the general public.

Covid-19 : plus de 500 000 Mauriciens vaccinés à ce jour

Un adulte sur deux à Maurice est déjà vacciné. Le cap de 500,000 personnes vaccinées a été dépassé ce jeudi 24 juin 2021. Le Premier ministre a également annoncé l’arrivée prochaine de 500,000 doses de vaccins Sinopharm.

Prime Minister, Mr.  Pravind Jugnauth, on Thursday night, announced the easing of restrictions as from 1 July 2021 imposed in March 2021 because of the second outbreak of the Covid-19 in the island.

Speaking on the national television, Mr Jugnauth enumerated the new measures that will be allowed as from that date. As such, social gatherings of a maximum of 50 persons will be allowed, restaurants and food courts can  be opened, places of worship and cultural/social events, funerals and marriage ceremony can be organised with a maximum of 50 persons, and community and social centres and sports activities will be allowed.

However, access to public beach will be allowed for activities including walking and swimming but not for picnics, while casinos and gaming houses, theatres, nightclubs, cinema halls will all stay closed. Mr Jugnauth pointed out that all these activities will be allowed but with the strict adherence to sanitary protocols and measures.

The number of cases referred to the Cybercrime Unit for investigation for the period January 2015 to 10 June 2021 is 1,888. This number includes 153cases for the period January 2021 to 10 June 2021.

This information was given by the Prime Minister (PM), Mr Pravind Jugnauth, in the National Assembly, in reply to a Parliamentary Question pertaining to the number of cases referred to the Cybercrime Unit and the number of police officers attached thereto.

Prime Minster Jugnauth highlighted that the Cybercrime Unit is manned by 22 police officers as follows: One Assistant Superintendent of Police; two Inspectors of Police; two Police Sergeants; 15 Police Constables; and two Woman Police Constables. The Unit, he underscored, is under the supervision of a Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Police IT Unit provides them with technical support in the course of their investigations.