Newsletter

591 cases of sexual abuse recorded since 2018

Since 2018 to date, a total of 591 cases of early/ teenage pregnancies arising from sexual abuse had been recorded, and that in 29 of these cases, the father was a minor. 

In 2018, the number of early or teenage pregnancies arising from sexual abuse was 184. In 2019, it reached 215, while from January 2020 to date, 192 cases were recorded.

As for the number of early/teenage pregnancies where the father is a minor, there were nine cases recorded in 2018; ten cases in 2019; and ten cases from January 2020 to date.

Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has announced that the reopening of the Mauritian borders will be done in three phases, in his message to the nation on Monday, August 31.

The first phase concerns the repatriation flights which will continue until September 30. Mauritians, who return to the country, will be placed in quarantine as has been the case since the appearance of the new coronavirus in Mauritius.

The second phase will be from October 1 where there will be more flights organized to certain destinations. The third phase will consist of reopening of the borders at a later stage, depending on the Covid-19 situation in Mauritius and in the world.

Open Letter to members of Parliament

The MV Wakashio, believed to have been carrying 4,000 tonnes of fuel oil, ran aground on a coral reef off the coast of Mauritius on 25^th July 2020. The MV Wakashio has started leaking the fuel about twelve days after it hit the coral reef, endangering the marine ecosystem, more specifically the Blue Bay Marine Park and the Ramsar site of Pointe D’Esny.

The Environment Act gives the power to the Director of environment “to direct the owner of the pollutant which is spilled, or any other person, to take such action within such period of time as he may specify in order to- (a) prevent, eliminate, or reduce the adverse environmental effects of the spill; (b) restore as far as is practicable the environment to its previous state; (c) dispose of, or in any way deal with, the pollutant or any object reasonably suspected to be affected by the pollutant.” 

The Director of environment has indicated that he is unable to take quick actions to counter the spillage because of international conventions and protocols. However, the MV Wakashio is not currently in international waters but is lodged into the coral reef on the coast of Mauritius which entails that the local laws take priority. The Director must do more than be overly administrative and await for international help in the face of this national crisis of unprecedented magnitude.

According to Article 5 of the International Convention on Salvage, nothing in the Convention itself shall affect any provisions of national law or any international convention relating to salvage operations by or under the control of public authorities. The extent to which a public authority under a duty to perform salvage operations may avail itself of the rights and remedies provided for in this Convention shall be determined by the law of the State where such authority is situated.

Furthermore, Article 9 of the International Convention on Salvage, the Coastal State concerned, i.e Mauritius, can take measures in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law to protect its coastline or related interests from pollution or the threat of pollution following upon a maritime casualty or acts relating to such a casualty which may reasonably be expected to result in major harmful consequences, including the right of a coastal State to give directions in relation to salvage operations.

The Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency on Friday but so far the measures being taken to respond to the threat that the oil spillage represents are flimsy.

Mauritius is home to world renowned coral reefs and endemic species and the Government is relying on promised international help to control and eliminate the oil spillage. It is my view that given the provisions of the International Convention on Salvage and the priority that local laws have over international protocol, more so in situations of national emergency, it is imperative for the Salvage Manager and the Government to mobilise local resources to coordinate efforts and take urgent measures to protect our reefs and marine ecosystem.

Suttyhudeo Tengur

President

11 August 2020

The US government will “not give visas to students enrolled in fully online programs in the fall and border guards will not let them enter the country,” Immigration and Customs Police (ICE) said in a press release.

As for students already present in the United States, “they must leave the country or take other measures, such as enrolling in a school with courses in person to maintain their legal status.” Otherwise, they may be “facing eviction,” it added.
The measure concerns F1 (for academic studies) or M1 (for professional training) visas. About 1.2 million people had them in March, the vast majority of them Asian (Chinese, Indian, South Korean), according to official data.

Like the rest of the country, American universities, which account for 5.5% of international students on average and depend heavily on their tuition fees, closed their doors in March and switched to online education in an attempt to stem the pandemic. In the absence of vaccines, some, including the State University of California or the prestigious Harvard University, have announced that they will continue with courses 100% online at the start of the school year, even for students authorized to live on the campus.

In 2019, Mauritius’ GNI amounted to $ 12,740, an increase of 3.5% compared to 2018. Thus, Mauritius reaches the status of high income country, the second in Africa after the Seychelles, and it has become a high income country.

The classification established by the World Bank of more than 190 countries, is based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.

According to the World Bank, this performance reflects the efforts and dedication of Mauritians to offer a better future for their children. It is a great success for Mauritius in the long term, according to this international organization.

Mauritius joins the very limited club of high income countries established by the World Bank. The Gross Domestic Product per capita of Mauritius reached US $ 12,740, an increase of 3.5% compared to 2018. This propelled the Mauritian economy in this first category of the World Bank which includes several advanced countries. Mauritius is the second African country to be part of this prestigious list after the Seychelles.

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.

The FAREI (Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute) warns the public not to consume cucumbers or calabashes or other vegetables which are part of the large family of cucurbits, which have a bitter taste.
Some of these vegetables react to heat and produce a toxic substance to protect them. This substance called cucurbitacin is responsible for this unpleasant taste and can be toxic.