NEWS
Against the reintroduction of tobacco
Stevenson Clair, chairman of the Rodrigues Public Service Workers Union (RPSWU), said he was against the re-introduction of tobacco plantation in Rodrigues. This was during a press conference at the headquarters of the Federation of Parastatal Bodies and Other Unions (FPBOU), in Port Louis.
Stevenson says that a time when Mauritius spoke of strengthening food security, the Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA) focuses on the reintroduction of tobacco cultivation. A step backwards when you know the dangers of smoking. We have to stop considering our island as a dumpsite which contributes to pollute the world. He deplores the lack of measures in the Budget to curb the mass exodus towards Mauritius. This movement towards Mauritius growing continuously, creating great poblems in rodriguan families
Mr. Clair said condemn the attitude of the Chief Commissioner Johnson Roussety and for this reason he boycotted the presentation of the Budget of the RRA. We must not make the buck to officials when things go wrong.
The union notes that several projects started since 2006 have not been achieved. There is a failure in the ability to execute projects on the previous Budgets. It is therefore clear that the rhetoric differed from reality.
Rodrigues Workers' Federation protest towards the Minister Bunwaree
The Rodrigues Workers' Federation accommodated at the end of this week a severe protest towards the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Vasant Bunwaree. The trade union denounces the fact that once again the trade union movement of Rodrigues has been ignored and left out of major consultations organized by the ministry. "Once more the Rodrigues Workers' Federation (RWF) is drawing your attention as Minister responsible for labour and industrial relations to another clear case of discrimination towards workers of the Republic of Mauritius born and domiciled in the island of Rodrigues" says Alain Tolbize, president of the Workers Federation of Rodrigues in the letter of protest.
"After the episode discussions on the Employment Rights Bill and the Employment Relations Bills, the RWF was not invited by the Ministry of Labour to participate in the deliberations on the National Pay Council. "Once more the Rodrigues Workers Federation (RWF) is drawing your attention as Minister responsible for labour and industrial relations to another clear case of discrimination towards workers of the Republic of Mauritius born and domiciled in the island of Rodrigues" warns Alain Tolbize.
In conclusion, the objection argues that the RWF opines that you are the Minister responsible for Labour and Industrial Relations in respect of all workers of the Republic of Mauritius including those born and domiciled in the island of Rodrigues. As such it is inappropriate for you to practise any form of apartheid towards Rodriguan workers.
Hitec for the handicap
Deafness, learning difficulties, blind… Whatever. "Si tu as la joie au coeur , tape des mains"; is the song that intoned thirty children on February 27. If they have a disability, it does not prevent them from studying and advancing to the point that;Harel Mallac Co. Ltd offered them five computers as part of their curriculum. The Gonzague Pierre-Louis Centre, led by Suzanne Auguste, use Creole as a medium of instruction so that children can learn at their ease. When they were 14 years old, they are then directed to the Agricultural Centre where they are trained in animal husbandry and agriculture. At 16, they can work at home or join the workshop where they learn Careco beekeeping and the manufacture of jewelry, bowls, candlesticks, and so on.
Posted on 16.03.08
2008-2009 Budget
The consultations for the budgetary measures 2008-2009 by the Rodrigues Regional Assembly go to good train. The seven commissions, via their Departmental Heads, polish the reports which will be discussed at the local Parliament towards the end of this month. For the preparation of the budget 2007-2008, a delegation of the ministry for Finances will be in the island this week. They will meet the Chief Commissioner,also the commissioner of Finances, the heads of departments, the representatives of trade unions, the NGOs concerning measurements of the budget. The budget for the year 2006-2007 had known a fall compared to the year 2007-2008. This fall had been criticized by Rodriguans, of which the Chief Commissioner, Johnson Roussety had been caught some remarks to the Minister of Finance, Rama Sithanen. Since then, the relations between the two politicians worsened. Johnson Roussety has just let know that he wishes to have an increase in this new budget. “We did not still ask anything, but we would wish to have an increase”, he says...
I will return back to my island "
"I did not expect to be laureate. I found the papers very difficult, "says Marie Roxana Collet. She is a student of Rodrigues College. As her classmate, Cédric Pierre-Louis, she studied sciences; biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.
Roxana would have liked to become a lawyer but the subjects she has chosen does not permit this. "I will, in this case, opt for medicine," she says.
Coming from Cascade Jean-Louis in the west of the island, and comes from a modest family. His father was a mason and his mother was a housewife. Roxana, from time to time, supported by an aunt, she sincerely thank. "My aunts, who is in Mauritius at the moment, has also contributed to my success," she said.
The laureate has been ranked among the best in examinations Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) and the School Certificate (SC). She was ranked 13th at CPE. For the School Certificate exams, she had six distinctions and one credit.
According to the girl, Rodrigues has experienced an economic take-off so far in local productions. As a young, she believe that the island will have a better future "if all Rodriguans work together."
Very committed to the island, she has great intention of returning to work for its progression..
Les classees 2007
Filles
1.COLLET Marie Roxana Rodrigues College
2.TOLBIZE Marie As Sandrine Rodrigues College
3.CASIMIR Marie Brunette Rodrigues College
4.CHUNG KIM YUEN Lily Jade Rodrigues College
5.LABOUR Anne Sonia Rodrigues College
Garcons
1.PIERRE-LOUIS Cedric Rodrigues College
2.BIRAM Cedric Armand Rodrigues College
3.BAPTISTE Henry Bernard Rodrigues College
4.PRUDENCE Louis Max Kellar Rodrigues College
5.CAPDOR Claude Michel J G Rodrigues College
Piere-Louis Cedric
Although Cedric Pierre-Louis expected to be laureate, nevertheless he is on a cloud. His father is a driver in the public sector and his mother employed as nurse. They regained their residence of St-Gabriel as soon as they learned the results from Cedric. The latter, which was classified second at the CPE, wants to be an electronic engineer and Choose to study in Australia. The single condition which will bring him back in the island thereafter is that he finds an employment there.
Collet Roxana
Beautiful course achieved by Marie Roxana Collet with the results from an underprivileged medium. Her father is a mason, his mother housewife and she was partially raised by an aunt who, she says has contributed to her success. This habitant Cascade Jean Louis was classified 13th at the CPE and had six distinctions and a credit in Form V. Her dream was to be lawyer. But like she chose sciences, she will study medicine. She wants to return in Rodrigues to contribute to the development of the island.
The Pay Research Bureau Report 2008
The next Pay Research Bureau report relates to a revision of the level of wages of 80.000 civil servants and 23.000 pensioners will require the deployment of consequent financial resources for the government. However, the director of the PRB, Anil KUMAR Appanah specifies, the report will have to take into account the public financial statement and the impact of such a exercise on the economy. The report will be probably finalized during the second week of May. The outline of the report will be started after a last meeting with the representatives of the ministry for the Education and the trade-union representatives of this sector the next week. The institution harnesses itself in this moment to see the various options and the relative costs, these figures will be then communicated to the government so that the decision makers take into account the amount being withdrawn. The retirement age of the civil servants will be gradually increase to 65 years.
Conservation
Marine species in danger
Association Fishermen of Riviere-Banane founded very recently is made up of 38 fishermen who specialize in the octopus fishing. They come from the area of Rivere-Banane, Grande-Montagne and Roche–Bon-Dieu. This association was formed because the trade does not enable them any more to earn their living. From where they desire the members will work in other sectors to provide for the needs for their families.
They will work in close cooperation with Shoals Rodrigues, which operates in Rodrigues since 2001 for the conservation of the marine species
We must consider replacing the ATR Air Mauritius"
Tourism is the backbone of the economy of Rodrigues. . It is then necessary to do the utmost to ensure that this sector operates on a professional level. Hence the determination of the Minister Duval to build a new airport to accommodate jumbo jets.
● Airport Rodrigues has been named after Sir Gaetan Duval. What effect will make you feel?
. Given the contribution that my father has made to Rodrigues at the political level, I was very moved and happy during the ceremony. Whether you like it or not, giving the name of SGD at this airport, is also a way to raise the visibility of the island from someone famous. Major airports are named persons known including the Charles de Gaulle Airport in France. This decision was taken after consultation with the members of the Regional Assembly to better position the island on the map of world tourism.
Rodrigues had done better than Mauritius last year in terms of growth in tourist arrivals. There is an increase of 19% despite its size compared to Mauritius.
● What are the factors that have caused this increase?
There are truths that you cannot hide. We must acknowledge, the Chief Commissioner Roussety Johnson, in charge of this dossier, has made every effort to turn the tide with the help of my ministry.
● You had stated in a forum that under the former government tourism was down. Tell us your views.
When the Government of the Organisation du peuple Rodriguais (OPR) was in power, he neglected a bit tourists and he had a problem with the promotion of the island. Rodrigues has no free trade zone or Tic sector to support its economy. Tourism will raise