tapijo

A kid opening a window, a man opening his door. Everybody seems to be opening their doors and windows. What is happening? Then we are told to be ready on the 17th April 2008. What the heck is going on?

Orange… No it’s not the color of the traffic lights. On this day, the national telecommunication company will henceforth be using the international telecommunication brand name. Internet and mobile operations will henceforth fall under the Orange umbrella. There is a great controversy over the decision of MT to be using the name of FT’s subsidiary. Opinions such as the huge outflows of funds to the subsidiary (3% of  total turnover so that MT can use the new appellation), the supposedly opened access to international market, and the view that the new appellation will bring nothing new either to Cellplus or to MT, customers will have to pay more- so much so to oppose the adoption. According to the local press, the rebranding is an act to finance the huge debt of FT. The author goes on by citing the fate of Antaris who adopted the name of the french company. In the meantime a group of MT’s shareholders is turning to the Supreme Court against the change of name and the payment of royalties.

Today while reading yesterday’s paper, i came across an article on the success of a familial company. This company came into existence 40 years back when the founder tried to introduce he first locally made toothpaste. Blendax was then made known to the public. 4o years later, the brand is still going strong. When i read the article, i could not help remembering its advert. It was in the late 80s or early 90s. A woman and a man, one always on a bike. There was eye contact and then there was star coming out of the mouth of either the man or woman. The ad would end with an off-voice. Don’t remember it well. The strikingly white teeth of the protagonists impacted on me as i urged my parents to purchase the paste. I would vigorously brushed my teeth so that eventually they would turn brand white. Needless to say, nothing happened. At that age, was complete fool and gullible to everything adults would say. Like a tree would grow on the head if you happened to swallow a grain fruit. Souvenir souvenir!!! BTW, happy celebrations Mauritius!

10 years since the princess of heart left the world in distress and pain. That’s how the media portrays it. Diana still after all these years brings all people together and the concept still pays  for those who want to do business.

Saw in the papers lately that applicants for visa to France will henceforth need an appointment. As from the 25th June, the France ambassy will be receiving applicants as from eight to twelve, and will be scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays for visits to relatives, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays for business trips.

These appointments need to be done from a fixed line to a dedicated call number available  from eight in the morning to eight in the evening, and the call will be invoiced at Rs 15 per minute. These measures were taken in view to offer a better service to the public and to better manage the traffic at the visa service counter. The phone service is available as from Monday 18th June.

Saw this article on BBC’s site:

…Various cultures and traditions flourish in peace, though Mauritian Creoles, descendants of African slaves who make up a third of the population, live in poverty and complain of discrimination…

I wonder where the author got this impression. May be because of the Chagos issue, s/he tends to generalisations.

I came across a website which might be some interest to those who like to read stories. It is a site which allow readers to log in to contribute to a story which has already been started. At the end of the day, if the story is substantial enough, it might be published but do not expect royalites if the book happens to be a best seller.

Saturday was a public holiday! What a relief!! At least weekend off. Tomorrow Tuesday (re holiday!). C’est pas la belle vie sa!!!! Do not know what this week has in reserve for me. Last week was rather hectic for me.. Yesterday morning there was a one hour power cut due to a fault on a high voltage line. The weekend was also the scene of a rare violence in St. Pierre. A 40 year old married man shot himself dead after killing three relatives. The killing was due to a land dispute…

There is an issue which is being raised by the press lately. Whist Stephane and Eddy have both been talking abt media commission , one writing press is under close scrutiny by the Prime Minister.

At a gathering in Triolet,the Prime Minister has been criticising the said press for alledged false information reporting (click on link for full information).

Medical record of little Ali Lazer has been found yesterday by the MCIT team led by SP Raddhoa. The record has been found on the river bed at Wooton. Father Mohammad lazer thanked the MCIT team and said that his son would be visiting hospital on Monday for chimiotherapy and thereafter plan their departure for India.

The MCB’s 15th African Athletism championship opening ceremony was held yesterday in front of a meagre assistance in Bambous. Milazar legged the first 400m race leap, and Bekelele was athletic as usual. Some funny situations cropped up however. A photograph was shooting Bekelele (who drapped himself in Ethiopian flag) in all angles and nearly hit a lagging athlete from the 5000m race. The championship will be held from the 9th to the 13th August 2006.

The 31st July was the last day for the prepaid mobile phone holders to register their sim card, after which they will be deactivated. They were more that 60,000 users who have not registered their cards as at 31 july 2006.

M. Linley Savriacooty fait parler d’elle une fois de plus. After being reported missing since Monday last, she was found unconscious on Friday, and stated that she was for the nth time raped. POlice said she did not want expert legiste doctor Boolell to examine her. A private doctor was called to examine her but the police refused to acceed to her request and the doctor was sent home.

A man embezzled Ali Lazer’s father ( Ali who is to undergo major surgery of a tumor in the abdomen in India). The embezzler forged his identity as an eminent doctor who had seen Mr Lazer’s distress in the paper. He took away rs 80,000 and his son’s medical records. An appeal was sent to the forgerer to surrender back the records.

CMT Ltee is awarding scholarships for a two year part time course in MSC Textiles at the university of Mauritius. Full tuition fees will be born by the textile company and a monthly bursary of rs 10,000 will be offered to the laureats.

The new EDF form (following the new Finance Bill) has been drafted and is available for download on the MRA site. No more personal deductions such as insurance, interest on loans are available. Employees will fall in either one of the four categories and those with a monthly income of more than rs 16,500 will be liable to tax.