Mauritius United Properties

Overview of 2011 Budgetary measures per sector

Transforming Mauritius as Duty Free shopping paradise

Government will pursue actively its efforts to make of Mauritius a duty-free island and a shopping paradise for tourists. In this regards,:

Government will prepare a Blueprint to provide a basis and an action plan to transform Mauritius into a Duty-Free shopping and leisure IslandThe BOI will promote the duty-free shopping as a new sector of the economy by encouraging flagship brand labels, regional/international distribution chains and speciality shops to set up businesses in Mauritius. Government will work with existing and forthcoming shopping centres so that they integrate the concept of duty-free shopping paradise in their design and marketing.Government will make use of expertise that can draw on international experience to make tourism shopping as another pillar of the economy

(http://www.investmauritius.com/Budget2011/overview2.html)

www.newsnow.mu

Expat women learn about Pakistan

Corona North, a group of expats comprising mostly non- working womenliving in the North of the island, met in a local hotel yesterday withthe 30- plus members present discussing upcoming events and ongoing projects.

The monthly gathering invites a localspeaker to talk to the members – I was the “ guinea- pig” yesterday andwas delighted to talk about my home country, Pakistan, and how it gotmore than its fair share of bad press inland and internationally.Working for NEWSNOW and life in Mauritius during my five months herewere also touched on.

The group is meeting onFriday at La Suffren Hotel after sunset to enjoy happy hour and alesson and demonstration in Salsa from choreographer and dance pro,George Jacob, who also runs the Dancing in the City studio in PortLouis.

Members of the group take part in severalhealthy and creative activities including volunteer work at localschools, tours of the island and a “ cleanliness” drive organised lastmonth. The blogs on their website also contains valuable advice andinformation posted by members.

Corona North isaffiliated to international non- profit organisation Corona Worldwidewhich has its headquarters in London. Its members reside in 100countries around the world.

The organisation helpsnewcomers acclimatise, foster relations with the local population,raise funds for charities and conduct creative activities.

Link to the corona club website: http://www.coronaworldwide.org/node/8

 www.newsnow.mu

Our columnist is now settling in Mauritius after arriving a few months ago from his home country of Pakistan and will be giving a regular update of life in our island Paradise ? A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to get a weekend test drive in a classy automobile – I am looking for a new set of wheels – so I took the opportiunity it presented to take the children out for a long drive. I wanted to leave early so that we could do all we could before sunset as the TP registration did not permit me on the road after dark. We packed most of our stuff in the trunk and loaded five girls in the backseat. We stopped at a couple of showrooms to check out a few more cars before we headed South towards Mahebourg. It was fun driving down the M2 highway. Our first stop was at the National History Museum. Is it at Mahebourg? Since I’m still rather new to the island, forgive me for mixing up a few names and locations. Inside the museum, the curators warmly welcomed us and other visitors and readily answered all our questions. The museum housed some of the relics of imperial rule on the island and pictures of those who ruled it. The poor dodo was on display in all its bony glory, along with pre- historic weapons and tools. The museum must have been painted recently because it was hard to breathe inside. However, since the children were having fun looking around, we had no option. The gardens outside the museum are a joy, though. The fresh air was a welcome relief for our lungs. We found a patio and sat down in the shade of trees, listening to the chirping birds veiled in them. We also found a solitary music- man in the gardens, softly playing a guitar while a harmonica lingered near his mouth in mystical fashion. Once the girls finished their exploration of the museum, we moved on from “ La Maison de Robillard”. Our next stopover was at the picturesque Blue Bay Marine Park where we found a good mix of foreign holidaymakers and locals – the former sunbathing as usual while the latter mostly indulged in selling services. Boat rides We found a stall selling glassbottom boat rides at just Rs100 per head. That’s not a bad deal, unless you’ve already had one for free during your honeymoon hotel stay! I saw a few men tossing a volleyball in the water but nobody swimming in the very limited swimming zone demarcated by yellow buoys and floats. One of the most amazing features of Mauritian beaches is the juxtapose of blues and greens in the water. It’s something that I’ve seen in few pictures and only on this island in real life. Blue Bay is a small yet complete tourist spot great for an entire day of idleness. They have a few stalls for shopping, in case you’ve forgotten your beachwear, and a reasonable Tuck Shop in case the ladies with you live by whatever- we- canfind- outside. While driving around the Southern coast on our way to the West, there are a number of small townships and interesting locations where tourists can obviously pause and picture. Among them, I hear, is the La Vanille Reserve Des Mascareignes where you can find turtles and crocs. I am told it is designed like a tropical rainforest and visitors can take a nature walk with the animal life on Mauritius, Rodrigues and Reunion Island. We couldn’t stop here unfortunately, as time was racing by. If you have a 4x4 or another vehicle that can make it through tough off- road terrain, you must visit Le Souffleur. I’ve been told that a rockface here resembles one of the most famous poets of the island who was also a resident of nearby Souillac. Unlike the picturesque beaches of the island, this coastal region is marked by cliffs where the waves come crashing in with ferocity and you are sprayed with seawater every few seconds. Keeping you sensitive camera equipment dry becomes a challenge too, so beware of the elements. The view and the experience are well worth the trouble, I must confess. I wished I could just sit down on one of the rocks here and meditate, But I have promises to keep; and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep… We were trailing a map and our next stop nearly took my breath away. Once again we had to go off- road but this time the track was more earthen and less rocky. We drove through fields with magnificent mountains in the foreground. After 10 minutes or so of snail- pace driving, we parked between a handful of vehicles next to another sugarcane field in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. Rochester Falls I was led by myMauritian family down a hill on to a path running through more, taller sugarcane. I was told that we were going to Rochester Falls, which is another natural wonder on the island. It wasn’t long before I could hear the water falling but I could not have expected the beauty that awaited me. The twisting path leading to the falls was damp but we kept going. Finally, it was within sight, and it truly was a sight to behold! A huge cascade of river water splashes down with enormous ferocity here, sending sweet droplets into the air in the narrow gorge. It was awesome, the sound of the water thundering down. I gazed at the falls for a few minutes, speechless with joy at the spectacle. It’s an unbelievably beautiful place; one I would love to visit again and totally divulge in for an entire day. This road leading to the Western coast was at times lined with trees on both sides, joining each other in an embrace and creating a graceful shade on an otherwise bright day. I’m still not programmed to carrying my thermos full of tea and coffee, so I felt exhausted at times from the continuous driving but when my better half told me we could have tea at this place called St. Aubin. I turned in without a second thought. St. Aubin is a sugar, tea and rum estate and was a welcome break from the monotony of twist, turn, accelerate and break. It is as scenic as any resort on the island. A vast entrance welcomes drivers in through one side and you have to make a U- turn to get to the restaurant, rum distillery and souvenir shop. I sat down for a cup of coffee while the kids enjoyed fresh fruit juices. The souvenir shop sells their brand of tea leaves in a variety of flavours along with brown sugar and five variations of local rum made from sugarcane juice. It’s worth a sip even if you’re driving. The freshness and zest of the products is certainly worth a mention. And the place is great for relaxing. I desperately wanted to stop at the Valley of Colours and see the Chamarel Coloured Earth but time was rapidly running out and I had to speed my way back home before or shortly after sunset. On our way back, I also came across another place I want to see, the Casela Bird Park, where I hear they have South African lions besides other animals. Although I still have a lot of globe- trotting among my plans for the future, I doubt if I will ever come across a sunset like the one I witnessed at Ilot Sanchez near Le Morne. There’s something about the sunsets here which I cannot put in words. They’re breathtaking, and of course, they provide for perfect photography, as you may see from the image I’m posting today. The only complaint I have is that there was not a drop of rain on the weekend. On the following Monday, the clouds rolled in and I forgot about the hot weekend – my kind of weather! I’ve got many more adventures lined up in the coming weeks that I hope will keep you reading about my explorations around this fantastic island. Until next week folks, Adios.

www.newsnow.mu

It was this big...

Mauritius is the place to be for BIG FISH

I?m sure quite a few people reading this feature will already know that Mauritius is a paradise, not just for everyone as in beach, sea, palm trees, etc., but for fishing, especially of the deep- sea variety.

I have to confess, though, I have absolutely no interest in fishing of any kind so I?m not sure how many English- speaking, computer- literate fishermen ( or anglers as we British prefer to call them) there are on the island.

But if you love the sport and you?re looking to catch a really big fish then Mauritius is the place to be. Our island is surrounded by waters that are home to Big Fish like the Striped Marlin, Mako Shark, Yellow Fin Tuna, Black Marlin, Pacific Blue Marlin, Tiger Shark, Wahoo ( reputed to be the fastest running fish in the sea), Dorado, Hammerhead Shark and the Skipjack Tuna.

Other challenges for deepsea anglers include the magnificent Sailfish which flies through the air when hooked in a spectacular display of anger.

If you?re the competitive type, the island is home to some big deep sea fishing competitions, including the Marlin World Cup ( www.marlinworldcup.com) organised by White Sands Tours and held every February in the deep waters off the south- western coast near Le Morne.

A couple of miles out to sea from here is one of the world?s best deep sea fishing spots where the waters attract shoals of small fish pursued by the aforementioned large predators.

It?s also a great place to try for a world record and Mauritius currently holds several International Game Fish Association ( IGFA) world records including a 1,115lbs Mako Shark, a 400lbs Blue Shark, a 224lbs White Tuna and a 125lbs Becune.

The island also holds the Game Fish Union of Africa ( GFUA) record for a Yellow Tuna of 212lbs.

And it?s a wonderful place to catch large Marlin hence the Marlin World Cup which has been running since 1982.

Recent Blue Marlin catches include one of 1,430lbs and one of 1,355lbs.

Deep sea fishing is available all year round though the best opportunities fall between October and April. Most of the big hotels run their own boats and there are several Mauritian boat clubs, in case this feature makes you think about taking up the sport.

Prices can range from around Rs10,000 for a half- day trip ( six hours) right up to Rs31,000 for a full day ( nine hours) depending on the size of the boat you choose.

Most boats will hold three to six anglers and cheaper deals can be arranged with some local fishing boats. With a little haggling you may get up to 50% off these prices with local operators but be careful who you deal with and make sure you know exactly what you?re getting for your money.

All boats should be well- equipped with shipto- shore radio and good trolling equipment for live bait and artificial lures. Most boats will provide top class rods and reels though if you?re an expert you may want to bring your own equipment.

They should also supply beverages, soft drinks and beer, though you will usually have to bring your own food. And, whether you catch a Big Fish or not, it?s still a great day ( or half- day) out sailing through the spectacularly blue Indian Ocean waters chasing Sharks, Marlin, Tuna, Sailfish and the rest.

If you?ve never done this before and need a little guidance in choosing an operator here?s some suggestions. JP Henry Charters Ltd have been operating their deep- sea fishing fleet of five boats from Black River on the west coast of Mauritius since 1975.

Run by Jean Pierre Henry and his son Pascal, the company can provide big game fishing, light tackle fishing or jigging, a new fishing concept that consists of dropping a 200gm- 300gm spoon down to depths of from 150ft- 600ft and then reeling the spoon up with a jerking motion, hopefully attracting bottom fish like tuna, snapper and grouper to take your bait.

With all- year- round perfect weather JP Henry are the experts in helping you chase marlin, sharks, tuna and many other exciting fish. Their website is www.blackriver-mauritius.com.

Sportfisher Charters ( www.sportfisher.com) have been going for 20 years and are located in Grand Bay, and also operate a fleet of five boats. Other large fleets operate out of the Corsaire Club in Trou- aux- Biches, Centre de Peche in Black River, Le Morne Anglers Club at Le Morne, La Pirogue Big Game Fishing Club at Flic en Flac, the Beachcomber Fishing Club at Le Morne and Domaine du Chasseur at Vieux Grand Port.

If you?re looking to buy equipment then go to Rods & Reels Distributors at La Preneuse or the Quay Stores at 3 John Kennedy Street in Port Louis. Happy Fishing!

It s a wonderful place to catch large Marlin hence the Marlin World Cup which has been running since 1982. Recent Blue Marlin catches include one of 1,430lbs and one of 1,355lbs

Most boats will hold three to six anglers and cheaper deals can be arranged with some local fishing boats. With a little haggling you may get up to 50% off these prices with local operators but be careful who you deal with and make sure you know exactly what you K re getting for your money

TONY SMART