To be more precise, the title should be,

Is it time to review the speed limit for certain roads of Mauritius?

But as you have probably noticed, the title of the url would be LONG… lol..
Sorry if you landed here trying to look for another topic similar to the title…

A growing number of new/reconditioned vehicles is using our roads daily, hence more stable, reliable and performing…

90Km/hr on our motorways, with 60Km/hr in certain areas around motorways and an average of 50 Km/Hr in villages…

Its still acceptable, without talking about the increasing number of speed breakers (humps) put here and there, just some days after an accident!

However, some of our roads are still limited to speeds that have been set up years ago!

For instance, the following road which is used by a huge percentage of people going towards Port Louis from the northern villages including Arsenal, Triolet, Pointe Aux Piments, Trou Aux Biches, Plaine des Papayes, Morcellement St André, Pamplemousses and so on… + those coming from the opposite direction!

Original Google Maps Link

As you can see(lol, try to guess or use the google link), no houses or even no schools in that area! So???

I believe the average speed which most drivers drive on this particular road would be around 50KM/hr!

So, what will happen if our police officers decide to carry out speed checks on this road? lol…

Isn’t there any authority that ensures the proper infrastructure of our roads?

And what about the Road Authority or the Police’s Traffic Branch or even the respective District Council/Village Council?

Should not one of them be responsible of that task?

Welcome back to my blog for this first guest blog article, written by Hans…

The title may not mean anything to you, just like it was for me, but our first guest author has clearly simplified our life, you will soon be able to write your own dissertation on the credit crisis after reading this post…

So, here we go!

The American Credit Crunch Crisis and Mauritius…

So first of all what is a credit crunch?

A credit crunch is globally defined as a reduction in credit or loans or/and a sudden rise in the cost of borrowing loans from bank that is an increase in interest payable.
We are currently affected by the Subprime Mortgage financial crisis!

What should the American Government do?
My arguments are both sided.

The first argument would be that the American Government should not intervene in this situation because we all know that America have a market economy!

The definition of a market economy is that the resources are owned and controlled by private individuals in this situation, the banking and financial institution. They created this situation themselves no one can deny that, by constantly increasing rate of interest on loans so as to maximize profits but ultimately people were not able to pay and therefore were accounted as bad debts.

So why should the Bush’s government intervene in this?

The American government doesn’t have anything to do in the business of its private.

I believe if the American Government in this, then we would witness a wave of nationalization like in the 40’s after the great depression.

We all know what would happen to the American economy if they nationalized their banking sector.

Mauritius is an example where nationalization is rather a bane than a boon; poor service, less maintenance and other non-desirable matter.

But let’s get back to our topic, the nationalization of the banking sector will create national welfare but in America, no national welfare is require, Americans want a world class service, something I believe nationalization will not give them!

Bush’s economists have also other reasons to do this. The main reason is not to save the American economy but also to prevent emerging economies such as the Russian economy and the Chinese economy from becoming the world leaders.

The Americans Senators are fools also because they know if they vote the bail out, the American will cut in public spending, tax will increase. Not only Americans will have to pay these dues but also other people.

Yes, globally the world economy will suffer.

We can’t deny that we depend much on America.

How many countries export their products to America?

Yes with an increase in taxes, Americans purchasing power will decrease; therefore demand will decrease resulting into excess in supply and ultimately a recession.

Now looking at the political aspect, the Senators may lose theirs voters if they vote the bail out to help the fat cats (the banks).

Let’s take a common example

Company XYZ have a current account in bank ABC. But due to the credit crunch, the Bank ABC must declare bankruptcy. That would definitely affect the company XYZ in term of cash to spend on its expenditure, raw materials or any other expenses.

Now we have assumed that there is only one company in America and one bank, but in reality it is not so, how many companies’ current accounts will be affected. Till now the current credit crunch has caused a loss of 1 Trillion dollars. Now with the closing down of so many banks, how many people will become redundant and how many families will suffer economically and also emotionally?

The whole American economy will crash and even the world economy because almost all countries depend on America for exports and imports. So the bail out of so many billion dollars to save the fat cats from bankruptcy would definitely help.

Is that the business of the American government to intervene in what economists called the free market ideology? Is that the role of the American government to save the fat cats at the expense of THE people?

How will it affect us Mauritians

If you are fanatic of the PTR or of our dear Doctor in political science R. Sithanen, I don’t advise to read this part! Frankly how can he say that Mauritius won’t be affected by the credit crunch? Every country is being affected and Mauritius would not be of any exception!

1. Our tourist industry will be affected.
   Let’s not forget the fact that our economy depends much on this particular pillar.
   A good percentage of the tourists come from American and UK. So if ever the bail out was to be voted, then taxes would increase, So Americans would spend much on basic necessities like food or petrol not on a voyage to our dream Island.
2. Mauritius have signed a major business deals with the Americans mainly for textile deals. So the textile industry will be affected.
   That is Americans will buy less and spend more on basic necessities again.
3. I also see a possible link between the credit crunch and the petrol prices. Investors need money to buy petrol and sell petrol and a good source of income would be taking a loan from the bank.

But like I said a credit crunch is a sudden rise in the cost of borrowing in terms of interest.

So the investor apply for the loan and get it but guess what he has to pay a higher rate of interest!

So he increases the price and who have to pay? Us the customers!

I didn’t see how I did notice that the credit crunch would affect us and our Doctor did not!

The Automatic Pricing Mechanism had its meeting today to discuss the new prices for petroleum products which is calculated at a 3 months interval.

Bad, very bad for diesel-powered vehicle owners!

Lets the picture say everything!

Some months before, I also blogged about some illegal practices of filling stations of the island, which close up earlier that usual when the price of petroleums products have an increase…

Read more here…

Btw. the first guest article will be posted very soon…

I have already received it and will rework it so that to make it more interesting…

It will be about the Credit Crunch affecting America and its impact on Mauritius…

Dont worry, it will be more clear in the next post… Non technical stuff!

Thanks to Hans for taking some time to write about something which I was not even aware of!

Back to this article, how do you find the new price?

Do you think that the APM should do this ‘pointage’ more often?

Yashvin is back again with a new post….

As usual, lets head toward Wikipedia for the definition :

A trade fair (or trade show) is an exhibition organised so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent trends and opportunities.

Among the different type of trade fairs in Mauritius, we have

• Fairs (Expos) where innovative and new products are exposed to the public
  (btw. euh I think Infotech is supposed to be in this category)
• Salon de la Maison, Salon du jardin etc etc…

But today’s post will concern the series of “Indian trade fair 2008, Pakistan trade fair 2008, magavaganza trade fair, xxx trade fair and blabla trade fair.

During the whole year, you can hear those different adverts which announce the trade fair X where products have just been imported from Country X and Containers of products have just arrived in Mauritius for the expo.

Wide Variety of products, garments etc will be on sale (at incredible prices?)

Transport

Very often, transport facilities are provided for instance from Port Louis or Rosehill, and I think that they are free…

Entrance Fee

However, entrance to some of the trade fairs are usually paying, usually under Rs25.

The most common practice

But however, in many of those fairs, where you would expect to see those advertised products from Country X, you would be surprised to see that those fairs are full with

• “Marchands Ambulants” which have their own stands.
• “Workshop ”
  I have seen that in the past where in a Country X Trade Fair, I spotted a salesgirl selling garments and it happened that the same girl sells the same things in Workshop, Port Louis.
  btw, Workshop is a “shopping mall, lol” near Air Mauritius Building, PL.

Whats the F*?

Perhaps you haven’t realised it yet, but by going to some of those trade fairs, you are not just going to buy mauritian articles, BUT also paying an entrance fee to shop in a fair where you get exactly the same thing on the streets or “shopping malls’ of Port Louis…

megalol !

Despite this, I believe that those trade fairs will still be going strong as they are providing a way of encouraging social life where family members generally find this as a sort of entertainment.

Hey, I know I wrote about “Trade Fairs In Mauritius”, but it does not necessarily apply to every trade fair in the island.

And what about you?

Is this considered as a form of “publicité mensongère”?

Do you visit those trade fairs and perhaps you might share your experience…

As you have guessed. our national television is back into this blog for this topic…

[currently playing...]

The idea of this post came when my mum called me to have a look at whats going on the tv.

Orange sitara is back!

lol, They did another additional tv broadcast, just to reward the candidates!

Original huh! First time on TV you would say!!!

Till i remember, I havent seen this anywhere lol!

Back to this post…

Since some years, the national television has broadcasted loads of local productions, including singing, dancing competitions, quizs and also, out-door competitions.

Some of them are;

[Dance/Singing Category]

• Famous Orange Sitara,
• Jori no 1, Hum tum, Hum Bhi (Nepli koner enkor!) & the whole set of indian competitions.
• Ti Mambo, Sofé ravanne,
• Dance fever,
• [..]

[Fun/Outdoor Category]

• Chasse aux Trésors
• Z’ouais
• [...]

[Music/Informative/Platforms for discussion]

• Bonto Clip
• Expression
• Planet Hi-Tech
• Another interesting programme animated by Hassen Rojoa, but forgot the name
• [...]

Some innovative local productions by other companies include

• In the car
• Chek sa deal

The whole set of posts tagged with MBC can be read from this link.

Forthcoming soon…

Now, MBC has announced the coming up of 2 new competitions (Hungama & Rouler Sega)…

I am sure, Rouler Sega would be fun! I guess so already!

But as for the Hungama, lol, I can already see another section coming up in this blog, dont you think so?

Perhaps you may ask why?

Simply because the whole series of indian competitions was produced or directed by one person, and all of them were euh…the same!

However, sometimes ideas were original, but LOL, did you saw their ideas???!!!

They nearly did it! I expected that the cameramen would be the next on the list, but I was quite near!

Now other tv hosts are singing lol!

Conclusion…

I really believe that the other production teams should help the Indian section to set up their deco, ideas, concepts and so on, only then, I wont have much bad to say about some of the produtions.

Did you ever read some articles where I complained about Expression, Bonto Clip, Zouais or Dance Fever?

Something more to add, those ridiculous tv adverts, beurrkkk!!!
Be simple and original, thats all we wish to see on the tv!

btw, one last question, Does someone know where is Adi?
Havent been seeing him on tv since long, nor there was any farewell done for him…

Someone got an idea? Or they kicked him out??? lol!