Pursuing further our aim at presenting to our readers the President of the Republic of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee who is the chief guest for celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius, we are publishing extracts of his vibrant Valedictory Address at the Eleventh Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in Kochi, Kerala on 9 January 2013.

While the Minister of Local Government and the Outer Islands, Hervé Aimée and the Catholic Diocese, through its spokesperson, Jean Maurice Labour, Vicar General, continue to play their ping pong games on the state of affairs in Agaléga, News on Sunday has chosen to talk to no better person than Hervé da Sylva who spent around 40 years in the outer islands, working for the welfare of its inhabitants.

News on Sunday met Comra Singaravelloo, one of the oldest agents of one of the oldest political parties still serving the country.

Abdool Razack Mohamed Ameen Peeroo is the Speaker of the Mauritius National Assembly. He has been elected chairman of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum a few weeks ago.

Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of the Republic of India, will be on a State Visit to Mauritius as the Chief Guest at the celebrations marking the 45th Anniversary of Mauritius’ Independence on 12 March 2013 following an official invitation of the Government of Mauritius.

The authorities, through the ICTA, have decided that television in Mauritius goes digital by the end of 2013. In this connection a study on the state of Digital Television Migration (DTT) on the island, aiming to determine the number of households that own a digital terrestrial television receiver commonly referred as ‘TNT decoder’, was launched on Thursday 7 February.

Mauritius will be living a colourful atmosphere for the coming fifteen days, starting from this week end, with the Spring Festival celebrated by the local Chinese people. News on Sunday met Mario Hung Wai Wing, secretary of the Federation of Chinese Societies and also the president of the Spring Festival Committee to know more about this segment of our rainbow Mauritian culture.

Air Mauritius is diversifying its market by adding a new direct flight to Shanghai as from 24 January thus scheduling two flights per week to this Chinese metropolitan city.