I am happy that the President of the Republic of China will be on official visit in Mauritius next week but I am amazed by the traffic arrangements decided by the Mauritian police:

• Entire roads becoming  no parking zones including the whole of St Jean Road in Quatre-Bornes!
• Traffic diversions everywhere including for those poor souls living in Black-River who won’t be allowed to circulate on Palma road!
• Closure of roads at specific times including the M1 motorway!
• etc.

 

I am 100% in favour of having special arrangements when a President visits the country. For instance, I agree about removing the speed breakers along the Palma road towards Flic-en-Flac as a Presidental delegation needs to travel at constant speed for security reasons.

What I find ridiculous though is penalising hundred of thousands of Mauritius on their way to work and back home. Helicopters should have been used (at least for the President himself — his “servants” would then have followed in a less penalising fashion.)

I predict massive traffic jams on Monday and Tuesday. Stay at home if possible. Leave your car at home at least. Damn!

I’ve just come across an article from the RTBF (Radio Télévision Belge de la communauté Française) written yesterday (12/02/2009) hinting that Mauritians will not need visas to enter any of the 27 EU countries very shortly provided (i) the stay is for less than 3 months and (ii) the stay does not involve paid work. This is a quote:

 

Un régime d’exemption mutuelle de visa sera en effet bientôt établi entre les 27 pays de l’Union européenne et les îles d’Antigua-et-Barbade, les Bahamas, Saint-Christophe-et-Nevis, l’île Maurice et les Seychelles.

Ces exemptions réciproques de visa ne vaudront toutefois que pour les séjours inférieurs à un durée de 3 mois, et ne s’appliquera pas aux personnes s’y rendant pour exercer une activité rémunérée. Ces nouvelles dispositions légales devraient être d’application dans les semaines à venir.

Anyone can confirm?