Mauricio

Mauricio —officially in Spanish, República de Mauritius (in English, Republic of Mauritius; in French, République de Maurice; in Mauritian Creole, Repiblik Moris) — is a sovereign island country located in the southwestern Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers from Toamasina, the city on the nearest eastern coast of Madagascar in Africa, and about 3,800 kilometers southwest of Cape Comorin in the far south from India. Its capital and most populous city is Port Louis.

In addition to the island of Mauritius, the republic includes the islands of San Brandón or Cargados Carajos, Rodrigues and the Agalega islands. Mauritius is part of the Mascarene Islands, together with the French island of Reunion, about 170 kilometers to the southwest.

Etymology

Mauritius was first named Dina Arobi by Arab sailors during the Middle Ages, who were the first to visit the island. In 1507 Portuguese sailors found the island uninhabited. The island appears under the name Cirne on early Portuguese maps, probably due to the presence of the dodo, a flightless bird that was abundant at the time. The Portuguese sailor Pedro de Mascarenhas gave the name of the Mascarene Islands to the archipelago.

In 1598 a Dutch fleet under the command of Admiral Wybrand Van Warwyck landed at Grand Port and named the island Mauritius, after Prince Maurice of Nassau, stadtholder of the Netherlands.

The island later became a French colony and was renamed Île de France. On December 3, 1810, the French had to cede it, after Napoleon's defeat. Under British rule the island's name reverted to Mauritius. It is also commonly known as Mauritius in English, Maurice or Île Maurice in French, and Moris in Creole.

History

While the great knowledge of Arab and Malay sailors about Mauritius began in the X century, the Portuguese arrived in 1505. The island remained uninhabited until 1638 when it was colonized by the Dutch. They named the island after Prince Maurice of Nassau. Due to climatic changes, cyclones and the deterioration of the fertile soil, the Dutch left the island a few decades later. The French controlled the island during the 18th century and named it Île de France (Isle of France). Despite winning the famous battle of Grand-Port, which began on August 23, 1810, in which the French naval forces under the command of Commodore Guy-Victor Duperré defeated the British forces commanded by Nesbit Willoughby, the French were defeated by the British north of the island, at Cape Malheureux, a month later, and on December 6, 1810, Mauritius capitulated to Vice Admiral Albemarle Bertie. This meant the loss of possession in favor of the British and the subsequent reversion of the island to its old name.

In 1965, the United Kingdom separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius to create the British Indian Ocean Territory in order to use these strategic islands for defensive purposes together with the United States. Despite the fact that the Mauritius government agreed to such a move at the time, subsequent governments have claimed those islands, claiming that the separation was illegal under international law.

Independence was achieved in 1968. The country became a republic within the Commonwealth in 1992. Mauritius has been a stable democracy with regular free elections with a positive record of respect for human rights and has attracted considerable foreign investment achieving one of the highest per capita income in Africa.

Mauritius aims to be the business connector of the Indian Ocean. New business opportunities are currently being sought in banking and the technology sector, as well as being one of the most beautiful islands on the continent.

Government and politics

Former seat of the Supreme Court of Mauritius in Port Louis

The Head of State of Mauritius is the President, who is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly, the Mauritian unicameral parliament. The National Assembly has 62 members elected by direct and popular suffrage and comprises between 4 and 8 members elected by minorities representing ethnic minorities, depending on the election results. The government is headed by the prime minister and a council of ministers.

The island of Mauritius is divided into 20 constituencies that elect three members each, while Rodrigues is a single constituency that elects two members. After a general election, the Election Supervisory Commission can appoint up to eight additional members with a view to correcting any imbalance in the representation of ethnic minorities in Parliament. This member nomination system is commonly called the best loser system.

The political party or alliance of parties that wins the most seats in Parliament forms the government. Its leader becomes the prime minister, who chooses the Cabinet from among the elected members of the Assembly, except the attorney general, who cannot be an elected member of the Assembly. The party or political alliance that has the second largest majority forms the official opposition and its leader is normally appointed by the President of the Republic as the Leader of the Opposition. The Assembly elects a President, a Vice President and a Vice President of Commissions as some of its first tasks.

Mauritius is a democracy with a government elected every five years. The most recent general elections were held on December 10, 2014 in the 9 districts of the main island as well as in the autonomous region of the island of Rodrigues, considered the 10th district.

Since the last elections, the head of government was Sir Anerood Jugnauth, who was Prime Minister three times and President of Mauritius once, until his resignation in 2017, then being succeeded by his son Pravind Jugnauth, as party leader government, the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM).

Historically, elections have always followed the pattern of a two-party system, which was also true on this occasion where the outgoing MSM/MMM/PMSD coalition faced off against the Alliance Sociale which included PMXD, Les Verts, MR, MSD and MMSM.

In international aspects, Mauritius is part of the United Nations, African Union, Commonwealth, Indian Ocean Commission, among other organizations.

Human Rights

In terms of human rights, regarding membership of the seven bodies of the International Bill of Human Rights, which include the Human Rights Committee (HRC), Mauritius has signed or ratified:

Status of major international human rights instruments

Mauritius	International treaties
	CESCR		CCPR			CERD	CED	CEDAW		CAT		CRC			MWC	CRPD
	CESCR	CESCR-OP	CCPR	CCPR-OP1	CCPR-OP2-DP			CEDAW	CEDAW-OP	CAT	CAT-OP	CRC	CRC-OP-AC	CRC-OP-SC		CRPD	CRPD-OP
Pertenence
Signed and ratified, signed, but not ratified, neither signed nor ratified, without information, it has agreed to sign and ratify the body concerned, but also recognizes the competence to receive and process individual communications from the competent bodies.

The human rights situation is good within Mauritius' stable democracy, although the National Human Rights Commission notes occasional human rights violations by the police. The criminal justice system works slowly. Freedom of the press and expression are guaranteed.

According to the US State Department, the Mauritian government generally respects the human rights of its citizens. However, some human rights issues have been criticized: Torture and ill-treatment of suspects and detainees by security forces, overcrowding in prisons, harassment and intimidation of journalists, violence and discrimination against women, sexual abuse and exploitation of children, discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and against sexual minorities, restrictions on workers' rights, anti-union discrimination, forced labor (including children) and child labor in general. According to estimates by the International Labor Organization (ILO), in 2002 around 1.4% of children between the ages of 10 and 14 worked.

Mauritius is currently ranked 56th in the "Press Freedom Rankings 2020" of Reporters Without Borders, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to press freedom.

Defense and Security

Mauritius Coast Guard helicopter

All military, police and security functions in Mauritius are carried out by 10,000 active duty personnel under the direction of the Commissioner of Police. The National Police Force, which has 8,000 members, is responsible for enforcing the law in the country. The 1,400-member Special Mobile Force (SMF) and the 688-member National Coast Guard Service are the only two paramilitary units in Mauritius. Both units are composed of police officers on long rotations to those services.

Indian and UK military advisers work with the Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard and Police Helicopter Squadron, and Mauritian police officers receive training in India, the UK and France. India and the United States provide training for National Coast Guard officers in areas such as seamanship and maritime law enforcement.

The Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) is the branch of the MPF that ensures the legal suppression of drug proliferation in Mauritius and the Outer Islands.

Mauritius Coast Guard Commands

In 2015, then-Police Commissioner (CP) Mario Nobin launched the Anti-Robbery Squad (ARS), which replaced the now-defunct SSU Rottweilers. CP Nobin appointed Inspector Seewoo to head the ARS in 2017. But Seewoo's promotion to chief inspector raised concerns among his colleagues. In 2020, the new police commissioner Servansingh moved Seewoo to Pointe-aux-Cannonniers before disbanding the ARS.

The National Coast Guard (NCG) is a branch of the MPF that was created in 1988 and consists of the No. 1 Patrol Vessel Squadron and the Maritime Air Squadron.

The NCG has been modernizing its fleet introducing one Kora-class offshore patrol vessel, the CGS Barracuda, in 2015, two Sarojini Naidu-class patrol vessels, the CGS Victory, in 2016, and the CGS Valiant, in 2017, and ten 14.5 m GSL fast interceptor boats, in 2016.

The Maritime Air Squadron (MAS) was created in 1990 and operates a fixed-wing fleet of three HAL Dornier 228s and one Britten-Norman Defender BN-2T for search and rescue missions and surveillance of territorial waters. The Defender entered service in 1992, with the first Dornier 228 entering service in 1990, the second in 2004, and the third in 2016. The Do 288 can be fitted with 7.62mm gun pods.

The NCG has a maritime tactical unit created in 2010, the Commando Unit or Special Commando Force. The Commando Unit trains with MARCOS of the Indian Navy and 2nd Marine Regiment Paratrooper of the French Army (2e RPIMa) based in Réunion, part of the FAZSOI.

Foreign Relations

Headquarters of the Consulate-General of the Netherlands, the Consulate-General of Belgium, and the Spanish Honorary Consulate in Mauritius

Mauritius maintains solid and friendly relations with various countries in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Considered part of Africa geographically, Mauritius maintains friendly relations with the African states in the region, in particular with South Africa, which is by far its largest continental trading partner. Mauritian investors are gradually entering African markets, particularly Madagascar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The country's political heritage and its dependence on Western markets have led to close ties with the European Union and its member states, particularly France. Relations with India are very strong for both historical and commercial reasons. Mauritius established diplomatic relations with China in April 1972 and was forced to defend this decision, along with naval contracts with the USSR in the same year.

Mauritius is a member of the World Trade Organization, the Community of Nations, La Francophonie, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Indian Ocean Commission, COMESA, and was a member of the Indian Ocean Basin Association.

Legal system

Mauritius has a hybrid legal system that derives from British common law and French civil law. The Constitution of Mauritius establishes the separation of powers between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary and guarantees the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual.

Regional Assembly of Rodrigues (Assemblée régionale de Rodrigues)

Mauritius has a uniquely structured judicial system consisting of two levels, the Supreme Court and subordinate courts. The Supreme Court is composed of several divisions that exercise its jurisdiction, such as the Master's Court, Family Division, Commercial Division (bankruptcy), Criminal Division, Mediation Division, Court of First Instance in civil and criminal proceedings, the jurisdiction of appeal: the Court of Civil Appeal and the Court of Criminal Appeal.

The subordinate courts are made up of the Intermediate Court, the Industrial Court, the district courts, the Bond and Compliance Court and the Rodrigues Court. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the final court of appeal in Mauritius. Upon independence, Mauritius retained the Privy Council as its highest court of appeal. Appeals to the Judicial Committee against decisions of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court may be made by law or with the authorization of the Court, as provided in Article 81 of the Constitution and Article 70A of the Law on Courts. The Judicial Committee may also grant special leave to appeal the decision of any court in any civil or criminal matter, in accordance with article 81 paragraph 5 of the Constitution.

Political-administrative organization

Districts of Mauritius.

The Mauritian territory is divided into 9 districts and several dependencies:

Districts of Mauritius

1. Black River
2. Flacq
3. Grand Port
4. Moka
5. Pamplemousses
6. Plaines Wilhems
7. Port Louis
8. Rivière du Rempart
9. Savanne

Mauritius Units

• Rodrigues is informally regarded as the tenth district of Mauritius.
• Agalega
• Charged Faces

Territories claimed by Mauritius

• Archipelago Chagos, administered by the United Kingdom as part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
• Tromelin Island, Bassas da India, Isla Europa, Islas Gloriosas and Juan de Nova, administered by France as part of the Indian Ocean Dispersed Islands.
• Banco Nazareth, Banco Soudan, Banco Saya de Malha

Geography

A beach in Mauritius.

This section is an extract from Geography of Mauritius.[chuckles]edit]

Geography of Mauritius

Mauritius is an island that is part of the Peasant Islands located south of the African continent, in the middle of the Indian Ocean and east of Madagascar. It is located at a latitude of 20°17' South and at a length of 57°33' This one. It has a surface of 2040 km2including the islands of Rodrigues (550 km east, with 104 km2), Agalega (930 km north, 2 islands with a total of 26 km2) and Cargados Carajos (400 km northeast, 16 islets with a total of 1.3 km2). It has 177 km coast. It is located 800 km east of Madagascar. Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago (1931 km to the northeast, 63 km2), a set of seven atolls with more than 55 islands belonging to the United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory), and on Tromelin Island, an islet of 0.8 km2 that belongs to France.

The lowest point in the country is the Indian Ocean, with zero meters above sea level and the highest is Mount Piton, with 828 meters above sea. Given its intertropical situation, the island of Mauritius enjoys a warm climate, although oceanic influence moderates temperature. The combination of high humidity and warm temperature has thrived a dense vegetation that includes coconut palms. The island character allowed the existence of an endemic bird called dodo, in the present extinct. It shares with the island Reunion the ecoregion called Selva of the Mascareñas Islands.

Natural resources are based on arable land, mainly sugarcane plantations, and also on fishing. The original forests were replaced mostly by mahogany, araucaria, tecoma and eucalyptus plantations.

Beaches

The island of Mauritius is known around the world as the Beach Island. Lost in the middle of the Indian Ocean, this little piece of paradise is surrounded by lagoons. The different shades of blue illustrate the crystalline seabed. The water remains warm all year round (23 °C in winter and 27 °C in summer). Every weekend, families come to picnic on the beach to the tunes of the ice cream vendors. Nudism is common on public beaches, the island's hotels do not accept it although they may tolerate toplessness.

Climate

Located near the Tropic of Capricorn, Mauritius has a tropical climate. There are two seasons: a hot and humid summer from November to April with an average temperature of 24.7 °C (76.5 °F) and a relatively cool dry winter from June to September with an average temperature of 20.4 °C. C (68.7°F). The temperature difference between the seasons is only 4.3 °C (7.7 °F). The hottest months are January and February with an average daytime high temperature reaching 29.2 °C (84.6 °F) and the coolest months are July and August with average low nighttime temperatures of 16.4 °C. C (61.5°F). Annual rainfall ranges from 900 mm (35 in) on the coast to 1,500 mm (59 in) on the central plateau.

Although there is no set rainy season, most precipitation occurs in the summer months. The sea temperature in the lagoon varies between 22-27 °C (72-81 °F). The central plateau is much cooler than the surrounding coastal areas and can experience up to twice as much rainfall. The prevailing trade winds keep the eastern side of the island cooler and bring more rain. Occasional tropical cyclones generally arrive between January and March and tend to disrupt normal weather for a few days, bringing heavy rain.

Average climate parameters of Puerto Louis, Mauritius
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Temp. max. abs. (°C)	35	33	32	31	29	28	27	27	28	31	33	35	35
Average temperature (°C)	31.5	31.4	31.5	30.7	29.3	27.6	26.7	26.8	27.7	28.8	30.2	31.1	29.4
Temp. medium (°C)	24.1	24.0	23.8	23.0	21.5	19.9	19.3	19.1	19.4	20.4	21.8	23.2	21.6
Temp. min. abs. (°C)	17	18	17	14	13	11	11	10	11	13	14	17	10
Total precipitation (mm)	131	160	83	87	48	24	18	19	17	15	24	85	711
Precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	9	10	8	7	6	4	4	5	3	3	3	6	68
Hours of sun	248	226	217	240	248	210	217	217	240	279	270	279	2891
Source No. 1: World Meteorological Organization.
Source No. 2: BBC Weather

Red lionfish, (Pterois volitans) in the waters of Mauritius

Biodiversity

The country is home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the world, but human population and the introduction of non-native species have threatened its native flora and fauna. Due to its volcanic origin, its age, its isolation and its Unique terrain, Mauritius is home to a diversity of flora and fauna not often found in such a small area. Before the arrival of the Portuguese in 1507, there were no land mammals on the island. This allowed the evolution of a number of flightless bird and large reptile species. The arrival of humans meant the introduction of invasive alien species, the rapid destruction of habitat, and the loss of much of the endemic flora and fauna. In particular, the extinction of the flightless dodo, a species unique to Mauritius, has become a representative example of man-made extinction. The dodo figures prominently as a (heraldic) support for the national coat of arms of Mauritius.

Phelsuma ornata, a kind of reptile that lives on the island of Mauritius

Currently, less than 2% of native forest remains, concentrated in the Black River Gorges National Park in the southwest, the Bambous range in the southeast, and the Moka-Port Louis range, in northwest. There are some isolated mountains, Corps de Garde, Le Morne Brabant, and several offshore islands, with remnants of coastal and continental diversity. More than 100 species of plants and animals have become extinct, and many more are threatened. Conservation activities began in the 1980s with the implementation of programs for the reproduction of threatened bird and plant species, as well as habitat restoration in national parks and nature reserves.

In 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development published the "Report on the Outlook for the Environment in Mauritius," which recommended the declaration of Saint Brandon as a marine protected area. In the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation President's Report dated March 2016, St Brandon is declared an official MWF project to promote conservation of the atoll.

The Mauritian flying fox is the only remaining endemic mammal on the island, and has become severely threatened in recent years due to government-sanctioned culling introduced in November 2015 due to the belief they were a threat for fruit plantations. Before 2015, the absence of severe cyclones had seen the population of fruit bats increase and the status of the species was then changed by the IUCN from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2014. In October 2018, the culling of 20 was authorized. % of fruit bat population, numbering 13,000 of the estimated 65,000 remaining fruit bats, though their status had already reverted to endangered due to culling in previous years.

Geology

Mauritius lies on the African plate and is of volcanic origin. Three volcanic phases can be distinguished. The oldest phase began ten million years ago and ended five million years ago. An intermediate volcanic phase began 3.5 million years ago and ended 1.7 million years ago. The most recent or current series began 700,000 years ago and extends to at least 20,000 years ago. Volcanism produced mainly basaltic lavas. Rodrigues Island is also made up of basaltic volcanic rocks, for which a radiometric age determination revealed an age of 1.54 million years. On the southwestern side of Rodrígues, coral rubble accumulates to a height of 62 meters.

Chagos Archipelago

Diego García Island in the Chagos Archipelago

Mauritius has long claimed sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, located 1,287 km to the northeast. Administratively, Chagos had been part of Mauritius since the 18th century, when the French colonized the islands. All the islands that were part of the French colonial territory of Île-de-France (as Mauritius was then known) were ceded to the British in 1810 under the Act of Capitulation signed between the two powers. In 1965, three years before independence from Mauritius, the United Kingdom separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius and the islands of Aldabra, Farquhar and Desroches from the Seychelles to form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The islands were formally established as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom on November 8, 1965. On June 23, 1976, Aldabra, Farquhar and Desroches were returned to Seychelles as a consequence of its independence. BIOT now includes only the Chagos Archipelago. The United Kingdom leased the archipelago's main island, Diego Garcia, from the United States under a 50-year lease to establish a military base. In 2016, Britain extended the lease to the United States until 2036.

Mauritius has repeatedly asserted that the separation of its territories constitutes a violation of United Nations resolutions prohibiting the dismemberment of colonial territories prior to independence and asserts that the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius under both Mauritian law and international law. After initially denying that the islands were inhabited, British officials forcibly removed to the mainland some 2,000 Chagossians who had lived on those islands for a century. To force the inhabitants to leave, the British authorities first cut off food supplies, and those who resisted were threatened with being shot or bombed if they did not leave the island. To scare them, their dogs and pets were gassed to death. At the United Nations and in statements to its Parliament, the United Kingdom declared that there was no "permanent population"; in the Chagos Archipelago and described the population as "indentured workers" who were relocated. Since 1971, only the Diego García atoll has been inhabited, where some 3,000 soldiers and civilians hired by the United Kingdom and the United States live. Since then, the Chagossians have campaigned to return to the archipelago, claiming that their forced removal and dispossession were unlawful.

Article 111 of the Constitution of Mauritius states that "Mauritius" includes.

(a) the Islands of Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agaléga, Tromelin, Cargados Carajos and the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego García and any other island included in the State of Mauritius;

(b) the territorial sea and the airspace over the territorial sea and the islands specified in paragraph (a);

(c) the continental shelf; and

(d) the places or areas which may be designated by regulations issued by the Prime Minister, whose rights are or may become exercised by Mauritius.

Mauritius considers the territorial sea of the Chagos Archipelago and the island of Tromelin (France) as part of its exclusive economic zone.

Economy

Mauritius Commercial Bank in Ebene

Sugar cane plantations in Mauritius

Since its independence in 1968, Mauritius has undergone a brilliant evolution. The island went from being a country with low resources and per capita income, in which the economy was based on agriculture, to being a country with the status of an emerging and constantly developing country, with intermediate income and in which the economy Diversified is based on a growing industrial and financial sector, without forgetting the nascent tourism industry. During this period of economic growth, the country grew at a rate of 5-6% per year. This result translates into a noticeable improvement in the quality of life and a significant increase in life expectancy, a drop in infant mortality and a great infrastructural development.

Sugar cane constitutes 90% of crops and represents 25% of exports. A historic drought severely damaged the 1999 harvest. The development strategy pursued by the government focuses on foreign investment. Mauritius has attracted some 9,000 offshore companies, most of which are engaged in trade in India and South Africa. In the banking sector, investments have been made for more than one billion dollars. The issuance of stamps for collection is also a source of income.

Mauritius has an upper-middle-income economy, according to the World Bank in 2011. The World Bank's 2018 Ease of Doing Business Index ranks the country 25th out of 190 economies globally in terms of ease of doing business business. Mauritius has built its success on a free market economy. According to the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, Mauritius is ranked as the 8th freest economy in the world and the highest score for investment freedom.

The country's tax system favors the diversion of enormous tax revenues with impunity to the detriment of some states, generally African ones. The financial sector alone represents 50% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Mauritius has more than 20,000 offshore companies. This system also allows the circulation of funds of fraudulent or criminal origin.

Chamarel Falls, Mauritius

Tourism

Tourism in Mauritius is an important component of the Mauritian economy, as well as a significant source of its foreign exchange earnings. The tourism industry is also an important economic pillar on the island of Rodrigues; however, tourism has not developed on the Agaléga Islands. Mauritius is appreciated by tourists above all for its natural environment and its man-made attractions, the multi-ethnic and cultural diversity of the population, the tropical climate, the beaches and the water sports.

Over the past thirty years, Mauritius has evolved from a low-income, agriculture-based economy to a diversified, middle-income economy. Much of this economic growth has been the result of the expansion of the luxury tourism sector. Mauritius depended mainly on the sugar and textile industries; when world sugar prices fell and textile production became economically unviable, the government decided to expand the tourism industry. Over the years, most of the visitors to Mauritius came from European countries. Due to the economic recession in Europe in 2011, the government decided to diversify its market by offering direct flights to Asian and African countries that were experiencing higher growth in arrivals.

The tourism sector is supervised by the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure. The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) promotes Mauritius by conducting publicity campaigns, participating in tourism fairs and organizing, in collaboration with the local tourism industry, promotional campaigns and activities in Mauritius and abroad. The Tourism Authority (TA) is responsible for licensing, regulating, and supervising the activities of tourism businesses, pleasure boats, boaters, and promoters. It also contributes to the improvement of the destination and provides technical assistance to the island of Rodrigues. The Association des Hôteliers et Restaurateurs de l'île Maurice (AHRIM) is a non-profit organization created in 1973 to represent and promote the interests of hotels and restaurants in Mauritius.

The main hotel groups in Mauritius are LUX* Resorts & Hotels, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, Sun Resorts, Constance, Long Beach resorts, Attitude and VLH/Heritage.

Merville Beach in Mauritius

Mauritius currently boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely Aapravasi Ghat and Le Morne Cultural Landscape. In addition, the Black River Gorges National Park is currently on UNESCO's provisional list.

According to Statistics Mauritius, total passenger arrivals in Mauritius in 2011 were 1,294,387 and tourist arrivals for the year reached 964,642. In 2012, two emerging markets, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, registered positive growth of 58.9% and 38.0%, respectively. According to the Bank of Mauritius, gross tourism receipts were Rs 44,000 crore in 2012. The forecast tourist arrival for 2013 was 1 million.

Statsmauritius.govmu.org data on tourist arrivals for 2018 shows that "1.The number of tourist arrivals for the year 2018 increased by 4.3% to reach 1,399,408 compared to 1,341,860 for the year 2017 2. Tourist arrivals by air increased by 3.6%, from 1,312,295 in 2017 to 1,359,688 in 2018, while arrivals by sea increased by 34.3%, going from 29,565 to 39,720. 3. The behavior of our main markets, which represented 71% of all tourist arrivals in 2018".

Financial Services

According to the Financial Services Commission, financial and insurance activities contributed to 11.1% of the country's GDP in 2018. Over the years, Mauritius has established itself as the preferred center for investment in Africa due to its strategic location between Asia and Africa, its hybrid regulatory framework, ease of doing business, investment protection treaties, non-double taxation treaties, highly skilled and multilingual workforce, political stability, the low crime rate along with modern infrastructures and connectivity. It is the headquarters of several international banks, law firms, corporate services, investment funds and private equity funds. Financial products and services include private banking, global business, insurance and reinsurance, limited partnerships, protected cell societies, trusts and foundations, investment banking, and global headquarters management.

The tax rate for companies ranges between 15% and 17% and that of individuals between 10% and 25%. Although the country also offers incentives such as tax exemptions and holidays in some specific sectors to boost its competitiveness, the country is often labeled a tax haven in the press due to individuals and companies engaging in abusive practices in its financial sector. solid reputation using best practices and adopting a robust legal and regulatory framework to demonstrate its compliance with international demands for greater transparency. In June 2015, Mauritius acceded to the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, and It has an information exchange mechanism with 127 jurisdictions. Mauritius is a founding member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group and has been at the forefront of the fight against money laundering and other forms of financial crime. The country has adopted the exchange of information automatically under the Common Reporting Standard and the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act.

Demographics

Aerial view of Port Louis, the most populous capital and city of Mauritius.

According to 2012 estimates, the island's population numbered 1,313,095. Mauritius is probably the most multicultural island in the Indian Ocean. There are descendants of people from South Asia (mainly Indians), Africa (mainly from Madagascar), France, UK, China and elsewhere. The official language in Mauritius for business and economic activities is English. However, French and Creole (a mixture of French and other African languages) are the languages with which the population communicates. Almost half of the population practices Hinduism; other important religions in Mauritius are: Catholicism, Islam and Protestant churches. According to 2012 data, five of the most populous towns in Mauritius exceed 75,000 residents. These are: Port Louis, the capital and most populous city (158,965 inhabitants), Beau-Bassin Rose-Hill (112,215 inhabitants), Vacoas-Phoenix (108,103 inhabitants), Curepipe (85,259 inhabitants) and Quatre Bornes (81 979 inhabitants).

Religion

According to the 2011 census conducted by Statistics Mauritius, 48.5% of the Mauritian population follows Hinduism, followed by Christianity (32.7%), of which 26.3% are Catholic, Islam (17.2%) and other religions (0.7%). 0.7% declared themselves not religious and 0.1% did not answer. The Constitution prohibits discrimination on religious grounds and establishes the freedom to practice, change religion or have none. This particular religious composition is due to the fact that at the time of the British Empire workers were brought from the Indian subcontinent (mostly Hindus and Muslims), and at the time of French colonization Catholic priests arrived.

Church of Our Lady Help of Christians (Notre Dame Auxiliatrice)

The Catholic Church, Church of England, Presbyterian Church of Mauritius, Seventh-day Adventists, Hindu Temple Associations and Muslim Mosque Organizations enjoy tax exemptions and are allocated financial aid based on their respective status. population percentage. Other religious groups can register and be exempt from taxes, but do not receive financial aid. Religious holidays are the Hindu festivals of Maha Shivaratri, Ougadi, Thaipoosam Cavadee, Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali; the Christian holidays of the Assumption and Christmas; and the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr. The state is actively involved in its organization with special committees presiding over the pilgrimage to Ganga Talao for Maha Shivaratri and the annual Catholic procession to Jacques-Désiré Laval's resting place in Sainte-Croix.

Education

Mauritius' education system consists of pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. The educational structure consists of two or three years of preschool, six years of primary leading to the Elementary School Achievement Certificate, five years of secondary leading to the School Certificate, and two years of upper secondary ending with the Higher School Certificate. Secondary schools are called "colegio" in its denomination. The Mauritian government offers free education to its citizens from pre-school to tertiary level. In 2013 government spending on education was estimated at £13.584 million, representing 13% of total spending. As of January 2017, the government has introduced changes to the education system with the Basic Education program Continuous Nine Years, which abolished the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE).

Royal College Curepipe, Mauritius

O-Level and A-Level exams are administered by the University of Cambridge through the University of Cambridge International Examinations. The tertiary education sector includes the universities and other technical institutions of Mauritius. The two main public universities are the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology, as well as the Université des Mascareignes, founded in 2012, and the Open University of Mauritius (Open University Mauritius). These four public universities and several other technical institutes and colleges are free to students as of 2019.

The adult literacy rate was estimated at 92.7% in 2015. Mauritius was ranked 52nd in the Global Innovation Index in 2021, first in Africa.

Languages

The Mauritian Constitution does not mention any official language. The Constitution only mentions that the official language of the National Assembly is English; however, any member may address the chair in French as well. English and French are generally considered to be the national and de facto common languages of Mauritius, as they are the languages of government administration, courts and business. Mauritius's Constitution is written in English, while some laws, such as the Civil Code and Penal Code, are in French. Mauritian currency features various types of Latin, Tamil and Devanagari script.

A Poster written at the Mauritian Criollo

The Mauritian population is multilingual; Although Mauritian Creole is the mother tongue of most Mauritians, most people are also fluent in English and French; they often switch languages depending on the situation. French and English are the preferred languages for education and work, while Asian languages are used primarily for music, religious and cultural activities. The media and literature are mainly in French.

The Creole language, French-based with some additional influences, is spoken by the majority of the population as a native language. The Creole languages spoken on the different islands of the country are more or less similar: Mauritian Creole, Rodrigues Creole, Agalega Creole and Chagossian Creole are spoken by the inhabitants of the Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agaléga and Chagos islands. The following ancestral languages, also spoken in Mauritius, have been officially recognized by Acts of Parliament: Bhojpuri, Chinese, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Bhojpuri, formerly widely spoken as a mother tongue, has been declining over the years. According to the 2011 census, 5% of the population spoke Bhojpuri, up from 12% in 2000.

Schoolchildren must learn English and French; they can also opt for an Asian language or Mauritian Creole. The medium of instruction varies from one school to another, but it is usually English in public and government-subsidized private schools, and mainly French in paid private ones. The O-Level and A-Level exams are organized in English by Cambridge International Examinations in public and government-subsidized private schools, while private fee-paying schools mostly follow the model of the French baccalaureate.

Transportation

Transportation in Mauritius is characterized by the network of roads, ports and airports. At first, the island was only accessible by ship until 1922, when the first flight landed in Mauritius.

Rail transport

From the 1860s to the 1960s a public and industrial railway system existed. Due to persistent lack of profitability between 1948 and 1953, it was closed for good in 1964. From 1964 until 2020, there were no railways in Mauritius.

Metro Exprés de Mauricio, light train that runs part of the main island since 2020

To cope with increasing road traffic congestion, a light rail system, Metro Express, has been proposed between Curepipe and Port Louis. The project consists of several phases; the first, from Port Louis to Rose Hill, came online in January 2020. Once completed, the system would cover a distance of about 25 km, with some 19 stations, many located in urban centers along the route with existing transport terminals. End-to-end travel time would be approximately 41 minutes, and the carriages would be air-conditioned. Distances vary depending on the time of day, but are expected to be on the order of 6 minutes at peak times. Access to the stations would be via an integrated system of comfortable and reliable shuttle buses. A 3.4 km branch line with two stations will also be built.

Road network

As of 2019, there are 2,772 kilometers of roads in Mauritius, of which 1,140 kilometers are main roads, 913 kilometers are secondary roads, 104 kilometers are motorways, and the remaining 615 kilometers are made up of other types of roads. The percentage of paved roads is 98%. The number of vehicles per kilometer of road is 209.

Road in Baie du Cap (Bahía del Cabo), Mauritius

The motorway network includes three main motorways:

• The M1 (Port Louis - Plaisance) runs from Port Louis to the international airport, also connecting Moka, Beau Bassin-Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes, Vacoas-Phoenix and Curepipe. Its length is 47 kilometers and is the most important road in the country.
• The M2 (Route Louis - Sottise) runs from Port Louis to Grand-Baie, in the north, and also connects Pamplemousses. Its length is 23 kilometers.
• La M3 (Terre Rouge - Verdun - Trianon Link Road and Bagatelle - Valentina Link Road) circumvala Port Louis.
• The M4 (Aeropuerto - Bel Air - Point Blanc - Forbach) is under recruitment.

Bus network

Mauritius has an extensive bus network, with some 220 lines and some 900 stops. They are operated by large companies (Mauritius Bus Transport, National Transport Corporation (NTC), United Bus Service (UBS)), as well as by smaller ones (Rose Hill Transport (RHT), Triolet Bus Service (TBS) and others) and several individual operators that are organized into regional Bus Owners Cooperative Societies (BOCS). Bus prices are regulated by the Government of Mauritius. However, there is no operator-independent ticket that can be used island-wide.

International Airport Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius

Air Transportation

As of 2014, there are 2 airports in Mauritius and its dependencies, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport,

The first recorded flight to take off from Mauritius was made on June 2, 1922 by Commander F.W. honnett. The plane, a single-engine biplane, christened Maurice, had arrived by boat. For the maiden flight, the Vacoas Gymkhana grounds were converted into a makeshift airport.

On September 10, 1933, two French pilots, Maurice Samat and Paul Louis Lemerle, flew from Reunion Island to Mauritius in a Potez 43 aircraft named Monique. The pilots landed in Mon-Choisy, in the north of the island. On October 4 of the same year, a Mauritian pilot, Jean Hily, took off from Mon-Choisy towards the island of Reunion. However, he never arrived and was lost at sea.During the following years, the Mon-Choisy runway was used as an airport for the few planes that landed on the island. However, in 1942, with Japan's entry into World War II, the island became strategically important in the Indian Ocean, so the British government rushed to build a new airport in the south of the island, at Plaisance.. On November 24, 1943, the first military aircraft, a Royal Air Force (R.A.F) Dakota from Nairobi with a stopover in Madagascar, landed at Plaisance.

Culture

Thaipusam Hindu Festival

Mauritius's mixed colonial past is reflected in its culture. For example, Mauritian cuisine is a mix of Desi, Creole, Chinese, and European.

In 1847 Mauritius was the fifth country in the world to issue postage stamps. The two types of stamps issued that year, known as Red Penny and Blue Penny, are probably the most famous in the world, very rare and consequently very expensive.

The islands of Mauritius, when discovered, were home to an unknown species of bird, which the Portuguese called "Dodo" (silly), as they didn't seem very smart. By 1681 all dodos had been exterminated by herders or their domestic animals. Despite this, the dodo is one of the prominent figures on the country's coat of arms.

From Mauritius is the family of French Nobel Prize winner Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio. The writer lives part of the year in the country and has dedicated some books to his family memories.

Due to the large Hindu community residing in the country, Mauritius has been chosen several times to film films, most of which are "Bollywood" from India. The last film of that origin filmed in Mauritius is Garam Masala (2005).

Architecture

Mauritius' distinctive architecture reflects the island nation's history as a colonial trading base that connected Europe to the Orient. Styles and shapes introduced by Dutch, French and British settlers from the 17th century, mixed with Indian influences and East Africa, gave rise to a unique hybrid architecture of international historical, social and artistic importance. Mauritian structures feature a variety of designs, materials, and decorative elements that are unique to the country and inform the historical context of the Indian Ocean and European colonialism.

Tamil Temple in Mauritius

Decades of political, social and economic change have resulted in the routine destruction of Mauritian architectural heritage. Between 1960 and 1980, the historic houses in the highlands of the island, known locally as campagnes, disappeared at an alarming rate. In recent years, plantations, residences and civic buildings have been demolished, cleared or drastically renovated to make way for new buildings serving a burgeoning tourism industry. The capital, Port Louis, remained relatively unchanged until the mid-1990s, but now reflects the irreversible damage that has been inflicted on its built heritage. Rising land values clash with the cultural value of Mauritius' historic structures, while prohibitive maintenance costs and the steady decline of traditional building skills make it more difficult to invest in their upkeep.

The general population historically lived in what are called Creole houses.

Literature

There are many languages on the island of Mauritius, and Mauritian literature exists in French, English, Creole and Indian languages. The main themes of Mauritian literature are exoticism, multiracialism and miscegenation, racial and social conflicts, themes from the Indian Ocean and - more recently - postmodernist and poststructuralist currents, such as coolitude.

After independence in 1968, writers like Dev Virahsawmy revived the Creole language, then considered a "patois," and wrote literature, especially drama. The new generation of writers has expressed a persistent concern with structure and more global themes.

Although Morisyen Kreol (Creole) is the most widely spoken language in Mauritius, most of the literature is written in French, although many authors write in English, Bhojpuri and Creole. The famous Mauritian playwright Dev Virahsawmy writes exclusively in Creole.

Among the most important authors are Malcolm de Chazal, Ananda Devi, Raymond Chasle and Edouard Maunick[citation needed]. Lindsey Collen has been able to forge a meeting of imaginaries in the singular social configuration of this multifaceted country. Other younger writers, such as Shenaz Patel, Natacha Appanah, Alain Gordon-Gentil, and Carl de Souza, explore the themes of ethnicity, superstition, and politics in the novel. Poet and critic Khal Torabully has proposed the concept of & #34;coolitude", a poetic that results from the mixture of Indian and Mauritian cultural diversity. Other poets include Hassam Wachill, Edouard Maunick, Sedley Assone, Yusuf Kadel, and Umar Timol.

J. M. G. Le Clézio, Nobel Prize for Literature in 2008, is of Mauritian origin and has dual Franco-Mauritian nationality.

The island is home to the Le Prince Maurice Award, a literary award that celebrates and recognizes "writers of the heart". The award is designed to highlight the history of literary romance in all its forms, rather than pure romantic fiction. In keeping with the island's literary culture, the prize alternates annually between Anglophone and Francophone writers.

Music

Mauricians dancing Sega, the traditional music of the place

The traditional music of Mauritius is known as sega music, although reggae, zouk, soukous and other genres are also popular, but the latter do not originate from Mauritius, despite the fact that famous local singers, such as Kaya, they successfully combined sega music with reggae music to create Mauritian seggae. Among the best known traditional sega singers from Mauritius are Ti Frére, Marlene Ravaton, Serge Lebrasse, Michel Legris and Fanfan.

Mauritius has many talented musicians and over the years, Mauritian music has evolved to international levels. There are many jazz and blues artists on the island.

Seggae and reggae remain the most popular music produced in Mauritius among Mauritian artists. Thanks to a decent internet connection, today we see more evolved artists performing R&B, hip hop, soul, dubstep, club, techno and other world-renowned music.

La Sega is usually sung in Creole (the mother tongue of Mauritians). Many singers had thought about covering the Sega songs as well, but then mostly decided against it in order to preserve the uniqueness and cultural richness of local Mauritian music.

Original instruments are rapidly disappearing, making way for the more conventional orchestral ensemble. However, along the coastal fishing villages, traditional instruments such as the "Ravanne", the "Triangle", the "Maravanne" and the traditional guitar.

By 2015, some of the best known Mauritian sega artists were - Alain Ramanisum, Desiré Francois, Ziakazom. Other better known Mauritian artists are Kaka Zulu and The Prophecy.

A food market in Mauritius

Gastronomy

Mauritian cuisine is influenced by the tropical location of the island, as well as the cultural diversity that characterizes the country. Mauritian cuisine is a blend of African, Chinese, European (mainly French), and Indian influences in the history of Mauritius. Most of the dishes and practices of the culinary traditions are inspired by French culture, former African slaves, and Indian laborers and Chinese migrants who arrived during the century XIX. Over the years, communities found in Mauritius have adapted and mixed each other's cuisine to their liking, resulting in place for the development of Mauritian cuisine. While some popular dishes and desserts are eaten by Mauritians of all ethnic groups or communities, there are also forms of cuisine that remain distinctly ethnic and are unique to a specific ethnic community due to their ancestral cultural and historical connections. local, which varies among ethnic communities, thus reflects the strong traditional, cultural, and historical influences of each community.

French cuisine has become very popular in Mauritius. Sino-Mauritian cuisine is one of the most prevalent in restaurants across the island.

The most commonly used vegetable ingredients in Mauritian cuisine are tomatoes, onions, lady's finger (called "lalo"), aubergines (called "brinzel"), chayote (called "chou chou"), garlic and pepper. Rice and shellfish, such as salted fish, smoked blue marlin, prawns, octopus, prawns and crawfish (called "shrimp") are also basic ingredients used in Mauritian cuisine.

Spices, such as pepper, cardamom and cloves, are very present in Mauritian cuisine.

Mauritius was the only known habitat of the now extinct dodo bird.

When first discovered, the island of Mauritius was home to this hitherto unknown bird species. Dodos were descendants of a type of pigeon that settled on Mauritius more than 4 million years ago. Having no predators to attack them, they lost their need and ability to fly.

Mauritius was the only known habitat of the now extinct dododo bird

In 1505, the Portuguese became the first humans to set foot on Mauritius. The island quickly became a stopover for ships engaged in the spice trade. Weighing up to 23 kg, the dodo was a good source of fresh meat for sailors. Large numbers of dodos were killed as part of their diet.

Later, when the Dutch used the island as a penal colony, new species were introduced to the island. Rats, pigs and monkeys ate the eggs of the dodos in the dirt nests. The combination of human exploitation and introduced species greatly reduced the dodo population. In the 100 years following the arrival of humans in Mauritius, the previously abundant dodo became a rare bird. The last was killed in 1681. The dodo features prominently on the Mauritian coat of arms.

Festivities

Holidays reflect the multicultural society of Mauritius and the complex history of the country. Although there are four republican holidays (January 1 and 2, March 12 and May 1), the rest are assigned for community and religious reasons. There are Hindu, Chinese, Muslim and Christian holidays.

In Mauritius there are 15 public holidays a year. Seven of them are fixed holidays: January 1 and 2, February 1, March 12; May 1, November 2 and December 25. The rest of the days are religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year. The list below refers to public holidays only; There are also other important festivities and celebrations in Mauritius such as the International Kreol Festival, Mauritius Carnival, Holi, Raksha bandhan and the Father Laval pilgrimage.

• New Year's Day 1-2 January
• Chinese New Year 23 January
• Abolition of Slavery 1 February
• Thaipoosam Cavadee 7 February
• Maha Shivaratree February 20
• Independence Day March 12
• Ugadi March 23
• Day of Work 1 May
• Day of Assumption August 15
• Eid-ul-Fitr (depending on the moon's visibility) August 19
• Ganesh Chaturthi 20 September
• Arrival of labour contracted 2 November
• Diwali 13 November
• Christmas 25 December

Sports

The national sport of Mauritius is soccer and the national team is called Club M. Other popular sports on the island include cycling, table tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball, handball, boxing, judo, karate, weightlifting and athletics. Water sports are widely practiced and include swimming, sailing, diving and water skiing. Horse racing, which dates back to 1812, when the Champ de Mars circuit was inaugurated, still attracts the public. The country was the host of the 1985 and 2003 editions of the Indian Ocean Games. He made his debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and won his first medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, the bronze obtained by boxer Bruno Julie.

In 2016, driver Pascal Wehrlein, who is German with a Mauritian mother, made his Formula 1 debut.

La Maiden Cup 2006, a horse race that took place at the Champ de Mars Hippodrome., Mauritius

Football

The national governing body is the Mauritius Football Association. At the international level, Mauritius is represented by Club M in senior competitions, and by the under-17 and under-20 teams in youth competitions. Mauritius' main national football league is the Mauritian League, and the main knockout tournament is the Mauritian Cup.

Football in Mauritius has had a tumultuous history. The Mauritius League was founded in 1935, and the Mauritius Football Association (MFA) was founded in 1952, joining FIFA in 1962 and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1963. The founding members of the association were the FC Dodo, Faucon Flacq SC (now renamed Flacq SC), CSC, Hounds, Royal College of Curepipe and Saint Joseph College, all based in Curepipe and, with the exception of Flacq SC, have ceased exist. The AMF has run into problems, from perpetual funding shortages to constant changes in president, and has come under fire from various quarters for failing to stem the decline of soccer in Mauritius. Although soccer remains the most popular sport in the country, most domestic league matches attract very few spectators (sometimes less than a handful), resulting in very little revenue for the clubs and the AMF and leaving players without the necessary motivation to show their skills.

The popularity of the sport has shifted almost entirely to the English Premier League, which is considered much more exciting due to the high quality of football on display and the presence of many world-famous stars. National and international television networks broadcast Premier League matches in living rooms several times a week, helping to erode interest in local football.

In Mauritius there are many fans of Liverpool and Manchester United.

The major restructuring of the MPL in 1999 was considered the start of the decline of Mauritian soccer. Due to the riots that occurred on May 23, 1999 between the Fire Brigade Sports Club (now renamed Pamplemousses SC) and the Scouts Club (renamed Port Louis Sporting Club), which lasted three days and caused the deaths of seven people, the government imposed an 18-month ban on all football activities in the country, with only the national team allowed to play during that period. [The restructuring, which was an effort to de-ethnicize local clubs, required the "regionalization" of clubs, with teams now being formed on the basis of region rather than ethnicity or religion. While the measure achieved the desired results in terms of reducing violent conflict, it also eliminated the traditional rivalry between fans, leading to a loss of interest and support. In fact, many locals believe that the resurrection of Mauritian football comes from allowing the formation of clubs based on ethnicity or religion.

On the international scene, the national team, known as Club M, has not been very successful, having only won the Indian Ocean Games twice and qualified once for the Africa Cup of Nations in 1974. In recent years it has plummeted in the FIFA world rankings, reaching the lowest level in its history. However, the future looks bright as four Regional Technical Centers (RTCs) were created in 2006 to improve youth football in Mauritius, with the hope of revitalizing the national team. There is hope that Mauritian football can reach new heights if the LMP continues to grow and new talents are found in the CTRs.