Mauritius News in difficulty
Written by Editor Monday, 28 March 2011 11:07
An apology to our subscribers advertisers and readers in general
MN did no appear in February for reasons beyond our control
At the Miss Mauritius event on Saturday, February 5, in an address to the assistance I said, “at this very moment Mauritius News is going through a traumatic experience. A Mauritian woman to whom we had offered employment as a self-employed person, left a few days ago for another job without advance notice and without any handing-over. She has dealt the business a severe blow in many respects …”
Effectively, on January 26, while the woman was supposed to be working on the Feb issue, she simply sent us an email in the evening to say that she would not resume work unless she was given an immediate monthly increase of £400 for her services. Talking to our legal advisers on receipt of the email we were told to forget about her as she would have secured herself alternative employment.
I shall not dwell too much on this topic as I have received threats from her Asian husband after talking to her. The man told me on the phone that I had been harassing his ‘missus’.
One day in October last year, he called unexpectedly at the office and was not happy that ‘his missus had been promised a £400 increase of her monthly fee and I was not doing anything about it. He also expressed discontent about the foul language used in the office in the presence of his ‘missus’.
We have given all information about the woman (and the threats) to the Company’s solicitors and our board members, plus copies of certain documents found on our office computers. We have even been advised to make a statement to the local police.
All said and done, MN is facing considerable disruption in many respects. We had no time to look for replacements. I was at that time fully taken up with the Miss Mauritius competition. Missing an issue also means loss of revenue. No handing-over means we are unable to follow up the payment of invoices.
The pressure resulting from the woman’s sudden departure caused us considerable mental strain.The blow was meant to be harmful, but why? We have been helpful to that woman. You do not do such a thing to people who have helped you.
Outsourcing
For the past 27 years, MN has been providing training and employment opportunities to many compatriots who are now well settled in life. Whatever we pay them here in England will always be much more than they would receive at home in Mauritius for the same job.
As we have said on previous occasions, it is now time to outsource some of the MN activities to Mauritius where we can employ more people for the same money paid here. In this respect, we have been making enquiries in various quarters in the country. We have been let down so often, even by the most reputable people. There seems to be forces working against us. Our demarches have not materialised yet. But it should, sooner or later.
Though our idea of outsourcing has already been copied and put into practice by others, Mauritius News–– as long as it exists–– will always be miles ahead within the Mauritian community … in the UK and elsewhere. We are the voice of the Mauritian Diaspora. However, we must inform all concerned that to put in place the outsourcing arrangements in Mauritius, some delay and disruption may occur in forthcoming issues of MN. We shall keep you informed.
However, all development demands investment.
And for this we shall have to put into operation the company’s shareholding scheme (as outlined in the paper recently) and welcome direct investment as well. If we have survived 27 years on a shoestring budget, we are certain that there are members of the community in the UK and in Mauritius who will want to see the survival of
Mauritius News for another 27 years plus
March 2011 Peter Chellen
