Mauritius after Live Aid

Mauritius is a beautiful, if densely populated, island that is prone to cyclones. It has a history of stability despite its diverse population. Over the years it has successfully maintained a functioning constitutional democracy and has enjoyed social and economic success; in 2012 it was ranked 80th out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index and between 1980-2012, life expectancy at birth has risen by 6.4 years.

Nevertheless the problems of poverty and inequality do exist, alongside the social problems generated by increasing industrialisation such as crime and drugs. SOS has worked there since 1990 as a source providing welfare and love to the island’s vulnerable children and young people.

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Time Line

• 1957 Internal self-government is introduced. The electoral system is based on the British Westminster model.

• 1958 A new constitution is introduced allowing all adults 21 to vote.
  

• 1959 Elections are held, they are won by the MLP, which is led by Dr Seewoosagur Ramgoolam.
  

• 1965 A conference discussing independence is held in London.
  

• 1968 On the 12th March Mauritius achieves independence.
  

• 1969 The opposition party Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), which advocates socialism is founded.
  

• 1971 Mauritius’ First Export Processing Zone becomes active, the textiles sector quickly develops and between 1971-77, 64,000 jobs are created.
  

• 1979 Mauritius asks both the IMF and World Bank for assistance due to its deficit of $111 million.
  

• 1979 Cyclone Claudette causes mass destruction.
  

• 1982 Sir Anerood Jugnauth becomes prime minister.
  

• 1985 Drugs are highlighted as a real problem in the country as four MPs are arrested at Amsterdam airport, charged with drug smuggling. An inquiry the following year implicates members of Legislative Assembly and in 1987, six more politicians are accused.

  

• 1990 SOS Children open Beau Bassin (Rose Hill) Children’s Village, it not only houses the Children’s Village but also two SOS Youth Houses and a Nursery.
  

• 1991 The Legislative Assembly approves the request for the country to become a republic within the Commonwealth.
  

• 1992 The Prime Minister declares Mauritius a republic. The Legislative Assembly becomes the National Assembly and the current governor, General Ringadoo, is made president.
  

• 1994 Cyclone Hollanda leaves 1,400 people homeless and causes $81million worth of damage.
  

• 1995 MLP leader Navin Ramgoolam becomes prime minister.

• 2000 MSM leader Sir Anerood Jugnauth becomes prime minister.

• 2002 (February) Cassam Uteem resigns his presidency having refused to sign a controversial anti-terrorism bill. His vice-president follows suit. The head of the legislature becomes acting president and the legislation is made law.
  

• 2002 Karl Hoffman is elected as president by the National Assembly. "Cyber Cities" are launched as a future goal, the aim being to create concentrations of hi-tech facilities and thereby boost the eonomy.

  

  Children at the SOS Nursery School Bambous Mauritius

  
  

• 2003 Anerood Jugnauth hands over power to Paul Berenger, who becomes the island's first non-Hindu leader. SOS Children’s Village Bambous is opened, it has space for 120 children.
  

• 2005 Navin Ramgoolam returns as prime minister after winning the general election. A Vocational Training Centre is added to Children’s Village Bambous following on from the installation of a Family Strengthening Programme the previous year.

• 2009 8,800 Mauritanians are living with HIV/ AIDS.
  

• 2010 Maternal death rate is 60 per 100,000 births - 99th in the world.
  

• 2012 President Anerood Jugnauth resigns citing his desire to return to party politics and contest the prime minister-ship.
  

• 2013 Flash rains and floods hit the capital killing at least 11 people. Prime Minister Navin Rangoolam blames climate change. The infant mortality rate, a common measure of development is estimated to be 10.89 deaths per 1,000 live births, very low for Africa.