Location
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in the 16th century and subsequently settled by the Dutch - who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU - in the 17th century. The French assumed control in 1715, developing the island into an important naval base overseeing Indian Ocean trade, and establishing a plantation economy of sugar cane. The British captured the island in 1810, during the Napoleonic Wars. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base, and later an air station, playing an important role during World War II for anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as the collection of signals intelligence. Independence from the UK was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.
Mauritius is a parliamentary republic.
Source: CIA World Factbook
Members:
Resources
Displaying 61 - 65 of 67National Heritage Fund Act 2003 (No. 40 of 2003).
This Act establishes the National Heritage Fund as a body corporate, defines its functions and provides for its internal organization. The principal object of the Fund shall be to safeguard, manage and promote the national heritage of Mauritius. The Fund shall be administered and managed by the National Heritage Trust Fund Board. The principal functions of the Board shall be to identify sites and to manage national heritage entrusted to it.
State Lands Act.
This Act regulates the alienation, lease and use of and control over “State land”, i.e. defence lands, ‘pas géométriques’ and all lands belonging to or in possession of the State. The Minister may sell State land other than defence lands, mountain reserves which belong to the State, ‘pas géométriques’ or river reserves which belong to the State (sect. 3). No State land shall be granted or leased otherwise than at its full rental value except for charitable purposes (sect. 4).
Removal of Sand Act (RL 4/479).
This Act regulates the removal of sand on State lands. “Sand” includes stones, coral, earth and turf. The Minister may designate sand quarries and sand landing places. No sand removed from the sea or from a river shall be landed except at a sand landing place. No person shall carry on the business of dealer in sand unless he or she is the holder of a licence granted under section 5. The Minister may grant a lease of a sand quarry to a licensed dealer for such term and upon such conditions as he or she thinks fit (sect. 6).
Planning and Development Act 2004 (Act No. 32 of 2004).
The Act consists of 76 sections divide into 12 parts: Preliminary (I); Administration (II); Planning (III); Control of development (IV); Continuation of existing uses (V); Special powers (VI); Development by Government (VII); certification of development (VIII); Enforcement (IX); Planning Appeals Tribunal (XI); Compensation (XI); Miscellaneous (XII).Objects of the Act are set out in section 3. The Minister shall be in principal responsible for the administration of this Act. There is established a National Planning and Development Commission under section 6.
Land Surveyors Act.
This Act regulates the carrying out of surveys of land by, appointment of, qualifications of, etc. land surveyors including Government surveyors, i.e. land surveyors who are public officers of the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Town and Country Planning. No survey, plan or memorandum of survey, of land shall be valid unless it has been made by a land surveyor appointed by a commission issued by the President. No land surveyor, other than a Government surveyor, shall undertake the survey of any State land, unless he has been authorised in writing by the Chief Surveyor.