200 Years of the National Archives (1815-2015)

To mark the bicentenary of the National Archives, the Mauritius Post released on December 7, 2015 a Rs 10 stamp.

The National Archives of Mauritius is a public body operating under of the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Culture. Although it has its origins from the early settlement in the island dating back to 1721 when the first French settlers came to Mauritius, then Isle de France, its official operation as an institution was proclaimed in 1815 during the British rule of the island.

The National Archives, besides being the main repository for housing records of national significance, is the guardian of such records and guarantees their authenticity. Its principal functions are to select, preserve and make accessible public records as reliable sources of evidence for historical, legal, financial, administrative, cultural, genealogical and other purposes. Users of these documents, at both national and international levels, include students, genealogists, individuals, historians, economists, scientists, researchers, journalists, notaries, tourists, organisations, government officials, other professionals and the public in general.

Holdings

The holdings of the National Archives can be traced as far back as the beginning of Dutch settlement in the island in 1598, and now amount to more than 150,000 volumes in both manuscript and printed formats.

The national collection includes records of French and British administrations of the island, notarial deeds dating back to 1724, copies of maps and plans, stamps, currency notes and coins, minutes of proceedings of municipalities and district councils, lithographs, portraits, photographs, seals and private papers, civil status and census reports and reference library materials.

Technical services

The Reprographic Section provides photocopy services and carries out scanning of records kept in the custody of the National Archives.

Digitisation

The National Archives has digitised part of its collections which date back to the 18th century, in order to make them accessible to its users via the internet. The online collection can be consulted on the following address: http://nationalarchives.govmu.org

Publications

The National Archives Research and Publication Fund finances the publication of research works of archival value produced by the Research Unit of the National Archives and manuscripts of private individuals who have made extensive research in the public archives kept at the National Archives. To date the Fund has financed the printing of seventeen publications.

Memory of World Register UNESCO

The records of the French occupation of Mauritius were among the first set of records recommended for inclusion in the Memory of World Register in 1997 by UNESCO. These records form part of the key holdings of the National Archives collections. They document the French Colonial Administration on the island. The collections of records pertaining to Indian Immigration and slavery have also been extensively used in the preparation of the dossiers for the successful inscription and recognition of the Aapravasi Ghat and Le Morne sites on the Memory of World Register of UNESCO in 2006 and 2008 respectively. They are now known as World Heritage Sites.

Source: FDC insert

Technical details

Date of issue: 7 December 2015
Illustration: Rs10 - The National Archives
Graphic works: Graphic Unit (The Mauritius Post)
Size:  29.94 x 44.45 mm
Printer:Lowe-Martin (Canada)
Process: Lithography
Number per sheet: 50 stamps set on two panes of 25 separated by gutter
Watermark: w18 - CASCO
Perforation: 14 x 2 cm

1st Anniversary of the Inscription of the Sega Tipik on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

To mark the first anniversary of the inscription of the Traditional Mauritian Sega on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the National Heritage Fund in collaboration with the Mauritius Post issued  a Special Commemorative Cover on 27 November 2015.

Origins

Born within the Creole community, sega tipik is a musical and dance expression that serves as a symbol of Mauritian identity. Mauritian sega is a unique performing art encompassing music, song and dance.

The traditional sega arose in the 18th century when African cultures converged in the context of slavery, providing enslaved people of Mauritius a measure of freedom and self-expression. After the abolition of slavery in 1835, sega tipik continued in Mauritian coastal areas where many former slaves moved to.

Main characterisitics

Some main elements characterising sega tipik include the dance, the music, the lyrics, but also the instruments, the context and the language.

The ensemble of the three traditional instruments: ravann (a frame drum), maravann (a rattle), triyang (the triangle), is the basis of the sega tipik.

Triyang (the triangle)

Lyrics are sometimes improvised by a soloist in Mauritian Creole language. Themes include suffering, daily life or stories. Dance is performed by couples or one woman dancing with several partners in a circle formed by the musicians and the audience.

Performance

The context of the performance including generally the fire used to heat the ravann is also one of the elements forming integral part of the sega tipik. It was performed in various contexts and consequently there are various forms of traditional sega according to the context and occasion of performance.

The sega performance is an occasion to meet, share and socialise, creating a sense of community belonging, a means of social regulation and allowing social cohesion around a shared cultural practice.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Today, the "sega tipik morisien" is considered the de facto national dance and music of Mauritius. It is a symbol national identity and breaks cultural and class barriers, creating opportunities for intercultural encounters and unifying various groups around a shared Mauritian Heritage.

As of 27 November 2014, sega tipik morisien has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Interestingly, sega is present in different variations all across south east Indian Ocean where slavery was in practice: sega tambour from Rodrigues, maloya from Reunion.

Ti frère who features on the Rs5 stamp on the Special Cover is a very famous Mauritian performer of sega tipik. His most famous songs include Papitou, Anita and Roseda. Other popular artists include late Michel Legris, Fanfan, Serge Lebrasse, Roger and Marie Josée Clency, Nancy Dérougère among others.

Text is adapted from the insert.

This Special Cover is available for free at the National Heritage Fund Office, 4th Floor, Fon Sing Building, 12 Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis 11302.

Technical Details

Release date: 27 November 2015

Stamp: Rs5 - Alphonse Ravaton, Ti Frère (1900-1992)

            From the Famous Mauritians issue of 13 December 2000

Short video of Ti frère performing Papitou: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv6u8GNivr8

Nancy Dérougère performing Diva Sega: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI8j6n3GNUM

Video on sega tambour from Rodrigues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5jOe80XcFU (as from 7:09)

Video on maloya from Reunion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww-w4BuWLQk

300th Anniversary of the French Landing in Mauritius/ 300e anniversaire de l'arrivée des Français à l'Ile Maurice (1715-2015)

The Mauritius Post released jointly with La Poste a Rs 17 and a 0,76 € on 25 September 2015 to mark the 300th anniversary of the French landing in Mauritius.

Official FDC from Mauritius posted to the UK

Acting on  behalf of the East India Company which was already occupying Bourbon Island - today Réunion - Guillaume Dufresne D'Arsel, a sailor from Saint Malo, landed in Mauritius on board the ship "Le Chasseur" ("The Hunter") on 27 August 1715. The Dutch had previously left the island in 1710 having ruled over it since 1598.

After having ensured that the island was not inhabited, he took possession thereof on behalf of the King of France on 20 September 1715 and renamed it Isle de France. The first settlers arrived from Bourbon Island in December 1721 and from France in April 1722.

Le Chasseur entering the Baie des Moluques with Tropicbirds flying around it.
A historic map of Mauritius is watermarked on the top left.

The harsh climate and the low population made initial development an arduous task. However from 1735 onwards, the new governor, Bertrand François Mahé de La Bourdonnais, encouraged immigration including skilled labour and undertook a construction programme to set up the colony on solid foundations: roads, aqueducts, brickyards, sugar cane and cassava fields. This programme made life easier for the settlers.

The capital Port Louis, became a supply harbour for the French navy, and played a major part in the economic activity of the country, which well-known privateers - such as Surcouf - made famous. France ruled over Mauritius until 1810 and then gave up its rights to England who colonised the island until its independence in 1968.

Today, French presence in Mauritius takes mostly the form of the French language, taught at school and spoken fairly fluently by a good portion of the population, but also Mauritian Creole, a language derived from French and the mother tongue of the majority of Mauritians. Mauritian Creole is the cement that brings together the Mauritian people of diverse origins, yet of converging futures.

Illustrated scenery of Port Louis entrance during the 1715 period

Postcard published by the Mauritius Post showing the entrance of Port Louis
back when the French landed in Mauritius. Illustration is by Julian Hume.

The illustration on the First Day Cover and on the postcard issued by the Mauritius Post depicts the most probable environment which Guillaume Dufresne D'Arsel met with when he landed with his crew through the "Baie des Moluques".

The mountains of the Moka Range surrounding Port Louis were once heavily forested, with trees growing from the summits right down to the shoreline. The forest was dominated by palms, especially the Hurricane palm (Dictyosperma album) and the Blue Latan palm (Latania loddigesii); by Vacoas (Pandanus sp.); and by ebony (Diospyros sp.)

The coastal waterways in which Dugongs (Dugong dugon) were once extremely common, were intersected with small forest-covered islets. The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) , Mauritian sheldgoose (Alophen mauritiana), Echo Parakeet (Psittacula eques echo), Mauritian Giant Tortoises (Cylindraspis sp.), and a range of other endemic Mauritian animals all occurred in forests and on the coast where present-day Port Louis now stands. By the time of the French landing in 1715, the forests surrounding Port Louis were still comparatively intact, but the Dodo was extinct, and the goose, dugong and tortoises almost so.

Source: FDC insert

300e anniversaire du débarquement des Français à l'Ile Maurice (1715-2015)

Unofficial FDC from France to Mauritius (La Poste do not issue official FDCs).
Thank you very much Roland, and Eric without whom this would not have been possibl.e

Mandaté par la Compagnie Française des Indes Orientales, qui colonisait déjà l'Ile Bourbon - aujourd'hui La Réunion - Guillaume Dufresne D'Arsel, un marin français originaire de Saint Malo, débarqua à l'Ile Maurice à bord du navire "Le Chasseur" le 27 août 1715. Les Hollandais avaient préalablement déserté l'île en 1710 après y avoir régné depuis 1598.

Après s'être assuré que l'île était déserte, il en prit possession le 20 septembre 1715 au nom du Roi de France at la renomma Isle de France. Les premiers colons arrivèrent en décembre 1721 de l'Ile Bourbon et en avril 1722 de la France.

Le climat et la très faible population rendirent l'implantation initiale très difficile mais, à partir de 1735, le nouveau gouverneur, Bertrand François Mahé de La Bourdonnais, encouragea l'immigration y compris celle de la main d'oeuvre qualifiée et entreprit un programme de construction qui établit enfin la colonie sur des bases solides: routes, aqueducs, moulins, briqueteries, champs de canne à sucre et de manioc. Ces développements favorisèrent l'arrivée des colons.

Port Louis, la capitale, devint un port de ravitaillement de la marine française et fournit à la communauté l'essentiel de son activité que des grands noms, comme celui du corsaire Surcouf, rendront célèbre. La France occupa l'île jusqu'en 1810, année à laquelle elle cèdera ses droits à l'Angleterre qui l'administrera jusqu'à son indépendance en 1968.

Aujourd'hui la présence française à l'Ile Maurice se fait toujours sentir à travers la langue française, enseignée à l'école et parlée assez couramment par une bonne partie de la population, mais aussi à travers le créole mauricien, langue dérivée du français et langue maternelle de la majorité des Mauriciens. Le créole mauricien est le ciment qui unit la population mauricienne, d'origines diverses mais d'avenirs convergents.

Source: encart du pli premier jour

Paysage illustré de l'entrée de Port Louis pendant la période 1715.

Maxicard

L'illustration sur le pli premier jour montre le milieu le plus probable que Guillaume Dufresne D'Arsel a croisé quand il mit pied à terre avec son équipage dans la Baie des Moluques.

Les montagnes de la chaîne de Moka entourant Port Louis étaient autrefois densément boisés, avec des arbres poussant du sommet jusqu'au rivage. La forêt était dominé par les palmiers, notamment le Palmier Ouragan (Dictyosperma album) et le Latanier bleu (Latania loddigesii) endémique de l'Ile Maurice, mais aussi par le Vacoas (Pandanus sp.) et le Bois d'Ebène (Diospyros sp.)

Les cours d'eau dans lesquels les dugongs (Dugong dugon) étaient autrefois très communs, croisaient des îlots couverts de forêts. Le Dodo (Raphus cucullatus), l'Oie de l'Ile Maurice (Alopochen mauritiana), la Grosse Cateau Verte (Psittacula eques echo), des Tortues Géantes de l'Ile Maurice (Cylindraspis sp.) and une variété d'autres espèces endémiques de l'Ile Maurice vivaient dans les forêts et sur la côte où Port Louis se trouve actuellement.

Lorsque les Français débarquèrent en 1715, les forêts entourant Port Louis étaient relativement vierges, mais le Dodo avait déjà disparu, et l'oie, le dugong et les tortues pratiquement.

Special Souvenir Cover released by the Mauritius Post featuring both stamps.

Technical details/ Détails techniques:

Date of issue/ Date d'émission: 25 September 2015/ 25 septembre 2015

Illustration/ Illustration: Rs17 - Le Chasseur entering the Baie des Moluques with Tropicbirds flying around it. A historic map of Mauritius is watermarked on the top right./ Le Chasseur entrant dans la Baie aux Moluques avec des phaétons, ou paille-en-queue, volant autour. Une carte historique de l'Ile Maurice est en filigrane en haut à droite.

Stamp design/ Illustration du timbre: Franck Bonnet (France)

FDC illustration/ Illustration du pli premier jour: Julian Hume (England/ Angleterre)

Size/ Dimensions:  30 x 40.85 mm

Printer/ Imprimeur: Phil@poste (France)

Process/ Procédé: Offset/ Presse offset

Number per sheet/ Nombre par feuille: 50 stamps set in two panes of 25 separated by gutter/ 50 timbres sur deux feuillets de 25 séparés par une vignette

Watermark/ Filigrane: none/ aucun

Courtesy of/ Fourni par: The Mauritius Post, La Poste

Pictures of the Tricentennial Monument unveiled on Sunday 20 September 2015/ Photos du monument commémoratif du tricentennaire dévoilé le dimanche 20 septembre 2015:

The monument is found in front of the Blue Penny Museum, at the Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis
Le monument se trouve en face du Blue Penny Museum, au Caudan Waterfront à Port Louis.

Some interesting links in French on this tricentennial:

Marc Hein. Il y a 300 ans – début de la colonisation française (lemauricien.com, 28 August 2014) http://www.lemauricien.com/article/il-y-300-ans-debut-la-colonisation-francaise

Jean-Claude Montocchio. 300e anniversaire de l'arrivée des Français à Maurice (lemauricien.com, 27 September 2015, published in Week-End) http://www.lemauricien.com/article/300e-anniversaire-larrivee-des-francais-maurice - this article focuses on the stamps themselves, very interesting points made from a philatelic and a historic perspectives.

Very interesting video by l'express.mu: http://www.lexpress.mu/video/269289/tricentenaire-une-presence-francaise-dans-chaque-region-maurice

Facebook page related to this milestone: Maurice - France: un destin lié depuis 300 ans https://www.facebook.com/Maurice-France-un-destin-li%C3%A9-depuis-300-ans-719138754880941/

35th Anniversary of the Orchid Society of Mauritius (1980-2015)

To mark its 35th anniversary, the Orchid Society of Mauritius issued in collaboration with the Mauritius Post a Special Commemorative Cover on 25 September 2015.

The Orchid Society of Mauritius was founded in 1980 by a small group of orchid enthusiasts. Over the years the membership has increased significantly.

The main goal of the society, as stipulated in its Articles, is to promote orchid culture. Members meet on a monthly basis around a mini orchid display. Talks on various aspects of orchid growing and sharing of personal experiences are common features at these meetings.

Each year in September/ October, the Society holds a major public orchid exhibition. Visitors have the opportunity to not only admire beautiful flowers, but may also acquire plants and learn how to grow them.

The Orchid Society of Mauritius is affiliated to the American Orchid Society since 1983 and benefits, from its generous educational support.

In October 1986, at the request of the Orchid Society, the Mauritius Postal Authorities issued a series of four stamps depicting indigenous orchids (SG733/36).

The Orchid Society of Mauritius believes that the Republic of Mauritius has the potential for the creation of an orchid cut flower industry for both the local and export market. Mauritius has a suitable climate for orchid growing.

The Orchid Society of Mauritius has been instrumental in promoting interest and knowledge in orchid growing in Mauritius. Today many people in Mauritius grow orchids either for pleasure or for commercial purposes. We note that there are professional agricultural farmers who would be keen to diversify their traditional production.

Most of today's leading orchid-exporting countries have witnessed their predominantly hobbyist-oriented activity evolving into a multi-million industry.

email: orchidosm@gmail.com

website: www.orchidmauritius.org

Source: SCC Insert

Technical Details

Release date: 25 September 2015

Stamp: Rs10 - Orchid (Oeoniella polystachys)

            From the Fauna & Flora issue of 30 August 2013

25th Anniversary of the Maritime Air Squadron (1990-2015)

The Maritime Air Squadron (MAS) in collaboration with the Mauritius Post released on 17 July 2015 a Special Commemorative Cover to mark their 25th anniversary.

The MAS is the air wing of the National Coast Guard (NCG - the maritime wing of the Mauritius Police Force). In keeping up with the strategic objectives set by the NCG Headquarters, the Dornier and the Defender aircrafts have accomplished all assigned missions with flying colours in the past twenty five years. The Silver Jubilee also marks twenty-five years of accident-free flying for the squadron.

This success of the squadron amply demonstrates the unflinching commitment and dedication of Team MAS in keeping the aircrafts airworthy and ready for all operations, in every manner and at all times. The MAS is committed to assisting the National Coast Guard to provide maritime safety and security to the nation 24/7 and 365 days a year, living up to the motto: 'Vigilare et Protegere' (Latin for 'Guard and Protect)

The crest of the MAS represents the endemic Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus) with a map of Mauritius in the background and their motto in the bottom portion.

Role of the MAS:

1. Surveillance cover over the vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Mauritius

2. Coastal surveillance

3. Anti-piracy patrol

4. Support for outer islands of Mauritius, namely: Agaléga, Rodrigues and Saint     Brandon, including casualty evacuation.

5. SAR operations

6. Pollution control

7. Air-drop of stores

8. Para-drop activities

9. Joint patrol with friendly nations such as France (Réunion), Madagascar and India

Mission Statement:

Surveillance & law enforcement: to enforce maritime laws of Mauritius by airborne surveillabce of coastal waters and the EEZ.

Anti-piracy: act as deterrence for pirates in the Mauritian EEZ.

Search & rescue: to protect life and property at sea.

Humanitarian assistance: to provide humanitarian assistance to citizens living in the outer islands of Mauritius by carrying out casualty evacuations and logistics support.

Pollution response: to respond to maritime pollution within the EEZ.

Operational environment: to maintain high order of flight safety at the squadron.

History:

- The MAS was commissioned on 17 July 1990 by Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, the then Governor General of Mauritius.

- The first aircraft of the MAS, a Dornier-228, was acquired in 1990 from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., India.

- The squadron acquired a second aircraft, Defender (BN-2T), from Britten Norman, UK in 1992.

- In 2004, the squadron acquired a second Dornier-228 aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., India. The MAS currently operates only those three fixed-wing aircrafts.

- In 2008, the MAS received the ISO 9001:2008 accreditation from the Mauritius Standards Bureau.

Dornier-228

Speed: 180 kts

Endurance: 6 hours

Range: 700 nm

Crew: 2 pilots and 1 observer

Defender (BN-2T)

Speed: 115 kts

Endurance: 4.5 hours

Range: 450 nm

Crew: 2 pilots and 1 observer

N.B.: The above text is adapted from the insert.

This Special Commemorative Cover was a private issue.

Technical details:

Release date: 17 July 2015

Stamp: Rs7 - Dragonfly 

            From the 'Fauna & Flora' issue of 28 March 2014

Courtesy: National Coast Guard Headquarters, Les Salines, Port Louis

          Maritime Air Squadron, New Police Hangar, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Plaisance

MAS Contact details:

Telephone No.: (+230) 637 3003, (+230) 637 3040, (+230) 637 3379

Fax No.: (+230) 637 3905

Email: ccnmas.mpf@govmu.org

First International Yoga Day

The Indian High Commission in Mauritius in collaboration with the Mauritius Post released on 21 June 2015 a Special Commemorative Cover to mark the first International Yoga Day.

On December 11, 2014, the 193 member United Nations General Assembly approved the proposal by consensus, with a record 177 countries co-sponsoring, a resolution to establish 21 June as 'International Yoga Day'.

Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice or discipline that originated in India. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his UN Address suggested the date of June 21 as it is the longest day of the year (Summer Solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.

From the perspective of yoga, the Summer Solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayana. The first full moon after Summer Solstice is known as Guru Poornima. Lord Shiva, the first yoga practitioner (Adi Yogi) is said to have begun imparting the knowledge of yoga to the rest of mankind on this day and became the first guru (Adi Guru). Dakshinayana is also considered a time when there is natural support for those pursuing spiritual practices. (Source: Wikipedia)

"Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being.

Yoga is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with ourselves, the world and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day."

Extract from the speech of

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi

at the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly

27 September 2014

"Yoga with its ancient roots is today valued and practised the world over for its holistic approach to health and well-being. The living discipline of yoga has evolved over thousands of years and is known to bring harmony in all walks of life including disease prevention, health promotion and regulating lifestyle-related disorders.

I am indeed happy that the United Nations has declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga and take satisfaction that the Mauritian youth is increasingly appreciating the core benefits of practising yoga.

Let us celebrate the first International Day of Yoga in such a way that its quintessential message finds universal resonance."

Sir Aneerood Jugnauth

Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius

18 May 2015

Technical Details:

Release date: 21 June 2015

Stamp: Rs50 - Hibiscus fragilis

            From the 'Indigenous Flowers of Mauritius' definitive set of 9 April 2009

New Postal Charges in Mauritius

New postal charges are effective in Mauritius since Saturday 1 August 2015.

Souvenir cover hand stamped at Grand Bay Post Office on 31 July 2015

Souvenir cover hand stamped at Port Louis Centre Post Office on 1 August 2015

Under this change in charges, posting an inland (including Rodrigues) priority unregistered letter of up to 20g now costs Rs10 instead of Rs7 previously.  Each additional 20g or fraction thereof still costs an extra Rupee (R1).

Inland registration fee has increased from Rs14 to Rs17, from Rs40 to Rs50 for foreign letters; advice of delivery (AR) fee from Rs14 to Rs17 for both inland and foreign letters; inland express fee from Rs20 to Rs22.

Souvenir cover registered at Grand Bay Post Office on 31 July 2015

Souvenir cover registered at Port Louis Centre Post Office on 1 August 2015

Fees for inland printed papers have changed from Rs6 for the first 50g and Rs4 for each additional 50g or fraction thereof to Rs8 for the first 50g and Rs2 for each additional 50g or fraction thereof. Thus, postage for a 30g newspaper will now be Rs8 instead of Rs6 previously while that for a 75g newspaper will remain at Rs10 (Rs8 + Rs2 now, Rs6  + Rs4 previously).

New weight scales are now in use for foreign letters: they will still be charged according to the first 5g and the first 10g for 1st Class letters and 2nd Class letters respectively, and then according to each additional 10g  and 20g or fraction thereof instead of each additional 5g  and 10g or fraction thereof previously for 1st Class letters and 2nd Class letters respectively.

The new charges hence only work in the interest of customers only if the weight of their letters falls into the second half of the additional 10g for 1st Class and 20g for 2nd Class letters.

For instance, one mailing a 1st Class letter weighing 4g to Europe (Zone 2) will now be charged Rs18 instead of Rs15. One mailing a letter to Europe weighing 10g will now pay Rs18 + Rs13 = Rs31 instead of Rs15 + Rs11 = Rs26 previously. However if the same letter weighs 15g and is still Europe-bound, postage will still cost Rs18 + Rs13 = Rs31 instead of Rs15 + Rs11 x 2 = Rs37 previously. The same principle (but not the charges!) applies to Zones 1 and 3 too.

Sending aerogrammes to anywhere in the world now costs Rs12 (Rs10 previously).

Withdrawal fee stays at Rs10 and mailing literature for the blind within Mauritius remains free of charge.

Only the Certificate of Posting fee has decreased, from Rs8 to Rs3 (for both foreign and local mail).

The last change in charges dates back to 8 July 2009 when the fee for inland priority unregistered letters of up to 20g increased from Rs5 to Rs7 and inland registration fee from Rs10 to Rs14.

Reasons put forward in 2015 by the Mauritius Post to account for an overall increase in charges are:

- constantly dwindling volume of physical mail

- increasing operational charges

- modernisation of the postal system and implementation of more sophisticated tools.

The new postal charges can be consulted on the following link:

http://www.mauritiuspost.mu/document/Tariff%202015.pdf

9th Indian Ocean Islands Games

The Mauritius Post released on 1 August 2015 a new Rs17 stamp to mark the opening of the 9th Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in Réunion.

The Indian Ocean Islands Games (Jeux des îles de l'Océan Indien in French) is a regional multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from islands of the Indian Ocean.

The games were adopted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1976 and currently gather the islands of Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, Réunion, and the Maldives. Albeit both belonging to France, Mayotte and Réunion participate as two distinct islands under the French flag.

The number of athletes participating has increased over the years, from 1000 in 1979 to over 1500 in 2015.

The objectives of the IOIG are to:

- contribute to the development of sports in the region; and

- build friendship and promote mutual understanding among the populations of the islands of the Indian Ocean, in the spirit of Olympism.

Such Games enhance the sense of belonging to one's national flag. The IOIG are held in each country on a rotational basis and as per the level of sports infrastructures available in the country concerned.

This year's 9th edition is held in Réunion from 1st to 9th August - the football tournament started on 31 July. Mauritius (Club Maurice) will have a delegation comprising more than 400 athletes (including Paralympic ones), coaches, paramedical and officials.

The government of Mauritius through the Ministry of Youth and Sports invests heavily in the Sports Federation and has created Club Maurice to attract funds from the private and the public sectors companies to participate in the preparation of our elite athletes.

The 14 sports disciplines taking part in the 2015 IOIG for medals are:

- athletics (including handicapped

- badminton

- basketball

- boxing

- cycling

- football

- handball

- judo

- swimming (including handicapped)

- tennis

- table tennis

- volleyball

- weightlifting

- yachting

The postage stamp portrays the logo of the 9th Indian Ocean Islands Games.

The FDC illustrates the geographical locations of the participating islands in the Indian Ocean. It is sad to note that Rodrigues was left out of this map, knowing that Rodriguan athletes do participate in the IOIG, under the Mauritian flag, and that the first Mauritian Gold Medal at these 9th IOIG was won by a Rodriguan athlete, Antoinette Milazar in the half marathon (21.0975 km), establishing a new record as it is the first time that this discipline is featured in the IOIG.

The heading on the FDC is written in French and only the Comoros are written in French (Comores), the other islands are either in English (Mauritius, Réunion) or written the same in both French and English (Mayotte, Seychelles, Maldives & Madagascar) making it unclear whether they were intentionally written in either of those two languages. Of all the participating islands, only the Maldives are not historically linked to France.

Besides, the mascot of these 9th IOIG, Tibayoun, a hedgehog, is also featured on the FDC in pictograms performing the 14 sports disciplines. Tibayoun is the son of Bayoun, the mascot of the 5th IOIG and the lasts held in Réunion in 1998.

Tibayoun, the mascot of the 9th Indian Ocean Islands Games

Mauritius hosted the IOIG twice, in 1985 and in 2003; stamps were released on both occasions.

ALLEZ MAURICE!

Technical Details

Release date: 1 August 2015

Stamp denomination & illustration: 

 Rs17 - Logo of the 9th Indian Ocean Islands Games

Design: Graphic Department (The Mauritius Post Ltd.)

Size:  29.94 mm x 44.45 mm

Printer: BDT International Security Printing Ltd.

Process: Lithography

Number per sheet: 50 stamps set in two panes of 25

Perforation gauge: 14 × 2 cm

Watermark: w18 - CASCO
Courtesy:
  - Ministry of Youth and Sports
  - Mauritian Olympic Committee
  - Stamp Advisory Committee

3rd New Print of the Rs7 Bremeria landia Definitive Stamp

After September 2009 and March 2010, the Mauritius Post printed for the third time the Rs7 denomination of the 'Indigenous Flowers of Mauritius' definitive set issued on 9 April 2009. This new stamp was put on sale as from 9 June 2015.

Only 100,000 of the original April 2009 Rs7 stamp were printed and 1,000,000 for each of the first two new prints (Mauritius Philatelic Society 25th Anniversary 1989-2014 Souvenir Magazine, 2015, p.39).

The two printings of 2009 can be distinguished with the naked eye, the first being darker than the second.

However they can be easily confused and the 1:10 ratio of the first 2009 print to the 2009 reprint makes the first 2009 print very rare.

This third new print occured in a context of expected shortage of Rs7 (fee for inland priority unregistered letters of up to 20g) stamps since the last issue of a Rs7 stamp was the 'Dragonfly' stamp of the Fauna and Flora set of 28 March 2014.

The third new print with '2015' inscribed at the bottom

New postal charges effective as from 1 August 2015 - Rs10 instead of Rs7 for inland priority unregistered letters of up to 20g; Rs17 instead of Rs14 for inland registration - suggests that this 2015 new print will now be used in combination with other denominations to make up postage.

Priority unregistered mail sent from Port Louis Western (Bell Village) Post Office on 22 July 2015

Commercial mail registered at Moka Post Office on 14 July 2015

Commercial mail registered at Port Louis Centre Post Office on 23 July 2015

Celebrating International Women's Day 2015

The Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare in collaboration with the Mauritius Post issued on 8 March 2015 a Special Commemorative Cover to celebrate four decades (1975-2015) of advocacy for gender equality.

"The proclamation of the International Year of Women and the 8 March as International Women's Day by the United Nations in 1975 resulted in an era of advocacy for women's rights.

United Nations member states including Mauritius have since committed themselves to thrive for a world where equality and opportunity for all prevail.

After forty years of advocacy for equality between women and men, a quick glimpse reveals that women have made tremendous progress since the first International Women's Day.

Women have equal access to education, health services and employment; they have the right to vote and contest elections and women are now present in all spheres of society.

Yet women still face injustices.  They remain under-represented in high level decision-making instances; even worse, violence against women in various forms remains commonplace in our society.

Feminisation of poverty and unemployment are also challenges that women face. These are often associated to patriarchy which is still deeply embedded in our culture.

On the occasion of the International Women's Day 2015, I wish to seize this opportunity to urge the nation to act for change.

Greater sustained and urgent actions are needed to deal with all prevailing forms of discrimination against women.  We can and must do better because equality for women is progress for all."

Hon (Mrs.) Aurore Perraud,

Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare

'Gender equality is my agenda'

Technical Details

Release date: 8 March 2015

Stamp: Rs10 - The Richly-Blooming Oeoniella Orchid (Oeoniella polystachys)

              From the 'Fauna & Flora' issue of 30 August 2013

Disaster Risk Reduction

The Mauritius Post released on June 29, 2015 a new Rs17 stamp on the theme 'Disaster Risk Reduction'.

Mauritius, isolated in the Indian Ocean, enjoys a tropical climate and has been exposed throughout its history to frequent natural disasters like cyclones making it very vulnerable.  This vulnerability has been exacerbated by the climate change phenomenon which has brought new extreme climatic conditions such as sea level rise, droughts and flash floods.

On March 30, 2013, Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius, was struck by flash floods which claimed eleven lives, caused serious damages to infrastructure and the environment and hugely affected the economy.

Subsequently, the authorities upgraded the National Disaster Operations and Coordination Centre into the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre to act as the focal response institution in case of disasters.  The Centre now operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, Disaster and Beach Management, and is also responsible for the management of risk reduction activities in a coordinated approach, as well as the development of long term strategies to mitigate disaster risks.

The stamp portrays, on the left, a picture taken during the floodings at Canal Dayot, a suburb of Port Louis, and on the right, one taken after the depth of the Canal was substantially increased and the banks consolidated with massive rocks.

The FDC illustrates the coastal road of Macondé in the south-west of the island.  Macondé is infamous for its former low level bridge which used to become impracticable and unsafe during high tides and cyclones and for its rock-falling cliffs.  A brand new, safer bridge was erected a few years ago, and, following the falling of huge rocks in April 2014 (the rocks can be seen on the left of the FDC), the authorities decided to extend the coastal road outwards into the sea and further away from the cliffs.  The new road opened on July 15, 2014. During the construction works, boat shuttles provided free transport services to the inhabitants.

Technical Details

Release date: 29 June 2015

Stamp denomination & illustration: Rs17 - Canal Dayot during the flash floods (left) and after consolidation works (right)

Design: Graphic Unit (The Mauritius Post Ltd.)

Size: 44.45 x 29.94 mm

Printer: BDT International Security Printing Ltd.

Process: Lithography

Number per sheet: 50 stamps set in two panes of 25

Perforation gauge: 14 x 2cm

FDC illustration: Macondé during the road works

Courtesy: 

 - The Prime Minister's Office

 - The Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, Disaster and Beach Management

 - National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre

 - The Universal Postal Union

 - The Stamp Advisory Committee