Sherry Singh, former Mauritius Telecom chief executive, will appear before the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) this Friday. The FCC, Mauritius' lead agency for money-laundering and fraud cases, wants to question Singh about alleged anomalies at Air Mauritius during his tenure on the national carrier's board. Singh joined the Air Mauritius board in early 2020 and chaired its Transformation Steering Committee.
The FCC has not publicly disclosed the specifics of its investigation. However, Singh's summons marks a new development in a probe that may be connected to the airline's financial struggles. Air Mauritius was undergoing a turnaround plan when Singh sat on its board. The Transformation Steering Committee aimed to revamp the airline's finances and business model.
Separately, Statistics Mauritius has rebased the national accounts, shifting the reference year from 2018 to 2023. The move reveals a revised economic growth forecast of 3% for 2026. The economy is now estimated to be around Rs 873 billion this year. The rebasing exercise shows that technology and finance are driving growth, while tourism is easing off and construction is recovering.
In other news, the Safe City camera network in Mauritius may soon be used to detect speeding and phone use while driving. Transport Minister Osman Mahomed confirmed that talks are underway with the police, Mauritius Telecom, and Huawei to integrate this feature into the existing surveillance system. The plan raises questions about how fines will be issued and contested.
The Rodrigues Private and Allied Industries Workers Union has taken its equal pay dispute with Airport of Rodrigues Ltd to the Employment Relations Tribunal. The union is seeking equal pay for equal work, and the tribunal will now decide on the matter. The workforce is small, but the principle at stake is significant.
Senior Counsel Rama Valayden has urged the Commissioner of Police to provide an update on the investigation into the disappearance of Munawara Begum. Valayden's request comes as families of missing persons often do not receive regular updates from investigators. The police have not commented on the status of the investigation.
In regional news, a helicopter crash in Zimbabwe has killed tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and his wife. Chivayo was a businessman with close ties to Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party. An investigation into the crash has been launched. Meanwhile, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are racing to prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- Sherry Singh faces questioning by the Financial Crimes Commission over alleged anomalies at Air Mauritius.
- Mauritius aims to achieve 3% economic growth in 2026, according to revised national accounts.
- Seoul has pledged $200 billion to invest in American energy projects, but disputes the Alaska LNG project.
