mauritius+govt.

Mauritius is a parliamentary democracy. The president (currently Sir Anerood Jugnauth) is chief of state and the prime minister (currently Navin Ramgoolam) is head of government. The president's role is largely ceremonial and includes the provision that he or she must immediately resign from office if he or she refuses to sign a bill into law. In the 66-seat parliament, the National Assembly, 62 members are elected and 4 seats are appointed by the election commission. These appointed seats are reserved for smaller parties that have lost elections, which ensures that all ethnic communities or minorities have representation. Parliamentary elections are held at least every five years. The voting age is 18. Mauritius is divided into nine districts and three dependencies. Local councils govern in urban areas. The country has practically no army and has been politically stable since independence. The sugarcane crop has dominated the Mauritian economy since the 19th century. The sugar industry accounts for 45 percent of all export earnings and employs more than 20 percent of the labor force. Grown on plantations and small farms, sugarcane covers 90 percent of the arable land. However, it has become less important in recent years due to an increase in earnings from textile exports (about 45 percent of export earnings) and tourism. Tea, grown in the highlands, is the second most important crop. All but a few staple foods are imported. Most exports go to nations of the European Union. Manufacturing industries include textiles, electronics, gemstone cutting, knitted wear, and others. Mauritius successfully attracts foreign investment; its banking industry has made the country an important regional offshore banking center. Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of its economy and has been the key to Mauritius becoming less reliant on sugar and textiles. The government has also invested in the nation's technology infrastructure in an effort to attract high-tech firms. The currency is the Mauritian //rupee// (MUR). All areas of the island are accessible by road. Buses provide the main form of public transportation. Although crowded, they are reliable and fairly inexpensive. Taxis are available in most areas. Fares are negotiable and usually agreed upon in advance. Following the British tradition, traffic moves on the left side of the road. The national airline is Air Mauritius. Several international airlines fly to Mauritius. The telephone system services most of the island and is quite reliable. Most Mauritians read a daily newspaper. The majority of homes have telephones and televisions. Satellite television is popular. Internet use is widespread. The government places great emphasis on education. Primary and secondary schooling are free and available to all. Families that can afford the fees send their children to private schools. Nearly all children are enrolled in primary school, which lasts six years, and two-thirds of them advance to secondary school. Only half of those complete secondary school. Secondary school finishers can pursue technical training at facilities run by the Industrial and Vocational Training Board. In addition, the University of Mauritius provides opportunities for higher education, emphasizing agricultural sciences and technology. The new University of Technology offers degrees that support the telecommunications, computer, and tourism industries for the island. Many Mauritians attend universities abroad, mainly in France, the United Kingdom, India, South Africa, and Australia. The public healthcare system provides basic services to all citizens free of charge. The country's many qualified doctors are employed by the government or engaged in private practice. Private clinics provide more comprehensive medical care for those who can afford it. Health conditions are steadily improving, as all people have access to safe water, good sanitation facilities, and prenatal care for women. Nearly all infants receive their immunizations. Schistosomiasis and hepatitis are not uncommon. []
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 * __Economy__**
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