SEPTEMBER 2025 - Flipbook - Page 3
NEWS
POLY-CHAR 2025: Shaping the Future of Science
The launch of the Interna琀椀onal Conference
POLY-CHAR 2025 took place on Tuesday
2 September 2025, at the University of
Mauri琀椀us (UOM) in Réduit. Hosted by
UOM from September 1 to 5 as part of the
university’s 60th-anniversary celebra琀椀ons,
the conference brought together over 100
dis琀椀nguished scien琀椀sts from all con琀椀nents
to share groundbreaking advances in
polymer science, nanotechnology, and
biotechnology.
The event was a琀琀ended by notable 昀椀gures,
including the US Ambassador to Mauri琀椀us
and Seychelles, Mr. Henry Jardine; the
High Commissioner of the Republic of
South Africa to Mauri琀椀us, Dr. Hlamalani
Nelly Manzini; and the President of POLYCHAR, Mr. Holger Schönherr.
participants to leverage this platform
to forge new partnerships, push the
boundaries of polymer science, and
position research as a key pillar of
resilience, sustainability and prosperity.
Minister Sukon highlighted the promising
work being done in polymers and
nanotechnology, particularly in cancer
research. He emphasized the importance
of advancing personalized medicine
and tailored healthcare solutions to
meet individual needs. Reitera琀椀ng the
government’s commitment, he called
on the research community to con琀椀nue
promoting collaborative efforts within
Mauri琀椀us and with interna琀椀onal partners,
transforming the country into a hub for
innova琀椀ve research.
He also pointed out the unique advantages
of conducting research in Mauritius,
given its diverse popula琀椀on, which o昀昀ers
a valuable opportunity for real-world
studies and experimenta琀椀on. For local
researchers, the Minister urged greater
collabora琀椀on with interna琀椀onal colleagues
to access funding and resources that can
make a tangible di昀昀erence in people’s
lives. Overall, the Minister’s message was
clear: by working together and harnessing
the power of science and innovation,
Mauri琀椀us can posi琀椀on itself as a leader in
cu琀�ng-edge research and development.
The conference, organized by the Centre
for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research
(CBBR) at UOM in collabora琀椀on with
the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery
Pla琀昀orm (WADDP) and the University of
Witwatersrand in South Africa, centered
around the theme “Polymeric Materials
Meet Nanobiotechnology”.
In his address, Minister of Tertiary
Education, Science and Research, Dr.
Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, described POLYCHAR 2025 as a signi昀椀cant milestone for
Mauri琀椀us, Africa and young researchers
worldwide striving to shape the future
through innovation. He encouraged
ASP Suhail Lidialam Police Media Rela琀椀ons
On Tuesday 16 September 2025,
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
Suhail Lidialam officially assumed the
posi琀椀on of Head of the Police Press O昀케ce
(PPO), succeeding Chief Inspector Shiva
Coothen, who has been reassigned to the
Emergency Response Service (ERS).
ASP Lidialam expressed that it is both an
honor and a privilege to be appointed to
this role and extended his gra琀椀tude to the
Police Commissioner for the trust placed
in him.
The new head of the police communica琀椀on
unit brings with him prior experience at
the PPO and begins his tenure with a
clear vision. Emphasis was placed on the
need for reforms aimed at modernizing
communica琀椀on channels within the police
force to be琀琀er meet public expecta琀椀ons.
During his address to journalists, he
highlighted the importance of striking
a balance between effective police
communica琀椀on and maintaining the duty
of reserve.
ASP Suhail Lidialam holds a degree
in French and a master’s degree in
communica琀椀on, equipping him with the
educa琀椀onal background necessary to lead
the department forward.
Legal Ba琀琀les Con琀椀nue for Chagos Islanders
Béatrice Pompe, who previously took
legal ac琀椀on regarding the sovereignty and
rights of the Chagossian people, has stated
that she will con琀椀nue her 昀椀ght despite
the signing of an agreement between
Port-Louis and London. Alongside
Bernade琀琀e Dugasse, she had ini琀椀ated
legal proceedings in the United Kingdom
to a琀琀empt to suspend the signing of this
agreement.
As a reminder, the United Kingdom and
Mauri琀椀us signed a historic treaty on 22
May 2025 concerning the retrocession of
the Chagos Archipelago. This agreement
officially recognizes Mauritius’s
sovereignty over the en琀椀re archipelago,
including Diego Garcia, as announced by
Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam during
a press brie昀椀ng.
Despite this development, Béatrice
03
Pompé a昀케rms that the struggle persists
for the Chagossians residing in the
United Kingdom. The Chagossian ac琀椀vist,
Bertrice Pompe, along with other ac琀椀vists,
plans to bring the matter before the
Interna琀椀onal Criminal Court (ICC) in The
Hague, alleging crimes against humanity
commi琀琀ed by the Bri琀椀sh government.
Furthermore, despite the adop琀椀on of the
Diego Garcia Military Base and Bri琀椀sh
Indian Ocean Territory Bill by the House
of Commons on 9 September 2025,
she maintains that her e昀昀orts will not
be abandoned. This legisla琀椀on aims to
implement the bilateral treaty signed in
May between London and Port-Louis.
For Bertrice Pompe, the injus琀椀ce faced by
the inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago
since their deportation in 1965 must
come to an end.
