In the news this week, the Mauritian financial center is fully compliant with FATF requirements. Also in the news, a shortage of bananas and pineapples on the local market and an oil tanker gone adrift off the coast of Reunion island.
Mauritius is fully compliant with FATF requirements
After a rough few months, the Mauritian Financial Center can finally breathe as it is now one of the few countries marked fully compliant with the FATF requirements. Indeed, after the inclusion of the Financial Center on the FATF's grey list as well as on the EU's blacklist, the Mauritian authorities put a lot of effort into strengthening the legal framework around money laundering and terrorist financing.
Fruit shortage in markets and supermarkets
With the influx of tourists looking for tropical fruits to munch on, the demand for fruits such as pineapples and bananas, is exceeding the supply. This is, of course, causing prices to rise. Pineapples are currently being sold for Rs 125 to Rs 150 instead of Rs 50 to Rs 70 as is usually the case. What's more, cost of production of bananas has also plummeted with fertilizers becoming more expensive by the day.
Oil tanker adrift off the coast of Reunion Island
The oil tanker Ocean Pride 1, registered in Sierra Leone and carrying around 102 000 tonnes of petrol, had a breakdown on the 6th of September while it was making its way to Mauritius. The tanker has since gone adrift. While it represents no danger just yet either to Mauritius or to Reunion Island, the authorities are closely monitoring the presence of the tanker in the neighboring waters.
