Government
Name of country:
conventional long form:
Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form:
Mauritius
Data code:
MP
Type of government:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port Louis
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice President Rabindranath GHURBURRON (since 1 July 1992) were elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly
head of government:
Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 27 December 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 27 December 1995) were appointed by the president and are responsible to the National Assembly
cabinet:
Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Legislative Assembly:
elections last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000); results - MMM/MLP 65%, MSM/RMM 20%, other 15%; seats - (66 total; 62 elected, 4 appointed) MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2; appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, Gaetan Duval Party 1, Hizballah 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
government coalition:
MLP/MMM alliance - Mauritian Labor Party (MLP), Navin RAMGOOLAM; Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Paul BERENGER
opposition:
Organization of the People of Rodrigues (OPR), Louis Serge CLAIR; Rodrigues Movement, Nicolas VONMALLY; Gaetan Duval Party, Gaetan DUVAL; Hizbullah, Imam Mustapha BEEHARRY; Militant Socialist Movement (MSM); Mauritian Militant Resurgence (MMR)
Other political or pressure groups:
various labor unions
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Anund Priyay NEEWOOR
chancery:
Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
FAX:
[1] (202) 966-0983
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER
embassy:
4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767
FAX:
[230] 208-9534
Flag:
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
