Household debt hits a record Rs 212 billion as home loans pile up
Rs 212.29 billion. That is what Mauritian households owed in June 2026, a fresh record for the country's borrowers. Home loans make up most of it, Rs 149.57 billion, or roughly seven rupees in every ten borrowed.
The pile keeps growing just as families digest the new finance laws that reshaped pay, pensions and everyday prices only last week. More debt is not a crisis on its own, it becomes one the day incomes stop keeping pace. Cheap mortgages built the stack; the higher cost of living is quietly topping it up.
Pension protester detained; PM airs police allegations of assault
Malina Cheeneebash, 33, a former bank worker, had camped outside Parliament for a week to protest the pension reform. Police detained her on Sunday and later booked her for obstructing the footpath, saying her tent blocked the public way.
On Monday, PM Ramgoolam said the Commissioner of Police had told him she allegedly assaulted a pregnant officer, threw urine at police and tried to set her dog on them. None of those claims has been tested in court.
A footpath charge and a set of untested claims are very different things; which one reaches court is what matters.
A junior minister quits over her husband's case as the PM lines up a reshuffle
Véronique Leu-Govind has quit as Junior Minister of Arts and Culture and as head of the Nouveaux Démocrates, days after her husband Gulshan Govind's arrest in a cannabis case. PM Ramgoolam said no evidence point to her, but she chose to step down. Tony Apollon and Anabelle Savabaddy took their oath that day; PM Ramgoolam confirmed a reshuffle is coming.
Engen's name leaves Mauritius on 21 August as a local group takes over
The Engen name will disappear from forecourts across Mauritius on 21 August. Beta Oil Terminal, part of the local Bhunjun Group, will roll out a new brand to replace it, the last step of an acquisition that puts a familiar fuel network in Mauritian hands. New colours, old fuel.
Shorts
Air Mauritius flight turns back to Mauritius – Flight MK124 to Rodrigues turned back on Monday after a technical fault.
Dutch girl, 10, dies after Mont-Choisy bus crash – A bus struck Helena Wunderlich outside a hotel; she later died of her injuries.
Rastafari group on hunger strike at Parliament – A group has refused food outside Parliament since Sunday evening.
MRI down at Jeetoo, patients turned away – A broken scanner sent patients away for nothing at Jeetoo Hospital.
Football returns to Rivière du Rempart – A first tournament in 16 years kicked off at Stade Rohit Boolaky on Sunday.
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