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Dr Jeetah was elected Member of the National Assembly in December 2003 for the first time for Constituency No.7 (Piton/Rivière du Rempart), and remained so until April 2005. Dr Jeetah was re-elected as: • Member of the National Assembly for Constituency No.11 (Vieux Grand Port-Rose Belle), in 2005 and became Minister of Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives (2005 to 2008).He became Minister of Health & Quality of Life (2008 to 2010). • Member of the National Assembly for Constituency No.10 (Montagne Blanche- GRSE)in 2010 and became Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology till 2014. Education and Qualifications: a. University of Cambridge (2002 -2003) - ACU Research Fellowship b. University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) (1984-1993) • BSc (Hons) – Textile Technology • PhD – Textile Technology

National Science Week at Open University of Mauritius, Curepipe


 



Speech - National Science Week at Open University of Mauritius, Curepipe today
Thursday 08 May 2014 at 10.30 hrs

WELCOME
On behalf of my Ministry, the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, and the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre welcome you all to the second edition of the National Science Week 2014.
There is a reason for us to be meeting here and organizing an event of this dimension.
THE CONCEPT OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK
In 2012, Cabinet had approved a new event to promote science across Mauritius and Rodrigues, the National Science Week. The idea of the National Science Week is to bring science and Technology to the doorsteps of every Mauritian. This is because science and technology is essential in our everyday life and for our welfare. We are surrounded by new gadgets in our homes: our TV, Fridge, washing machine, electrical network, water system, sewerage system. The food we grow, buy and eat, our Health system, our transportation system, etc.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The long list of items mentioned forms part of our everyday life and has one common factor: Science and Technology. Have you ever sat and thought of the idea behind the functioning of your TV? Television has evolved from big heavy furniture to slim frames with evolving technologies: transistor, diodes, plasma, LCD, LED, etc.

Most of us don’t even know the meanings of these acronyms. Yet we buy and use them. For a few minutes just think about the team of people, researchers and scientists who are presently thinking, and working on our future television….
That’s the whole concept of the National Science Week. All Ministries and Departments use a certain level of science and technology in all their activities. In the Science Week, we bring together a number of stakeholders under one roof to expose and explain to you, to let you discover the hidden technology in the gadgets they use. Some stakeholders are willing to let you test these gadgets and answer all your questions.
So far the RGSC has successfully launched ten National Science Weeks in various parts of the island including Rodrigues.  After Curepipe we are moving to Vacoas.

SCIENCE WEEK AT CUREPIPE
Today and tomorrow we are here with you at the Open University of Mauritius. I am very thankful to the Open University of Mauritius for their full support in organizing this event for the people of Curepipe and surrounding areas.
I wish to thank all those who have participated in the sensitization walk from Carnegie Library to here with a view to encourage everyone, especially our young generation to study science. Through such events you will also discover the career opportunities when we study science.
In this edition of the national Science Week, there are several stakeholders from all spheres of our economy keen to showcase to you the technology they use.
Mauritius Research Council, AREU, Fire Services, Mauritius Police Force, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, etc.
Besides the major exhibition, a number of interactive sessions by the stakeholders and other parallel activities are scheduled.


THE ROLE OF MTESRT
As Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology, it is my wish that every student go to University after completing their secondary school. My ministry is providing all incentives for our youth to pursue higher studies. This is essential as the youth are the future of Mauritius and they will have to ensure that Mauritius strives to be a centre of Excellence on all aspects, not only in the Indian Ocean but in the world.
Each one of you should change your mindset and become more curious about everything that’s going on around you.
Science and technology are our future and if Mauritius wants to evolve it should have more scientists, encourage more research in all areas, such as exploiting our marine resources, thinking of ways to become independent of oil for our energy, and so on and so forth.
My Ministry has set up a desk, namely Study Mauritius, with the aim to guide students in the choice of career, university and the way forward.
This Government is also supporting the creation of several university campuses in various parts of Mauritius: Piton, Pamplemousses, Montagne Blanche.
All these incentives are for our young generation to continue into higher education and take the lead of our future Mauritius.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
The way Mauritius is evolving, all the Ministry and Departments of the island should coordinate their actions and work hand in hand to ensure optimization of resources and fast progress in all sectors of the economy. We should pool our brains and researchers together and find solutions to the existing problems and pave our way for the future generations.
The Future of Mauritius lies in the hands of our youth. We shall need engineers, doctors, chemists, teachers, technicians to maintain and develop our infrastructure while maintaining our sustainability.


END NOTE
I wish to thank everyone that has collaborated to make this event a success: all the stakeholders, the Open University of Mauritius and last but not the least the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre. This is the department under my Ministry that has a variety of activities to ignite your scientific spirit. Last but not least I wish to thank our team from RGSC for organizing an event of such dimension.
To end I will encourage everyone to pass on the message to their families, friends to come and visit this exhibition and participate actively in the interactive sessions.

Thank you.

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