The Public Relations and Communication Professionals Association of Mauritius PRCPA(M), held its first Information Day on “Communication applied to the promotion of Mauritius as a destination” at the Ecole Hôtelière Sir Gaëtan Duval, Ebene, last Friday 10th April 2009.

1. PRESS RELEASE
The Public Relations and Communication Professionals Association of Mauritius
PRCPA(M), held its first Information Day on “Communication applied to the promotion
of Mauritius as a destination” at the Ecole Hôtelière Sir Gaëtan Duval, Ebene, last
Friday 10th April 2009.
From left to right: Mr. Jean Marie F.Richard, President of the PRCPA (M), Mr. Ashvin Ramdin, Chairman of the IVTB, Mr.
Cassam Uteem, Former president of the Republic, Mrs. Odylle Charoux, Director of Academic Affairs CTI and
Mr. Jacques Dinan, Honorary President of the PRCPA (M)
The event was held in partnership with the Faculty of Humanities of Charles Telfair
Institute CTI. This project was also an opportunity for students in communication to gather
hands on experience through teaming up with professionals of the local PR and
Communication industry. The objectives of the event were to showcase the institutions
involved in promoting our country abroad, as well as make the students and professionals
familiar with the various communication techniques and skills used, and also inform them of
the professional opportunities available in the field of communication and public relations.
PRCPA (M) 41 bis Ternay Street, Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius. 1
Tel.: +230 210 16 31
Website: www.prcpam.org

2. “We are very happy with the high standards of the speeches, presentations and forum
debates held during this ‘premiere’. We wish to place on the record our thanks to all
participants who have helped us make this information day a success. The high turnout
encourages us to renew this experience to the benefit of all those whom the topic interests -
practitioners, decision maker, students and training institutions,“ says Jean Marie F.
RICHARD, President of PRCPA (M), who also states that such an event will be organized
every two years alternatively, with a more PR and Communication focused regional and
international conference to be held with the able support of sister associations such as the
Public Relations Society of India, PRSI, and the Public Relations Society of Southern
Africa, PRISA.
Former President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr. Cassam Uteem, in his keynote address,
highlighted the fact that in Mauritius “The Mauritian man could become a universal being if
only he would choose to take advantage of all the characteristics, qualities, values and
wisdom of the different civilizations and world great religions brought together on a small
piece of land. This piece of land belongs to each one of us and each one of us belongs to it.
Yet, some of us behave as though we are the sole proprietors of the land and consider other
citizens as tenants, at best sitting tenants. Such attitudes create both tension and frustration
in our society and instead of building a socially cohesive community safe for difference; we
seem to be actively engaged in a process of balkanization where difference becomes source
of conflict. The Public Relations and Communication Professionals Association can help turn
the situation around and can contribute to make of our country a model of what should be a
shared society: one of inter-ethnic co-habitation or peaceful living, sharing the best of our
respective cultures and values, and to borrow a striking expression from a ‘communication
friend’ of mine, to turn around the ingredients of a socio “cocktail Molotov” into that of a
thriving and vibrant ESKI lemonade, with no socio-cultural hangovers.
PRCPA (M) 41 bis Ternay Street, Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius. 2
Tel.: +230 210 16 31
Website: www.prcpam.org

3. An appeal to reject “academic snobbism….”
Mrs Odylle Charoux, Director of Academic Affairs of Charles Telfair Institute, insisted on the
necessity of bridging the gap between training institutions and the professional world,
mentioning that CTI was happy to share minds with PRCPA (M) in a venture which was “in
line with the stated intention of the PRCPA (M) about increasing interactions between
academia/technical training and the professional world. I would like to appeal to all of you to
reject what I call ‘Academic Snobbism’ and to strive instead for more communication and
cooperation between all post secondary training and education institutions, i.e. all private
and public vocational colleges & universities. At the moment we seldom talk to each other.
We look down on each other and seemingly do our best to avoid any meaningful interaction.
And yet, we claim to have the common causes of preparing Mauritians for the workplace &
promoting Mauritius as a Knowledge Hub or Education destination, at heart…
Whereas Mr Ashvin Ramdin, Chairman of the Industrial and Vocational Training Board –
IVTB, who was the function’s main guest and officially launched it, stressed on the mission
of the institution in establishing Mauritius as a knowledge hub, promoting lifelong learning
before adding: “The role of PR & Communication is crucial as they will be responsible as to
how the knowledge explosion is being handled. We have too much information nowadays
and we need to filter and sort through this huge forest of knowledge and sometimes we are
lost in the forest. Accumulation of information is not knowledge… loading our minds with
information will not lead us to anywhere…what matters is the quality of information that we
get and HOW well we use it. Knowledge is power… No, it is the use of knowledge that
determines whether one is powerful or not… This is why the PR & Communication will have
to act as the bulb which lights the path to reach the destination.”
Participant training institutions such as The Ecole Hoteliere Sir Gaetan Duval and also
Charles Telfair Institute presented the various courses and training modules they offer,
their respective presentations were made by students of the two training bodies themselves.
Several other government agencies and private companies came up with presentations and
case studies in line with the topic of the day namely: Airports of Mauritius, AML, Impact
Production, Mauritius Ports Authority, MPA, General Aviation Mauritius, GAM, and Mon
Trésor Mon Desert MTMD.
PRCPA (M) 41 bis Ternay Street, Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius. 3
Tel.: +230 210 16 31
Website: www.prcpam.org

4. Two forums were held during this ‘premiere’, regrouping on one part institutions such as the
Board of Investment, BOI, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, MTPA, the Ministry of
Tourism and External Communications. The debate was facilitated by Mr. Jacques Dinan,
Member Emeritus and former Chairman of the International Public Relations Association,
IPRA, www.ipra.org, and PRCPA (M) Honorary President.
Medine/Tamarina Estates represented by Mr Daniel Giraud, CIM Finance represented by
Mr. Sunil Banymandhub and Mr. José Poncini, participated in the Operator’s Forum around
the information day’s topic. The debate was facilitated by Mr Raj Makoond, Director of the
Joint Economic Council.
Presentations and speeches + photos of the event are available for download on
PRCPA (M) portal site: www.prcpam.org
April 14, 2009
For any further information please contact
Babusha Radhakissoon (Ms)
Project Coordinator
Tel: 210 16 31
Fax: 210 50 35
E-Mail: babusha-r@imagine.intnet.mu
PRCPA (M) 41 bis Ternay Street, Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius. 4
Tel.: +230 210 16 31
Website: www.prcpam.org