Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, designated as first woman President of Mauritius

Government of Mauritius has designated internationally renowned biodiversity scientist and biologist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as their new President.
This designation will make her Indian Ocean island nation’s first woman and sixth President, a top ceremonial position. Now this appointment is subject to Mauritian Parliament approval.
She will succeed Former president Kailash Purryag, who had stepped down as the island’s figurehead and was appointed in 2012 by then Labour party government of former premier Navin Ramgoolam.

About Ameenah Gurib-Fakim

• Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was born in October 17, 1959 in Mauritius.
• She is the Managing Director of Centre International de Développement Pharmaceutique (CIDP) Research & Innovation.
• Ameenah had authored numerous academic and research papers.
• She has received several accolades and honours including Laureate for the L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Award for Africa (2007), African Union Award for ‘Women in Science’ for the Easter African Region (2009) etc.

Mauritius
Mauritius is one of the richest and least corrupt countries in Africa. It is a middle-income country with population around 1.3 million and per capita GDP of just over US 9,000 dollars. The island nation has strong outsourcing and financial services sector along with an important tourism industry. Mauritius had gained independence from Britain in 1968. The President is nominal head of country and had replaced Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state in 1992.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2015