Archive for February, 2007

Princess Caroline visits child centre

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007

Princess Caroline of Monaco arrived in Cape Town this weekend and visited a child care centre in Macassar funded by an organisation she is involved with. To show their appreciation, the 3 and 4-year-old pupils of the Khanyisa Educare Centre sang to the princess and gave her flowers and, with hands on hearts, they proudly belted out the national anthem. The princess, who was accompanied by her youngest son, Pierre, described the centre as a “small miracle”. 

“What has been done here is truly remarkable. If my brother Prince Albert, the ruler of Monaco, were here he would be very proud. This is something worthwhile,” she said. The princess is on a two-week trip through Africa in her capacity as president of Amade Mondiale (World Association of Children’s Friends), a non-profit child-advocacy non-governmental organisation founded in 1963 by her mother, the late Princess Grace. The Macassar project is one of three in the Western Cape funded by the principality. Some 85 children, from newborns to 6-year-olds, attend the centre. Other local projects supported by the NGO include the Rainbow Creche in Masiphumelele, near Kommetjie, and one to be built at De Doorns in the Karoo. The organisation has donated R300 000 a year for three years. A South African NGO, the Centre for Early Childhood Development, is overseeing the construction of the projects and trains the teachers. Also visiting the educare centre yesterday was Premier Ebrahim Rasool, who thanked the princess and the principality for their support and the efficient manner in which they dealt with the projects, which he said created “a beacon of hope”.

Masters Series Monte-Carlo

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007

It was in the lounges of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort on 1st February 2007 that Zeljko Franulovic, Director of the Tournament and former winner of the event himself, presented the 2007 programme for the Masters Series Monte Carlo presented by Rolex, which has been sponsored by the prestigious watchmakers since last year. 

Taking place from 14th to 22nd April 2007, in the magnificent setting of the Monte-Carlo Country Club, the Masters Series Monte-Carlo is the clay court tournament that opens the European season. (more…)

Blue label award for “dorsal” road work site under construction in Monaco

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

In addition to “ISO” standards certifying company quality procedures, the “Blue Label” is being introduced as an award to construction sites for their efforts as far as quality, safety and the environment are concerned. A blue flag was hoisted on Wednesday 31st January by Robert Calcagno, Government Counsellor for Facilities, the Environment and Urban Planning and Martial Desruelles President of GFC Construction (a subsidiary of Bouygues Construction for South-East France), on the T33 work site located at the bottom of the Exotic Garden of Monaco, close to the uphill tunnel. (more…)

A conference on the links between money laundering and organized crime

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

On the initiative of the Department of Judicial Services, a conference on the links between money laundering and organized crime took place on Friday 2nd February at the Law Courts, before an audience of jurists and financial professionals. It was led by Gilles Duteil, PhD in Management Science, a member of the European research group on financial crime and organized crime and a legal expert at the Court of Appeal in Aix-en-Provence. (more…)

Coulthard fined over crash

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

A Monaco court has fined Formula One driver David Coulthard £330 for injuring a woman passenger when he crashed his Mercedes during a high-speed tour of the principality’s grand prix circuit in 1999. (more…)

Primo Cup: the races opposite the Rocher of Monaco continue

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

For the second weekend in a row, 120 crew teams competed to win the XXXII Primo Cup regatta, organised by the Monaco Yacht Club, on Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th February. This internationally renowned race dedicated to one design class boats is always an outstanding weekend of racing, particularly when the weather conditions are as good as they were last weekend. (more…)

South Africa: Princess Caroline of Monaco Sees City Miracle

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

Princess Caroline of Monaco arrived in Cape Town this weekend and visited a child care centre in Macassar which the principality has funded. To show their appreciation the 3 and 4-year-old pupils of the Khanyisa Educate Centre sang to the princess and gave her flowers. And with hands on hearts, they proudly belted out the national anthem. (more…)

Watchmakers’ auction for muscular dystrophy announced in Switzerland in presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco

Tuesday, February 13th, 2007

The Only Watch 2007 auction to raise funds in aid of research into muscular dystrophy is to take place 20th September 2007 during the 17th Monaco Yacht Show. The announcement was made at a cocktail organised in Switzerland and attended by HSH Prince Albert II and Luc Pettavino, President of the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies and instigator of the event. 

Watchmakers from across the sector will produce unique one-off items for the auction, which raised an impressive 1.9 million euros when it was last held in 2005. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a serious genetic disease that affects boys: one in every 3,500 births. It is progressive and is marked by a gradual deterioration of the muscles, resulting in life-threatening pulmonary and cardiac complications. Were present around HSH Prince Albert II are: Luc Pettavino (instigator of the project and President of the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies) with his wife Monique; Osvaldo Patrizzi (Chairman of Antiquorum) with his teams, the Directors of 31 of the most prestigious Swiss watchmakers; Robert Fillon (Monaco Ambassador in Bern, Switzerland) with his wife, the actress Sonia Ferrer; and Maguy Maccario Doyle (Monaco Tourism office in New-York).

Building Monaco’s future

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007

Chantier Bleu good practice award for tunnel works.A section of the construction project which is taking shape where the old railway line through Monaco used to be has achieved Chantier Bleu status. Not unlike the Blue Flag awards for beaches, the symbol rewards good practice such as high standards of safety, security and attention to the environment. For example, GFC Construction (affiliated to Bouygues Construction) is using solar panels to preheat water, and a photovoltaic system to make the most of Monaco’s sunshine to generate electricity.  Robert Calcagno, advisor to the government on urban matters, was present for the unveiling of the flag, which was awarded to GFC Construction and Richelmi Monaco.  The section concerned relates to a tunnel of 140m that goes from the area behind the Tulip Hotel, under the road leading to the ascending tunnel at the western entrance to Monaco, and continues under the new Villa Pasteur (“Porsche” building) to the border.

Lights out at Monaco Casino initiated by HSH Prince Albert II

Tuesday, February 6th, 2007

Société des Bain de Mer joins Alliance pour la planète initiative. The SBM (Société des Bain de Mer) in Monaco joined the Alliance pour la planète initiative last February 1st and turned out all the lights in its establishments for five minutes last night. (more…)