Residents of the Jardins d’Apolline in Condamine have been told to avoid drinking tap water, as recent samples have shown iron levels exceeding the amount regarded as standard for potability.
Government officials, including Jean Castellini, Minister of Finance and Economy, and Didier Gamerdinger, Minister of Health and Social Affairs, and Cyril Gomez, Director General of the Department of the Environment, Public Works, and Urban Planning, told journalists press conference that after residents complained of water being discoloured, the Directorate of Health Action carried out analyses through an independent laboratory. Inspections have been carried out regularly since July 2016.
The most recent report states that samples show that iron levels remain below the limits of acute toxicity. No cases of poisoning have been reported.
However, it has been decided to apply precautions, and it is recommended that residents no longer consume tap water except for personal hygiene and domestic use. A number of measures will be put in place immediately to alleviate the inconvenience caused. These include that widespread distribution of bottles of spring water bottles, the installation of an individual filtration system in each apartment, and a continuation of potability checks.
In order to compensate tenants for the inconvenience caused, rent will be reduced retroactively by 15 percent a month from June 1. An overhaul of pipelines will continue.
Junior Chamber International VP Kevin Hin, JCI Senate Monaco President Pierre Brière, JCI World President Dawn Hetzel, and Olivier Mura, President JCEM.
On Tuesday, June 13, Monaco’s Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCEM) held a Plenary session at the Société nautique de Monaco, welcoming a special visit from Dawn Hetzel, the World President for the Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCI).
JCI is a non-profit organisation that counts 200,000 members, between the age of 18 to 40, worldwide. More than 120 countries are involved, forming 5,000 local chapters that embrace the group’s mission to provide development opportunities to empower young people to create a positive change in our world.
American Dawn Hetzel takes this to heart, and especially wants to address the critical challenges facing the current work forces during her year long role as World President. “As the world President, it’s my job to travel and I’ll visit some 60 to 70 countries. I was invited to Monaco and despite the small size of Monaco: JCEM is very active and dynamic within the community. I’m here to support and encourage them.”
Ms Hetzel first joined JCI fifteen years ago. “Every step that I’ve taken at JCI has been about giving back to an organisation that has given me more than I could ever repay. A lot of people have believed in me and encouraged me to grow. And, as leaders in our community, it’s our obligation to help young people joining to see their potential.”
She added, “Stepping into this role is the ultimate gift I can give back to the organisation. It’s a humbling experience and an incredible opportunity.”
JCI is, as Ms Hetzel pointed out, a special group of individuals who are connected to and believe in something bigger than themselves.
As an example of the JCI spirit, Ms Hetzel mentions the active organisation in Syria, where the 20 members are realistic about their circumstances, but they have resilience and heart. JCI brings all people together, and despite the difference and conflict the group knows how to sit in a room together and work things out.
Ms Hetzel hopes she’s remembered in her Global President position for opening the dialogue on how we relate to the next generation, the Millennials, because in five years they will make the largest part of the workforce.
At Tuesday’s JCEM event, members flashed a white card in support of Peace and Sport’s annual campaign
In a separate event, JCEM is hosting their second breakfast conference of the year, on Friday, June 23, in the exceptional setting of the Oceanography Museum.
The guest speaker, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of the Environment, Work and Urban Development, will talk about “Energy transition of the Principality”, a policy being carried out by the government on three priority axes: mobility, waste treatment and energy efficiency in buildings.
The event is open to non-JCEM members, for which tickets are €25/ person; €20 for JCEM members as well as Candidate, Senator, JCEM Associate: 20 €
Registration, necessary before June 21, 2017, can be made online.
The following week, on Thursday, June 29, “Business Time Networking” will take place, joining forces with the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation for a cocktail-conference on Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy.
Described by the organisers as “an unforgettable event,” it will take place from 6:30 pm to 10 pm at Sir Stelios’ Terrace, with speeches, at 7 pm, given by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and Chairman of easyGroup, and Michael Bouquier, Head of Monaco Private Label and Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
The event, which is partnered with Your Private Driver, Monaco Receptions and BSI, is entirely in English. The cost is €20 for JCEM members and €25 for non-members. For any further information contact Laetitia Mikail: laetitia.mikail@jcemonaco.mc.
During a press conference Thursday morning at the Opera Garnier, Gérard Depardieu said performing at the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival on July 26 and 27 was “a great opportunity to go back in his career to his friendship with Barbara”.
L’aigle Noir, Nantes, Gottingen … just a few of the fourteen melancholic songs the French actor will sing as part of his tribute to his old singer-song writer friend Monique Serf, known simply as Barbara, who died in 1997, age 67, of acute pulmonary infection.
Ever since starring in the musical “Lily Passion”, directed by Barbara in 1986, Depardieu has wanted to continue his musical love story with her. His dream came true on February 10 of this year, with the release of his album “Depardieu chante Barbara”.
Taking the stage at Salle Garnier Thursday, Depardieu started, almost immediately, to reminisce about the Lady in Black, a name Barbara picked up as she always dressed in black on stage.
After singing at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris last February, the Cyrano actor hopes to mesmerise audiences this summer in Monte Carlo. “Barbara never performed here, but a lot of great singers did. Patrick Bruel, my friend Carla Bruni, Charles Aznavour … I think it will be a beautiful homage singing her music here.”
He recalls all the laughs and the good times he shared with her. “She isn’t dead. She lives in every one of us. She’s just been gone for a while … 20 years.”
And during those 20 years, a lot has happened in Gérard Depardieu’s career, both in film and theatre. On the stage, he starred in Isabella Rossellini’s The Ingrid Bergman Tribute and in Ang Lee’s movie Life of Pi, and all the while he never stopped singing. “In the beginning, I was nervous. But one day, I threw myself into the role and that was it. Now, I love singing because it arouses feelings and feelings never die.”
A vision shared by his accompanying pianist, Gérard Daguerre: “When I hear Depardieu, I feel the same emotions as I felt while listening to Barbara.”
Depardieu reflected on the changes that have come about in the movie business. “The US dominance of the film industry overshadows this art. The quality of films, and the actors, has decreased. In theatre, it’s the same, the directors just want to show off.”
Two decades later, he has no regrets. When he says Barbara’s name, it is with much tenderness. She remains a goddess to the actor.
Thursday’s press conference ended with a gift for the actor from Jean-René Palacio, organiser of the Monte Carlo Sporting Summer Festival: a number 10 soccer jersey with his name on it. Mr Palacio said that “having Depardieu here is a real pleasure. It’s the first time I’ve meet him, but I’ve been following him for a while. Depardieu is the kind of person that seems to have always been a part of our lives.”
Depardieu chante Barbara takes place at the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival on July 26 and 27, 8:30 pm. Tickets: €222.50
Monaco businesses face a challenge on Friday, June 16, as rail commuters from Italy struggle to find alternative means of getting to the Principality. A national rail strike by Italian rail workers will mean that no trains will travel between Ventimiglia and Menton during the day, and a number of scheduled trains from Menton to Monaco Monte-Carlo have also been cancelled.
There will be a knock-on effect on the Friday evening commute from Monaco to Nice, with the cancellation of the normally very busy 4:19 pm service. There will be no trains running from Monaco beyond Menton on Friday evening, and the 4:15 pm service to Menton has also been cancelled. Friday is the traditional day for Italian rail strikes.
During a press conference Thursday morning at the Opera Garnier, Gérard Depardieu said performing at the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival on July 26 and 27 was “a great opportunity to go back in his career to his friendship with Barbara”.
