President Nathan awarded Mauritius honorary degree

• QX179R

  7 Jun 11, 19:10

  PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS: President S R Nathan has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Mauritius.

  The Honorary Degree of Civil Law Honoris Casa recognises his contributions in education and culture.

  In his speech at the award ceremony, Mr Nathan drew on his early education and on his subsequent career in the labour movement and the public service.
  
  He left his audience with three lessons: to seize every opportunity to learn, to act in good faith and to stand on one's own feet.
  
  He said: "In all our life experiences, there are lessons to be learned. Whatever the circumstances, however dark the situation may seem, within ourselves we can find unexpected resources, hidden abilities, which provide hope for the future."
  
  Mr Nathan also addressed the Mauritius National Assembly. In a speech comparing the rapid developments of both Singapore and Mauritius, he spoke of how ethnic diversity can be a strength, as evidenced by the parliamentary systems of both countries.
  
  - CNA/ir

• laurence82

  7 Jun 11, 19:36

  paper prata pls

  

• Rock^Star

  7 Jun 11, 20:18

  Serious? He take so much salary to contribute to another's country education and culture? hahahahaha. Farking hell.

• QX179R

  8 Jun 11, 10:19

  Seize every chance to learn: President Nathan

  REDUIT (Mauritius): Grab every opportunity to learn, act in good faith and be prepared to stand on your own two feet.

  Distilling from his life experiences and Singapore's history as a nation, President S R Nathan, 86, imparted these lessons to an audience of about 300 University of Mauritius leaders, academics and students here yesterday.

  His bottom line: Your future is 'mostly up to you'.

  He was speaking after being conferred an honorary doctor of civil law degree for his contributions in the fields of education and culture.

  With Mauritian President Anerood Jugnauth and Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam looking on, he outlined how he learnt from his experiences - whether working as a translator for the Japanese during World War II, or with Singapore's leaders during the uncertain days of the country's early years of independence.

  Mr Nathan, who dropped out of school but picked up his studies again and went on to become President 59 years on, said: 'Whatever the circumstances, however dark the situation may seem, within ourselves, we can find unexpected resources, hidden abilities, which provide hope for the future.'

  -- ST