SECTOR 3 3.3 The body regulates broadcasting services and licences in the public interest and ensures fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing society at large. The legislation governing the IBA provides for a code of conduct which insists on fairness and transparency. However, the process of granting licences is not considered transparent. Board decisions are not necessarily made public, and since each radio station has been awarded three frequencies, it is easy for the IBA to claim that there are not enough frequencies to allocate to new players in the broadcasting industry. There are no private television stations because the legislation is restrictive and the minimum funding required is prohibitive for most organisations in Mauritius. La Sentinelle - which has the financial resources at hand - is ready to start a new television station, but has not been granted a licence. The media group has not been provided with an explanation. The IBA has a Complaints Committee, which is a mediating body dealing with grievances regarding content, from members of the public. It is usually political parties who approach the IBA, while the general public very rarely take up issues with the body. Members of the public can approach the IBA Complaints Committee on issues of libel, but this prevents them from then taking up the matter in court. The CC is a mediation body and does not have the mandate to award financial compensation for defamation. Panellists pointed out that the current chairperson of the Complaints Committee of the IBA (at the time of the AMB report) is regarded by the media fraternity as independent and credible. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 40 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MAURITIUS 2010 2.2 (2008 = 3.0)