Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean

The Most Distinguished Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean is the highest distinct order of merit in the honours system of Mauritius established under the National Awards Act 1993. It was founded in 1992 to decorate people who have made a contribution to social progress in the nations of the Indian Ocean. It may be awarded to non-Mauritian citizens.

Chancellor
The chancellor of the order is the President of the Republic of Mauritius. Each year on Independence day (12 March) the president of the republic appoints new members on the recommendation of the prime minister.

Labour Day has a special significance to the order as it relates to the hardship of people working for their country. On Labour Day 2007 the Malagasy President Marc Ramalomanana was appointed to the rank of Grand Commander, the highest rank of the order.

Privileges
Recipients of the rank of Grand Officer or above are automatically entitled to prefix The Hon, Hons or The Honourable to their name. Commanders and Officers may request permission from the president to use this prefix. Recipients of the order who are not Mauritian citizens may not use the prefix or post-nominals unless granted permission by the president.

Composition
The Order comprises five classes, in descending order of seniority:
 * Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK)
 * Grand Officer of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GOSK)
 * Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (CSK)
 * Officer of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (OSK)
 * Member of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (MSK)

Composition of the medal
"GRAND OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE STAR AND KEY OF THE INDIAN OCEAN

The decoration shall be 3 mm thick in the form of a cross and made up of a circular central part and three sets of leaves: outer, middle, inner.

The outer leaves shall be of gold. The length from tip to tip of the outer leaves shall be 71mm.

The middle leaves shall be made of violet blue enamel (Group 98 Col of the Royal Horticultural Society colour chart), have pointed ends capped by beads, and be lined externally with gold 2mm thick. The length from head to bead (external) shall be 76 mm.

The inner leaves shall be in the shape of a cross with equal arms of blue enamel (Group 100D of the same colour chart) lined externally with gold 1mm thick. The length from tip to tip of the inner leaves shall be 65 mm.

The central part shall depict a ring of gold with outer diameter 26mm and inner diameter 20mm.

ON THE OBVERSE, to fit inside the ring, shall be embossed a Trochetia boutoniana flower in gold and on the ring the words GRAND OFFICER OF THE STAR & KEY.

ON THE REVERSE inside the ring, shall be embossed the coat of arms of the Republic of Mauritius and on the ring the words REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS.

The clasp shall be of gold.

The decoration shall be worn around the neck by a ribbon of old gold colour (yellow group 11 C of the same colour chart) 70 mm wide with the colours of the flag of Mauritius running vertically in the middle in segments each 4 mm wide.

The colours of the flag (from left to right) shall be as per the following British Standard Colour Code:
 * Red	-	0.005
 * Blue	-	7.086
 * Yellow	-	0.001
 * Green	-	0.010"

Recipients

 * Grand Commanders of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK)

Grand Officers of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GOSK)