1.Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of a Bill in the National Assembly, which would provide for the setting up of an Oceanography Institute.
The Institute will be responsible for the promotion of scientific research, oceanography and marine science, and the better management of the marine resources of our maritime zone. It will also play a pivotal role in monitoring our sovereign rights and act as the scientific guardian of our ocean heritage.
The Institute will mobilise local scientists for participation in the Shoal of Capricorn scientific expedition in the Indian Ocean organised by the royal geographic society.
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2.Cabinet has approved the closure of Bel Ombre Sugar Factory with effect from the end of the 1998 crop, provided that the applicants agree to comply with conditions prescribed by Government in respect of disposal of canes, sugar recovery, package for planters, package for employees, health and safety, the protection of the environment and measures with regard to the conveyance of cane. Consequently, the canes of the Bel Ombre Factory area will be transferred to Medine, St. Felix and St. Aubin sugar factories.
The closure of the Bel Ombre sugar factory comes within the policy of Government, as laid down in the Blue Print on the Centralisation of Sugar Milling operations in Mauritius.
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3.Cabinet has taken note of the Bilateral Air Services Talks between Mauritius and U.K. held in Port Louis on 26 and 27 May, 1999.
As a positive outcome of the talks, Air Mauritius will be able to operate five weekly services to the U.K., of which four will be operated to Heathrow airport, and British Airways will be able to operate five weekly services to Mauritius, of which up to three will be non-stop services. Up to that date these Airlines were operating only three weekly services each on the Mauritius/UK sector.
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4.Cabinet has taken note that the US Software Company, Microsoft, will be holding its African Partner Summit in Mauritius at Le Coco Beach Hotel, Belle Mare, from 23 to 27 June, 1999. This Summit is the premier partner event of the year for theMicrosoft South East African and Indian Ocean Islands region. Around 200 delegates from more than 12 countries will attend.
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5.Cabinet has taken note of the actions being undertaken in view of the coming into operation of the Public Procurement Transparency and Equity Act. This legislation which replaces the Central Tender Board Act is tentatively scheduled to come into force in early September 1999.
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6.Cabinet has agreed to the review of the Mauritius Merchant Shipping Act 1986 so as to be able to cope with the exigencies arising from the recent accession by Mauritius to several International Maritime Conventions, new development in shipping technologies and to be compatible with other legislations, namely the Ports Act and Environment Protection Act.
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7.Cabinet has agreed to a proposal to review the Scholarship Scheme in favour of children of registered fishermen.
The four scholarships presently available to HSC students, will henceforth be opened to candidates who opt either for further studies or for vocational training in an institution recognised by the Ministry of Education & Scientific Research or the IVTB.
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8.With a view to ensuring a rational use of the grants payable to the different ex-servicemen associations for the benefit of ex-servicemen, Cabinet has agreed that provision be made in the forthcoming budget for the grants to be paid to the Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund only, on which the other ex-servicemen associations are represented.
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9.The CEB has been receiving numerous requests from the public for either replacement of bare conductors by insulated cable or displacement of poles for safety reasons. Government has agreed to participate in the financing of these works, for the benefit of consumers, to an amount of Rs 25 million this year.
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10.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the meetings of the policy organs of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) which were held from 13 to 25 May 1999 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Minister of Economic Development, Productivity and Regional Development led the Mauritian delegation to the Summit and Council meetings. The next COMESA Summit would be held in Mauritius in the year 2000.
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11.Cabinet has taken note of a report on the latest assessment of the incidence of the drought on the 1999 sugar crop.
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12.Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Town and Country Planning Board under the chairmanship of Mr. J. M. Simonet, Principal Assistant Secretary.
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