1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Public Security Bill. The main object of the Bill is to include in one enactment a number of provisions deemed necessary in order to ensure that serious threats to public safety and public order are adequately controlled and appropriately punished. It also creates new offences with appropriate penalties in relation to terrorism, riot, violent disorder, incitement to racial hatred or possession of firearm and interference with witnesses.
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2.Cabinet has reviewed progress of works being undertaken by the Airports of Mauritius Company Ltd at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Cabinet has simultaneously approved a ten-year development plan as proposed by the company. The development plan has been prepared with the assistance of the British Airport Authority and provides for a phased development of facilities at the airport to match forecast demand.The first phase will cater for immediate needs at the airport and will comprise:
(i) the refurbishing and extension of the departure lounge with provision for duty-free facilities, food court and bookshop;
(ii) the construction of a new arrival hall on the ground floor with duty-free shops, two baggage reclaim-carousels, customs hall, public welcomers hall and tour operators hall; and
(iii) the refurbishment and extension of the VIP lounge and the Business lounge.
Works are estimated to cost around Rs 360 Million and are scheduled to be completed by March 2000 although the new hall for arriving passengers will be ready by the 15th of this month.
The second phase will start immediately after phase one in order to meet expected growth of traffic by year 2004. The third phase will be implemented thereafter. All these changes will bring a dramatic improvement to facilities provided at the airport. The development plan also contains a land use plan to maximise the use of valuable land resources at the airport.
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3.Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Protected Cell Companies Bill. The aim of the Bill is to provide the possibility for a company operating in the Mauritian Offshore Sector to create separate cells within the same company with the objective of separating the assets, and by extension the liabilities attributable to each cell of the company. The rationale for such a corporate structure is to enable a multiple of activities to be conducted cost effectively within one legal entity while at the same time protecting each activity from any "contagion" of the other. The protected cell company structure is relatively new and it will provide our laws with the best international practices and therefore enhancing the competitiveness of our jurisdiction and attracting offshore business of substantial value to Mauritius.
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4.Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Environment Protection (Amendment) Bill. The object of the Bill is to provide for the imposition of an environment protection fee on a limited number of enterprises such as hotels and boarding houses of more than four bedrooms in order to raise funds for the promotion of local environmental initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing pollution.
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5. In view of the severe drought which has affected the factory areas specially in the northern region, Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources providing free of charge cane setts to small planters owning up to 25 arpents
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6.Cabinet has agreed to a National Youth Policy which aims at creating the supporting and enabling conditions for youth empowerment to take place. Steps will now be taken to formulate a plan of action for the youth.
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7.Cabinet has agreed to the grant of Rs 2.50 per kg of green leaf to some 420 private tea planters of the Grand Port Savanne region for the period 1 August 1998 to 13 April 1999 with a view to compensating them for a shortfall in revenue.
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8.Cabinet has taken note of the Report of the Pay Research Bureau in respect of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation.
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9. Cabinet has approved the grant of the following industrial investment certificates under the Industrial Expansion Act, 1993:
(i) 1 Export Enterprise Certificate; and
(ii) 2 Pioneer Status Enterprise Certificates.
Investment will be made inter-alia in the fields of data processing, manufacture of audio magnetic tape and street lighting. The implementation of the three(3) projects would create some 52 job opportunities and would entail investment amounting to around Rs 34 million.
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10.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Fifth Meeting of the British Mauritian Fisheries Commission (BMFC) held in Port Louis on 1 December,1999.
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11.Cabinet has taken note of the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden under the Chairmanship of Mr Paul Jones.