1.Cabinet took note of the consultations that the Mauritian delegation had with the OECD Forum on Harmful Tax Practices in Paris on 1 September 1999. The official delegation, led by the Financial Secretary, carefully explained to the OECD the development strategy of Mauritius, the role of the international financial services sector and our taxation policy. The case was forcefully made that Mauritius does not meet any to the OECD’s tax haven criteria and should therefore not be classified as a tax haven. The willingness by Mauritius to enter into cooperative dialogue with the OECD on this matter was agreed.
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2.Cabinet has decided to introduce the Public Security Bill into the National Assembly on resumption. The Bill will make better provision for the maintenance and preservation of public safety and public order. The legislation will create new offences in relation to violence linked to terrorism, riots, violent disorder, football hooliganism and incitement to racial hatred and will provide stiff penalties in respect of these offences.
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3.In line with its policy to promote home-ownership in the country, Government has taken the decision to set up a Technical Committee, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Serge Petit, to work on modalities including amendment of the law, on how to help make low-income earners, who are lessees of State land, to become owners of the land with a view to improving social housing island-wide.
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4.Cabinet has agreed to pay a compensation to all ex-employees of the Development Works Corporation who were laid off on 10 July 1992, following a one-day strike. Government is pleased to announce that payment will be effected by the Development Works Corporation on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 September at the Development Works Corporation headquarters in Port Louis.
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5.Cabinet has approved the grant of 4 Export Enterprise Certificates and 1 Pioneer Status Enterprise Certificate under the Industrial Expansion Act, 1993. Investment will be made inter-alia in the fields of manufacture of textile products, furniture and assembly of computers. The implementation of these projects would create some 165 job opportunities and would entail investment amounting to around Rs 35.6 million
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6.Cabinet has approved the grant of a lease at Riviere la Chaux, Mahebourg, of an extent of 09A43 for the construction of a hotel complex. Investment in the project will amount to over Rs 200 Million and the hotel will employ some 180 persons.
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7.Cabinet has taken note that the proposed project of an educational institution at Ilot, Pamplemousses, will provide classes up to HSC in academic subjects as well as in Indian Language/Music/Dances, a library, space for mounting programmes in Indian Studies and Music, Fine and Creative Arts and for holding exhibition/Arts Gallery, a language laboratory as well as an auditorium for cultural presentations
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8.Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius hosting the Eighth Session of the FAO Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheries in the South West Indian Ocean in January next year. The Committee will enable representatives of the countries of the Indian Ocean to discuss the prospects of fisheries development and management on a regional basis and also allow them to share experience and exchange information.
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