1. Cabinet has agreed to the terms of reference of the Ad hoc committee set up under the chairmanship of Mr. Dyachand Heeralall, C.M.G. to look into representations of alleged anomalies arising out of the PRB Report 1998 and PRB (Errors, Omissions & Clarifications) Report 1999. Cabinet has also agreed to the nomination of Mrs. Sylvie Dupre and Mr. Mahomed Achmed Musbally as the two assessors of the Committee.
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2. Cabinet has agreed to the ratification of the Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements between Mauritius and the Republic of Mozambique. This would facilitate the entry into Mozambique of Mauritian nationals, especially our business community.
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3. Cabinet has been apprised of developments in the implementation of the Midlands Dam Project and has taken note that a final reply from the Funding Agencies is being awaited;
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4. Cabinet has agreed to a letter of comfort being issued as a guarantee by Government to the DBM Ltd. in favour of the Sugar Cane Planters Trust so as to enable the latter to contract a loan to meet expenses in connection with the plantation,post planting operations and harvest.
The Trust groups 464 former tea small holders and is presently managing a total area of 231 arpents.
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5. Cabinet has been apprised of progress in the implementation of the Rivulet Terre Rouge Estuary Bird Sanctuary Project, and has agreed to the Rivulet being proclaimed as a Reserve under the Wildlife and Natural Parks Act 1993.
Projects on the site will consist amongst others of landscaping works, construction of a visitors' Centre and a car park.
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6. Cabinet has been apprised that the Electoral Commissioner's Office will put on sale as from next week, Register of Electors, on CD-ROM; printed copies of Registers will however continue to be sold;
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7. Government took note of the grant of Certificates of Registration to 8 new small and medium enterprises as recommended by the Small and Medium Industries Development Committee.
These 8 new enterprises (including those in Rodrigues) will be engaged inter alia in the preparation of pastries, grinding and packing of foodstuffs, in screen printing of garments and in the manufacture of concrete blocks, slabs and rocksand.
It is expected that these projects will give rise to investment in production equipment of approximately Rs 10.8M and create around 61 new jobs. The three enterprises in Rodrigues will provide employment opportunities to 8 persons.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the project for upgrading of the Plaine Corail-Port Mathurin Road in Rodrigues by the Road Development Authority. The first phase of the project will be executed between Plaine Corail and Grand La Fouche.
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9. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius adhering to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). The objectives of the International IDEA are to:-
(i) provide and advance sustainable democracy worldwide;
(ii) improve and consolidate electoral procedures;
(iii) increase knowledge about elections and election observation;
(iv) promote transparency, accountability, professionalism, and efficiency
in elections in the context of democratic development; and
(v) develop and provide norms, roles, and guidelines that apply to
multi-party pluralism and democratic process.
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10. Cabinet has agreed to the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mozambican Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on Co-operation in the redevelopment of the Agro-Industrial Complex of Buzi in Mozambique.
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11. Cabinet has considered and agreed to the revised criteria under which the Private Secondary Schools Authority gives grants to private Secondary Schools. It has been decided that Schools having lesser students than the economically viable figure of 150 will not be eligible for any grant.
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12. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Management Committee for Marine parks under the chairmanship of the Principal Fisheries Officer.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the following meetings attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Trade:
(a) Consultative Workshop on the Post Lome (IV) Arrangement Negotiations held in Paris on 22 and 23 July 1999;
(b) 69th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers held in Brussels from 25 to 28 July, 1999;
(c) 24th Session of ACP-EU Council of Ministers held in Brussels on 29 July 1999; and
(d) Second ACP-EU Ministerial Negotiations Conference held in Brussels on
29 and 30 July 1999.
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14. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent Mission of the Minister of Finance to Nepal where he signed the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and the Agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection between Nepal and Mauritius.
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15. Cabinet has been apprised of -
(i) the notification of the State Trading Enterprises that Mauritius proposes to make to the WTO in respect of the Agricultural Marketing Board, Mauritius Meat Authority; Tea Board; State Trading Corporation and Tobacco Board; and
(ii) the outcome of 13th Meeting of SADC Industry and Trade Committee of Ministers which was held in Gaborone, Botswana on 14 July and which was preceded by the Meeting of Senior Officials on 12 and 13 July, 1999, and the Meeting of the Trade Negotiating Forum from 7 to 10 July, 1999. The Mauritian delegation to the Ministerial Meeting was led by the Minister of Economic Development, Productivity & Regional Development;
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16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the 6th International Co-operative Alliance African Ministerial Co-operative Conference for the Region of East, Central and Southern Africa which was held in Swaziland from 4 to 6 August 1999, and which was attended by the Minister of Fisheries & Co-operatives.
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17. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Mauritius Accounting and Auditing Standards Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Jaylall Bungsy, Chief Manager of Finance at SIFB.
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18. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Co-operative Development Council under the chairmanship of Mr. Benjamin Raphael Moutou.
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