1.Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Education & Scientific Research proceeding with the construction of pre-primary units on a Build, Lease and Transfer basis as announced in the last Budget Speech. Under the scheme some 193 additional classrooms costing approximately Rs100M will be constructed.
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2.Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of National Safety Guidelines which outline the procedures necessary for the safe application of genetic modification in Mauritius. They recommend practices and precautionary approaches to ensure the safe application of Genetically Modified Organisms so as to protect the country from any adverse effect to human and animal health or the environment.
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3.Cabinet has agreed to a new Veterinary Services (Duties and Powers) Bill. The object of the Bill is to repeal and update the existing legislation relating to the control and regulation of animals and by products, animal feed, food of animal origin and veterinary drugs. The Bill also makes better provision in respect of the duties and powers of veterinary services. This will help in the modernisation of the veterinary services.
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4.Cabinet has decided that the dialysis service presently offered by the National Trust Fund for Renal Dialysis Treatment will be integrated within the public health services. Such a measure will enable the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to cope with the increasing number of cases.
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5.Cabinet has agreed to a project for the construction of 1500 (shell) housing units in different regions of the island. This project targets the very low income households and will be undertaken by the NHDC.
A first batch of houses is expected to be ready by July 2000 and the remaining will be completed by February 2001.
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6.Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Arts and Culture organising the Christmas Festival at national level on Saturday 18 December, 1999 at 1900 hours at the Leisure Ground, St. Antoine, Goodlands.
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7.Cabinet has agreed to the issue of a Housing Development Certificate to Splendid Housing Development Co. Ltd. for a housing development project relating to the construction of 200 units at Albion, out of which 60 units will be in favour of the low income group.
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8.Cabinet has agreed to the issue of a Land Conversion Permit to Waqf-Ul-Lillah, a religious organisation of Plaine des Papayes, in respect of a plot of land for the setting up of an educational centre for islamic studies in the locality.
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9.Cabinet has agreed to Societé des Plantations de Bois Chéri benefitting facilities as provided for under the SIE Act for the subdivision of a plot of land for the rehousing of the inhabitants of Bois Chéri Cité Ouvrière. The project is similar to those being implemented by Sugar Estates with a view to eliminate camps and upgrade the conditions of living of the workers.
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10.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of mission of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in -
· · (i) the Second Summit of ACP Heads of State and Government held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from 25 to 26 November, 1999;
(ii) the 3rd WTO Ministerial Conference held in Seatle, USA from 27 November to 3 December, 1999;
(iii) Reunion Ministerial de suivi de la Conference des Chefs d’Etat et de Gouvernement d’Afrique et de France, held on 7 December, 1999 in Paris; and
(iv) ACP and ACP-EU Ministerial Meetings and Third ACP -EU Ministerial Netotiating Conference held in Brussels from 5 to 9 December, 1999.
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11.Cabinet has been apprised of progress made in the organisation of the Millenium Event Cum Show to be held on 31 December, 1999 at the Port Louis Waterfront.
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12.Cabinet has taken note of recommendations made in respect of the study for the construction of a second carriageway to the road from Nouvelle France to Plaine Magnien which was entrusted to the BCEOM, a French consultancy firm, by the Road Development Authority.
The road will be about 12km long. To improve safety of road users, particularly pedestrians, underpasses will be constructed at New Grove, and Mare D’Albert. Street lighting would also be provided all along the road.
Works are expected to start in April next year.