1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Constitution of Mauritius (Amendment) Bill and the Dangerous Drugs Bill into the National Assembly. The object of the first Bill is to enable police to detain a suspected drug dealer for a period not exceeding 36 hours during which the suspect shall have no access to any person, other than a police officer not below the rank of Inspector or a Government Medical Officer. The Dangerous Drugs Bill aims at consolidating the law relating to dangerous drugs with a view to ensure better control.
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· 2. Cabinet has approved the grant of 8 Export Enterprise Certificates and 6 Pioneer Status Enterprise Certificates under the Industrial Expansion Act, 1993. Investment will be made, inter alia, in the recycling of textile wastes into garments, manufacture of knitted and high quality garments, DVD, VCD, CD players and audio speaker system, development of software, provision of information technology services and consultancy services in production engineering and quality management.
The implementation of these projects will create some 500 job opportunities and will entail investment amounting to around Rs 118 million.
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· 3. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Government Livestock Quarantine Station at La Ferme to accommodate around 2000 animals including cattle, goat and sheep. This will enable better control over their movement and thus minimize the risk of contamination and propagation of disease among other animal stock.
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· 4. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Ministerial Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity & Senior Citizen Welfare and Reforms Institutions to look into the problem of substance abuse and to come up with a Policy Paper which will serve as guidelines to prepare prevention programmes.
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· 5. Cabinet has agreed to an amendment being brought to the National Savings Fund (Claims and Payment) Regulations 1997 to allow payment of lump sum to beneficiaries who retire at the age of 45 on medical grounds or because of redundancy.
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· 6. Cabinet has approved the grant of Development Certificates to -
(a) Apavou Le Morne Ltée for the construction of a 250 room hotel. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 850 million and 500 direct employment will be created;
(b) Mauriplage Investment Co Ltd for the construction of a 94 room hotel. at Flic en Flac. The project will cost Rs 280 million and will create 160 direct employment; and
(c) Kart Loisir Co Ltd for the operation of a leisure karting complex at Petite Rivière. The project involves an investment of Rs 25.5M and will provide direct employment to 40 persons.
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· 7. Cabinet has approved the grant of a hotel Management Service Certificate to Mauritius Travel & Tourist Bureau Ltd (MTTB) to manage Paul & Virginie Hotel.
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· 8. Cabinet has agreed to a new scheme being introduced for all "CPE double failures" with a view to providing them with basic literacy, numerary and other skills as a first step towards the implementation of the 11-year schooling system. Under this new scheme, students will be accommodated in specially set up prevocational classes with specially designed curriculum.
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· 9. Cabinet has agreed to the Minister of Youth and Sports signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of sports with the State of Western Australia to encourage fruitful collaboration in sports, training and research development in the field of sports between the two countries.
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· 10. Following the recent increase in the price of petrol, Cabinet has agreed to a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Administrative Reforms to revise with effect from 1 December 2000 the various rates of travelling and petrol allowances applicable in the public sector. A circular to that effect is being issued.
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· 11. Cabinet has taken note of the Report of the Fact Finding Committee set up to enquire into the causes of the black out of 21 September 2000 and the long delay in restoration of power supply and agreed to implement the recommendations of the Report.
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· 12. Cabinet has been apprised of the situation following the outbreak of the mad cow disease in Europe and the precautionary measures being taken in Mauritius including a ban on importation of all meat and meat products from Europe.
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· 13. Cabinet has taken note of –
(a) the reconstitution of the Board of the Export Processing Zone Development Authority (EPZDA), under the Chairmanship of Mr Olivier Lew Kew Lin;
(b) the reconstitution of the Board of the National Agency for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Substance Abusers (NATRESA) under the Chairmanship of Mr Lindsay Morvan;
(c) the reconstitution of the Co-operative Development Council, under the Chairmanship of Mr Keeshorlal Gungah;
(d) the outcome of the meeting of African Trade Ministers held in Libreville, Gabon from 13 to 15 November, 2000. The Mauritian delegation was led by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and International Trade;
(e) the outcome of mission of the Minister of Health and Quality of Life to Reunion Island where he participated in the "4èmes Journées Médicales et Pharmaceutiques de l’Océan Indien" from 9 to 11 November, 2000;
(f) the outcome of mission of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice & Human Rights to Zambia where he attended the SADC Ministerial Meeting on the SADC Draft Protocol against corruption on 23 and 24 November;
(g) the outcome of the recent pre-Hadj Mission led by the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
(h) the school terms for the year 2001 in both primary and secondary schools; for primary schools, admission of new entrants to Standard I has been scheduled for Monday 8 January, whereas all other classes will resume on Tuesday 9 January. With regard to secondary schools, studies will start on Monday 8 January;
(i) the action being undertaken to assess the situation in the pre-school sector with a view to addressing problems facing this sector;
(j) the forthcoming visit of Mr Anthony Twigger, ILO Consultant, from 4 to 19 December to assist in the development of a national training strategy in line with our National Development strategy. The Expert will also examine the demand and supply of labour in Mauritius and will advise on training methodologies to meet our requirements for the coming five years; and
(k) action being taken by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research for the supply of packed pasteurised milk to primary school children as from next year.
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