1. Cabinet has agreed to the writing-off of loans amounting to around Rs 6 million contracted by cow breeders in 1987 for the construction of cowsheds and the purchase of heifers. An enquiry conducted by the Management Audit Bureau has revealed inter-alia that breeders had been misled by promises and had suffered undue hardships. Heifers imported were below standard and many of them sterile.
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2. Cabinet has decided that taxi owners would henceforth be eligible to renew their cars every four years instead of 5 years as is presently the case.
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3. Cabinet has been apprised that owners of NHDC houses are facing difficulties to pay their loans over a period of 15 years. Cabinet has accordingly decided that their loan repayment period would be extended from 15 to 25 years, resulting in reduced instalments.
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4. Cabinet has decided to reestablish the needy cowkeepers scheme to assist cowkeepers especially those belonging to the low income group who have lost their animals through accidents such as cyclone, fire, poisoning and certain diseases or through difficult calving and associated problems.
Cowkeepers will benefit from a rebate of 80% on the purchase of a calf.
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5. Government has agreed to set up a new Fish Landing Station at Trou Fanfaron to facilitate the fish landing activities of the fishermen who are no longer operating from the deregistered Fort George fish landing Station and who are presently landing their catch at the Lataniers River Estuary.
Government is taking the necessary steps to equip the Fish Landing Station with the appropriate facilities.
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6. Cabinet has been apprised that the newly built Primary School in Floreal would be operational as from January next year.
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7. Cabinet has agreed to a delegation from the SADC Parliamentary Forum comprising 12 Members of Parliament and some staff of its Secretariat coming to Mauritius as observers for the forthcoming National Assembly Elections. The delegation will be in Mauritius from 8 to 14 September.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the participation of a Mauritian delegation in the 2000 Olympic Games which will be held from 15 September to 10 October 2000 in Sydney, Australia. The 43-member delegation will comprise 23 athletes who will be participating in 8 sport disciplines.
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9. Cabinet has agreed to the Institutions for Welfare and Protection of Children Regulations being made under the Child Protection Act. The regulations set the norms and standards for child-care givers, including home child-care givers. These also set the norms for "Crèches" regarding physical accommodation, security conditions, keeping of records, staffing and the facilities and services offered.
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10. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius ratifying the new ACP-EU Partnership Agreement which replaces the ACP-EU Lomé IV Convention that expired on 29 February 2000. A National Negotiating Committee will be set up to analyse the various options, including advantages and disadvantages, to enable the Government to preserve and promote the vital economic interest of Mauritius in its relation with the European Union. The new agreement (also known as Cotonou Agreement) will be valid for 20 years with effect from 1 March 2000 with a provision for review every five years.
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11. Cabinet has taken note of the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the second phase of the SADC Regional Food Security Training Programme 2000-2005, following the successful implementation of the first phase of the project, started in 1995 which aimed at strengthening the capacity of organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors through a programme of in-service, short course training. The second phase is designed to further develop and strengthen these activities.
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12. Cabinet has agreed to the renewal of the Cultural Exchange Programme between Mauritius and Seychelles for the years 2000-2002, under the Mauritius-Seychellles Commission on Bilateral Co-operation.
The new Programme provides for the exchange of artistic and cultural delegations, restoration of archival documents, holding of workshops and the preservation of traditional dance and music.
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