1. Cabinet has agreed to the installation and operation of a desalination plant in Rodrigues to cope with the acute and frequent water shortages. The plant is expected to produce 1,000 cubic metres of desalinated potable water daily.
A unit of the Central Water Authority would be set up in Rodrigues with a view to ensuring an effective and efficient management of the water situation, including the construction of new dams and service reservoirs.
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2.Cabinet has agreed to the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on Solid Waste Disposal chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. These include-
(a) immediate action being taken for the extension of the Mare Chicose Sanitary Landfill;
(b) the preparation and implementation of a National Action Plan for solid waste minimization;
(c) the implementation of a Solid Waste Management Programme incorporating solid waste collection, transportation, storage, recycling, waste incineration as well as legal and institutional reforms; and
(d) the commissioning of an incinerator by 2005.
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3.Cabinet has agreed to the release of the report on "An Integrated Training Strategy for the New Millennium" prepared by Mr Anthony Twigger, ILO Consultant. A Task Force comprising representatives of the public and private sectors, tertiary educational institutions and trade unions would be set up to address the issues raised in the report, to discuss the various options suggested and to come up with a National Training Strategy.
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4.Cabinet has agreed to the release of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on doping at the Mauritius Amateur Weightlifters and Powerlifters Federation. The Commission chaired by Mr Jacques Benjamin Gerard Marie-Joseph, Magistrate, has made a number of recommendations including test in suspected cases of doping in olympic and non-olympic sport disciplines, the mounting of sensitization and information campaigns against doping and amendments to the Sports Act to provide for penalties against federations whose athletes are found positive.
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5.Cabinet has taken note of the holding of the 6th Annual General Meeting of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO) in July 2001 in Mauritius.
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6.Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Mauritius Sugar Terminal Board with Mr. Satianan Pahladi as Chairman.
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7.Cabinet has approved the programme of visit to Rodrigues of the delegation which the Prime Minister will lead from 14 to 16 February.
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8.Cabinet has taken note that necessary arrangements have been made to enable Haj pilgrims to proceed to Mecca under the best conditions.
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9.Cabinet has set up a Ministerial Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to sensitize the public on the Prime Minister's Gujarat Relief Fund which has been instituted to raise funds in favour of the victims of the earthquake in the Indian state of Gujarat.
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10.Cabinet has taken note that the National Computer Board proposes to organise a "fête de l’internet" from 2 to 4 March with a view to democratising access to and promoting awareness about the evolution and opportunities offered by the Internet.
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