1. Cabinet has taken note of and condemned the terrorist attack perpetrated on the Indian Parliament yesterday.
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2. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of:
(a) (a) the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill 2001 which aims at amending the Value Added Tax Act 1998 to provide for the supply of goods and services by the Wastewater Management Authority to be zero-rated; and
(b) (b) the Registration Duty (Amendment) Bill 2001 to amend the Registration Duty Act in order that henceforth, a certificate issued by the Wastewater Management Authority evidencing payment of wastewater fee or rate and the consent of the Authority to the transfer of the property will be required instead of one from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping as is the case presently.
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3. Cabinet has agreed that, as an exceptional measure, the C.W.A. should make necessary arrangements for the provision of services on the sites proposed for development/parcelling by the sugar estates in connection with the implementation of the VRS at a concessionary rate.
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4. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the financing of the Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project to the tune of 35.0m Euro. The project is expected to start in 2003.
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5. Cabinet has taken note of the revised Master Plan for Tourism and Leisure Development at Bel Ombre.
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6. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Workshops on “Engendering the Budgets” organised by the Ministry of Women’s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare in collaboration with the UNDP on 3, 4 and 6 December and agreed to the setting up of a High Level Committee with Mrs Patricia Day-Hookoomsing, Managing Director of CCL Management Consultants, as chairperson to finalise the Action Plan on the “Gender Responsive Budgeting” and to monitor the activities to be undertaken thereunder.
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7. In line with Government’s policy and with a view to ensuring greater transparency, wider national participation and public sensitisation in the running of Government affairs, Cabinet has agreed to International Conventions and Treaties being henceforth referred to the National Assembly for ratification by way of an appropriate motion.
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8. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius ratifying the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation which provides for a mechanism for Member States to assist in promoting peace and security in the region.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that, for the period 1 July to 30 November 2001, the Board of Investment (BOI) has approved 35 projects which will involve investment of Rs 710m in the industrial, manufacturing, hotel, tourism and leisure sectors and create some 1047 jobs.
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10. Cabinet has taken note that Mr Jugdish Rugoobur has been appointed Chairman of the Agricultural Marketing Board.
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11. Cabinet has taken note of –
(a) the Report on the Re-organisation of the Fisheries Sector in Rodrigues and agreed to the setting up of a Committee under the Chairmanship of the Ministry of Fisheries to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained therein; and
(c) (c) the Health Statistics Annual Report for Mauritius for 2000, and the Digest of Vital and Health Statistics for Rodrigues for 2000 published by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life.
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12. Cabinet has taken note of the programme of work of the United Nations Security Council during the Mauritius Presidency in 2002. The main objective of Mauritius will, inter alia be to pursue efforts in the promotion of global peace and security, evaluate the role of the U.N. in conflict prevention and peacekeeping process and to strengthen the relationship between the United Nations Security Council and the regional organisations.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of –
(a) the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources during the first week of December to –
(i) France and the UK where he led a lobbying mission to convince members of the EU on the concept of burden sharing in view of the fact that the Special Preferential Sugar (SPS) quota of ACP countries would decrease progressively following the implementation of Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative; and
(ii) Brussels where he attended the ACP Ministerial Consultations on sugar and the 74th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers.
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(b) the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Co-operation to –
(i) (i) the Czech Republic from 25 to 26 November 2001 where he had discussions with the Head of State and other dignitaries on political and economic relationship between the two countries;
(ii) Zambia from 26 November to 1 December, where he attended the Twelfth Meeting of COMESA Council of Ministers; and
(iii) Nairobi from 3 to 4 December where he had meetings with UNEP Senior staff and discussed environmental problems of Small Island States.
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14. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the publication of textbooks for Upper Primary level.
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