1. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of –
(a) a Policy Intervention Committee on Textile under the chairmanship of the Acting Prime Minister and comprising Ministers and representatives of the Private Sector with a view to examining and intervening on policy issues identified by the Textile Emergency Support Team (TEST); and
(b) the TEST, which will be a joint public-private sector team and which will comprise two representatives of the private sector and one representative each of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and International Trade, the EPZDA and the NPCC, to inter-alia, act as a driving force for the restructuring of textile and clothing companies, and to undertake, with the assistance of experts, a corporate diagnosis of individual companies using performance benchmarks with a view to identifying their strengths and weaknesses in areas such as management, organisation, production, finance and marketing.
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2. After taking cognizance that the WHO has lifted its recommendations for the screening of travellers at embarkation countries previously affected by SARS, Cabinet has decided that all restrictions on travel imposed on nationals of countries affected by SARS, as well as on the recruitment of workers from those countries, should be lifted as from 1 August. However, surveillance on suspected cases will continue to be maintained. Cabinet has also taken note that Air Mauritius will resume its air services to Hong Kong as from 20 August 2003.
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3. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Horse Racing Bill which provides inter alia for the establishment of a Horse Racing Board to regulate horse racing activities, promote transparency and democratisation in the organisation of horse racing, exercise better control over betting activities and protect the betting public.
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4. Cabinet has taken note that, except for 10 officers, all public officers have opted for the 2003 PRB Report.
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5. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Finance which is considering a revision of tax on the importation of new and second-hand cars, will submit its recommendations to Cabinet next week.
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6. Cabinet has taken note that the Acting Prime Minister, accompanied by the Minister of Local Government and Rodrigues and the Minister of Environment, will meet the “forces vives” of Mare Chicose on 18 July 2003 in connection with the landfill there.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that two persons had disappeared at sea on 7 July 2003 and that searches to find them were on-going.
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8. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Environment will undertake an integrated infrastructural and landscaping project at Pointe des Lascars with a view to uplifting the village and to boosting up its economic outlook.
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the introduction of a new licensing regime by the ICT Authority to take care of the emerging services in the ICT Sector including the telecommunications sector.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of the Code of Conduct for a Conflict-free Workplace which provides guidelines to social partners to address industrial relations issues in a more productive way with a view to minimising conflicts at the workplace.
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11. Cabinet has taken note that the Mauritius Marine Conservation Society will continue exploration works on two shipwrecks, viz., “Le Sirius” and “La Magicienne” for a period of 14 months as from end of July 2003.
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12. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the missions of –
(a) the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources to Poland where he had a meeting with the Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development responsible for Common Agricultural Policy matters and to Strasbourg where he had met Mr F. Fischler, Commissioner of the EU;
(b) the Minister of Health and Quality of Life to Lesotho where he attended the SADC HIV/AIDS Summit; and
(c) the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice & Human Rights to Paris where he attended the fourth meeting of the “Bureau de Suivi” of Ministers of Justice from Francophone countries.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of –
(a) the African Union Trade Ministers’ Meeting held in Mauritius on 19 and 20 June 2003; and
(b) the CJSOI Experts Meeting for Youth and Sports held in Madagascar from 28 to 30 May.
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14. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the National Solidarity Fund under the chairmanship of Mr Kalamazad Joomun.
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