1.Cabinet, taking note that the war against Iraq started yesterday, reiterated the stand of Government that the war was avoidable at that point in time. Cabinet has also taken note that a Committee, set up under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to consider measures to reduce the impact of the war on the Mauritian economy, will continue to monitor the situation closely.
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2.Cabinet has taken note that following the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) notified by the WHO on 15 March 2003, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life has taken all preventive measures, including emergency procedures and the need for surveillance of passengers coming to Mauritius from high risk regions. Cabinet has also taken note that there was no case of SARS in Mauritius as reported in the local press.
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3.Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the following Bills into the National Assembly –
(a) the Chemical Weapons Convention Bill which -
(i) provides inter alia for the creation of a National Authority to act as a national focal point to liaise with other State parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; and
(ii) prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition and use of chemical weapons;
(b) the Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Bill which amends the Geneva Conventions Act to inter alia incorporate the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the Protection of War Victims;
(c) a new National Children Council Bill which provides inter alia for –
(i) the setting up of the National Children’s Council and of a National Children’s Committee comprising boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 18 elected from children’s organisations registered with the Council; and
(ii) the harmonization of the main objects of the Council with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
(d) the Competition Bill which establishes the legal framework for the control of restrictive business practices with a view to enhancing competition in Mauritius through measures designed to promote efficiency, adaptability and competitiveness in the economy for the end purpose of widening the range of customer choice in obtaining goods and services at a fairer and more competitive price; and
(e) the Mohunlall Mohith Foundation (Amendment) Bill which amends the Mohunlall Mohith Foundation Act to provide for the promotion of studies in Indian Culture as one of its objects.
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4.Cabinet has agreed to the National Remuneration Board being requested to amend the Export Enterprises (Remuneration Order) Regulations to increase the subsistence allowance payable to EPZ workers from Rs 10 to Rs 25.
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5.Cabinet has agreed to the Strategic Plan for the Non-Sugar Sector which re-orientates the non-sugar sector with a view to promoting a transition from the traditional practices towards a more sophisticated, technology-based approach with focus on attaining a certain degree of self-sufficiency and developing the local agro-processing industry.
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6.Cabinet has agreed to provide emergency financial assistance to Rodriguans who have suffered losses during the passage of Cyclone Kalunde and to the Ministry of Finance disbursing additional funds to meet the cost of infrastructure rehabilitation works.
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7.Cabinet has taken note of the latest developments regarding negotiations in Agriculture at the WTO and of the course of action which Mauritius proposes to adopt in forthcoming negotiations.
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8.Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Commerce and Cooperatives will make new Consumer Protection (Trade Fairs and Exhibitions) Regulations aiming at reducing the number of trade fairs and ensuring the physical protection and security of visitors and buyers.
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9.Cabinet has taken note that Dr E. Wangari, Senior Programme Specialist and Chief of Africa Unit, UNESCO, World Heritage Centre and Mr P.H. Saliba, Consultant, World Heritage Centre, would visit Mauritius in April to inter alia conduct a Workshop on Cultural Heritage Sites for the benefit of all stakeholders and produce a tentative list of cultural heritage sites for eventual consideration by the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO.
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10.Cabinet has taken note that the Area Control Centre of the Department of Civil Aviation which is equipped with a new Communication Navigation Surveillance (Air Traffic Management), is operational as from 5 March 2003.
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11.Cabinet has agreed to setting up of a Joint Working Group on Textiles between the Ministry of Textile of the Government of India and the Ministry of Industry and International Trade with a view to promoting partnership in the textile sector between the two countries.
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12.Cabinet has taken note of the latest position regarding the control/eradication programme of crow birds and of remedial action taken to solve the problems of pigeons which are invading certain sites in Mauritius.
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13.Cabinet has taken note of the activities organised by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to mark the World Tuberculosis Day 2003.
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14.Cabinet has taken note that the Board of Investment has approved 11 new projects in the Industrial and ICT Sectors during the period 4 February to 17 March 2003. The projects necessitate a total investment of around Rs 700.3m with Foreign Direct Investment estimated at Rs 87.3m and create 460 new jobs.
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15.Cabinet has taken note of the constitution of –
(a) the Board of the Mauritius Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) under the chairmanship of Mr Marday Venketasamy, C.S.K.;
(b) the Board of the Mauritius Film Development Corporation under the chairmanship of Mr Madhukar Narrain. Mr Selven Naidu has been appointed General Manager of the Corporation;
(c) the SUBEX-M Management Committee under the chairmanship of Mr Jacques Madeleine;
(d) the Pharmacy Board under the chairmanship of Dr R.S. Sungkur, Chief Medical Officer and of other Committees set up under the Pharmacy Act; and
(e) the National Heritage Trust Fund Board under the chairmanship of Mr P. La Hausse de la Louvière.
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16.Cabinet has taken note of the missions of –
(a) the Minister of Industry and International Trade to Hong Kong from 13 to 17 February, where he discussed further cooperation with Hong Kong institutions on the upgrading of the textile and garment sector and studied their experiences in managing the transition from a labour-intensive textile-oriented industry to that of an innovative and high tech sector;
(b) the Minister of Education and Scientific Research to Seychelles from 12 to 14 March, where he attended a meeting of Commonwealth Ministers of Education on the setting up of a Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth;
(c) the Minister of Fisheries to Rome from 24 to 28 February, where he attended the Twenty Fifth Session of the Committee on Fisheries;
(d) the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications to Mozambique from 10 to 15 March, where he participated in the SADC Communications Investment Forum; and
(e) the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice & Human Rights to Netherlands from 8 to 13 March, where he attended the inaugural session of the International Criminal Court.
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1.Cabinet, taking note that the war against Iraq started yesterday, reiterated the stand of Government that the war was avoidable at that point in time. Cabinet has also taken note that a Committee, set up under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to consider measures to reduce the impact of the war on the Mauritian economy, will continue to monitor the situation closely.
_______________________________
2.Cabinet has taken note that following the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) notified by the WHO on 15 March 2003, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life has taken all preventive measures, including emergency procedures and the need for surveillance of passengers coming to Mauritius from high risk regions. Cabinet has also taken note that there was no case of SARS in Mauritius as reported in the local press.
_______________________________
3.Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the following Bills into the National Assembly –
(a) the Chemical Weapons Convention Bill which -
(i) provides inter alia for the creation of a National Authority to act as a national focal point to liaise with other State parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; and
(ii) prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition and use of chemical weapons;
(b) the Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Bill which amends the Geneva Conventions Act to inter alia incorporate the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 for the Protection of War Victims;
(c) a new National Children Council Bill which provides inter alia for –
(i) the setting up of the National Children’s Council and of a National Children’s Committee comprising boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 18 elected from children’s organisations registered with the Council; and
(ii) the harmonization of the main objects of the Council with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
(d) the Competition Bill which establishes the legal framework for the control of restrictive business practices with a view to enhancing competition in Mauritius through measures designed to promote efficiency, adaptability and competitiveness in the economy for the end purpose of widening the range of customer choice in obtaining goods and services at a fairer and more competitive price; and
(e) the Mohunlall Mohith Foundation (Amendment) Bill which amends the Mohunlall Mohith Foundation Act to provide for the promotion of studies in Indian Culture as one of its objects.
_______________________________
4.Cabinet has agreed to the National Remuneration Board being requested to amend the Export Enterprises (Remuneration Order) Regulations to increase the subsistence allowance payable to EPZ workers from Rs 10 to Rs 25.
_______________________________
5.Cabinet has agreed to the Strategic Plan for the Non-Sugar Sector which re-orientates the non-sugar sector with a view to promoting a transition from the traditional practices towards a more sophisticated, technology-based approach with focus on attaining a certain degree of self-sufficiency and developing the local agro-processing industry.
_______________________________
6.Cabinet has agreed to provide emergency financial assistance to Rodriguans who have suffered losses during the passage of Cyclone Kalunde and to the Ministry of Finance disbursing additional funds to meet the cost of infrastructure rehabilitation works.
_______________________________
7.Cabinet has taken note of the latest developments regarding negotiations in Agriculture at the WTO and of the course of action which Mauritius proposes to adopt in forthcoming negotiations.
_______________________________
8.Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Commerce and Cooperatives will make new Consumer Protection (Trade Fairs and Exhibitions) Regulations aiming at reducing the number of trade fairs and ensuring the physical protection and security of visitors and buyers.
_______________________________
9.Cabinet has taken note that Dr E. Wangari, Senior Programme Specialist and Chief of Africa Unit, UNESCO, World Heritage Centre and Mr P.H. Saliba, Consultant, World Heritage Centre, would visit Mauritius in April to inter alia conduct a Workshop on Cultural Heritage Sites for the benefit of all stakeholders and produce a tentative list of cultural heritage sites for eventual consideration by the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO.
_______________________________
10.Cabinet has taken note that the Area Control Centre of the Department of Civil Aviation which is equipped with a new Communication Navigation Surveillance (Air Traffic Management), is operational as from 5 March 2003.
_______________________________
11.Cabinet has agreed to setting up of a Joint Working Group on Textiles between the Ministry of Textile of the Government of India and the Ministry of Industry and International Trade with a view to promoting partnership in the textile sector between the two countries.
_______________________________
12.Cabinet has taken note of the latest position regarding the control/eradication programme of crow birds and of remedial action taken to solve the problems of pigeons which are invading certain sites in Mauritius.
_______________________________
13.Cabinet has taken note of the activities organised by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to mark the World Tuberculosis Day 2003.
_______________________________
14.Cabinet has taken note that the Board of Investment has approved 11 new projects in the Industrial and ICT Sectors during the period 4 February to 17 March 2003. The projects necessitate a total investment of around Rs 700.3m with Foreign Direct Investment estimated at Rs 87.3m and create 460 new jobs.
_______________________________
15.Cabinet has taken note of the constitution of –
(a) the Board of the Mauritius Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) under the chairmanship of Mr Marday Venketasamy, C.S.K.;
(b) the Board of the Mauritius Film Development Corporation under the chairmanship of Mr Madhukar Narrain. Mr Selven Naidu has been appointed General Manager of the Corporation;
(c) the SUBEX-M Management Committee under the chairmanship of Mr Jacques Madeleine;
(d) the Pharmacy Board under the chairmanship of Dr R.S. Sungkur, Chief Medical Officer and of other Committees set up under the Pharmacy Act; and
(e) the National Heritage Trust Fund Board under the chairmanship of Mr P. La Hausse de la Louvière.
_______________________________
16.Cabinet has taken note of the missions of –
(a) the Minister of Industry and International Trade to Hong Kong from 13 to 17 February, where he discussed further cooperation with Hong Kong institutions on the upgrading of the textile and garment sector and studied their experiences in managing the transition from a labour-intensive textile-oriented industry to that of an innovative and high tech sector;
(b) the Minister of Education and Scientific Research to Seychelles from 12 to 14 March, where he attended a meeting of Commonwealth Ministers of Education on the setting up of a Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth;
(c) the Minister of Fisheries to Rome from 24 to 28 February, where he attended the Twenty Fifth Session of the Committee on Fisheries;
(d) the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications to Mozambique from 10 to 15 March, where he participated in the SADC Communications Investment Forum; and
(e) the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice & Human Rights to Netherlands from 8 to 13 March, where he attended the inaugural session of the International Criminal Court.
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