1. Cabinet has taken note of the Local Government Bill which will repeal and replace the Local Government Act 1989, and which provides inter alia for -
(a) the establishment of Municipal Councils in the districts of Pamplemousses, Rivière du Rempart, Flacq, Moka, Grand Port, Savanne and Black River;
(b) the grant of a new status to local authorities through a modern legal framework with a view to enabling greater decentralization and transparency in the management of the affairs of local authorities; and
(c) the empowerment of local authorities to act as a one-stop shop in the issue of development permits, building permits and trade licences.
_______________________________
2. Cabinet has taken note that a Special Committee, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, has been set up to monitor and to ensure the timely implementation of the CyberCity Project. The Committee will have an executive arm whose Executive Director will be Mr S. Lutchmeenaraidoo.
_______________________________
3. Cabinet has taken note that the services of a retired judge will be enlisted to examine current legislation governing the MBC and to make recommendations with a view to redefining the powers and prerogatives of the Board of Management and those of the Director General of the Corporation taking into account recent developments in the audio-visual sector.
_______________________________
4. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Savings Bank (Transfer of Undertaking) Bill which provides for the transfer of the business of the Mauritius Post Office Savings Bank to the Mauritius Post and Cooperative Bank Ltd.
_______________________________
5. Cabinet has taken note of measures taken to develop the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Sector in Mauritius. The BOI will be the lead agency for promoting the BPO initiative of Mauritius globally. Moreover, a Secretariat will be set up at the BOI, with the assistance of Price Waterhouse Coopers of Ireland, to coordinate all activities related thereto.
_______________________________
6. Cabinet has taken note of the recommendations of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources on the report of the High Powered Committee on Pig Rearing Activities and that a specific survey will be carried out on pig breeding activities before a decision is taken on the relocation of such activities.
_______________________________
7. Cabinet has agreed to Rodriguan beneficiaries of the Micro-Credit Scheme, who have suffered losses following cyclone Kalundé, being granted financial assistance to enable them to restart their business.
_______________________________
8. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Wildlife and National Parks Advisory Council for 2003-2004 under the chairmanship of Mr José Hitié.
_______________________________
9. Cabinet has taken note of the appointment of Mr S. Pahladi as Chairman of the Board of Rose Belle Sugar Estate.
_______________________________
10. Cabinet has taken note of the recommendations made by the Consultant, SSPA Sweden AB, in their Report on the “Feasibility Study and Environment Impact Assessment for Large Scale Sand Extraction in the Lagoon at La Prairie.
_______________________________
11. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius submitting its candidature for membership to the Economic and Social Council of the UN for the term 2004-2006 and to the Commission on the Status of Women for the term 2004 - 2007.
_______________________________
12. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation visited Rodrigues on 16 April with a view to explaining to the Chief Commissioner and the Commissioners the procedures that should be followed when dealing with foreign countries/organisations.
_______________________________
13. Cabinet has taken note that the “Festival Culturel Tournant de L’Océan Indien will be held in Mauritius from 29 April to 4 May 2003.
_______________________________
14. Cabinet has taken note that the Sixth Session of the Seychelles - Mauritius Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation will be held in Port Louis on 5 and 6 May 2003.
_______________________________
15. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of -
(a) the 19th Session of the General Assembly of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa held in Nigeria on 27 and 28 February 2003; and
(b) the First Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the African Union held at the International Conference Centre, Grand Baie from 10 to 15 April.
_______________________________