1. Cabinet has taken note that the visit of H.E. Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India to Mauritius scheduled for end of December 2004 has been postponed due to his unexpected official obligations.Fresh dates for the visit are being worked out through mutual consultations.
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2. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius signing an agreement on Technical Co-operation with the Government of Japan to allow for more technical assistance in the form of training and provision of experts in the fields of Housing, Fisheries, Environment, Agriculture, and Youth and Sports. The signature ceremony is expected to coincide with the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Meeting in January 2005.
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3. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius ratifying the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. The Convention aims inter alia at promoting shared responsibility and cooperation amongst parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment, and has been signed by 61 States.
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4. Cabinet has agreed to the Official Christmas Celebrations 2004 being held at Grand Gaube on Wednesday 22 December 2004 as from 2000 hours. The programme of activities for this year’s celebrations as proposed by the Ministry of Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture (NMCAC) and the Pamplemousses/Rivière du Rempart District Council will include -
(i) a production based on Nativity;
(ii) fusion dance “Alliage” to be performed by groups from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and various cultural centres;
(iii) popular songs and dances by renowed groups;
(iv) the participation of a cultural troupe from the Republic of Madagascar; and
(v) a Christmas Carol Competition, the finals being scheduled on 11 December 2004 at the Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis.
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5. Cabinet has agreed to the setting-up of four Regional ICT Resource Centres in Rose Belle, Goodlands, Flacq and Chemin Grenier by the National Computer Board. Facilities to be provided at the centres will include inter alia free access to multimedia computers and internet, training lab and help desks to provide assistance and guidance to the public, students and other users. This project aims at offering greater opportunity to the citizens to access, use and integrate information and communication technologies in their daily life.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of an ICT Manual in the Civil Service to enable public officers to familiarise themselves with the procedures involved in the conception, implementation and monitoring of ICT projects. The Manual will also be of help to Ministries embarking on computerization projects as it will ensure that officers understand their roles and responsibilities better during the different phases of project implementation.
Cabinet has also taken note of the implementation of Information Security Standards ISO/IEC17799 in four pilot sites within the Civil Service and the setting-up and operation of an IT Security Unit within the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the missions of -
(i) the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizen Welfare & Reform Institutions to Cape Town from 25 to 27 November 2004, where he attended the SADC Special Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Social Development;
(ii) the Minister of Tourism and Leisure to Lusaka from 17 to 18 November 2004, where he attended the Seventh Meeting of Ministers of Finance of COMESA Member States;
(iii) the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications to India from 14 to 26 November 2004, where he led a marketing mission in the context of the Business Parks of Mauritius Project; and
(iv) the Minister of Youth and Sports to Saint Denis, Reunion on 26 November 2004, where he attended a motorcross show.
Cabinet has also taken note of the outcome of the Second Joint Mauritius-Madagascar Comité de Coordination et de Suivi (JMMCCS) which was held in Mauritius on 25 November 2004.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the composition of the Board of Trustees of “La Clinique Mauricienne” for the year 2005 under the Chair of Mr Georges André Robert, and also of the reconstitution of the Tertiary Education Commission Board under the Chair of Dr H.N. Phoolchund for period 2004-2006.
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