1. Cabinet has taken note of the resignation of Hon. Siddick Chady from the National Assembly and that as per legal provisions, the National Assembly by-election Constituency No. 3 has to be held within 240 days of the occurrence of the vacancy. Further, Cabinet has taken note that Section 57 (2) of the Constitution provides that the National Assembly, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for 5 years from the date of the first sitting of the National Assembly after any National Assembly General Election and that Section 56 (4) of the Constitution and Section 41 (2) of the Representation of the People Act provide that the National Assembly General Elections has to be taken within 150 days of the dissolution of the Assembly.
Cabinet has also taken note that both Government and the main Opposition party are concerned with the additional expenses this by-election in Constituency No. 3 would entail a few months before the holding of the next National Assembly General Elections.
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2. Cabinet has taken note of amendments brought to the Mauritius Revenue Authority Bill and that a meeting would be held with the Trade Unions on Wednesday 15 September 2004. Arrangements are also being made for the early appointment of the Chairman and members of the Revenue Board.
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3. Cabinet has reviewed the situation with regard to the explosion at Grand Baie and has taken note of the final report of the FBI which has been communicated to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) while the report of the FSL will be communicated to the FBI. Further, arrangements are being made for a counter expertise to be carried out in South Africa. Cabinet has also taken note that the Police is completing its report and that the building will be pulled down next week.
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4. Cabinet has reviewed the situation following the fatal accident of a pedestrian at Grand Baie on Tuesday 7 September 2004, and has taken note that the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport had a meeting on 9 September 2004 with the Force Vives of the locality in the presence of inter alia representatives of the Police, the District Council and the Traffic Management and Road Safety Unit, and that practical measures are being implemented to enhance safety along the main road.
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5. Cabinet has taken note that, as the case was last year, a Committee chaired by the Minister of Public Utilities would be set up to monitor water supplies in mosques during the month of Ramadan, and to also coordinate the activities near Muslim cemeteries during the Shaabb E Barat festival on 30 September 2004.
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6. Cabinet has reviewed the situation in the EPZ sector and has taken note that the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development had two meetings with the Trade Unions and the Entrepreneurs respectively, and that additional measures are being taken to preserve employment in the sector and provide support to existing industries while incentives are being given for creation of new enterprises.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that, in the context of the Centralization Programme, Mon Loisir Sugar Estate had made a request to cease its operations, and that there had been additional requests for the production of energy from bagasse. Both issues are being closely monitored and arrangements are being made to activate procedures thereon.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the positive letter from Dr Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands addressed to the Prime Minister on the EU Sugar Sector Reform, and has further taken note of the meeting the ACP Ministers will have with Mr Renate Kunast, Minister of Agriculture of Germany on 15 September 2004. In the meantime ongoing lobbying is being pursued.
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of -
(i) the Minister of Health and Quality of Life to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo from 30 August to 3 September where he attended the 54th WHO Regional Committee for Africa; and
(ii) the Minister of Education and Scientific Research in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom from 31 August to 1 September 2004 where he attended the Commonwealth Teacher Recruitment Protocol and Small States Summit on HIV/AIDS.
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