1. Cabinet has reviewed the outcome of the Senior Officials Meeting of the SADC and the deliberations of the ongoing Ministerial Meeting and has taken note of arrangements made for the Summit Meeting. A restricted meeting of Heads of State and Government will be held on Sunday 15 August at 1900 hours at Le Maritim Hotel. The official opening of the Summit is scheduled for Monday 16 August at 1000 hours at the International Conference Centre at Grand'Baie. The Prime Minister will deliver the acceptance statement following the ceremonial handing over of the chairperson's badge by the current Chair, the Tanzanian President, HE Benjamin Mkapa. The closing ceremony is scheduled for 17 August. The Summit Communique will be released during a Press Conference by the Prime Minister and Chairperson of the SADC and Dr P. Ramsamy, Executive Secretary of SADC. HE B. Mkapa, President of Tanzania who is expected today will be the first Head of State to arrive in Mauritius, followed by President R. Mugabe of Zimbabwe. The other Heads of State/Government will be arriving on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 August, whereas HE Marc Ravalomanana, President of Madagascar is expected on Monday 16 August in the afternoon. Madagascar's admission to the SADC will be considered during the Summit.
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2. Cabinet has reviewed the situation following the explosion at Grand'Baie and has taken note that the Forensic Scientific Laboratory has confirmed its conclusions that a highly explosive substance has been used on the explosion site. However as only interim reports have been received from the FBI and the FSL, Cabinet has agreed that a counter expertise will be sought from South Africa when their final reports are received.
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3. Cabinet has reviewed the situation in the Textiles Industry and has taken note that as was expected, the dismantling of the Multi Fibre Agreement and the complete abolition of quotas at the end of December 2004 has accelerated the closure of a number of enterprises in the textile and clothing sector. The EPZ Sector is going through a difficult period and both Government and the Private Sector are working together to find all possible ways and means to overcome constraints and challenges. Further, Government is pursuing the lobbying with the US for the Third Country Fabric derogation to be extended to Mauritius. At the request of Trade Unions of the EPZ Sector, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, the Minister of Housing and Lands and Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises, Handicraft & the Informal Sector, the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment and the Minister of Industry, Financial Services and Corporate Affairs will meet them after the SADC Summit to discuss the situation in that sector in general.
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4. Cabinet has taken note of the designation of the new European Commissioners, particularly Miss Mariann Fischer Bocl of Denmark as Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Louis Michel of Belgium as Commissioner for Development and Peter Mandelson of UK as Commissioner for Trade. The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development will pursue the lobbying mission on the sugar issue as from Mid September, when accompanied by members of the ACP enlarged bureau, he will meet Ministers responsible for agriculture of Poland, UK, Holland, Luxembourg and Germany.
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5. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Planning and Development Bill which provides inter alia for the modernisation of town and country planning in Mauritius and Rodrigues, the establishment of a National Planning and Development Commission and a Planning Appeals Tribunal. The Bill is being circulated to all concerned and will be on the agenda of the sitting of the National Assembly on 24 August 2004 to be examined through all stages.
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6. Cabinet has taken note of the death of Mrs Helena Harel who passed away at Victoria Hospital on 12 March 2004 following complications after a caesarean section and that the case is under investigation at the Medical Council.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that the Residential Care Home Act 2003 will be proclaimed shortly, and Regulations will be made under the Act to provide inter alia for the licensing of residential care homes and facilities and services to be available thereat.
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