1. Cabinet has taken note of the positive outcome of the working visit of the Prime Minister to USA from 11 to 13 May 2004 to sensitize the White House, the State Department and the Senate on the importance of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA III) for Mauritius and Africa, and to discuss inter alia the Millenium Challenge Account Initiative and the Chagos, Zimbabwe and Comoros issues. The Prime Minister had a meeting with President George Bush on 12 May. He also had meetings with Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, the National Security Adviser, Dr Condoleeza Rice, and Senator Gordon H. Smith. The Prime Minister also visited the Boeing Plant at Seattle.
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2. Cabinet has reviewed the situation regarding Les Pailles International Conference Centre and has taken note that works were progressing satisfactorily on site and were expected to be completed by mid September 2004. A UN planning mission will be in Mauritius by the end of August and the tentative dates for the SIDS International Conference have been fixed for 10 to 14 January 2005 to be preceded by a preparatory meeting on 8 and 9 January 2005.
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3. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius hosting the ACP Meeting of Trade Ministers and a G-90 Meeting in July 2004. The meeting will be held with a view to re-assessing the G90 position on the ongoing Doha Development Agenda. The G90 was established during the fifth WTO Ministerial Conference held in Cancun last year, with the AU, the ACP and the LDC groups as its constituents to establish a common platform on major issues under negotiations.
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4. Cabinet has taken note of activities to mark the World Environment Day which is celebrated every year on 5 June. The theme chosen by the United Nations Environment Programme for this year "Wanted Seas and Oceans! Dead or Alive?" The main event will be organized at the Blue Bay Marine Park to create awareness on the uniqueness of the site and its different species and to sensitize the public on the importance to preserve our marine life.
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5. Cabinet has taken note of the activities which will be organised by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to mark the "World No Tobacco Day" which is celebrated every year on 31 May. The selected theme for this year is "Tobacco and Poverty: A vicious Circle".
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6. Cabinet has reviewed the situation regarding security problems in hospitals and has noted with concern the recent cases of assault against the medical and nursing staff. Arrangements have been made with the Police for a Police Officer to be present on a 24-hour basis in all hospitals. The Minister of Health and Quality of Life will make a statement at the National Assembly on Tuesday 25 May 2004 on measures taken to prevent such incidents.
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7. Cabinet has agreed that the Foster Care Project which was being implemented on a pilot basis be now taken over permanently by the Ministry of Women's Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the Missions of -
(i) the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation -
(a) in Washington where he had a series of meetings from 24 to 29 April 2004 in the context of the lobbying efforts for AGOA amendment;
(b) in New York where he had bilateral meetings in the margin of the 12th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development on 29 April 2004; and
(c) in Doha, Senegal where he represented the G-90 group at the Third Least Developed Country Trade (LCD) Ministers Meeting.
(ii) the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources -
(a) in Gaborone, Botswana where he attended the ACP Ministerial Consultations on Sugar on 3 May, the 79th Sessions of the ACP Council of Ministers on 4 and 5 May, and the 29th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Council of Ministers on 6 and 7 May; and
(b) in Dar-es-Salaam where he attended the Extraordinary Summit on Agriculture and Food Security of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and related meetings held on 15 May 2004; and
(iii) the Minister of Tourism and Leisure in Seychelles, where he attended the 41st Meeting of the World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa and a seminar on "What Strategy should the WTO adopt for the Millenium Development Goals" from 9 to 12 May 2004.
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