1. Cabinet has reviewed progress of works on the construction of the Les Pailles International Conference Centre and has taken note that the revised completion date of 15 September 2004 has been confirmed.
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2. Cabinet has agreed that phase I of the construction of a new market, market fair, auction market and traffic centre at Rose Belle estimated to cost Rs 125M will be partly financed from an interest-free loan of RMB 20 million Yuan (approximately Rs 65 million) from the Government of the People's Republic of China. The balance of Rs 60 million will be met by way of Government support over two financial years.
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3. Cabinet has taken note of the result of a survey carried out by the Agricultural Research and Extension Service (AREU) on pig rearing activities in Roche Bois and has agreed to the setting up of a Ministerial Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources to study the recommendations made in the Report.
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4. Cabinet has taken note of the restructuring exercise at the Mauritius Meat Authority and has agreed that 17 employees who will become redundant as a result thereof be redeployed to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources.
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5. Cabinet has taken note of the constitution of the Bus Industry Employees Welfare Fund Board under the Chairmanship of Mr Poorundeo Callychurn.
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6. Cabinet bas taken note that new regulations will be made under the Electricity Act to provide for the CEB to supply electricity to a new customer only after ascertaining that a Residual Current Device (RCD) has been installed at the main switchboard. Existing consumers will be given a moratorium of one year to install the RCD. Accordingly, the new regulations will come into operation on 10 October 2004 for new consumers and 1 July 2005 for existing ones.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of a Report on the control and eradication of the pigeon population in Mauritius and has agreed to the setting-up of a Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Agricultural Officer to monitor the implementation of the recommendations.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the revised statistics on job seekers, following the implementation of new procedures for registration and classification of job seekers. The Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment will give a press conference thereon.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that the Medical Council (Medical Institutions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2004 will be promulgated with a view to including the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, India and the National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan in the list of recognised medical institutions for registration purposes with the Medical Council.
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10. Cabinet has taken note that the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) will hold its fourth Working Party on Billfish in Mauritius from 27 September to 01 October 2004.
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11. Cabinet has taken note of the preliminary arrangements being made for the participation of Mauritius in the Olympic Games to be held in Athens, Greece from 13 to 29 August 2004 and that so far eight Mauritian Athletes have obtained qualification for the games.
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12. Cabinet has taken note of the composition of a Task Force under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made following the Brainstorming Session on Sports held in February 2004.
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13. Cabinet has taken note that the Sports Act 2001 will be amended with a view to including rugby and wushu in the list of recognised sports.
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14. Cabinet has taken note that the 1st International Marathon of Mauritius will be run on 20 June 2004. The event organised by a private promoter with the assistance of inter alia the Ministry of Youth and Sports is expected to attract some 3,000 foreign and local participants.
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15. Cabinet has reviewed the situation regarding the construction of roads in the context of the implementation of the Integrated Tourism and Leisure Development Plan at St Félix and Bel Ombre and has taken note that the project will be financed mainly from contribution of the hotel promoters to the Tourism Fund. The Minister of Finance and Economic Development was examining ways for financing the shortfall.
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16. Cabinet has taken note that tests carried out on yoyo balls had revealed that the liquid inside the toy was not harmful to human beings. However, as the long elastic string could represent a danger for children, Cabinet has agreed to ban the import and sale of that product.
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17. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Cooperative Development Council under the Chairmanship of Mr Dorsamy Ramasawmy.
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