1. Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister has during his visit to South Africa from 25 to 28 April 2004 where he attended the swearing-in ceremony of President T. M'beki and the 10 year anniversary celebration of the end of apartheid had discussions with the South African President. He also met:
President B. Mkapa of Tanzania;
President J. Chissano of Mozambique;
President M. Ravalomana of Madagascar;
President F. Mogae of Botswana;
President A. Azali of the Union of Comoros; and other dignitaries including the
UK Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott and Mr Michel Barnier, French Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Cabinet has also taken note of preparations underway for the official visit of the Prime Minister to the United States from 10 to 14 May and to Mozambique from 26 to 29 May.. The Prime Minister will also effect an official visit to China in January 2005.
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2. Cabinet has taken note that the Director of Public Prosecutions having decided on a Nolle Prosequi in the case against Hon M. Choonee, the latter will be reinstated as Minister and assign the responsibility for Local Government and Solid Waste Management. The swearing-in ceremony has been scheduled for 30 April at 1700 hrs at the State House, Reduit. There has also been a redistribution of Ministerial responsibilities, and a change in the appellation of Ministries, as follows:
(i) The Hon. A.K. Bachoo will be the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport; and
(ii) The Hon. P. Auroomooga Putten will be the Minister of Shipping, Rodrigues and the Outer Islands.
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3. Cabinet has reviewed the situation regarding malaria, and has taken note that out of 40 malaria cases reported last year, 20 were imported cases, and has decided to set up a Committee chaired by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to urgently examine inter alia measures to ensure that migrant workers undergo tests for malaria before leaving their country as is the case for HIV/AIDS and forward a document to that effect to the Authorities before coming to Mauritius. The Committee is expected to submit its report within a week.
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4. Cabinet has reviewed the progress of the construction works on the International Conference Centre at Pailles and the preparations for the UN International Conference for Small Island Developing States scheduled to be held from 30 August to 03 September 2004, and has taken note of apprehensions that the completion of the Centre could be delayed in view of the bad weather conditions which have prevailed since the beginning of the year. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Co-operation who is currently in New York will raise the matter with the Secretary-General of the United Nations today 30 April 2004. The situation will be monitored on a daily basis.
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5. Cabinet has been apprised of the mission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Co-operation in Washington from 26 to 29 April 2004 to discuss the early enactment of AGOA III and to promote an amendment to enable Mauritius to benefit from the Special Provision of Third Country's Fabric for sometime. In spite of intense lobbying at very high level, the indications are that the chances for AGOA III to be passed by the Senate are very remote in view of the Presidential elections in the US scheduled for this year.
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6. Cabinet has reviewed the situation regarding the construction of Cells 4 and 5 of the Mare Chicose Landfill and has taken note that Cell 4 is expected to be completed in August 2004. It has been necessary to modify the location of Cell 5 in view of slippage in Cell 4. Separate tenders will be launched in June 2004 for the construction of Cell 5.
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7. Cabinet has reviewed the situation regarding the sale of Polo Ralph Lauren products and has taken note that the Controller of Industrial Property Office would initiate immediate action in the Supreme Court under the Patents, Industrial, Designs and Trade marks Act 2000, to deal with some 58 operators who are not members of the Association of Textile Manufacturers and Retailers and who are still illegally exploiting the trade mark US Polo Ralph Lauren.
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8. Cabinet has taken note that the Board of Directors of Novel Group has approved the taking over of the assets of the company by a well-known Italian Company. About 75% of the workers are expected to be re-employed by the new Company. Further, Cabinet has taken note with satisfaction of the decision of Textile Industries, a manufacturing concern from Hong Kong to expand its business and recruit some 700 additional workers.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister will chair a meeting on Monday 17 May on the "Maison des Pêcheurs" at Mahebourg Waterfront with Ministers concerned and the different associations of fishers of the locality to review matters regarding its use.
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10. Cabinet has agreed to the conducting of an Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) jointly by the World Bank and Government. The ICA will inter alia analyse the conditions for private investment and enterprise growth in Mauritius and will draw on the experience of local firms to pinpoint the areas where reform is most needed to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the private sector.
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11. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius ratifying the SADC Mutual Defence Pact(MDP). The objective of the MDP is to operationalise the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and calls for mutual cooperation in defence and security matters.
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12. Cabinet has examined the different options for the siting of a dam at Bagatelle and has agreed that the Consultants proceed further with the examination of a proposal to construct the dam across river Terre Rouge.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the dissemination workshop held on 9 March 2004 on the HIV/AIDS Action Plan for injecting Drug users and has agreed to the implementation of short term measures recommended in the Action Plan.
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14. Cabinet has agreed to the signature of an Executive Programme for the years 2004 to 2006 under the cultural Agreement with the People's Republic of China. In this connection, the Minister of Arts and Culture will proceed to China on an official visit from 12 to 23 May 2004.
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15. Cabinet has taken note of the Draft Budget Estimates for the Rodrigues Regional Assembly for financial year 2004/05 and has agreed to the disbursement of financial resources accordingly.
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16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment at the 2nd Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission of the Africa Union held in Cotonou, Benin from 19 to 23 April, 2004.
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17. Cabinet has taken note of the holding of:
(i) the Board Meeting of the International Award Association for the Africa Region in Mauritius from 5 to 7 May 2004; and
(ii) the "4eme Séminaire de Formation de Formateurs Référentiel de Formation" by the "Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan Indien" in Mauritius from 3 to 8 May 2004.
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