1. Cabinet has taken note of the hearings organized by the WTO General Council on 26 January 2005 in respect of the four prospective candidates to the post of Director-General. Hon J. Cuttaree inter alia laid emphasis on the urgent priority of the WTO to complete the Doha Development Round. Hon J. Cuttaree replied to questions from a wide cross-section of the WTO membership and after the hearing gave a press conference which was attended by representatives of the international media. He had also bilateral meetings with a number of Ambassadors based in Geneva and thereafter processed to Abuja, Nigeria to attend the 4th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU from 24 to 31 January 2005. Cabinet has also taken note that there was unanimous support of the AU in favour of the candidature of Hon Cuttaree to the post of Director-General of WTO.
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2. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Third Sugar Lobbying Mission led by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources as ACP Ministerial Spokesperson for sugar, to France, Finland, Hungary and Spain and of the Meeting with EU Ministers in Brussels from 18 to 26 January 2005. Discussions were focused inter alia on the need for the ACP/LDC to have sugar prices reform that was bearable, the reform in the sugar sector to start in 2008 and that a transition time of 8 years to adjust be considered. Cabinet also took note that the date limit for the ACP Third Participants written submission to the WTO and the deadline for the EU to file their rebuttal submission to the WTO Appellate Body have been fixed for 7 February 2005.
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3. Cabinet has taken note that at the United Nations World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Japan from 18 to 22 January and at the Ministerial Meeting on Regional Cooperation on Tsunami Warning Systems held in Phuket, Thailand, several countries were in competition with each other to engage themselves in the establishment of a warning system in the Indian Ocean area. Cabinet agreed that Mauritius would support initiatives from the United Nations, UNESCO, India and France/Reunion.
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4. Cabinet has taken note of the positive outcome of the official visit of the Prime Minister to the People’s Republic of China from 23 to 28 January 2005. Discussions were focused on bilateral cooperation, international and regional issues, follow-up on the UN SIDS Conference held in Mauritius, the China-SADC Cooperation, China’s support to our sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and the candidature of Hon J. Cuttaree to the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. Two Agreements were signed during the official visit namely on Economic and Technical Cooperation providing for an interest free Line of Credit of Rmb 40 million and on Bilateral Service Cooperation for the Promotion and Healthy Development of Bilateral Labour Service Cooperation.
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5. Cabinet has taken note that following the resignation of Hon A.K. Bachoo from Cabinet, Mr Govindranath Gunness has been designated to replace him and will be sworn in as Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport on 4 February in the afternoon. Further, Hon Ashit Kumar Gungah has been designated to be Parliamentary Private Secretary for Constituencies No. 6 and 9 and Dr the Hon Jyaneshwur Jhurry Parliamentary Private Secretary for Constituencies No. 5 and 10.
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6. Cabinet has agreed that the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development would henceforth chair the Ministerial Task Force on Mahashivratree Festival. Cabinet has also agreed to establish the Mangal Mahadev Trust Fund through an Act of Parliament, to oversee the construction and to be responsible for the maintenance of the statue of Shiva at Grand Bassin. Hindu socio-cultural organizations would be represented on the Board.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the success of the activities held on 1 February to mark the 170th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius and has also agreed to the programme of activities to be organized to mark the International Women’s Day 2005 on 10 March, having as theme “Engendering Politics”. The official function will be held at the International Conference Centre at Grand` Baie on 10 March 2005 from 1030 hours to noon to be followed by a cultural programme with the participation of Women’s Associations. Cabinet has further taken note that the Prime Minister would chair a meeting on 14 February 2005 to review arrangements being made for the National Day Celebrations 2005.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Board of Trustees of the Mauritian Cultural Centre for a period of three years with Dr J.L. Chan Low as Chairperson and Mrs S. Bissessur-Asgarally as Vice-Chairperson; and that arrangements were being made for the recruitment of a Director for the Centre.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that necessary arrangements were being made by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research for the posting of two teachers in Agalega as soon possible and that in the meantime, measures have been taken for teachers posted in Agalega to assist in the running of the classes.
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10. Cabinet has taken note that the Zimbabwean Opposition Party would take part in the elections but has levelled criticisms with regard to lack to commitment from SADC to ensure conditions for fair and free elections in accordance with the rules of SADC. Cabinet has also taken note, in that respect, that President Mbeki, Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics and Security had not yet responded to the proposals made by the Prime Minister as Chair of SADC.
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11. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction in the National Assembly of the Maritime Zones Bill which will provide inter alia for-
(i) the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to have force of law in Mauritius; and
(ii) the delimitation and management of the Maritime Zones of Mauritius.
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12. Cabinet has agreed to the protocol which has been signed at the conclusion of the bilateral air services talks held between Mauritius and the Federal Republic of Germany and which provides inter alia for an increase in frequency of weekly flights on the Germany/Mauritius route, co-terminal rights between Frankfurt and Munich for Air Mauritius and code sharing arrangements.
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13. Cabinet has taken note that UNESCO would, through the International Atomic Energy Agency and in collaboration with the University of Mauritius and the Mauritius Oceanography Institute, conduct in March 2005, a study on the discharge of submarine ground water into the coastal zones of Mauritius. The objectives of the study would be inter alia to determine the amount of underground water seeping into the lagoon and to proposed measures for the protection of coastal waters from contamination. The study would be useful to the Central Water Authority for a better management of our underground water resources.
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14. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Women’s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare proposes to enter into an agreement with the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) to enable the NPCC to provide Computer Proficiency Course to members of Women’s Associations affiliated to the National Women’s Council within its ongoing programme being run in 30 State secondary schools throughout the island.
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15. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Mission of the –
(i) Minister of Education and Scientific Research to London from 10 to 12 January 2005 where he attended the Second “Moving Young Minds International Ministerial Seminar on ICT in Education”;
(ii) the Minister of Industry and Medium Enterprises, Financial Services and Corporate Affairs to –
(a) Cape Town, South Africa on 17 and 18 January 2005 where he attended the Consultative Meeting of the Commission for Africa (CFA); and
(b) Dakar, Senegal on 27 and 28 January 2005 where he participated in the 17th Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economies and a Workshop on Economic Challenges facing Africa.
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16. Cabinet has taken note of the Reports submitted by Dr Chandra Shekha Prasad, Consultant from the National Small Industries Cooperation Ltd of India, with regard to small enterprises and the handicraft sectors in Mauritius. The Reports would be studied by the National Coordinating Committee which is responsible for the preparation of an Action Plan for Small Enterprises under the Chair of Dr A. Suddhoo.
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17. Cabinet has taken note of the visit of “l’équipe de France de Football de la Police Nationale” from 10 to 17 February 2005. The French team would play two friendly matches at Anjalay Stadium against the national football team on 12 February and against the local Police team on 14 February 2005.
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