1. Cabinet has reviewed the progress of work in connection with the Mahashivaratree Festival 2005 and has taken note that the Task Force chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development has effected a second site visit on 2 March and has noted that most of the infrastructure works had been completed. Further, a series of facilities including the provision of “salle verte”, mobile toilets; health care facilities would be made available to the pilgrims by the Task Force. The overall cost of improvement work and general assistance will amount to about Rs 35M.
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2. Cabinet has reviewed the latest developments concerning the organization of a cruise to several islands of the Chagos Archipelago from 15 April to 8 May 2005 by the Wexas Group aboard the MS Indian Ocean Explorer which has been approved by the so-called British Indian Ocean Territories (BIOT) and has taken note that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation had sent a protest letter to the Rt. Hon. Jack Straw, UKSecretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Cabinet has also taken note that the British High Commission is considering chartering the “Sinbad Nui” for the conveyance of the members of the Chagossian community to visit their ancestral graves.
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3. Cabinet has reviewed arrangements for the National Independence Day Celebrations 2005 and has taken note of the programme of the official visit of the Chief Guest to the celebrations, H.E. Mr James Alix Michel, President of Seychelles from 10 to 13 March 2005.
Cabinet has further agreed to the signature of -
(i) an Agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income with the Government of the Republic of Seychelles; and
(ii) the Fisheries Agreements
during the visit of the President of Seychelles.
Cabinet has also taken note that Mr Karl Offman, former President will attend the National Day Celebrations in Rodrigues with the Minister of Shipping, Rodrigues and Outer Islands as the Vice-President of the Republic would be absent from the country during that period.
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4. Cabinet has reviewed the situation concerning the candidature of Hon. J. Cuttaree to the post of Director-General, World Trade Organisation and has taken note that there was growing support in favour of his candidature among African countries and some Asian countries. The Minister would continue his lobbying with countries of the Arab League.
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5. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill which provides for the presence of international election observers to observe the election process in Mauritius in line with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections;
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6. Cabinet has reviewed the situation in Zimbabwe and has taken note that the SADC Secretariat has received an official invitation to send observers to observe the Parliamentary elections scheduled on 31 March 2005. The SADC delegation will be headed by the Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa. The Electoral Commissioner together with two of his Officers will form part of the SADC Observer Team.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the visit led by the Prime Minister at Ferney Valley on Sunday 27 February 2005 in connexion with the road alignment for the South Eastern Highway Project. A decision on the alignment would be taken in the light of the report of the Consultants who are currently undertaking the environmental assessment to bio diversity impacts of the highway project and in consultation with the African Bank of Development, which is financing the project.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the visit led by the Prime Minister at St Felix and Le Morne on Saturday 26 February 2005. The team has noted with satisfaction the commitments taken by St Felix SE to embellish the public beach and to provide all amenities for all the enjoyment of the public.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that the Police enquiry regarding the murder and theft at the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) was ongoing, and has further noted that the Bank of Mauritius had issued a communiqué in the press to refute the allegation regarding a fraud of Rs 1.5 billion at the MCB.
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10. Cabinet has reviewed the situation regarding Enterprise Mauritius and has taken note that the transfer exercise process was going on smoothly. The Transfer of Undertaking Bill was being finalised and would be introduced into the National Assembly soon.
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11. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the
(i) Financial Services Development (Amendment) Bill which provides inter alia for the Financial Services Commission to impose administrative penalties, institute criminal proceedings subject to the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the separation of the investigating and enforcement functions of the Commission; and
(ii) Securities Bill which makes provision for the establishment of a framework for the regulation of securities markets, market participants and self-regulatory organizations, the offering and trading of securities and related matters to ensure fair, efficient and transparent securities market and to strike an appropriate balance between the protection of investors and the interests of securities markets.
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12. Cabinet has agreed to the setting-up of a “Cité des Métiers” in Mauritius on the model of the French “Cité des Métiers” and which would be an integrated information and counseling centre for jobs seekers, students, workers and members of the public who seek information on job opportunities, training and further education, life-long learning possibilities, career guidance change of profession or self employment.
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13. Cabinet has reviewed the situation following the dead bodies of 19 dolphins found in the lagoon between Camp Pêcheurs, Grand Rivière South East and Mahebourg from 16 to 03 March 2005 and has taken note that the bodies had been disposed at Mare Chicose Landfill Site. Coastal water analysis for physio-chemical parameters, trace metals and pesticides were underway to determine the cause of death.
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14. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Tourism (Amendment) Bill to empower the Tourism Authority to regulate activities relating to pleasure craft including the conduct of competency tests before the grant of a licence to a skipper or boatman of a pleasure craft.
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15. Cabinet has agreed to the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizen Welfare & Reform Institutions with the Government of the Republic of South Africa in the field of social development.
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16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Meeting of Council of Ministers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) held in Mauritius on 24 and 25 February 2005.
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17. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of -
(i) the Cane Planters and Millers Arbitration and Control Board under the Chair of Mr D.K. Dabee, Solicitor-General; and
(ii) the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden Trust under the Chair of Mr Ruveen Rujkoomar.
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18. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of -
(i) the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit to Nairobi, Kenya from 21 to 25 February 2005 where he participated in the 23rd Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum;
(ii) the Ministerial delegation led by the Minister of Education and Scientific Research to India from 20 to 25 February 2005 to attract private brand name institutions to Mauritius in the context of making Mauritius a knowledge hub and a centre of higher learning; and
(iii) the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport to Brussels from 22 to 23 February 2005 where he participated in the ACP/EU Ministerial Meeting on the 5-yearly Review of ACP/EU Cotonou Agreement.
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19. Cabinet has taken note that the Mauritius Standards Bureau in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Ministry of Public Utilities and the Mauritius Accreditation Service (MAURITAS) will organise the following events from 14 to18 March 2005 -
(i) 2nd Coordination Meeting of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement;
(ii) Preparation Meeting for a Pan-African Accreditation Association; and
(iii) Conference on the Project “Quality Management and Control Using Nuclear and Related Technologies.
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20. Cabinet has taken note of ongoing development projects in the Port being undertaken by the Mauritius Ports Authority and by the Cargo Handling Corporation Ltd which includes inter alia the construction of an oil jetty and a New Harbour Radio Tower, the extension of the container Berth as well as the improvement of security at Port Louis Harbour.
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