1. In line with the proposals of the Government Programme 2005-2010, Cabinet has agreed on a formula for the implementation of the free travel scheme for students, old age pensioners as well as disabled persons.
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2. Cabinet has agreed to the setting-up of Ministerial Committees as follows:
(i) Committee for the review of major projects chaired by Dr the Hon N. Ramgoolam, Prime Minister;
(ii) Committee on bottlenecks and red tape chaired by the Hon Xavier Luc Duval, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Leisure & External Communications and comprising Dr the Hon Rajeshwar Jeetah, Minister of Industry, Small & Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives; and
(iii) Committee on legal matters chaired by the Hon Jayarama Valayden, Attorney-General, Minister of Justice & Human Rights and comprising the Hon Madun Dulloo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation, the Hon James Burty David, Minister of Local Government and the Hon Noël-Etienne Sinatambou, Minister of Information Technology & Telecommunications.
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3. Cabinet has agreed to amend existing regulations made under the Consumer Protection (Price and Supplies Control) Act to bring the price of milk powder under the 'mark-up' regime, which is meant to protect consumers from profiteering of tendencies of certain importers.
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4. In order to give a boost to the Mauritian tourism sector, Cabinet has agreed to open up the inbound Tour Operator services to foreign investors and promoters. It is expected that the opening up of this sub-sector to foreign investors and promoters would, inter alia, bring additional foreign investment and earnings, create employment opportunities and help transfer of foreign expertise and know-how in the Sector.
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5. Cabinet has taken note of the measures which the Ministry of Tourism, Leisure & External Communications proposes to take in order to revitalize and boost up the tourism sector and to generate adequate growth in tourist arrivals and its concomitant component of tourism revenues. The measures proposed include inter alia:
(i) rethinking of an air access policy in order to stimulate demand from markets with high potential and to induce more price elasticity in low seasons through the interplay of market forces;
(ii) increasing competition on markets with high growth potential; and
(iii) encouraging the possibility of direct flights from other markets, such as Spain and China.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to the issue of an Air Transport Service Licence to IBL Aviation Ltd to operate on the route Mauritius/Rodrigues/Mauritius.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that an amount of about Rs 405m is due to the various local authorities and has agreed that the local authorities should appoint a panel of Attorneys-at-Law for speeding up the legal procedures for the early recovery of the arrears.
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8. Cabinet has agreed to retrieve control of the covered part of the Pouce stream along the Jardin de la Compagnie and extending from Chaussée Street to Desroches Street from the Municipality of Port Louis for maintaining the site which would be utilised for hawking activities pending the construction of the Hawkers Palace .
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the Islets National Park Strategic Plan and the Management Plans for Ile D'Ambre, Ilot Flamant, Gunners' Quoin, Pigeon Rock and Serpent Island. The Plans may be consulted on the website of the Ministry of Agro Industry & Fisheries and comments thereon made to the Ministry.
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10. Cabinet has agreed to extending the moratorium period by six months to the bank fishing operators to carry mogas on board their fishing vessels as from mid-August 2005. Meanwhile, a Committee set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Agro Industry & Fisheries, would consider an alternative mode of fishing to do away with the unsafe practice of using mogas.
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11. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of –
(i) the Local Government (Amendment) Bill which provides for municipal and village council elections to be held in the year 2005 instead of 2006; and
(ii) the National Pensions (Amendment) Bill which provides for the reintroduction of the payment of the Basic Retirement Pension on a universal basis.
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12. Cabinet has taken note that the First Meeting of the Joint Empowered Committee of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement between Mauritius and India (CECPA) would be held in Delhi on 8 and 9 August 2005. The aim of the meeting is to process and finalise the recommendations of the Joint Study Group which found that there was scope for economic cooperation and partnership between the two countries in areas of trade, investment and general economic cooperation.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Bureau of Ministers meeting of the "Conférence des Ministres de l'Education ayant le Français en Partage" (CONFEMEN) held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo on 2 and 3 July 2005. The CONFEMEN is committed to improving its action at grass roots level, particularly at the level of improving school leadership and school management.
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14. Cabinet has taken note of the discrepancies/inconsistencies in the circumstances that led to the cancellation of the tender exercise for Contract 3 – Operators and Construction at Mare Chicose landfill. Cabinet has also taken note of the status regarding the EIA study for the proposed extension of the Mare Chicose landfill including a study on compensation. The final Report is expected by the end of August 2005 and the EIA Report by mid-September 2005.
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15. Cabinet has taken note of arrangements that have been agreed upon with the European Commission for satellite monitoring of EC vessels fishing in our waters. The provisions of the Protocol signed with the European Commission in that respect has come into effect as from 1 August 2005.
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16. Cabinet has taken note that regulations will be made under the National Pensions Act to provide for an increase in the minimum and maximum salaries, i.e., Rs 7,205 to Rs 7,990 monthly, on which contributions are payable to the National Pensions Fund, and also for the provision of the annual increase in contributory pension, disablement pension and survivors' pension.
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17. Cabinet has taken note of the promulgation of the Cinema (Remuneration Order) Regulations which aims at incorporating the NRB's recommendations and at harmonizing the provisions of the Cinema Workers (Remuneration Order) Regulations with the existing provisions of other Remuneration Orders.
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18. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Mauritius Islamic Finance Forum held on 25 and 26 July 2005 at Grand' Baie International Conference Centre.
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19. Cabinet has taken note of the proposed programme of activities for the celebration of SADC Day on Wednesday 17 August 2005. The programme will include inter alia -
(i) playing the SADC Anthem in all primary and secondary schools on 18 August 2005;
(ii) a display of the SADC flag and the national flags of the 13 Member States of SADC on the Government House, Renganaden Seeneevassen Building, Caudan, Phoenix and Roche Bois Roundabouts; and
(iii) use by the Mauritius Post Ltd of a rubber stamp with the logo of SADC on all incoming mails in Mauritius on 16 and 17 August 2005.
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20. Cabinet has taken note that the announcement made by the President of Pakistan for foreign students attending Madrassas in Pakistan to leave that country within one month has not yet taken effect. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation was following the matter closely so as to ensure that Mauritian nationals following courses there did not suffer undue hardship.
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21. Cabinet has taken note of the visit of a Ministerial delegation from the Union of Comoros from 3 to 5 August 2005 in connection with the Donors' meeting for the Comoros to be hosted by Mauritius later this year. The delegation had working sessions with the Prime Minister and other Ministers. A Ministerial meeting would be held in Moroni, Grande Comore in September 2005 to take stock of progress made in the preparation of the Donors' meeting.
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