1. Cabinet has reviewed arrangements being made by various organisations to assist the victims of the Tsunami disaster and has also taken note of the different fund raising activities being proposed by Ministries and NGOs in that context. Cabinet has further taken note of precautions to be taken by members of the public who intend to proceed to areas affected by the "Tsunami disaster".
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2. Cabinet has reviewed the arrangements being made for the opening of the SIDS International meeting at the Swami Vivekananda Convention Centre, Domaine Les Pailles, on 10 January 2005 at 0930 hours. Cabinet has also taken note that Ambassador A.K. Chowdhury, Under-Secretary General and High Representative and Secretary-General of Mauritius International Meeting, has after a site visit effected to the convention centre expressed his satisfaction as to the arrangements made for the holding of the international meeting. The Convention Centre will be handed over to the United Nations as from 7 January 2005 in accordance with the host country Agreement signed between the United Nations and Mauritius for the organisation of the SIDS Meeting.
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3. Cabinet has reviewed the situation with regard to the candidature of Hon J. Cuttaree to the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and has taken note that the campaign committee has already started its work. Cabinet has also taken note that the Prime Minister would take the opportunity to enlist the support of the People's Republic of China during his official visit scheduled for January 2005.
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4. Cabinet has taken note that arrangements for the Third ACP Lobbying Mission have been finalised and would target the following countries: Finland, France, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Spain. Five other delegations have confirmed their participation in the lobbying mission namely Swaziland, Fiji, Guyana, Zambia, St Kitts and Nevis, with Swaziland and Guyana headed by Ministers.
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5. Cabinet has taken note of the guiding principles worked out jointly with all stakeholders to govern the use of the Third Country Fabric Derogation in order to ensure that full use is made of the cap amounting to 27M sq metre equivalent. Cabinet has also taken note that plans were being developed in favour of a lobbying campaign to extend and expand the special derogation which has been granted to Mauritius.
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6. Cabinet has taken note of the major interruption in electricity supply which had affected nearly the whole island on 6 January 2005 at 1854 hours due to a fault occurring at the strategic point of the transmission system at the Nicolay substation and the explosion of a 66KV oil circuit breaker at the same substation during the supply restoration exercise, which further delayed the restoration process. Cabinet has agreed that a full enquiry be carried out and that the CEB be requested to ascertain that all measures are taken to ensure uninterrupted and reliable electricity supply. Cabinet has also agreed that the Electricité de France (EDF) be requested to assist the CEB to review the Protection Elements of the Transmission System. Cabinet has also taken note that there was a major interruption in electricity supply during the AGOA Conference held in Mauritius in January 2003.
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7. Cabinet has after reviewing the main recommendations of the Master Plan on Air Transportation prepared by NACO Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V, agreed to the Master Plan being used as a basis for the development of the air transport sector for the coming 10 to 15 years taking into consideration the new economic imperatives of the country, the rapid technological changes taking place worldwide and the increasing pressure for air liberalization. Cabinet also agreed to the Plan being released to the stakeholders of the air transport industry.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the proposal of the Prime Minister to appoint Mr M. Lutchoomun Director of the Private Secondary Schools Authority under section 10(1) of the PSSA Act.
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of -
(i) the 2nd African Union (AU) Ministerial Conference on Drug Control which was held at Le Meridien Hotel from 14 to 17 December 2004; and
(ii) the official visit of Mr Bernard Gruson, Director-General of "Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve" (HUG) to Mauritius from 27 to 30 December 2004.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of the recommendations contained in the International Trade Centre (ITC) Mission Report regarding the elaboration of a National Export Strategy for the Service Sector and the organisation of a Symposium on the Service Sector from 18 to 21 January 2005 by the Mauritius Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) with technical assistance from the International Trade Centre (ITC).
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11. Cabinet has taken note of the participation of ten young Mauritians including four young girls and of one Rodriguan in the 17th Ship for World Youth Programme organised by the Government of Japan from 11 January to 02 March 2005.
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