1. Cabinet has reviewed the European Commission Sugar regime reform proposals and has agreed that in view of the urgency and gravity of the matter, the Prime Minister would chair a meeting to-morrow at 1000 am with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport & Shipping, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance & Economic Development, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation, the Minister of Agro Industry & Fisheries, the Attorney-General, Minister of Justice & Human Rights and the Minister of Industry, Small Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives to redefine and articulate a strategy for the presentation which the Minister of Agro Industry & Fisheries, as ACP Ministerial Spokesman, will make at the Hearing organized jointly by the Development and International Trade Committees of the European Parliament on 13 July 2005 in Brussels.
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2. Cabinet has reviewed the issue of the UN Security Council Reform and has agreed to support the position adopted by the African Union at the summit in Libya on 5 July 2005 , which is to ask for two permanent seats with all privileges including the right of veto, and five-non permanent seats. Cabinet further noted that this stand was not in conflict with the Indian position which is supported by Mauritius.
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3. Cabinet has reviewed the issue of squatters in several NHDC Housing Estates and has taken note that the outgoing Government had failed to take prompt action following the illegal occupation of housing units at Camp Levieux on 27 June 2005 . Cabinet has agreed that while firm action would be taken against the illegal occupants, deserving cases will be assessed by the Trust Fund for the Social Integration of Vulnerable Groups with a view to providing them housing facilities in due course.
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4. Cabinet has reviewed the economic situation and the state of public finances and has taken note that in view of the fact that the outgoing Government had not implemented the automatic price mechanism the State Trading Corporation (STC) has incurred a cumulative loss of Rs 1.2 billion.
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5. Cabinet has also noted with concern the deteriorating economic situation. Economic Growth will be significantly lower than the 5.1% announced by the previous Government. In the light thereof, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance & Economic Development would make proposals shortly on measures to address the economic situation.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to the setting-up of a Task Force under the Chair of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport & Shipping and comprising
(i) the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance & Economic Development;
(ii) the Minister of Education & Human Resources; and
(iii) the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare & Reform Institutions
to define the modalities for the urgent implementation for the provision of free transport to students and old age pensioners.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that Ministers were making situational analysis of their respective Ministries and would shortly come up with proposals and action plans for the way forward.
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8. Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister has conveyed his condolences to the British Prime Minister following the bomb blast in London on 7 July 2005, in which several persons have lost their lives or been injured.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister will attend the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Summit in Madagascar on 22 July 2005 . The Summit will be preceded by the IOC Council of Ministers on 21 July 2005 which will be attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation.
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10. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation will attend the Fourth AGOA Forum in Dakar from 18 to 20 July 2005 . A proposal to extend the Third Country Fabric to Mauritius up to 2015 would be discussed during the Forum.