1. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the visit of Mrs F. Van Houtte of the Development Directorate of the European Commission in Mauritius from 6 to 8 June 2005 in the context of the Dialogue on the EU Action Plan on Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol Countries. Mrs F. Van Houtte has had meetings with representatives of Government and all stakeholders in the Sugar Industry including the Mauritius Sugar Authority and the Mauritius Sugar Producers' Association, during which the multifunctional role of the industry and the catastrophic consequences of the proposed reduction in the price of sugar would have on the industry were underscored.
Copies of the Accelerated Action Plan 2005-2015 have been handed over to the Commission. Mrs Van Houtte has confirmed that the reform would start on 1 July 2006. Further, the Commission would provide funds amounting to EURO 40M for 2006/07 to ACP Countries in the form of budgetary support
Government has agreed that lobbying action should be intensified during the month of July 2005 and discussions should be pursued with the Commission on the Accompanying Measures and the Accelerated Action Plan 2005-2015.
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2. Cabinet has taken note that the High Powered Committee (HPC) chaired by the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service had examined the representations made by the Unions of the Secondary Education Sector and that the HPC would be convened to examine the recommendations of the two Task Forces set up by the HPC to look into the representations made by the Nursing Association and the Nurses Union.
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3. Cabinet has reviewed the progress made with regard to the setting-up in Mauritius of the World Hindi Secretariat (WHS) and has agreed to the course of action being proposed with regard to the modalities of operation of the WHS. Cabinet has further taken note that a concept paper has been prepared in consultation with the Indian side relating to issues on the architectural structure and infrastructural plan of the headquarters which will be constructed on two acres of land next to the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture at Phoenix .
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4. Cabinet has taken note with satisfaction that the Maldivian Parliament had on Thursday 2 June 2005 approved the introduction of a multiparty system in the archipelago.
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5. Cabinet has reviewed progress made regarding the implementation of Polytechnics Diploma Course in Mauritius and has agreed to the setting-up of a Committee comprising dedicated persons from the public and private sectors, and whose objective would be to steer in and ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
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6. Cabinet has agreed that the Government Information Service (GIS) of the Prime Minister's Office would henceforth be responsible for the dissemination and updating of official Government Information on the new Government Web Portal (GWP) which is hosted on the Government Online Centre (GOC), launched on 7 May 2005.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the holding of -
(a) a SADC Workshop on Cooperation in Science and Technology in Mauritius from 20 to 22 June 2005 which will be organised by the Mauritius Research Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation, the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research and the SADC Secretariat. The objective of the workshop is to make proposals for the Science and Technology Sector with focus on the proposed Plan of Action for the SADC Science, Engineering and Technology Week to be held in September 2005; and
(b) the Second Meeting of the COMESA Technical Working Group (TWG) in Mauritius from 11 to 15 July 2005. The TWG comprises experts of each COMESA Country set up to provide overall technical guidance and analytical expertise in the formulation of regional assessment.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the prospective missions effected to Mauritius by delegations from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) - Pilani, India from 17 to 21 May 2005 and 29 May to 2 June 2005 respectively in the context of the setting-up of brand name tertiary institutions in Mauritius.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Small Enterprises, Cooperatives, Handicraft and the Informal Sector has, in accordance with section 38 of the Industrial Expansion Act, 1993, approved 24 applications for registration of small and medium enterprises. These enterprises are expected to invest an additional amount of about Rs 5.5M in production equipment and to create/sustain about 180 jobs.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of the programme of activities to mark Music Day on 21 June 2005 and having as theme this year "From Learning to Creation". Activities would include inter alia -
(i) an "Atelier Musical" and intercultural music fusion show at Port Louis Waterfront on Saturday 18 June from 1000 to 1700 hours;
(ii) popular music show at Rose Belle on 19 June 2005;
(iii) variety musical programme at Jardin de la Compagnie on 21 June; and
(iv) cultural shows and musical programmes at the Chinese Cultural Centre, the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture, the Mauritius Telugu Cultural Centre, the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture, the Conservatoire de Musique François Mitterand, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and by the Municipal Councils and other organisations.
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