1. Cabinet has taken note of the status of ratification of Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and has agreed to Mauritius ratifying the Freedom of Association and the Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No.87) , the only one out of the eight Fundamental Conventions not yet ratified by Mauritius.
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2. Cabinet has taken note of the site visit effected by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development and Members of the Task Force for the preparation of the Maha Shivaratree Festival and has taken note that with regard to the construction of the statue of Shiva at Grand Bassin, the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit would coordinate with the Architect, the Builder and the Sculptor of the project and the religious and socio-cultural organizations for the smooth completion thereof, pending the setting up of the Mangal Mahadev Trust Fund Board.
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3. Cabinet has taken note that the State Trading Corporation was examining a request from the two local Cement Companies for an increase in the retail price of cement following a 24% increase in the import price. Cabinet has further noted that measures were being taken to prevent any shortage of cement on the local market as a result of the Tsunami tragedy.
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4. Cabinet has taken note with concern of the magnitude of the fraudulent export of frozen tuna loins to Italy by a Mauritian Company. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation was monitoring the situation in close contact with the European Union as this situation could put at stake the good name of Mauritius. Cabinet further noted that the Police enquiry in this matter was also progressing.
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5. Cabinet has taken note that the site visit to St Felix, initially fixed for Saturday 5 February 2005 and which has been postponed due to bad weather conditions has now been rescheduled for Sunday 13 February 2005. The team led by the Prime Minister would inter alia look into the progress of works on the hotel projects, the new public beach and other components of the project.
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6. Cabinet has taken note that the Commission on Education and Training of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly has made a request to take over from REDCO the management of the five State Secondary Schools in the Island and that the request was being examined by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that as no vessel was scheduled to go to Agalega before April next, the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research would in consultation with the Agalega Island Council and the Civil Aviation Department arrange for the two teachers who would be posted there to fly to Agalega from Seychelles.
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8. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Regulatory Authorities Appeal Tribunal Bill which provides for the establishment of a Regulatory Authorities Appeal Tribunal to hear and determine appeals from decisions of the ICT Authority, the Postal Authority, the Data Protection Commissioner and the Utility Regulatory Authority.
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Mission of -
(i) the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation to -
(a) St Denis, Reunion from 16 to 17 January 2005 where he attended the 21st Meeting of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Council of Ministers chaired by Honourable Xavier Darcos, “Ministre Délégué à la Coopération, à la Francophonie et au Development” of France; and
(b) Abuja, Nigeria from 27 to 31 January 2005, where he attended the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union and the Fourth Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly; and
(ii) the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit to Phuket, Thailand from 28 to 29 January 2005, where he attended the Ministerial Meeting on Regional Cooperation on Tsunami Early Warning Arrangements.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of the success of the solidarity week organized by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research in collaboration with its partners of the education sector in favour of young victims of the Tsunami in all educational institutions from 31 January to 4 February 2005. A sum of about Rs 300,000 has been collected.
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11. Cabinet has taken note of the progress made regarding the reforms in the Tertiary Education Sector and on the Knowledge Hub Project. Cabinet has further noted that a regulatory framework for the Tertiary Education Sector was under preparation to provide inter alia for the establishment, operation and monitoring of private universities/tertiary institutions, setting up of quality assurance mechanism, setting up of branches/campuses of overseas universities and the registration of private and overseas providers of tertiary education.
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12. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Statutory Bodies Family Protection Fund Board for the year 2005. The Board will be chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Solid Waste Management.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of the findings and recommendations of Luxconsult (Mauritius) Ltd on the Origin – Destination Survey carried out at the entrances and exits of Port Louis from 22 to 28 November 2004.
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