1. Cabinet has taken note of the status of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project which aims at addressing the problems of acute traffic congestion along the Curepipe-Port Louis corridor and has inter alia agreed to the procurement of a macro-level transport modeling software together with accompanying services. The software would enable a more informed decision-making process in the planning of road and public transport schemes and the evaluation of scenarios of new road and public transport projects.
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2. Cabinet has taken note of the status of the Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project which will provide sewerage facilities to the regions of Quatre Bornes and Western Rose Hill. The project comprises the construction of 27 km of trunk sewer, about 2.35 km of reticulation networks and connection to about 29,000 houses.
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3. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance & Economic Development to South Africa where he participated in the Meeting of the SADC Ministers for Finance and Investment held on 5 August 2005. In the course of the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance & Economic Development emphasized on the importance to accelerate regional integration and finalise the Finance and Investment Protocol, the lynchpin for development.
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4. Cabinet has taken note of the absence of proper consultation in the establishment of the Open University of Mauritius and the decision of the Minister of Education & Human Resources to hold in-depth discussions with all stakeholders and come up with concrete measures for the setting up of the University on a firm footing. Cabinet has also taken note that the Ministry of Education & Human Resources was preparing a White Paper on reforms in the tertiary education sector.
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5. Cabinet has reviewed the status of the proposal by the Government of India for the setting up of a wind farm in Mauritius.
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6. Cabinet has taken note of the short-term measures to provide a world class quality education. These include inter alia -
(i) the setting up of a National Curriculum Framework with a view to providing a philosophical basis for reforms in education at the level of curriculum development, pedagogy and assessment;
(ii) provision to pupils of Standards V and VI with a copy of the Mauritius Atlas and an English Dictionary as from January 2006;
(iii) organization of a Training Fair in September 2005 at Ebène where students, parents, employers and potential trainees could acquaint themselves with the different training programmes offered by the IVTB; and
(iv) waiving of intake fees, as from January 2006, for trainees of NTC level 3 programmes.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of -
(i) the Mauritius Oceanography Institute with Prof. Indurlall Fagoonee as Chairperson;
(ii) the National Adoption Council with Mrs Anita K. Bacha as Chairperson;
(iii) the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board with Mr Coomaravel Pynandee as Chairperson;
(iv) the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund (SILWF) Committee with Mr Anand Bhikoo as Chairperson;
(v) the Islamic Cultural Centre Trust Fund Board with Mr Sayyad Habeeb-ul-Lah Sayed Hossen as Chairperson; and
(vi) the Export Processing Zone Labour Welfare Fund Board with Mrs V.L. Ramsamy, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment as Chairperson.
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8. Cabinet has taken note that the ILO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment, will hold a tripartite workshop on Occupational Safety and Health in the Port sector from 17 to 19 August 2005 at Le Meridien Hotel, Pointe aux Piments. The objective of the workshop which will focus on ILO standards and codes of practice, is to strengthen occupational safety and health in the Port Sector. It would also encourage the formulation, through social dialogue, of an appropriate national port health and safety action programme.
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the proposal of the Attorney-General, Minister of Justice & Human Rights to seek the views of the Mauritius Law Society, the Bar Council and the Chamber of Notaries on the Mauritius Law Society Bill which aims inter alia at -
(i) establishing a Mauritius Law Society with a view to bringing together all Attorneys entitled to practise in Mauritius; and
(ii) providing for a legal framework which will regulate the profession of Attorneys and ensuring high standards of integrity and professionalism.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of the short-term measures to improve health services in line with the declared policy of Government. These measures which aim at making health services more customer-oriented and patient-friendly are inter alia -
(i) the Mahebourg Hospital will be upgraded and made fully operational by the end of September 2005. The bed capacity will be increased from 46 to 70;
(ii) by the end of August 2005, three Dental Clinics will be opened in the Community Health Centres at Grand Baie, Rivière des Créoles and Midlands;
(iii) the Accident and Emergency Department in all hospitals will be reorganized to reduce the waiting time of patients while ensuring that genuine urgent cases are dealt with promptly;
(iv) the visiting time in each hospital will be extended by half an hour; and
(v) facilities in terms of proper accommodation and meals will be provided to mothers staying in paediatric wards to cater for the emotional needs of their sick children.
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