1. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the meetings that the Minister of Agro Industry & Fisheries had in Brussels where he had discussed with a number of stakeholders the ACP position on the Reform of the EU Sugar Regime. A lobbying mission would be mounted targeting in priority the Agriculture and Development Ministers of UK and Austria.
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2. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Commission on the Democratization of the Economy that would be chaired by the Hon Cader Sayed-Hossen.
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3. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a High Level Task Force to examine all cases of rezoning and land conversion which might have resulted in certain abuses and make recommendations accordingly.
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4. Cabinet has agreed that the Attorney-General's Office would examine the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on Sale by Levy chaired by Sir Victor Glover, Kt., G.O.S.K. and propose appropriate amendments to the existing legislation.
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5. Cabinet has agreed that the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture would be sited at La Tour Koenig where HE Nelson Mandela had laid the Foundation Stone on 12 September 1998 instead of the General Post Office Building.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to the implementation, with effect from 1 August 2005, of the recommendations of the High Powered Committee, under the chairmanship of the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, which was entrusted with the responsibility to address the problems affecting officers of the Nursing Group. The main recommendations of the High Powered Committee are -
(i) officers of the Nursing Cadre who have completed their bonded period, be paid up to 30 June 2008, a monthly retention allowance equivalent to two increments at the point they have reached in their respective salary scales. Officers who leave the service prior to the compulsory retiring age would be required to refund the totality of the allowance paid;
(ii) Nursing Officers, Midwives and Charge Nurses be paid a monthly night attendance bonus ranging between Rs 250 to Rs 600, provided they attend duty on all scheduled nights during the month; and
(iii) Nursing Officers who do not opt to proceed on leave prior to retirement be refunded their accumulated vacation leave in accordance with paragraphs 28.95 (c) of the 2003 PRB Report.
The Report would be released to the Nurses Common Front.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister would attend the Summit of Heads of State or Government of the Indian Ocean Commission to be held in Antananarivo on 22 July 2005. He would seize the opportunity to have bilateral talks with the Heads of State present, particularly President Chirac of France, with whom he would also discuss the Reform of the EU Sugar Regime.
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8. Cabinet has taken note that more Japanese vessels are interested to fish in our region and avail of our port facilities and has agreed that the number of fishing licences issued to Japanese fishing vessels under the agreement with the Federation of Japan Fisheries Cooperation Association be increased from 10 to 20.
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9. Taking into consideration that children, particularly babies and toddlers, have been the subject of abuse due to a lack of security resulting from lack of appropriate child minding facilities, Cabinet has agreed to the management, on a pilot basis, of a Day Care Centre being entrusted to the National Children’s Council operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Women's Rights, Child Development, Family Welfare & Consumer Protection. Government is also considering the reopening of the other Day Care Centres.
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10. Cabinet has agreed to the importation of human bones by Medical and Dental Institutions as well as registered students of such institutions for the study of human anatomy provided they obtain the necessary health clearances.
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11. Cabinet has taken note that the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance & Economic Development will lead a delegation to the Seventh Session of the Seychelles – Mauritius Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation to be held in Mahe, Seychelles in December 2005. The main objectives of the Commission are to review the implementation of the decision taken at the preceding Joint Commission and to explore new avenues for greater cooperation between the two countries.
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12. Cabinet has agreed to the Minister of Local Government shortly introducing a legislation into the National Assembly to provide for the organization of Municipal and Village Council Elections as early as possible.
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13. Cabinet has taken note that the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) would organize a Sensitization Meeting on the Guide for Secretariats of National Tripartite Consultation Bodies in English speaking countries in Africa from 25 to 29 July 2005 at Le Meridien Hotel, Pointe aux Piments.
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14. Cabinet has taken note that -
(i) most of the squatters had already vacated the NHDC housing estates; and
(ii) 577 persons had registered themselves at the NHDC and the Trust Fund for the Social Integration of the Vulnerable Groups.
Cabinet has further noted that Police would initiate appropriate action against those squatters who would continue to illegally occupy the premises.
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