1. Cabinet has reviewed developments regarding the EU Sugar Regime and has taken note of the presentation of the Commissioner Ms Mariann Fischer-Boël to the Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament on the Commission's Reform proposals which essentially concern a cut of 39% in the price of both white and raw sugar starting in October 2007 and spreading over a period of three years.
Cabinet has agreed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation and the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources would attend a Hearing which will be organized by the European Parliament in Brussels on 13 July 2005 to examine in detail the Commission's Reform proposals and that the Prime Minister would write to the EU Heads of State/Government and to Commissioners Mariann Fischer-Boël, Louis Michel and Peter Mandelson. Further, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources will intensify his lobbying missions and meetings are being arranged with Ministers of Agriculture of France, UK and Spain as well as with the three above-named Commissioners.
2. Cabinet has reviewed the situation regarding the draft Resolution of India, Brazil, Germany and Japan (G4) for a permanent seat in an enlarged UN Security Council and has agreed that Mauritius would not co-sponsor the Resolution, but, in the event that a consensus is not reached and the Resolution is put to the vote, Mauritius would vote in favour thereof.
Cabinet has also taken note that African countries would decide on their position at the AU Summit to be held on 4 and 5 July 2005 in Libya and has agreed that the stand of Mauritius would be to appeal to the G4 to delay tabling the Resolution in the General Assembly until after the UN Special Summit in September 2005. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Cooperation would keep the Chinese Ambassador and the Indian High Commissioner informed of the stand of Mauritius.
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3. Cabinet has taken note of the recommendations contained in the Report of the Preliminary Inquiry into the circumstances which led to the collision between "MV MSC Katie" and "MV Nordsun" in Port Louis harbour on 21 April 2005 and has agreed to the setting-up of a Monitoring Committee under the Chair of the Ministry of Shipping, Rodrigues and Outer Islands to oversee the implementation thereof.
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4. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Housing and Lands proposes to acquire a plot of land of 2 Arpents adjoining Circonstance Cemetery , St Pierre from Mon Desert Alma with a view to providing additional space for the Muslim Section of the cemetery.
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5. Cabinet has agreed that a feasibility study be carried out by the Office International de l`Eau under the French Technical Assistance Programme, for the setting-up of a training centre in Mauritius to enhance the skills and work performance of staff of the water and wastewater sectors and which could become a regional training hub for trainees from Reunion Island, Seychelles and Madagascar and other countries in the region.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius signing the Windhoek Declaration on Reproductive Health in Southern Africa . The Windhoek Declaration aims at promoting improved programme strategies for sexual and reproductive health in the Southern Africa region and at strengthening partnerships with the African Union, the SADC and other regional and international partners to secure political, financial and material support for reproductive health projects and programmes.
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7. Cabinet has agreed to the designation of the "Monument aux Esclaves", the Gunpowder Magazine at Pointe Canon and the Granary at Port Louis harbour as National Heritage under section (12) of the National Heritage Fund Act 2003.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of -
(i) the Meeting of the integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM) of the SADC held in Maseru , Lesotho from 9 to 10 June 2005 ; and
(ii) the Bureau of Ministers Meeting of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa and the 23 rd Session of the Steering Committee held in France from 23 to 27 May 2005 .
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the launching of a booklet entitled "Bien être des Personnes Handicapées" which gives an overview of the achievements of the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizen Welfare & Reform Institutions for the period 2000 to 2005 in respect of the disabled.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of the findings of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Survey carried out in Mauritius in 2004. A decrease has been noted in the prevalence of diabetes, cholesterol, obesity and smoking. However, an increase in the prevalence of abusive intake of alcohol has been noted .
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11. Cabinet has taken note of the implementation of a three-day Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme by the Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care in favour of cardiac patients. The programme will cater for about 40 patients monthly and will be based on a similar programme conducted by Dr Satish Gupta, Senior Consultant Cardiologist from Mount-Abu , India on 81 patients in February/March 2005.
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12 . Cabinet has taken note of the hosting by Mauritius of the "Rencontre Conjointe du Bureau du Comité de Suivi de la Conference des structures Gouvernmentales chargées des droits de l'homme dans l'espace francophone et des Réseaux Institutionnels de la Francophonie" from 19 to 21 July 2005 at Le Meridien Hotel. Some 130 participants are expected to attend.
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13 . Cabinet has taken note of the visit to Mauritius of a Quawwali Troupe from India led by the famous Quawwali Singer Iftekhar Ahmed, from 6 to 13 July 2005 , under the Cultural Exchange Programme between Mauritius and India .
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14 . Cabinet has taken note of arrangements being made by the Ministry of Arts and Culture and the Islamic Cultural Centre for the holding of an Islamic Finance Forum on 25 and 26 July 2005 at the Grand'Baie International Conference Centre. The aim of the forum is to sensitize public opinion on the basic concepts and principles of Islamic banking, finance and insurance.
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15 . Cabinet has taken note of Regulations being made under section 78 of the Building Act to provide for accessibility to disabled persons to buildings and within various parts of buildings to which the public generally has access.
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