1. Cabinet has reviewed the organisation of the Maha Shivaratree Festival and has taken note that in spite of the bad weather conditions, works were progressing satisfactorily and were on target. Further, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development would chair a meeting of the Task Force on his return to the country.
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2. Cabinet has taken note of an article which appeared in a daily this week regarding a cruise which a travel agent in the United Kingdom was offering to the Chagos Archipelago, departing from the Seychelles. Our Mission in UK and representative in Seychelles have been requested to obtain detailed information thereon.
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3. Cabinet has reviewed measures being envisaged for the setting up of an Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System and has taken note that our Ambassador in Paris will lead the Mauritian delegation at the first meeting of the Inter-Governmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in Paris from 3 to 8 March 2005. Further, a high-level Meeting of the IOC is scheduled at the end of March 2005. Cabinet has noted that India, Thailand and France(Reunion) have proposed to host the Indian Ocean Warning System.
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4. Cabinet has reviewed matters regarding the theft and murder at the Mauritius Commercial Bank on 11 February 2005, and has taken note that the Police enquiry was ongoing and that it has been confirmed there has been no political interference or attempt at cover up.
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5. Cabinet has taken note that Mr Nikhil Treebhoohun, who has been appointed Head of the Trade Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, has resigned as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Enterprise Mauritius. Cabinet has agreed that Mr A.H. Nakhuda, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, who is currently chairperson of the Board of Investors (BOI) would be appointed Chairperson of the Board of Enterprise Mauritius and Dr Prem Nababsing, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister would replace Mr A.H. Nakhuda as Chairperson of the BOI.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Electricity Bill which will replace the Electricity Act 1939 and which purports inter alia to make better provision for the regulation and licensing of electricity services, to provide for a transparent method for the determination of electricity tariff and to provide for a code of practice on electrical installation in buildings to ensure public safety.
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7. Cabinet has agreed to the utilization of the Line of Credit of RMB 40 M Yuan, i.e, about Rs150 M, for the construction of a new building to accommodate the MBC Headquarters on a plot of land of about 8 A adjacent to the MGI at Moka. The agreement for that interest free loan was signed during the official visit of the Prime Minister to China in January last.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the findings and recommendations of the Consultant, Trans-Africa Projects Ltd on the black out of 5 and 7 January and has agreed to release the Report.
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9. Cabinet has reviewed the situation at the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate and has taken note of the resignation of two members of the Board of the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate and the suspension of the Chief Finance Officer of that organisation pending the determination of the Disciplinary Committee set up to investigate into an alleged breach of procedure.
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10. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius becoming a member of the South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Programme(SWIOFP) . The Programme is spearheaded by the World Bank with major funding from the Global Environment Fund and aims at enabling the nine coastal and Island States of the South West Indian region to collectively assess and make sustainable use of the region's common key fisheries resources according to an ecosystem approach.
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11. Cabinet has taken note of the findings and recommendations of the Consultant SMEC on the Detailed Study for the Estimation of Rock Reserves in Mauritius and has agreed to the setting-up of an Inter-Ministerial Committee under the Chair of the Ministry of Environment and the National Development Unit for the implementation of the recommendations.
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12. Cabinet has taken note of activities being organised to mark the year 2005 as the International Year of Microcredit with a view to sensitizing a great number of people to the importance of resorting to microcredit as a tool for reducing or eliminating poverty, empowering people to join the mainstream of economic development and promoting entrepreneurship.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of the Mission of-
(i) the Minister of Environment and the National Development Unit to Reunion Island from 16 to 18 February where he attended the Meeting of the “Groupe d'Experts InterGouvernemental sur l'Evolution du Climat"; and
(ii) the Minister of Tourism and Leisure to Milan, Prague, London and Paris. The Minister participated in Tourism Fairs in Milan and Prague.
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14. Cabinet had taken note of the reconstitution of –
(i) the Tourism Employees Welfare Fund Board under the Chair of
Mr L. Gopaul;
(ii) the National Transport Corporation Board under the Chair of
Mr D. Nunkoo;
(iii) the Bus Industry Employees Welfare Fund under the Chair of
Dr M.S.H. Naujeer; and
(iv) the Development Works Corporation under the Chair of
Mr N. Ramgoolam.
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15. Cabinet has taken note that-
(i) the Meeting of the SADC Regional Food Security Advisory Committee will be held in Mauritius on 23 and 24 March 2005. About 30 participants are expected to attend the Meeting; and
(ii) a Framework for Action workshop on the SADC Vision for Water, Life and Environment would be held at Domaine Les Pailles on 3 March 2005.
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16. The next Cabinet Meeting would be held on Friday 4 March 2005 at 1030 hours. However, on the following week, in view of the fact that a number of activities would be held on Friday 11 March in the context of the National Day Celebrations 2005, and the Prime Minister's National Unity Award 2004, Cabinet would exceptionally meet on Sunday 13 March 2005 at 1000 hours.
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