1. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development, in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Enterprise of the European Union and the Joint Economic Council, organising a Conference on seafood in Mauritius on 2 and 3 March 2006. The main objectives of the Conference are to position Mauritius as a world-class seafood hub, raise awareness of international operators about our seafood sector, attract investors and facilitate strategic partnerships between local operators and European investors and promote the modern facilities and infrastructure available in Mauritius.
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2.Cabinet has taken note of developments in the construction of the new Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital. The project comprises a four-storey building which would increase the bed capacity from 460 to 550 and offer adequate and sustainable services to outpatients and inpatients, while providing an improved workspace to hospital staff. The hospital would include a new Psychiatric Department, in addition to the existing services, such as Outpatient Department, SAMU, Emergency Services, Orthopaedics, Gynaecology, etc.
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3.Taking into account the prevailing macro-economic situation and in order to avert the worsening of the financial situation of the CEB resulting from mismanagement by the previous Government, Cabinet has agreed to an average increase of 10% in electricity tariffs for domestic and industrial customers as from 3 January 2006. In line with the declared policy of Government towards the vulnerable groups, Cabinet has further agreed to about 35,000 households, involving some 190,000 persons, consuming less than 75 kwh a month being exempted from the increase. Moreover, with a view to improving the financial situation of the CEB, Cabinet has decided that the CEB should renegotiate the terms of the Power Purchase Agreements with the Independent Power Producers.
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4.Cabinet has taken note of the status of the implementation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is a key component in an improved Public Expenditure Management System, and that the system would be adopted as a Government-wide mechanism for linking policy, planning and budgeting and building ownership and technical capacity in sector Ministries.
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5.Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Education & Human Resources would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the "Secretariat Technique Permanent" of CONFEMEN regarding the "Programme d'Analyse des Systèmes Educatifs de la CONFEMEN' (PASEC). The programme aims at identifying factors that foster cost effectiveness in schools and performance of students, gathering a better knowledge of the attainment of pupils at the start and end of the primary schooling and comparing these attainments at both national and international levels.
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6.Cabinet has taken note of the composition of the Board of Trustees of "La Clinique Mauricienne" for the year 2006. The Chairman and the Secretary would be elected from among its members.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the First Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers of Culture held in Nairobi, Kenya from 13 to 14 December 2005. The Conference inter alia took note of the report of the AU Commission on the Cultural Programme and Activities, adopted the Statutes of the Academy of African Languages and endorsed the establishment of an African Heritage Fund.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of alleged frauds regarding the payment of Social Aid at certain Social Security Offices. A squad had been set up at the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare & Reform Institutions to carry out a thorough investigation with a view to looking into the allegations, and appropriate actions have been initiated to beef up the control mechanism.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Industry, Small & Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives (Industry & Small & Medium Enterprises Division) has been certified MS ISO 9001:2000 Standards under the National Quality System Certification Scheme.
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10. In view of the delay in the construction of the Rose Belle Market, Cabinet has agreed to the contract for the construction of the market being allocated to the Development Works Corporation.