CABINET DECISIONS - 14 SEPTEMBER 2007
 1. Cabinet has agreed to the Attorney General, Minister of Justice & Human Rights discussing with the Chief Justice the possibility of re-structuring the operation of the Profiteering Court which used to function as a branch of the Supreme Court.
2. In line with Government objective to promote the concept of an inclusive society and enable physically challenged people to better integrate the mainstream society, Cabinet has taken note of measures taken to empower persons with disabilities to exercise their voting rights in better conditions and without any undue hindrance or unnecessary obstacles, viz.-
(a) to facilitate access to voting centres to blind voters or voters with mobility problems, the Electoral Supervisory Commission and the Electoral Commissioner’s Office would ensure that cars/vehicles carrying such voters are allowed to approach the gate of polling centres provided they do not carry political banners.
(b) A separate voting room would be reserved on the ground floor in each polling station for electors with mobility problems.
(c) To enable voters on wheelchairs to vote properly and without difficulty, the Electoral Supervisory Commission and the Electoral Commissioner’s Office would make provision for two booths at the height of a wheelchair in the special voting room.
(d) Explanations given by the Electoral Supervisory Commission and the Electoral Commissioner’s Office on TV regarding voting procedures would also be broadcast in the Mauritian Sign Language.
(e) Voters with disability would be requested to register themselves with the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare & Reform Institutions and the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons which would forward the names and addresses to the Electoral Commissioner’s Office for the preparation of a separate list for each polling station.
3. Cabinet has taken note that beach users have complained to the Beach Authority to the effect that public access to beaches through Pas Geometriques and state lands leased to bungalow owners is, in most cases, obstructed by illegal barriers. Cabinet has agreed to an Inter-Ministerial Committee being set up to look into the issue with a view to initiating appropriate remedial action. The Committee would comprise the Minister of Local Government, the Attorney General, Minister of Justice & Human Rights, the Minister of Housing & Lands and the Minister of Information Technology & Telecommunications.
4. Cabinet has taken note that, with a view to avoiding hardship to consumers, LPG which was under the Automatic Price Mechanism, would be removed therefrom so as not to increase prices of cylinders of LPG of 5, 6, and 12 kg despite the fact that the price of LPG has been soaring on the world market.
5. Cabinet has taken note of further arrangements made to clear the waiting list for cataract surgery at Subramania Bharati Eye Hospital, Moka, viz.,
(a) the services of private Optometrists have been enlisted on a sessional basis to perform the refraction clinics initially undertaken by the Ophthalmologists; and
(b) the third Operating Theatre which was being used only as a standby one, has now been made fully operational.
6. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the implementation of the National Service Framework For Diabetes with the assistance of the World Diabetes Foundation. It is proposed to launch a National Retinal Screening Programme and a Podiatry Service and set up a National Diabetes Register.
7. Cabinet has taken note of the good performance of the EPZ Sector for the period January to June 2007 as compared to the corresponding period in 2006, viz.,
(i) total exports of the EPZ Sector increased from Rs15.5 bn to Rs18.5 bn, i.e., by 19%;
(ii) Exports for the Apparel and Clothing Sector, viz., Pullovers and Cardigans,
T-Shirts, Shirts and Trousers, amounted to 69.5 million pieces; in value terms, these products registered an increase of Rs2.0 bn;
(iii) The volume of exports in Textile yarns and Fabrics increased from 3,965 tons to 4,809 tons, i.e., by 21%, coupled with an increase of 34% in value;
(iv) For the non-textile sector, exports of fish and fish preparation, the total export, in value terms, increased from Rs2,317 million to Rs2,556 million, i.e., by 10%; and
(v) The value of exports of ‘Watches and Clocks’ and ‘Precious & Semi-Precious Stones’ sub-sectors has registered an increase of 30% and 7% respectively.
As regards exports destinations, United Kingdom, France and USA remain the main export markets registering increases of 27%, 8% and 13% respectively. On this trend, the projected output of the EPZ Sector is expected to be around Rs 42 billion in year 2007.
8. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Youth & Sports, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education & Human Resources, the Mauritius Secondary Schools Sports Association and the Sports Federations, would launch the National Inter-College Games as from next year so as to give a new impetus to sports.
9. Cabinet has taken note of activities organized to mark the World Heart Day on 30 September 2007. This year’s theme is “Team Up for Healthy Hearts”. World Heart Day, a focused worldwide campaign, aims at increasing public awareness on the threat of heart diseases and stroke and draws attention to the importance of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Activities organised to mark the event include -
(a) sensitization programmes on cardiovascular risk factors;
(b) a message at the Morning Assembly in all secondary schools with focus on cardiovascular risk factors as a result of unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use; and
(c) a series of workshops on Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle for housewives.
10. Cabinet has taken note that the Seventh Regional Workshop of Network of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NAWMP) would be held in Mauritius from 8 to 12 October 2007. The aim of the Workshop is to discuss the integration of members of the different NAWMP in the overall implementation of the plan of action of the International Conference on Population and Development, as well as -
(a) align the visions of national networks with that of NAWMP with a view to identifying the challenges that need to be undertaken in the field of Population and Development, Gender Equality, Sexual and Reproductive Health and the fight against HIV/AIDS;
(b) initiate organizational responses to issues related to Population and Development, Gender Equality and Equity, Sexual and Reproductive Health and the fight against HIV/AIDS;
(c) come up with a pertinent project per country as per the Action Plan on Advocacy, Leadership and Resource Mobilization; and
(d) set up an e-exchange linkage with the NAWMP network of various countries.
11. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Minister of Information Technology & Telecommunications to Cape Town, South Africa from 20 to 23 August 2007, where he attended GOVTECH 2007, an annual technology event, aimed at showcasing products and services of operators of the ICT sector, both governmental and private.
The GOVTECH Conference, this year, focused on the following –
(i) Government Transformation;
(ii) Sourcing and Delivery models;
(iii) Applicable Technologies and Pertinent Trends; and
(iv) State Entity Updates and Vertical Government Initiatives.
In the margins of the event, the Minister of Information Technology & Telecommunications met –
(a) Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, Minister of Communications of South Africa;
(b) the Chairperson and Director of the State Information Technology Agency; and
(c) top officials of GARTNER, the Regional Cape Chamber, Tata Consultancy Services and Demindex Resources Corporation.
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