CABINET DECISIONS - 31 AUGUST 2007
 1. Cabinet has agreed to houses and the delimited portions of State lands on which the houses stand, being leased to eligible Agaleans. About 55 families, employees of the OIDC, would benefit from the Scheme. The Ministry of Housing & Lands has already surveyed and prepared the layout plans of the areas to be leased to the Agaleans for residential purposes.
Cabinet has also taken note that the Ministry of Housing & Lands is looking into how best the Scheme could be extended to retired employees of the OIDC.
2. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Fact Finding Committee chaired by a sitting Magistrate and two Assessors to investigate into the circumstances as to why wrong files regarding French paper 3014 had been forwarded to the Cambridge International Examinations in November 2006 and to establish responsibility.
3. Cabinet has taken note that, with a view to ensuring that payment of pensions to beneficiaries in Rodrigues is effected within the shortest delay, the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare & Reform Institutions proposes to computerize the processing of applications of pensions, and the collection of contributions for the National Pensions Fund in respect of employers registered in Rodrigues. Once the system is fully computerized, processing and award of pensions would be effected entirely in Rodrigues.
4. Cabinet has agreed to the implementation of the recommendations of the Technical Committee on fly-posting with a view to addressing and regulating the negative impacts of fly-posting and ensuring that advertisements are posted in a practical, efficient and easily enforceable way, while at the same time respecting freedom of expression. The recommendations, inter alia, include -
(a) promulgation of a legislation to provide for formalized poster panels, removal of illegally affixed posters; and
(b) controlling fly-posting and making provision for the designs of structures for affixing posters in standard models and sizes, as well as encouraging public involvement in the process.
5. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of Bilateral Air Services Talks between the Aeronautical Authorities of Mauritius and Malaysia, which has led to the adoption of a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement and to the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding incorporating specific provisions on which agreement has been reached, i.e., -
(a) The principle of multiple designation of airlines would be applicable for each Party.
(b) The designated airlines of each Party would be entitled to operate up to seven weekly frequencies, instead of three, with any aircraft type.
(c) The operation of cargo services would be unrestricted for both Parties for third, fourth and fifth freedom traffic rights.
(d) The designated airlines of Mauritius may operate up to two frequencies weekly to one beyond point in China, i.e., either Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou.
(e) Singapore may continue to be served as an intermediate or beyond point by Air Mauritius with own stopover rights but without the exercise of fifth freedom traffic rights.
The Memorandum of Understanding which has become effective as from 24 August 2007, would allow Air Mauritius to further consolidate the Mauritius/Kuala Lumpur route in code share arrangements with Malaysian carriers whilst enabling it to use Kuala Lumpur as an intermediate point with fifth freedom traffic rights during its future operations to China.
6. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the first meeting of the International Advisory Committee set up in the context of the National Service Framework for Diabetes (NSFD). The Committee which comprised renowned Professors, has made the following observations/recommendations -
(i) Prevention is the combination of a population approach also covering issues related to healthy food choices and physical activity and the high risk approach is essential for the successful prevention of type 2 diabetes;
(ii) the development of simple and inexpensive tools to identify people at high risk;
(iii) the setting-up of a Diabetes Coordinating Centre to be the focal point for diabetes care, education and research;
(iv) training and development of research; and
(v) the preparation of a costed time bound action plan for the development and implementation of the NSFD, for the next two years, followed by a broader programme for the following three years.
7. Cabinet has taken note that, following the visit of Professor Jacques Beylot, “Chargé de Mission à la Francophonie Médicale auprès du Président de l’Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux,” and Mr Alain Heriand, “Directeur Général du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire,” the University of Bordeaux has agreed to extend postgraduate training facilities to Medical Officers in Anaesthesia, Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology, in addition to the postgraduate medical studies in some specialist fields already offered, i.e., paediatrics, orthopaedic surgery, forensic medicine, etc.
8. Cabinet has taken note of the conclusion of a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between Mauritius and the State of Qatar.
Cabinet has further taken note that the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates has come into force as from 31 August 2007.
9. Cabinet has taken note of the School Calendar for the Year 2008 which is as follows -
PRIMARY
First Term
Friday 11 January to Friday 4 April
(Admission to Standard I on Thursday 10 January)
Second Term
Monday 21 April to Friday 11 July
Third Term
Monday 11 August to Friday 7 November
SECONDARY
First Term
Thursday 10 January to Friday 4 April
(Admission to Form I on Wednesday 9 January)
Second Term
Monday 21 April to Friday 18 July
Third Term
Monday 11 August to Friday 24 October
10. Cabinet has taken note of developments taking place in the various negotiations at the Regional and Multilateral levels, i.e., SADC Regional Economic Integration, Economic Partnership Agreement and WTO.
Cabinet has further taken note that a Committee, comprising the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation, the Minister of Agro Industry & Fisheries and the Minister of Industry, Small & Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives, was working on the position to be adopted by Mauritius in the negotiations.
11. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Managing Committee of the 'Institut de la Francophonie pour L'Entrepreneuriat' for the period 2007-2011 with Mr Michel de Speville as Chairperson.
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