CABINET DECISIONS – 05 SEPTEMBER 2008
1. Cabinet has taken note that a Ministerial Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Environment & National Development Unit has been set up to assist victims of the flood which recently hit the State of Bihar, India. In that respect, Government would, on its part, make a donation of US$500,000.
2. Cabinet has taken note of developments in arrangements made in connection with the pilgrimage to the shrine of Père Laval.
3. Cabinet has taken note of activities organised to mark the 108th Birth Anniversary of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, viz., -
(i) Wreath Laying Ceremony at Port Louis Waterfront and Kewal Nagar;
(ii) prize giving ceremony to winners of a drawing competition on Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam organised by the Mauritius Museums Council;
(iii) a roving exhibition of photos from 11 to 19 September 2008 at Riche Mare Community Centre and from 25 September – 02 October 2008 at the SSR Gallery, Municipality of Quatre Bornes; and
(iv) a Défilé led by the Police Band and comprising Majorettes, students, etc., of Kewal Nagar, followed by a cultural programme in front of the Memorial Park at Kewal Nagar.
Cabinet has further taken note that, on the recommendations of the National Heritage Fund Board, the statue of Sir Seewosagur Ramgoolam at Port Louis Waterfront would be listed as National Heritage in accordance with the provisions of the National Heritage Fund Act.
4. Cabinet has taken note that Dr the Hon Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, Prime Minister, would present a cheque of Rs600,000 to Mr Bruno Julie, who won bronze medal in the under-54kg category Boxing at the XXIX Olympic Games held in Beijing from 8 to 24 August 2008. His coach, Mr Jean Claude Nagloo, would receive a reward of Rs180,000.
5. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius signing an Agreement with the Government of the Republic of South Africa providing for cooperation and coordination in Search and Rescue Services (SAR), viz. -
(a) exchange of aeronautical SAR information concerning potential and/or actual distress situations;
(b) support each other by pooling SAR facilities for operations within the respective Search and Rescue Regions;
(c) exchange of information on the available SAR resources to ensure mutual knowledge of each others SAR capabilities;
(d) apply standard agreed SAR procedures in order to save human life in distress; and
(e) conduct communication checks to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of SAR communication links.
6. Cabinet has taken note that the Centre for Severely Disabled Elderly Persons at Petit Verger, Pointe aux Sables, would be opened soon. The Centre, unique in its kind, has been constructed with the financial and technical assistance of the Luxembourg authorities following an agreement signed by Dr the Hon Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, Prime Minister, in September 1996.
The Centre, which would cater for 32 severely disabled elderly persons, would be managed jointly by the Arya Sabha Mauritius and the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare & Reform Institutions. Moreover, a Training of Carers Programme has been launched with the collaboration of the Mauritius Institute of Health.
7. Cabinet has taken note that following discussions the Prime Minister had with Mr Barbosa, Deputy Director General of UNESCO in June 2008, UNESCO has deputed a High-Level Inter-Sectoral Mission led by Mr W. Erdelen, Assistant Director General for National Sciences. The Mission, which would visit Mauritius from 10 to 12 September 2008, aims at reinforcing cooperation between Mauritius and UNESCO, mainly in areas of Science and Culture, with special reference to the project "Maurice Ile Durable". A Memorandum of Understanding on possible areas of cooperation between Mauritius and UNESCO will, eventually, be signed.
8. Cabinet has taken note that the International Airline Transport Association (IATA), in collaboration with Air Mauritius, would hold a one-day Conference in Mauritius on the theme ‘Aviation & Environment: Sustainable Development’. The Conference will place special emphasis on tourism and on topical issues, such as ‘Tourism & Sustainable Development’, ‘Climate Change, Adaptation & the Future of Tourism’, and ‘Implications for the Airline Industry’. The Conference will also focus on problems facing the airline and tourism industries in the wake of the petrol crisis and will aim at providing meaningful and pragmatic solutions thereto.
9. Cabinet has taken note of activities organized by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, in collaboration with stakeholders, to mark the African Traditional Medicine Day 2008. The theme for this year is “Role of Traditional Health Practitioners in Primary Health Care”.
In addition to exhibitions across the island, a sensitisation campaign on traditional medicine would be organised to inform the population on traditional modes of health care services. The main objective of the event is to intensify efforts to promote traditional medicine with a view to integrating it into the national health systems.
10. Cabinet has taken note of the launching of an Apprenticeship Guide by the Industrial and Vocational Training Board (IVTB) with a view to informing all stakeholders, namely employers, apprentices, parents and prospective students, of the advantages of pre-employment training combining on-the-job training with centre-based-learning. The Guide is an essential document to all those who are interested in joining the trades industry, which has a very bright future in Mauritius and where there is a shortage of skilled labour. In order to further expand access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training, the number of apprenticeable trades has been increased from 12 to 65.
11 Cabinet has taken note of activities to be organised on 25 September 2008 to mark the World Maritime Day 2008 which has as theme "IMO 60 years in the service of shipping". The Day aims at focussing attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and marine environment and at emphasizing particular aspects of International Maritime Organisation's work. On that occasion, a one-day Symposium would be organised to disseminate information on careers' opportunities in the maritime and ancillary fields to young school leavers and students.
12. Cabinet has taken note that the appointment of Dr S. Chady as Chairman of the Board of the Mauritius Ports Authority has been terminated with effect from today.