Cabinet Decisions taken on 07 August

1. Cabinet has set up a High Level Committee to monitor the issue of squatting and illegal occupation of State land around the country. The Committee would comprise -

(a) the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Leisure and External Communications;

(b) the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping;

(c) the Minister of Housing and Lands;

(d) the Minister of Education, Culture and Human Resources;

(e) the Attorney General; and

(f) the Minister of Health and Quality of Life.

2. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit would promulgate the Environment Protection (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 3) Regulations to provide for polluters committing serious offences to pay higher fines with a view to –

(a) making polluters pay for the harm done to the environment; and

(b) sensitizing the public at large regarding the need to have a cleaner environment.

3. Cabinet has taken note of the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities, set up to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Fact Finding Committee on the ex-Lola Flooding (Domah Report), viz., -

(i) construction on river reserves and water courses;

(ii) dumping of waste in rivers, drains and canals;

(iii) construction on mountain reserves; and

(iv) development of morcellements giving due consideration to land drainage aspects.

4. With a view to improving the business climate and enhancing ease-of-doing business in Mauritius, Cabinet has agreed to the recommendations of the Permit Review Committee, set up under the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008, aiming at reducing the number of import and export permits, streamlining procedures and reducing process time.

5. Cabinet has taken note that, in line with Government’s policy to provide quality health care, an Endodontic Clinic would be set up at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital with a view to enabling patients to retain their natural dentition much longer. So far, 1,252 patients have benefitted from the endodontic services being provided at Dr A. G. Jeetoo Hospital, Souillac Hospital and Rose Hill Area Health Centre.

6. Cabinet has taken note that a Counselling Unit has been set up at Brown Sequard Mental Health Care Centre, in collaboration with “Friends in Hope”, a voluntary association, with a view to -

(a) offering support to patients and their families;

(b) contributing to the rehabilitation of patients so that they may reach their maximum level of autonomy; and

(c) raising public awareness and understanding on psychiatric disorders.

The Counselling Unit is open from 0900 hours to 1600 on weekdays.

7. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the implementation of the Harbour Bridge Project as one of the measures to reduce traffic congestion in Port Louis. The Road Development Authority is working on the alignment of the Project and the acquisition of land.

8. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives would hold campaigns during the month of August 2009 to sensitize Small and Medium Enterprises and other economic operators on the schemes put in place by Government to support Small and Medium Enterprises to overcome their difficulties in the midst of the current global economic downturn, as follows –

Venue Date
Rose Belle 15 August 2009
Rivière du Rempart 22 August 2009
Flacq 29 August 2009

9. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Women’s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare is organizing open days in Women Centres across the country to –

(a) sensitize the public, particularly women, on the services and facilities offered at the level of the Centres;

(b) encourage the enrolment of a larger number of women in activities/training courses/associations/clubs of the Ministry; and

(c) promote empowerment of women to enable them to keep pace with the globalized market.

10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of a Workshop on “Greener and more Sustainable Industry”, organized jointly by the Ministry of Industry, Science and Research, the Ministry of Environment and National Development Unit and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, on 29 July 2009. During the Workshop, the following issues were discussed -

(a) Need for Sustainable Consumption and Production: Trends and Challenges;

(b) International Trend – Demand for Certified Products;

(c) Leading Industry Standards and Certification;

(d) Cleaner Production: The Sustainable Solution for Businesses: Principles and Benefits;

(e) Green Manufacturing and Sustainability as Competitive Tool;

(f) Cleaner Production Options for Industry;

(g) Increase Efficiency and Reduce Waste in Textile Manufacturing Companies;

(h) Improvement of Resource Efficiency and Environmental Performance through Cleaner Production in Food Processing Industry; and

(i) Clean Development Mechanism and the Carbon Market.

11. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the implementation of the Performance Management System in the Civil Service. The Performance Management System is being implemented as a key reform initiative to stimulate performance focused on results and allow managers, at all levels, and their staff to achieve concrete results through the alignment of individual to organizational objectives.

12. Cabinet has taken note that the AGOA Cell, set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Industry, Science and Research, has recommended a series of measures to encourage enterprises to access the US market and take advantage of the third country fabric derogation, including the preparation of a well-documented manual on “Export to USA”, the elaboration of a calendar of export promotion programmes to the USA and the provision of technical assistance to enterprises to improve their competitiveness and enhance their capacity to export.

13. Cabinet has taken note of the following appointments –

Previous Cabinet Decisions