CABINET DECISIONS – 10 JULY 2009
1. Cabinet has set up a High Level Committee under the chairmanship of Dr the Hon Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, Prime Minister, to examine the proliferation of gaming houses, i.e., casinos and betting shops, in both urban and rural areas. Cabinet has taken note that, pending the recommendations of the Committee, no new licences would be granted.
2. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which provides for the implementation of measures announced in Budget Speech 2009, the strengthening and streamlining of certain provisions relating to revenue, public finance and financial services and for improving certain provisions in existing legislation.
3. Cabinet has taken note of the launching of a Clean Cane Campaign for Crop Season 2009 to sensitize planters on the necessity to send clean cane to factories for the production of refined white sugar.
As from Crop 2009, Mauritius would export mostly refined white sugar and special sugars in line with the sugar reform programme as enunciated in the Multi-Annual Adaptation Strategy Action Plan and to cope with the 36% reduction in sugar price. The marketing of the refined white sugar would shift from the traditional buyer under the Sugar Protocol to a new long term partnership agreement with Sudzucker. The refined white sugar will, therefore, have to meet stringent quality norms. Furthermore, white sugar manufacture is one of the key performance indicators for the disbursement of funds under the accompanying measures.
4. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Exercise for Mauritius. A Country Review Mission, led by Professor Mohamad Seguir Babes, member of the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons in charge of the Mauritius Exercise, would visit Mauritius from 15 to 31 July 2009 to assess and finalize the APRM Self Assessment Report. In this connection, the Team would interact with Mauritian stakeholders, viz., the civil society, the public and private sectors, involved in the elaboration of the Report. The APRM aims at emphasizing best practices and looking into ways and means of improving governance in accordance with the recommendations contained in the Country Report.
5. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the implementation of the recommendations of the French Experts from the Direction Départementale de la Protection Judiciaire de la Jeunesse de la Réunion, for the upgrading of the Rehabilitation Youth Centres and the review of the judicial and legal system. In this context, the Community Service Order Act and the Probation of Offenders Act were recently amended, educational activities have undergone changes and a new curriculum has been introduced. Inmates are now allowed to attend institutions, such as the IVTB, outside the premises of the Centres. Moreover, hairdressing courses delivered by an MQA-qualified hairdresser would start as from July 2009.
6. Cabinet has taken note that, in line with the vision of Government to strengthen ICT as a pillar of the economy and to transform Mauritius into a regional ICT hub, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology would enter into an Agreement with Infocomm Development Authority International of Singapore providing for the conduct of an ICT strategic review to define and develop an ICT programme that would help create a National Infocomm Innovation and Industry Vision.
7. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the setting up of a national database and the harmonization of the provision of industrial space and land in Mauritius in line with the Industrial Development Strategy for the benefit of existing and prospective investors.
8. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities to Vienna, Austria from 22 to 24 June 2009 where he participated in the International Energy Conference organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The Conference, on the theme "Towards an Integrated Energy Agenda", provided a platform to discuss energy issues in the context of the current global financial and economic crises and to contribute to the shaping of global climate policy and presenting new international energy initiatives. The Conference dedicated a special session to Small Island Developing States, and recommended that small islands should move away from petroleum products and develop innovative technologies.
In the margins of the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities met Mr Y.A. Solokov, Deputy Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, with whom he discussed training and capacity building and assistance to assess and plan energy needs.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities also proceeded to London where he -
(a) had a working session with Professor Weatherhill, Head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences of the University of Birmingham, on the use of hydrogen as an alternative to petrol and diesel; and
(b) met Dr Barry Dalal-Clayton, Director of Strategies Planning and Assessement of the International Institute for Environment and Development, with whom he discussed technical assistance to develop a road map for the "Maurice Ile Durable" programme.
9. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade to Sandton, Republic of South Africa on 20 June 2009 where he participated in the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government.
The Summit, inter alia, considered the Progress Report on the Political and Security Situation in Madagascar and agreed to the appointment of a high profile mediator, assisted by a team of representatives of five Member States, to lead and coordinate the all-party dialogue in Madagascar. A legal expert from Mauritius would form part of the team.
10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Bilateral Consultation Meeting with the Russian authorities held on 29 June 2009 in Moscow. Discussions were centred around issues pertaining to trade relations, tourism, air services proposals, cultural cooperation, education and business opportunities, political situation in African countries, energy sources and food security.
11. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Ninth Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) held in Sanaa, Republic of Yemen from 23 to 25 June 2009.
The main issues discussed were –
(a) the setting up of a Fisheries Supporting Unit in Oman;
(b) the establishment of a Regional Centre for Science and Transfer of Technology in Iran;
(c) the setting up of a Select Committee of Senior Officials to review the Charter of the IOR-ARC; and
(d) the status of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and in the North West Region of the Indian Ocean.
12. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade from 7 to 8 June 2009 to Zimbabwe where he participated in the 13th Summit of Heads of State and Government of COMESA. The theme of the Summit was “Consolidating Regional Economic Integration through Value Addition, Trade and Food Security”.
The Summit, inter alia, -
(a) endorsed the legal instruments for the COMESA Customs Union;
(b) reviewed the implementation of COMESA Programmes, in the following fields: trade-related issues, transport and communication, industry and energy, agriculture, monetary affairs, gender, climate change, cooperation with partners;
(c) reviewed the status of Peace and Security in the region; and
(d) endorsed the establishment of the COMESA Committee of Elders for Peace and Security.
In the margins of the Summit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade had bilateral discussions with –
(a) Dr Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank;
(b) Ms Reen Abrahim Al-Hashimy, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates; and
(c) HE Dr Anvar S. Azimov, Russian Ambassador based in Lusaka.