CABINET DECISIONS – 16 JANUARY 2009
1. Cabinet has taken note of the progress of work on the Slave Route Monument project and of the programme of activities to commemorate the 174th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery on 1 February 2009 at Le Morne Cultural Landscape. The programme would comprise, inter alia, -(a) the inauguration of Slave Route Monument;
(b) a wreath-laying ceremony;
(c) the handing over of certificate of the inscription of Le Morne on the World Heritage List; and
(d) a cultural show.
Cabinet has further taken note that a wreath-laying ceremony would also be held at the “Monument des Esclaves”, Pte Canon, Mahebourg.
2. Cabinet has taken note of the situation in the Pig Breeding Sector and has agreed to the extension of the income support to 211 pig breeders for a further period of four months, i.e., up to April 2009, when they would start earning revenue. AREU is closely monitoring the situation, particularly to avoid the resurgence of swine fever.
3. Cabinet has taken note that the Mobile Clinic of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life has, since its operation, diagnosed a number of persons as diabetic or hypertensive. Those cases are being followed up at the level of hospitals and health centres.
Cabinet has further taken note of the programme of activities of the Mobile Clinic for the period January to March 2009 and that the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life targets to screen some 100,000 adults and about 25,000 students during the year 2009. The Mobile Clinic would be launched in 16 localities around the country, where a package of services will be offered,
including –
(a) screening/tests for diabetes, hypertension, vision, obesity and breast and cervical cancer for women;
(b) reproductive health, including voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections;
(c) cooking demonstration with the participation of celebrity chef;
(d) oral health – counselling and dental check up;
(e) sensitization on substance abuse; and
(f) environmental sanitation and food hygiene.
4. In line with Government’s policy to promote cleanliness and make Mauritius a tourist haven, Cabinet has agreed to the Eleventh Schedule (Eyesores) of the Environment Protection Act being amended with a view to making obligatory for an owner or a syndic to keep any house, tenement, wall or any other structure or building in a clean and aesthetic state.
5. In line with Government’s strategy to enhance economic growth and achieve sustainable development through regional integration, Cabinet has agreed to the Regional Cooperation Council, a high-level public-private sector forum set up in 1996, being revamped. The Council, which would be renamed Regional Integration Council, would reflect the new mandate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade and take on board the decisions of the recent Tripartite SADC-COMESA-EAC Summit. The new Council, which would comprise Ministers, Members of the National Assembly, public and private sector representatives and MACOSS, would adopt a participatory approach from all segments of the society on emerging bilateral issues for a deeper regional integration. The Council would meet on a quarterly basis to deal with pertinent issues within the shortest possible delay.
6. Cabinet has taken note of the status of the Methadone Substitution Therapy Programme and that, as from 12 January 2009, a new mobile Dispensing Unit has been opened on the premises of the Plaine Lauzun Community Health Centre.
The Methadone Substitution Therapy Programme which was introduced in November 2006 for male clients, was subsequently extended to female clients in March 2008. As at 8 January 2009, 1028 male clients and 141 female clients have been induced on Methadone Substitution Therapy.
The Methadone Substitution Therapy Programme consists of three phases, namely, the induction phase where patients are induced on methadone as inpatients at the Centres for a period of 28 days; the dispensing phase whereby the already induced clients attend the Dispensing Units daily to take their methadone; and the follow up phase where the clients are provided psychosocial support by the Rehabilitation Centres.
A Dispensing Unit is operational between 6.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. daily in each of the five regional hospitals, at Bouloux Area Health Centre at Cassis and also at Brown Sequard Mental Health Care Centre. Besides, since June 2008, mobile Dispensing Units are operating on the premises of Rose Hill Area Health Centre and in the vicinity of the Ex-SMF Museum, Vacoas.
7. With a view to promoting the ICT Sector as the fifth pillar of the Mauritian economy and for Mauritius to be qualified as a safe destination for undertaking business process outsourcing/IT enabled activities, Cabinet has taken note that all the sections of the Data Protection Act would be proclaimed with effect from 30 January 2009 and regulations would be promulgated for the operationalisation of the Office of Data Protection, and the prescription of fees for registration as data controller and renewal thereof.
8. Cabinet has taken note that the Construction Industry Development Board Act would be proclaimed partly to take effect from 1 January 2009 to allow the Construction Industry Development Board to become operational. The Act, inter alia, provides for the mandatory registration of contractors and consultancy firms operating in the construction industry.
9. Cabinet has taken note that a Workshop for African Policy Makers and Regulators on Internet Governance, organized jointly by the African Telecommunications Union, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, would be held in Mauritius from 17 to 19 March 2009. The main objectives of the Workshop are to disseminate information and materials on Internet for governance issues, and to foster the evolvement of appropriate policies and regulations relating to the development of internet in the African region. About 150 delegates from the African countries would attend the Workshop.
10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit to New Delhi, India, from 4 to 9 January 2009 where he participated in the Afro-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO) Conference which, inter alia, discussed the review of the functions and objectives of the Organisation and the work programme for the triennium 2009-2011.
Cabinet has further taken note that Mauritius was elected member of the Executive Committee for AARDO for the term 2009 to 2011 by securing the highest number of votes.
In the margins of the Conference, the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit called on the following personalities with whom he evoked climate change and environmental issues -
(a) HE Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Minister of Rural Development;
(b) HE Mr Namo Narain Meena, Minister of State for Environment & Forests; and
(c) Dr Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Director General of the Energy and Resources Institute.
11. Cabinet has taken note of the mission of the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit from 1 to 12 December 2008 to Poland where he participated in the 14th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 4th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, which, inter alia, -
(a) decided that efforts to address climate change should not be compromised by the current financial crisis;
(b) agreed to the operationalisation of the Adaptation Fund, which aims at financing adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries; and
(c) endorsed a Strategic Programme on Technology Transfer to scale up the level of investment by leveraging private investments that developing countries need for climate mitigation and adaptation technologies.