CABINET DECISIONS – 23 JANUARY 2009
1. Cabinet has taken note that, in order to cope with the increasing demand for recreational services by Senior Citizens Associations, the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare & Reform Institutions proposes to construct a second Recreation Centre for Senior Citizens at Belle Mare. The Centre would accommodate 200 people. The project would be completed in October 2009.
2. Cabinet has agreed to the implementation of a National e-Health Strategic Plan for Mauritius, which has been elaborated in accordance with the National ICT Strategic Plan 2009-2011. The National e-Health Strategic Plan defines the ICT strategy to improve the work processes of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, its departments, as well as health agencies, with emphasis on improving quality and service delivery. The Plan also reviews the actual work processes and makes recommendations for appropriate ICT solutions, in terms of suitable hardware, as well as applications, systems software and communication facilities for a more effective and efficient use of IT.
3. Cabinet has taken note of a proposal from the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia, for collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life on issues concerning non-communicable diseases, in particular in the fight against diabetes. The Institute has offered to assist the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life in -
(a) the NCD Survey for Mauritius and Rodrigues;
(b) the Rodrigues Diabetes and NCD Surveillance Project;
(c) the training of Mauritian scientists;
(d) conducting further research on diabetes, particularly on genetic studies, in collaboration with the University of Mauritius and the Mauritius Research Council, to determine the causes of the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes among Mauritians; and
(e) the organisation of an International Conference on Diabetes scheduled for November 2009.
4. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life would implement MS ISO 9001 – 2008 in all hospitals and at its Head Office with a view to adopting a process approach and enhancing customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
5. Cabinet has taken note that the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) of the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Human Resources, would hold its second G100 Conference on the theme “Redesigning Learning for a Globalised Economy” in Mauritius in July 2009. G100 is the title of the SSAT iNet initiative that brings together a group of 100 outstanding school leaders from around the world to discuss, inter alia, issues relating to transformations in their respective education systems and the development of an agenda for future schooling.Mauritius is the first nation in the world to affiliate all its schools with iNet. Hosting the second G100 Conference, would provide a platform for:
(a) Mauritius to showcase its schools to iNet members from a range of countries;
(b) Mauritian schools to gain firm links and partnerships with other iNet schools;
(c) Mauritian educators and heads of school to engage in cutting edge educational debate and discussions and to participate in an international think tank on educational development and research at a global level; and
(d) Mauritius to obtain widespread publicity in world-class educational journals and publications.
6. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Environment and National Development Unit, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Human Resources, the Environment Care Association and the United Nations Development Programme, would implement a project entitled ‘Segregation of Waste in Schools’. The project aims at -
(a) sensitising school children at an early age to acquire the habit of sorting waste and making them responsible citizens who care for the environment;
(b) influencing parents, through children, to sort their household waste and resort to composting; and
(c) reducing waste channelled to landfill or incinerator and also reducing greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
In the first phase, the project would be implemented in primary schools. Each school will be provided with labelled plastic bins and polypet bags for the sorting and storage of waste which can be recycled. The sorted waste (paper and plastic) will be regularly collected by appropriate recycling companies.
Cabinet has further taken note that the School Compost Project, launched on a pilot basis in 2005, would now be extended to all primary schools.
7. With a view to enhancing the competitiveness of the Manufacturing and SME Sectors to face the challenges of a globalised world, Cabinet has agreed to the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2008 – 2011 prepared by the Manufacturing Adjustment and SME Development Fund, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, to gear the restructuring of manufacturing enterprises, and to promote export and the development of SMEs. The Manufacturing Adjustment and SME Development Fund was created in 2008 with an initial contribution of Rs 500 million to support and boost the competitiveness of the domestic-oriented industry and SMEs which were adversely affected by the reduction in import tariffs. To date, the Fund has approved more than 51 projects for implementation by Enterprise Mauritius Ltd, the Small Enterprises and Handicraft Development Authority and the National Women Entrepreneur Council.
8. Cabinet has taken note that the Information and Communication Technologies Authority would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Controller of Certifying Authorities, Department of Information Technology of the Government of India to foster cooperation in the setting up of the Mauritian Public Key Infrastructure, the basis for safe, trusted and secure electronic transactions. The Memorandum of Understanding provides, inter alia, for sharing of technical infrastructure, harmonization of standards, technical cooperation, and the underlying technical specificities and processes, as well as capacity-building, exchange of information, and sharing of best practices.
9. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Industry, Science and Research would promulgate the following regulations -
(a) the Jewellery (Verification and Grading of Precious and Semi-Precious Stones) Regulations 2009 which empower the Director of Assay to receive, verify and grade precious and semi-precious stones and prescribe fees to be charged by the Director for the exercise; and
(b) the Jewellery (Assay Mark) Regulations 2009 which provide that the Assay Office can apply the Assay Mark, an engraving of Dodo Bird, on jewellery items made of gold, silver and platinum meant for export, in line with the Convention on the Control and Marking of Precious Articles.
10. Cabinet has agreed to the Consumer Protection (Control of Imports) Regulations being amended with a view to allowing the importation of vintage and classic motor cars manufactured before 31 December 1948. There would be no quantitative restriction on the importation on such vehicles which would have to be registered at the National Transport Authority once cleared by the Customs Department.
11. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius hosting the Fifth Global Electoral Organisation Conference, organized by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, in September 2009. The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an international inter-governmental organization established in 1995, inter alia, promotes and achieves sustainable democracy and improves and consolidates democratic electoral processes worldwide. Mauritius joined the Institute as Member State in October 1999. About 300 participants are expected to attend the Conference.
12. Cabinet has taken note that Mrs Sheela Thancanamootoo has been appointed Director of the Mauritius Institute of Education.
13. Cabinet has taken note that Mr Jocelyn Gracieuse has been appointed Chairperson of the Mauritius Ports Authority.