Cabinet Decisions taken on 24 July

1. Cabinet has taken note that a plot of land of an extent of about 3A50 adjacent to the existing cemetery at Circonstance, St Pierre, has been acquired for its enlargement. Part of the site would be used for the construction of an incinerator and the provision of parking and other facilities.

2. Cabinet has taken note of measures taken to ease the traffic congestion problem towards Port Louis. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping has already embarked on the construction of a third lane on both sides of the Motorway M1 from the underpass in Pailles to Caudan roundabout in the northbound direction and from Old Moka Road through Camp Chapelon, Pailles in the southbound direction. The works will cost about Rs 205 M. Other projects in the pipeline are -

(a) the Dream Bridge;

(b) a third lane from Pont Fer, Phoenix to Pailles along the Motorway M1; and
(c) a grade separate junction at the level of Caudan roundabout for an effective canalization of the vehicular traffic to and through Port Louis.

3. Cabinet has taken note that a memorial in remembrance of late Lady Sushil Ramgoolam would be erected at St. Aubin, her birth place. In this connection, the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund has made available a plot of land of about 200 square metres. The project, which would consist of a stela and an embellished green space, would provide a place of remembrance and comfort to memorialize Lady Sushil Ramgoolam.

4. Cabinet has taken note of measures envisaged by the CEB to meet the increase in demand of electricity, particularly with the setting up of the Tianli Economic Zone and the proposed city at Highlands. Besides, the various power generation and renewable energy projects, the CEB proposes to set up a Mini Hydropower Plant of a capacity of 350KW at the foot of the spillway of Midlands Dam.

5. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of –

6. Cabinet has taken note of the New National Youth Policy aiming at empowering Youth to face the challenges of the new millennium, viz., -

(a) Education, Training and Youth Participation in Decision Making;
(b) Youth-Health Issues, Family Life Education and Counselling;
(c) Substance Abuse Reduction and Combating HIV/AIDS;
(d) Youth Employment, Enterprise Initiatives and Agriculture;
(e) Information and Access to ICT;
(f) Sports, Leisure and Literary Activities;
(g) Promotion of Artistic, Cultural and Historical Values;
(h) Civics, Citizenship, Spirituality and Human Values; and
(i) Protection and Preservation of the Environment.

7. Cabinet has taken note of the performance of the ‘Export Oriented Enterprises’ Sector for the period January to June 2009, which has picked up to reach Rs 17,533 million as compared to Rs 16,715 million for the corresponding period in 2008, i.e., an increase of 4.9%. During the same period, the following sub-sectors performed as follows -

(a) Textile and Clothing increased from Rs 11,467 million to Rs 11,861 million, i.e., by 3.4%;

(b) export of fish and fish preparations registered a growth of 31.2%;

(c) the value of optical goods has registered a sharp increase by 58.1%; and

(d) exports of pearls, precious and semi-precious stones registered an increase
of 2.8%.

8 Cabinet has taken note of the setting up of a Steering Committee, under the chair of Mr F. de Grivel, Chairman of the Fashion and Design Institute, to oversee the implementation of a project relating to the uplifting of Sir William Newton Street, Port Louis with a view to fostering a design and fashion culture in Mauritius.

(a) landscaping with greenery and trees on both sides of the street;

(b) provision of new street lighting in colonial style;

(c) provision of an aesthetic surrounding through landscaping, benches, colonial-style-forged handrails, standard bins, colonial-type lamp-posts, common signage shop, uniform color scheme, off-street parking along lay-by and defined crossing zones across the street for the safety of pedestrians;

(d) resurfacing of the street; and

(e) renovation of carriageways and drains.

9. Cabinet has taken note of the list of Public Holidays for the year 2010 as follows –

10. Cabinet has taken note that a 32-member delegation of the Senior Citizens Council of Delhi, India would visit Mauritius from 2 to 8 August 2009 within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2006 between the Senior Citizens Council of Mauritius and the Senior Citizens Council of Delhi. The main objective of the exchange programme is to provide opportunities for senior citizens of both countries to interact, exchange views and share experience in the field of ageing and intergeneration programmes. The programme of visit will, inter alia, comprise -

(a) a seminar on ageing issues;
(b) visits to institutions providing care to elderly persons;
(c) working sessions with the Senior Citizens Council of Mauritius; and
(d) courtesy calls on eminent personalities.

11. Cabinet has taken note of the findings of the Report on the Survey of Centenarians carried out to –

(a) determine the factors that contribute towards longevity of centenarians;
(b) assess the perception of centenarians regarding quality of life;
(c) question centenarians about existing support systems; and
(d) make recommendations that could improve the quality of life of centenarians.

(a) that the family and the society should play a more effective role in the provision of care and affection to centenarians;

(b) the provision of training to formal and informal carers; and

(c) the setting up of a private care home to provide specialized care to the elders.

12. Cabinet has taken note of activities organized by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to mark the World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated annually during the first week of August, viz., -

(a) launching of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on 6 August 2009 at Flacq Hospital, which refers to the implementation of best infant feeding practices to protect, promote and support breastfeeding;

(b) a training programme targeting Nurses, Midwives and Health Care Assistants involved in ante-natal and post-natal care; and

(c) sensitization campaigns on the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and child across the country.

(a) reinforce the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergency response worldwide; and

(b) advocate for active protection and support of breastfeeding before and during emergencies.

13. Cabinet has taken note that, as a follow up to the SADC Conference on Poverty held in Mauritius in April 2008, the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare & Reform Institutions and the Mauritius Council of Social Service (MACOSS) would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern Africa Trust aimed at promoting regional integration and cooperation in the field of social development. The areas of cooperation relate, inter alia, to -

(a) the establishment of a regional Civil Society Learning Leadership Centre;

(b) collaborating in organising training events, seminars, workshops and networking meetings; and

(c) the promotion of linkages with specialist training resource organizations on community-driven development and best practices for development officials.

14. Cabinet has taken note that the African Network for the Protection and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (Mauritian Branch), in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizens Welfare & Reform Institutions, proposes to implement two projects, namely, -

(i) encouraging creative thinking and expression during schooling activities by equipping the classes with appropriate multimedia support;

(ii) enlisting the services of resource persons for counselling activities and training the staff in conflict management;

(iii) putting into place two training programmes in hairdressing and pastry making to be carried out by qualified resource persons; and

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