1. In line with Government Programme 2010-2015 to make access to the internet a basic citizen’s right, Cabinet has agreed to a project for the deployment of Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) networks across Mauritius and Rodrigues. In the first phase of the project, Base Transmission Stations to provide WiFi service would be installed on the premises of the five Municipal Councils, the four District Councils and the Administrative Building in Rodrigues. The installation of Base Transmission Stations would be extended to schools, public buildings and Government offices. Internet access is already available in 103 Post Offices in Mauritius and Rodrigues, all primary and secondary schools, the two Universities, the Women Centres and the Youth Centres. Students, senior citizens, unemployed persons, disabled persons, widows and orphans have free access to the internet services provided in Post Offices. A project to put up 150 Computer Clubs in the Social Welfare Centres, the Community Centres and the Day Care Centres is already underway.
2. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Limited Partnerships Bill as enunciated in Government Programme 2010-2015 and in line with ongoing efforts to promote Mauritius as an International Financial Centre of global repute and to diversify our products. The Bill provides for a structure under which high-net-worth individuals and institutions may invest funds as limited partners leaving the deployment and management of those funds to the general partners, thus enabling investors to avoid the hassle of managing business operations whilst being mainly concerned with return on investment.
3. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministerial Committee set up under the Chairmanship of the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment has reconsidered certain conditions imposed to control the importation of commodities from Japan. Cabinet has agreed to the following recommendations of the Committee -
(a) licensed dealers would no longer be required to submit a bank guarantee of Rs100,000 on each second-hand vehicle imported from Japan. They would be allowed to use their existing Bank Guarantee with Government to also cover the importation of up to a maximum of 20 vehicles from Japan. Individuals, importing second-hand vehicles from Japan, should however continue to provide the Bank Guarantee of Rs100,000;
(b) the Nippon Kaiji Kentai Kyokai (NKKK), in addition to Bureau Veritas [Japan], will be recognized for the pre-shipment inspection of vehicles for radiation contamination; and
(c) the ban on the importation of second-hand spare parts would, however, be maintained.
4. Cabinet has taken note that, according to the last statistical bulletin, 464,604 tourists visited Mauritius during the period January to June 2011, as compared to 439,150 for the corresponding period in 2010, i.e., an increase of 5.8%. During the month of June 2011, some 54,591 tourists visited Mauritius as compared to 53,327 in June 2010, i.e., an increase of 2.4%. Growth has been registered in the following tourist markets: Germany (+49.9%), France (+4.1%), Spain (+16.9%), Russia (+12.7%), Australia (+77.1%), People’s Republic of China (+98.7%), India (+6.3%) and Reunion Island (+3.3%).
5. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Leisure of the Republic of Congo would, shortly, sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of tourism, covering, amongst others, investment in the tourism sector, marketing and tourism promotion, and tourism product development.
6. Cabinet has taken note of the status in the implementation of the Pig Sector Restructuring Project which would henceforth operate under the aegis of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security.
7. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, in collaboration with the ICT Industry, would hold an International ICT/BPO Conference and Networking Forum in Mauritius on 5 and 6 October 2011. The objectives of the Conference are to showcase to the international stakeholders the achievements and capabilities of the ICT Sector to become a regional hub and a preferred ICT Centre of Excellence. It will also serve as a strong marketing tool to position Mauritius in new markets.
8. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities to Singapore where he participated in the Fourth International Water Week which had as theme “Sustainable Water Solutions for a Changing Urban Environment”. The Water Week aims at providing a global platform to bring policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies and discover opportunities in the water world.
In the margins of the Meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities met, inter alia, the Minister of Environment and Water Resources of Singapore and the Minister of Water Supply and Drainage of Sri Lanka with whom he discussed bilateral cooperation. A contract for the reform of the Water Sector was also signed between the Chief Executive of the Singaporean Corporation Enterprise and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities and the Minister of Environment and Water Resources of Singapore. The Singaporean team has already started its assignment and is currently collecting information and data on the Water and Waste Water Sectors.
9. Cabinet has taken note that the Information and Communication Technologies Authority would organize a workshop on Electromagnetic Field Safety from 25 to 27 July 2011 to sensitize operators and other key stakeholders on the application of the deployment standard and to provide operators with case studies for preparing or amending their procedures, as well as Electromagnetic Dosimetry techniques that may be applied for verifying site compliance, particularly for measuring the dosage of radiation absorbed by people. Two international resource persons, namely Dr Vikass Monebhurrun, Professor at the “École Supérieure d'Électricité” (Supélec), France and Mr Matt Evans, Program Manager of Mobile Carriers Forum, Australia will act as lead facilitators in the workshop.
10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Education and Human Resources to Geneva where he attended the High Level Segment Meeting of the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which focused on the theme “Implementing the Internationally Agreed Goals (IAGs) and Commitments in regard to Education”. The main objective of the Meeting was to address underlying causes that hamper progress in the attainment of education goals, including high drop-out rates and grade repetition, poor quality of education, teacher shortages, and difficulties to reach most vulnerable children and youth.
In the margins of the High Level Segment Meeting, the Minister of Education and Human Resources had discussions with Dr the Hon Shukuru Kawambwa, Minister of Education and Vocational Training of Tanzania, on the importance of digitization of educational systems for enhanced learning and a more active involvement of Anglophone African countries in the Sankoré Project.
On his way back, while in transit in Paris, the Minister of Education and Human Resources had a meeting with Mrs Thibord, Secretary General of the Délégation Interministérielle à l’Education Numérique en Afrique (DIENA), and Mr Le Bret, Director General Paraschool, with whom he discussed the status in the implementation of the Sankoré Project in Mauritius. DIENA has agreed to provide 250 additional equipment with a view to extending the Sankoré Project to all Standard IV classrooms.
11. Cabinet has taken note that the Steering Committee of Maurice Ile Durable is being converted into a Commission which will operate under the aegis of the Prime Minister’s Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and other stakeholders. Mr Osman Mahomed will be appointed Executive Chairperson of the Commission.
12. Cabinet has taken note of the following appointments/nominations –
(a) Mrs Indranee Seebun, GOSK - Managing Director, SMEDA
(b) Miss Clairette Ah Hen - Chief Executive Officer, Financial Services Commission
(c) Mr Jean Daniel Augusti - General Manager, Export Processing Zone Welfare Fund
(d) Mr Prem Saddul - Chairperson, Central Water Authority
(e) Mr Rohit Ramnawaz - Chairperson, Mauritius Duty Free Paradise Ltd.
(f) Mr Yogida Sawmynaden - Chief Executive Officer, Mauritius Duty Free Paradise Ltd.
(g) Mr Bashir Khodabux - Managing Director, National Housing Development Company Ltd.
(h) Mr Atish Boyjonauth - Chairperson, Employees Welfare Fund
13. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Dangerous Chemicals Advisory Council with Dr N. Jaypaul, Director Health Services, as Chairperson.