 1. Cabinet has taken note that HE Mr Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, would effect a state visit to Mauritius from 9 to 11 July 2011. During his visit, he would have discussions on economic and trade issues, in particular the setting up of a Special Economic Zone in Congo-Brazzaville with the assistance of Mauritius and Singapore, collaboration on tourism and ICT, and the development of joint business ventures between Mauritius and Congo-Brazzaville.
2. Cabinet has recommended that irrigation on a large scale should not be effected during the present water crisis situation.
3. Cabinet has taken note of the recommendations of Professor Georges Vlastos, eminent Breast Cancer Surgeon from the “Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève”, for the improvement of the provision of breast cancer services.
Cabinet has further taken note that, with a view to reorganizing and strengthening Breast Care Services, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life would shortly set up a Breast Care Centre at Victoria Hospital and initiate several other measures in line with the National Cancer Control Programme and Action Plan 2010-2014. The Centre would provide specialized service to women having breast problems and for the management of benign breast diseases, mammography screening and additional imaging and diagnostic procedures, such as percutaneous biopsies.
4. Cabinet has taken note of the setting up, with immediate effect, under the Prime Minister's Office of a High Level Project Monitoring and Implementation Unit to ensure prompt implementation of policies and projects of Government. The Unit would be chaired by the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service and comprise –
(a) Mr Maurice Lam, Chairperson, Board of Investment;
(b) Mr Vasudev Hassamal, Senior Adviser, Office of Public Sector Governance;
(c) Mr Amédée Darga, Chairperson, Enterprise Mauritius;
(d) Mr Osman Mohamed, Chairperson Steering Committee, Maurice Ile Durable; and
(e) Mr Kailash Ruhee, GOSK, Chief of Staff, Prime Minister's Office.
5. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, which provides, inter alia, for –
(a) identity checks being carried out to ascertain the true ownership of vehicles;
(b) the relevant motor insurance information, being supplied, in appropriate cases, to the Road Transport Commissioner by insurers; and
(c) the licensing of Stand Regulators.
6. Cabinet has taken note of the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on Social Housing, chaired by the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment. The Committee has, inter alia, recommended the setting up of projects for the integration of vulnerable groups where there is a high demand for housing. The projects would be environmentally-friendly and adopt a community/village concept.
7. Cabinet has agreed to the Forests and Reserves Act being amended to provide for the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security to control the felling of trees on privately-owned lands and privately-owned forest lands in view of the considerable decrease over the years of forest lands, i.e., from some 35,000 ha in the early 80s to some 25,000 ha today. This measure would also enable the control of the eco-system in terms of carbon emissions, soil erosion, loss of bio-diversity and loss of water catchment area.
8. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the sale of plots of State land on which stand Ex-CHA Housing Units. As at date, 11,722 out of some 13,441 applications have been processed; some 11,456 applications have already been approved for sale; 11,276 letters of intent have been issued; 8,409 title deeds have already been signed; and about 300 title deeds are ready and awaiting for signature by beneficiaries.
9. Cabinet has taken note of the Structure Reform Plan of the Cess-Funded Service Providing Institutions (SPIs) of the Sugar Industry prepared by the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security in conformity with the priorities of Government in regard to the agro-industry sector and food security, and in line with domestic and international commitments, as well as to increase efficiency and better coordinate the services offered to the agricultural community. The Plan provides for the setting up of the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority, which would be the apex body responsible for policy and planning, and divisions of the Authority to be responsible for the provision of the services so far offered by SPIs.
10. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life and the Starkey Laboratories Pvt., India, would sign a Memorandum of Understanding providing for assistance in audiology to needy students. The company, through its philanthropic arm, the Starkey Hearing Foundation, would donate about 1,200 hearing aids to needy children and hearing aid programming equipment to the ENT Hospital and provide training to Audiologists of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life.
11. Cabinet has taken note that a delegation from the Office of the President of Nepal would be on a study visit to Mauritius from 20 to 23 June 2011. During the visit the delegation would understudy the administrative machinery of Government, amongst others, the relationship between the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislative; public service management and human resources management, and other government procedures.
12. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade and the Secretary-General of the COMESA would sign the agreement for the hosting of the COMESA Infrastructure Fund. The aim of the Fund is to support economic growth and integration in the member countries of COMESA with priority focus on private sector investment in infrastructure, agriculture, food security and renewable energy. The Fund would also facilitate the private sector to invest in regional projects on a Public Private Partnership or purely private basis.
13. Cabinet has taken note of activities organized by the Ministry of Industry and Cooperatives to mark the 89th International Cooperative Alliance Day and the 17th UN International Day of Cooperatives, viz. -
(a) a ‘Gathering of Cooperators’ on Saturday 2 July;
(b) workshops, seminars and talks on cooperatives around the country;
(c) a drawing competition for primary and secondary students; and
(d) a Cooperative Family Day.
This year also marks the 98th anniversary of the Cooperative Movement in Mauritius, one of the oldest in the southern hemisphere.
14. Cabinet has taken note that, in the context of the ‘Maurice Ile Durable’ Concept, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has prepared a National ‘Maurice Ile Durable’ Vision focusing on Energy, Environment (Biodiversity, Pollution, Waste and Environment), Employment/Economy, Education and Equity.
15. Cabinet has taken note that the University of Mauritius, in collaboration with the African Network for Policy Research and Advocacy for Sustainability and the Common Ground Publishing, USA, would organize the 18th edition of the International Learning Conference from 5 to 8 July 2011. The Conference would address themes relating to
e-learning and education, amongst others, -
(a) the fundamentals of education and its role in responding to social challenges;
(b) assessing literacies in a meaningful way; and
(c) changing the shape of educational institutions.
About 350 teachers, teacher educators, educational practitioners and researchers from all parts of the world would attend the Conference.
16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development to Portugal where he participated in the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank Group. The central theme of the Meeting was Towards an Agenda for Inclusive Growth. The Meeting took note that, in the past decade, Africa has been outperforming the world average growth rate, with a rate of 5.3%. It is projected that the pace of growth would accelerate to around 6%. Moreover, an increasing number of African governments, in particular in Eastern and Southern Africa, have implemented structural reforms and improved significantly macroeconomic stability. They have also made progress in reforming their business and regulatory environments, making them an attractive destination for investment.
In the margins of the Meeting, the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development had bilateral meetings, amongst others, with the African Development Bank's Regional Director for Mauritius and Ms Christine Lagarde, French Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry.
17. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Registered Professional Engineers Council for the period 2011-2013.
18. Cabinet has taken note that the Annual Civil Service Kermesse, organized by the Public Officers’ Welfare Council, would be held on 30 October 2011 on the Gymkhana Grounds, Vacoas. The Kermesse is one of the most popular activities organized by the Public Officers’ Welfare Council where Public Officers, their families and members of the public have the opportunity to meet and interact in a convivial atmosphere.
19. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Health and Quality of Life would promulgate the Medical Council (Medical Institutions) (Amendment) Regulations to provide for the inclusion of the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University, Karad, India, and the Ryazan State I.P. Pavlov Medical University, Russia in the list of medical institutions recognized by the Medical Council of Mauritius for the purpose of registration.
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