1. Cabinet has taken note that, in line with commitments taken by the Prime Minister to fight piracy in the Indian Ocean, the Government of Mauritius and the European Union would enter into an Agreement defining the conditions and the modalities for the transfer of suspected pirates for investigation, prosecution, trial and detention in Mauritius, the transfer of associated property seized and the treatment of such persons.
2. Cabinet has agreed to the prescribed delay of four months given to an interested party to file an objection to an application for a change of name being reduced to one month.
3. Cabinet has taken note of the updated Action Plan for Energy 2011–2025 and has agreed to its submission to the European Commission in the context of the disbursement of funds under the General Budget Support Programme. The Plan provides, amongst others, for the setting up of institutions, such as the Observatoire de l’Energie; mechanisms for capacity building; measures to increase energy efficiency, and the Renewable Energy Development Plan.
4. In line with Government Programme 2010-2015, Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Model Dairy Farm for the benefit of registered cow breeders’ cooperatives/associations, with proven track record in livestock development, to showcase modern breeding techniques, boost milk production and enhance food security.
5. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security proposes to introduce a new Dog Control Bill into the National Assembly to provide for better care and control of dogs, make special provision in relation to dangerous and menacing dogs, impose on owners of dogs obligations to ensure that dogs do not cause a nuisance to or injure any person, or endanger, or cause distress to any protected wildlife, and also to address lacunae observed in existing legislation.
6. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Cadastral Survey Bill, which provides for the general administration, maintenance and updating of a digital cadastral database for the Republic of Mauritius. It also makes provision for –
(a) the allocation of a unique Parcel Identification Number to every land parcel or unit of building;
(b) the setting up of a geodetic datum in order to accurately identify the location of every land parcel; and
(c) new standards and rules to be prescribed for the conduct of land surveying.
7. Cabinet has taken note of development in the selection of a strategic partner for the casino companies. Cabinet has also agreed to the rate of Gaming Tax for slot machines being brought down from 50% to 35% of gross stakes and for gaming tables from 50% to 15% and, as a counterpart, to the introduction of the 15% Income Tax on profits derived.
8. Cabinet has agreed to the Household Budget Survey being conducted from January to December 2012 under the provisions of the Statistics Act. The aim of the Survey is to collect information on the consumption pattern of the population with a view to updating the basket of goods and services used to compute the Consumer Price Index. The results of the Survey are also used for the estimation of household consumption expenditure for the National Accounts, computation of income distribution and determination of poverty lines.
9. 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 Université Badji Mokhtar, Annaba, Algeria in the list of medical institutions recognized by the Medical Council of Mauritius for the purpose of registration of doctors.
10. Cabinet has taken note that the Second General Assembly of the African Accreditation Cooperation would be held in Mauritius from 5 to 7 October 2011. The Assembly would examine issues relating to the review of the African Accreditation Cooperation Quality Manual and the African Accreditation Cooperation Strategic and Business Plan.
11. Cabinet has taken note of the Fifth Report of the Project Plan Committee, set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping to assess public infrastructure projects and determine their feasibility and cost benefits. The Committee has recommended nine project proposals to the tune of Rs673 million for inclusion in the Public Sector Investment Programme. The projects comprise, inter alia, sewerage rehabilitation works; construction, upgrading, resurfacing and realignment of roads; setting up of a cemetery with associated facilities at Hollyrood; renovation of Le Plaza Building and upgrading of electrical installation at SSRN Hospital.
12. Cabinet has taken note of activities organized by the National Agency for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Substance Abusers, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, in the context of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observed on 26 June 2011, viz.,-
(a) sensitization programmes on “Health Effects of Drugs” and “Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”;
(b) a Vélo Tout Terrain Porte Ouverte for residents of Le Flamboyant Therapeutic Centre; and
(c) a workshop on “Effects of Substance Abuse on Health”.
13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment to South Africa where he had discussions with policy makers, amongst others, of the Ministry of Social Development, the Department of Human Settlement, the National Empowerment Fund, the Ministry of Public Works and the Department of Labour, on their programmes and experience in poverty alleviation, social integration and empowerment of vulnerable groups. Following the visit, the National Empowerment Foundation has been requested to implement certain measures taken by the South African authorities, viz., improvement of the profiling mechanism, capacity building of NGOs and review of the mentoring scheme to embrace the concept of specialization.
14. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade to South Africa and Zambia.
In South Africa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade participated in the Second COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Summit of Heads of State and Government and the SADC Extraordinary Summit. The object of the Tripartite Summit was to launch negotiations for the grand Tripartite Free Trade Area which would encompass 26 countries belonging to the three Regional Economic Communities, namely the COMESA, EAC and SADC. He also participated in the SADC Extraordinary Summit held concurrently to discuss the situation in Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
In the margins of the Summit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade had bilateral meeting with HE Mr Danny Faure, Vice-President of the Seychelles, with whom he reviewed issues relating to maritime security and the forthcoming Indian Ocean Commission meeting and signed a Joint Declaration to support the accession of the Seychelles to the WTO.
In Zambia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade participated in the 10th AGOA Forum. The Forum discussed issues relating, inter alia, to the extension of AGOA and the third country fabric derogation, and rules of origin. During the Forum, Ambassador Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative, announced an additional commitment of up to $30 million per year for four years, subject to availability of funds, to boost trade capacity in Africa.
15. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade to Indonesia where he participated in the XVI Ministerial Conference and the Commemorative Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement which had as theme “Shared Vision on the Contribution of Non-Aligned Movement for the Next 50 Years”. The Conference reviewed developments and the implementation of decisions taken at the last Meeting, made an evaluation of the latest international developments, particularly those related to issues of interests for NAM Member Countries, and assessed achievements made so far in strengthening the Non-Aligned Movement.
Cabinet has further taken note that the Conference unanimously supported the démarche of Mauritius on the Chagos Archipelago issue and included its support in the Final Document.
In the margins of the Conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from New Zealand, Azerbaijan, Honduras, Slovenia, Philippines and Hungary.
16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment to Geneva, Switzerland where he participated in the 100th Session of the International Labour Conference. The Conference reviewed the Global Report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, discussed the issue of decent work for domestic workers with a view to adopting a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation and considered the strategic objective of social protection under the follow-up to the 2008 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization.
In the margins of the Conference, the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment had discussions with Mr Juan Somavia, Director General of the ILO, as well as his counterparts, amongst others, from India, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and Nepal on bilateral relations.
17. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Board of the Rose Belle Sugar Estate with Mr Nundlall Basant Rai as Chairperson.
18. Cabinet has taken note that Mr Vinod Goburdhun has been elected Chairperson of the Mauritius Post and Cooperative Bank Ltd.