 1. Cabinet has taken note of development in the implementation of the Bagatelle Dam project. The Dam, which would have a storage capacity of 13.2 million cubic metres, would meet the water requirements for the Highlands project, the new developments at La Tour Koenig Industrial Zone and the port area.
2. Cabinet has taken note of the document entitled “Gramer Kreol Morisien” produced by the Akademi Kreol Morisien in the context of the implementation of the decision to introduce ‘Kreol Morisien’ as an optional subject in schools. The document describes the structure and use of words in ‘Kreol Morisien’ within linguistic perspectives in order to help trainers devise pedagogical tools for the training of teachers and teaching in schools. The ‘Gramer Kreol Morisien’ was launched on 25 May 2011.
Cabinet has further taken note that, during the registration exercise for admission to Standard I for the year 2012, some 3,186 pupils, in primary Government and aided schools in Mauritius and Rodrigues, have opted for ‘Kreol Morisien’ as a third language.
3. Cabinet has taken note of the status of the project to encourage Small Independent Power Producers to produce electricity from renewable energy sources, i.e., wind turbines, photovoltaic and micro-hydro, for their own consumption and to export any surplus to the CEB Grid against payment of a feed-in-tariff. 271 applications (197 residential and 74 commercial and industrial) have, so far, been received for the production of 3.1 MW of electricity. 21 of the 50 applications which have been analyzed and found to be compliant to the technical requirements of the Grid Code would be submitted to the President of the Republic for approval.
4. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions would promulgate the Social Aid (Amendment No. 2) Regulations to give effect to Government’s decision to increase the monthly rate of income support from Rs 123 to Rs 246, paid to some 90,000 beneficiaries of Social Aid and Hardship Cases as from 1 March 2011.
5. Cabinet has taken note of arrangements being made by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare to promote the welfare of children, accommodate deprived children and young people, further child protection and development and prevent children from suffering harm. With a view to creating additional accommodation space, the ex-DWC building at Cap Malheureux is being refurbished and converted into a shelter for boys of 12 to 18 years and a building in Floreal is being renovated to accommodate babies. The Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, is also implementing the Ecole des Parents project.
6. Cabinet has taken note that, in view of the emergence of industries dealing with chemicals, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development would develop a National Chemical Spill Contingency Plan, along the same lines as those of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, to provide for a pre-defined strategy and procedures for activating and implementing a coordinated response to potential emergencies involving chemicals and gas releases. The Plan would also assess risks, assign roles and responsibilities to stakeholders, and outline steps to be followed in emergency situations.
7. Cabinet has taken note of activities that would be organized by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to mark the World Environment Day 2011 commemorated on 5 June, viz., -
(a) a National exhibition to sensitize the public on the Maurice Ile Durable project, recycling of waste, environmental safe product, clean fuel, amongst others;
(b) launching of the “zero plastique” campaign; and
(c) conferences on sustainable agriculture, valuing forests and trees, composting, climate change, energy and biodiversity.
On the occasion, an aggressive campaign to prevent the felling of trees would also be launched.
The theme chosen this year by the United Nations Environment Programme for the World Environment Day is Forests: Nature at Your Service.
8. Cabinet has taken note of the Planning Policy Guidance on Siting and Design of Radio Telecommunications Equipment, which aims at assisting operators in the Radio Communication Sector in the designing and siting of telecommunications equipment to minimize their effects on residents, lessen visual impact and be in line with natural and human heritage features, as well as to enable local authorities to determine development applications.
9. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the bilateral air services talks held on 16 May 2011 between the Aeronautical Authorities of Mauritius and those of Botswana and the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding, which provides, inter alia, for –
(a) the principle of multiple designation of airlines to be applicable for each side;
(b) the Route Schedule;
(c) the designated airline(s) of each State to be entitled to operate three frequencies in each direction per week on the specified routes using any aircraft type; and
(d) no restrictions on cargo services.
10. Cabinet has taken note of activities that would be organized in the context of Music Day celebrated on 21 June, viz., -
(a) musical shows/programmes in Port Louis, Plaines des Papayes, Paillotte and Pointe Canon Open Air Theatre, Mahebourg;
(b) musical activities in pre-primary, primary and secondary institutions, as well as a mini-concert during lunch time at the MITD House, Phoenix; and
(c) a musical concert fusioning oriental and occidental music by the Conservatoire National de Musique François Mitterand and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.
11. Taking into consideration the expansion of the pharmaceutical sector and modern pharmacy practices, Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Pharmacy Council as a separate entity to, inter alia, -
(a) assess pre-registration trainee pharmacists;
(b) ensure the maintenance of professional standards;
(c) ensure the safe and effective practices of the pharmacy profession; and
(d) develop a Code of Practice for pharmacists.
12. Cabinet has taken note that the University of Technology, Mauritius, in collaboration with the University of Bedforshire, would hold an International Tourism Sustainability Conference from 21 to 23 September 2011 in Mauritius. The theme of the Conference would be Embracing Social and Environmental Change: The Influence and Role of Tourism. The Conference would enable participants to engage in research works in the area of sustainable tourism and create opportunities for local researchers to interact with internationally renowned researchers. Professor Simon Milne, Director of the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, AUT University, Professor Peter Burns, Professor of Tourism and Development and Director of the Centre for Tourism Policy Structures, University of Brighton, UK, and Dr Joel Sonne, Director of Policy and Planning, Ministry of Tourism, Ghana would facilitate the Conference.
13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Second Meeting of the Governing Council of the World Hindi Secretariat held on 16 May 2011 in Mauritius. Mrs Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs of the Republic of India had led the Indian delegation. The Meeting discussed, inter alia, the following –
(a) Delegation of Powers to the Executive Board to approve the Annual Budget, as well as the Annual Programme of Activities of the Secretariat;
(b) Programme/Activities of the Secretariat;
(c) Appointment of the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General;
(d) Construction of the Secretariat’s Building; and
(e) Creation of a website.
14. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Regional Focal Points’ Meeting for Africa and the Mediterranean Region co-hosted by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology and the Commonwealth of Learning from 19 to 21 May 2011. The objectives of the Meeting were to share information on the status and achievements in Open and Distance Learning in each participating country and identify the regional distance education and training priorities that the Commonwealth of Learning can support during its next Triennial Plan 2012-2015. On the occasion, a website and a CD on legal literacy for women were launched.
15. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the visit of Ms Najat M’jid Maalla, Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography appointed by the United Nations. The objectives of the visit were to gather first-hand information, enhance knowledge of the actual situation, record good practices and positive developments, identify lessons learnt and present an impartial evaluation of the situation of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography in Mauritius.
16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Tourism and Leisure to the People’s Republic of China at the head of a delegation comprising, inter alia, Dr Yolande Costes, Vice-Présidente du Conseil Général de la Réunion and representatives of the Tourism Board of Reunion Island and Madagascar. The objectives of the mission were to conduct an aggressive visibility campaign and promote the Vanilla Islands Concept. On the occasion, Air Mauritius presented its flight plans and facilities on the Shanghai-Mauritius-Madagascar-Reunion Island route. Air Mauritius would operate direct flights from Shanghai via Kuala Lumpur as from 5 July 2011; non-stop direct flights from Shanghai as from February 2012; a second non-stop flights to Shanghai possibly as from October 2012 and subsequently non-stop flights to Beijing.
In the margins of his mission, the Minister of Tourism and Leisure met the Chairperson of the China National Tourism Administration and the Deputy Director of Shanghai Tourism Authority with whom he discussed attractions of the Vanilla Islands, visa facilities and launching of Air Mauritius flights from Shanghai to Mauritius.
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