 1. Cabinet has taken note of the status in the implementation of the National Housing Programme which provides for the implementation of mixed housing schemes for low-income families, as well as lower-middle and middle income families. In 2013, some 500 housing units of 39m2 and 150 housing units of 57m2 would be constructed and 175 serviced sites made available at Beau Bois, Chebel, Sebastopol, Camp Ithier, Quatre Cocos, Pte aux Piments and Henrietta. The National Housing Development Company Ltd is also implementing various housing projects at Military Road, Penang Street, Port Louis and Vallée des Prêtres.
2. Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister has urged the Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping, to urgently look into alternative sites to relocate the hawkers, resident of Port Louis.
3. Cabinet has taken note of measures taken by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to medically assist Hadj pilgrims. Vaccination of pilgrims against seasonal flu and meningitis ACYW 135 would be carried, free of cost, on 22 September 2012 in all the Regional Hospitals. Medical examinations would also be carried out in all Area Health Centres and Community Health Centres.
4. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the ICT-BPO International Conference, held in Mauritius from 12 to 14 September 2012. The theme of the Conference was Mauritius - a Regional Hub for Africa. The recommendations made during the Conference include the following –
(a) Challenges with regard to the cost of access to ICT, value articulation and demand-centric development of the sector, and readiness of human capital should be addressed proactively and in a concerted manner.
(b) A Regional BPO Framework should be created to develop the continent in an inclusive manner and build an African Information Society.
(c) Secure technologies around the Public Key Infrastructure should be adopted in a concerted manner, and an African Public Key Infrastructure Forum should be created to help standardize, reduce time to market, improve weak data to high quality and create much-needed commonalities as regional trade integrates further and further, and whereby Mauritius could take the leadership position.
Cabinet has further taken note that Infotech 2012 attracted more than 100,000 visitors and some 800 youths registered themselves for the ICT Skills Development Training Scheme at the Job Fair organized in the margins of the event.
5. Cabinet has taken note that, on the occasion of the World Heart Day which would be observed on 29 September, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life would organize a workshop to disseminate the findings of a study conducted on the consumption of salt, mount sensitization campaigns on cardiovascular diseases and appropriate lifestyles to maintain a healthy heart, and organize heart-runs in Mauritius and Rodrigues. The theme chosen to mark the event is Cardiovascular Disease prevention among women and children.
6. Cabinet has taken note that the Alzheimer’s Disease International and the Alzheimer’s Association of Mauritius, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions, would organize the First Africa Meeting of Alzheimer’s Disease International in Mauritius on 27 and 28 September 2012. The Meeting aims at bringing together members of the Alzheimer’s Disease International to share experiences and expertise, raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, build up a networking of professionals for research and management and come up with a Strategic Plan for the management of the diseases in the region. The theme of the Meeting will be Alzheimer’s disease: Medical, Social and Cultural specificities in our Region. The Meeting will be attended by representatives of Alzheimer’s Associations of the African and Indian Ocean regions.
7. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development would hold a Climate Change Knowledge Fair from 29 to 31 October 2012. The objectives of the Fair are to raise awareness, enhance knowledge and understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with climate change, as well as showcase the achievements of the different activities undertaken under the Africa Adaptation Programme.
8. Cabinet has taken note of the recent mission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade to the Islamic Republic of Iran where he participated in the XVI Summit of the Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement. The Summit considered current international developments and various issues related to the Movement, such as the situation in Syria, the reform of the United Nations, global governance issues, and social and human rights issues. The Summit unanimously supported the démarche of Mauritius to affirm territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago under international law. In the final Document adopted by the Summit, three new paragraphs on the Chagos Archipelago have been included. The theme of the Summit was Lasting Peace Through Joint Global Governance.
In the margins of the Summit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade called on the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to discuss matters of mutual interest.
9. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Housing and Lands to Italy where he participated in the Sixth Session of the World Urban Forum. The objectives of the Forum were to allow stakeholders to keep abreast of urban development effects, review programmes in the light of emerging urban challenges and strengthen collaboration on urban development efforts. The theme chosen by the UN this year was The Urban future, to meet the challenges of development of economic activities, namely urban planning and quality of life, equity and prosperity of productive cities, and urban mobility, energy and environment.
10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions to New York where she participated in the Fifth Session of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The main objective of the Meeting was to review the implementation of the Convention. The theme of the Fifth Session was Making the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities count for Women and Children.
In the margins of the Meeting, the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions had discussions with Ambassador Grunditz, Representative of the Permanent Mission of Sweden to UN and Mr Javed Abidi, Indian disability activist, on technical assistance in the field of disabilities.
11. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology to the Republic of Korea. The main objective of the visit was to discuss possibilities of collaboration in the fields of research and high education. The Minister met the Hon Cho Yui Rae, Vice-Minister of Education, Science and Technology with whom he discussed possibilities of cooperation in the fields of science and technology. He also visited the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, the Korean Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, and the Seoul National University. The Gwangju Institute has agreed to provide two scholarships for a 6-week Summer internship programme and for a Masters/Phd programme.
12. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board with Mr R. C. Gopee, former Permanent Secretary, as Chairperson.
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