 1. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry on Sale by Levy with Miss Wendy Vinalini Rangan, Magistrate, Intermediate Court, as Chairperson. She will have as assessors Mr Rosario Domingue and Mr Rajendra Dassyne.
The Terms of Reference of the Commission are to –(a) inquire and report on whether the processes and practices involved in the granting of loans, secured on immovable property, are unfair or otherwise detrimental to borrowers;
(b) inquire and report on the fairness of the current system of sale by levy and on whether the system gives rise or has given rise to any malpractice or wrongdoing resulting in undue hardship or prejudice to debtors, such inquiry being extended, where necessary, to matters and issues already dealt with by the previous Commission of Inquiry on the system of sale by levy, chaired by Sir Victor Glover, GOSK, in 2004; and
(c) recommend such scheme as may be necessary to alleviate any undue hardship or prejudice which debtors or former debtors are experiencing.
2. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry on Prescription with Mrs Shameem Banon Hamuth-Laulloo, President, Intermediate Court (Civil Side), as Chairperson. She will have as assessors Mr Hervé Lassémillante and Mr Rajesh Unuth.
The Terms of Reference of the Commission are to –
(a) inquire and report on whether the system of acquisitive prescription –
(i) gives rise or has given rise to any malpractice or wrongdoing;
(ii) causes or has caused undue hardship or prejudice to the public; and
(b) report on such changes, including statutory amendments, as may be necessary to better safeguard the interest of the public at large.
3. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Maritime Zones (Amendment) Bill which amends the Maritime Zones Act to provide for Mauritius to exercise joint sovereign rights with Seychelles in the Joint Zone of extended continental shelf pending delimitation, in accordance with treaties entered between the two States.
4. Cabinet has taken note that the United Nations Public Service Awards Programme has, for the year 2012, awarded the First Place to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Mauritius for the Africa Region.
The United Nations Public Service Award is one of the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in Public Service. Through an annual competition, it rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide.
5. Cabinet has agreed to the specific conditions/Key Performance Indicators being submitted to the EU for the disbursement of its grant amounting to some €87.5 million, i.e., Rs3.4 billion under the second tranche of the Accompanying Measures for Sugar Protocol (AMSP II) and the Millennium Development Goals initiative financed under the 10th European Development Fund for the period 2012-2014.
6. Cabinet has agreed to the closure of Mon Loisir Sugar Factory as from crop 2012 under the Cane Planters and Millers Arbitration and Control Board Act. Moreover, one of the performance indicators for the disbursement of funds under the 9th European Development Fund to support the sugar reform programme was the centralization of milling activities with a view to establishing cost effective and competitive sugar factories as outlined in the Multi-Annual Adaptation Strategy.
Cabinet has taken note that all the canes of the Mon Loisir factory area including, the canes of the former St Antoine factory area would be milled at Belle Vue Milling Company Limited and the provisions of the Blue Print in regard to planters and employees would be implemented.
7. Cabinet has taken note that, in line with Government Programme 2012-2015 pledging for a pleasant and active retirement of the elderly, Dr the Hon Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, Prime Minister, would lay the foundation stone of a third Recreation Centre for the Elderly and Disabled on 23 May 2012 at Pointe aux Piments. The project comprises the construction of 60 twin-bedrooms to accommodate 120 persons, an administrative block, a kitchen/dining room, an auditorium, an amphitheatre and a swimming pool. The Centre is expected to be operational in 2013 and will cater for an additional 12,000 residents yearly bringing the total capacity of all three Centres to 34,000 residents yearly.
8. Cabinet has taken note of the main recommendations contained in the Report on the Mauritius Land Transport Strategy which aims at providing strategic direction to land transport planning, management, decision making and funding for the period 2011-2025. It covers various aspects of land transport, including road, public/passenger travel, road safety and personal security and other sustainable modes of transport.
Cabinet has further taken note that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping has set up a Committee to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made in the Report.
9. Cabinet has taken note that, in line with Government Programme 2012-2015, the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions would set up an Observatory on Ageing to carry out research on the socio-economic impact of ageing with a view to better assist policymakers and other stakeholders. The objectives of the Observatory on Ageing comprise, inter alia, research, collection, analysis and synthesis of data on ageing and development of psycho-social rehabilitation programmes for the elderly, and exchange of experiences and sharing of information at national, regional and international levels.
10. Cabinet has taken note that a Super Speciality Regional Hospital has been set up at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital under the Pan African e-Network Project. The Project is an initiative of the former President of India, Dr A.P.J. Kalam, to connect all the 53 nations of the African Union by satellite and fibre optic network to provide effective tele-education, tele-medicine, Internet, video conferencing and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services and also support e-Governance, e-Commerce, infotainment, resource mapping and meteorological services. The Super Speciality Regional Hospital is providing Continuing Medical Education to practising doctors and nurses in the fields of cardiology, neurology and pediatric cardiology.
11. Cabinet has agreed to the Beach Authority Act being amended to enlarge the scope of the Beach Authority to enable it to generate revenue from commercial activities on proclaimed public beaches and empower it to put up amenities for commercial purposes thereon and rent them to private parties for operation.
12. Cabinet has taken note of developments in the implementation of the Eco-Village Project in Rodrigues, which would now target two villages, namely Rivière Cocos and Port Sud Est/Mourouk.
13. Cabinet has taken note that the newly constructed Medi Clinic at Plaine Verte would be named after late Dr Mahmoodkhan Hyderkhan. The Medi Clinic would provide basic health services, family planning, maternal and child health services, vaccination, non-communicable diseases clinic, dental services, health education, public health services, pharmacy and community-based rehabilitation.
14. Cabinet has taken note of the status in the implementation of Development Projects by the local authorities including the Rodrigues Regional Assembly.
15. Cabinet has taken note of activities that would be organized by the Ministry of Arts and Culture on the occasion of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue commemorated on 21 May, viz., a food festival and cultural shows with the participation of Cultural Centres, Speaking Unions and Local Authorities at the Municipality of Quatre Bornes and Grand Bay. |
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