1.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the official visit of the Prime
Minister to USA (Washington DC and Charlotte NC) from 1 to 5 February 2000
where he attended the National Prayer Breakfast Meeting. He had a
scheduled meeting with President Bill Clinton, the Chairman of the US
Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jesse Helms and Mrs Madeleine
Albright, Secretary of State.
During the meeting with the President, the Prime Minister discussed about
the importance of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Bill to the economic
growth and stability of the African Continent and the active role played by
Mauritius in regional organisations like SADC. In this connection, the
Prime Minister met many key representatives of the Senate and Congress,
policy makers of the Administration, and all those who are in a position to
influence the fate of the Africa Bill.
The Prime Minister seized the opportunity of his visit to make an appeal to
US firms to invest in Mauritius in technology intensive industries (IT and
Telecommunications) and he encouraged US multinationals to use Mauritius as
a base for their regional headquarters for their operations in Africa.
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2.Cabinet has considered and agreed to a programme for the official flag
raising ceremony for the National Day Celebrations on 12 March. This will
be held in front of the Government Centre at noon. The associated
activities on that occasion will include a march past by different forces
vives each carrying a specific message. It is proposed to hold popular
shows in the evening at the level of local authorities, Rodrigues and
Agalega.
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3.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Minister of
Industry, Commerce, Corporate Affairs and Financial Services to Madagascar
from 11 to 16 February.
Mauritian entrepreneurs who have invested in Madagascar are employing some
20,000 Malagassy workers. With a view to increasing the synergy of
business activities between the two countries, Government has agreed to Mr.
Manny Ratovomalala, Ministre de l'Industrie et de l'Artisanat to be the
Chief Guest in the context of Matis 2000. This event will be held from 3
to 5 April and aims at promoting the textile and Apparel industry in the
region and world wide.
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4.Cabinet has agreed to the promulgation of the Sports (Sports Federations)
Regulations 2000 under the Sport Act 1999. These Regulations provide a
legal framework for Sport Federations to operate more effectively and
enable them to be better structured to implement the process of
regionalisation.
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5.Cabinet has been apprised of the contents of the Report of the Central
Cyclone and other Natural Disasters Committee on the extent of damages
caused by cyclone "Eline" on 15 February and of the general situation in
the different sectors of the economy. The Committee will follow up on the
recommendations and initiate remedial actions with all parties concerned.
Some 96 families comprising about 900 persons sought shelter in Cyclone
Refugee Centres. Government however expresses severe concern as regards
the damage caused to Government property by the refugees in certain
schools.
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6.Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry for Rodrigues donating some 114 old
hospital beds to needy persons in Rodrigues.
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7.Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Education and Scientific
Research will be holding the First Executive Committee of the Association
for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Working Group on Distance
Education/Open Learning in Mauritius from 19 to 20 April 2000. The ADEA is
an emanation of UNESCO and regroups all sub-Saharan African Ministers of
Education. The Minister of Education and Scientific Research is the
Chairman of the Working Group on Distance Education/Open Learning.
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8.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the participation of the
Minister of Public Utilities at the SADC Extraordinary Meeting of Energy
Ministers held in Swaziland from 7 to 9 February 2000.
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9.Cabinet has agreed to the COMESA Secretariat holding the COMESA Finance
Ministers' Meeting in Mauritius from 20 to 25 March 2000.
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10.Cabinet has taken note of the renewal of the term of Office of Mr S.
Ramchurn as Chairman of the Private Secondary Schools Board for period
2000-2001.
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11.Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Industrial and
Vocational Training Council for the period 2000-2001 to be under the
chairmanship of Mr Dan Bundhoo.
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