1. Cabinet has taken note of the evolution of the US/Irak War and that several countries, including India and Mauritius, have called upon the United Nations Security Council to initiate appropriate action to bring the hostilities to an early end. Cabinet has further reviewed the impact of the war on the Mauritian economy.
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2. Cabinet has taken note of the latest report of the WHO on the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and has reviewed the preventive and precautionary measures taken by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life. Cabinet has decided to freeze recruitment of foreign workers from countries infected by SARS. Cabinet has further decided that, as far as possible, industrialists should employ Mauritian workers. Should the necessity be felt, Government would agree to the extension of the work permit of expatriate workers actually in Mauritius for a further period of one year and, as a last resort, to the recruitment from countries not infected by the disease.
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3. Cabinet has agreed to the enlistment of Consultancy Services to carry out a study to provide Government with new feasible pension scheme(s) for the public sector with detailed analysis of the socio-economic impact of its features, as well as critical information, to enable Government to take informed decision on the introduction of the scheme(s).
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4. Cabinet has taken note that a special ward for detainees requiring medical treatment is being put up at the Jawaharlall Nehru Hospital.
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5. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Joint Donors Meeting on Macro-economic Policy and Budgetary Support held on 27 March 2003. It was agreed that resources would be devoted to institutional strengthening and capacity building in the wastewater sector and that the National Sewerage Master Plan would be re-actualised.
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6. Cabinet has taken note of the setting up of a Committee to facilitate the preparation of a Country Programme Framework on energy for submission to the International Atomic Agency.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation to Zimbabwe where he discussed the problems of Mauritian farmers. Cabinet further noted that the Government of Zimbabwe was opening up 100,000 hectares of virgin land for sugar cane cultivation and supporting investment in a third milling factory.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the programme of activities organised by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to mark the World Health Day on 7 April.
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the missions of –
(a) the Minister of Industry and International Trade to Geneva where he attended the eighth meeting of the Ministerial Trade Committee and the fourth meeting of the Joint ACP-EC Ministerial Trade Committee; and
(b) the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation to the Republic of Angola where he attended the meeting of the Council of Ministers of SADC.
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