1. Cabinet has taken note that the Caudan Waterfront would not be an appropriate venue for the holding of the National Day Celebrations 2005 in view of major traffic diversions that would be required at least a week prior and during the holding of the ceremony. Cabinet has therefore agreed, in principle, that the National Day celebrations 2005 would be held at the Mahebourg Waterfront instead where enough space is available to accommodate activities like display with the Police helicopters/planes, regatta and fireworks. Cabinet has also taken note that Mr Michael Glover has been appointed chairperson of the National Organisation Committee for the celebrations.
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2. Cabinet has taken note that the French Navy has detained two Japanese fishing vessels in the vicinity of Tromelin and that the vessels were expected to reach Reunion Island today. Necessary permits have been issued to the vessels by the Mauritian Authorities to fish in the Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone which includes Tromelin which is the subject of a sovereignty dispute between both countries. The matter is being followed up with the Japanese and French Authorities.
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3. Cabinet has taken note that the lobbying mission by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development to Germany, Holland and Luxembourg has been successful. He has been able to convey our major concerns on key issues to Ministers of these countries, who have been sensitive to the arguments put forward. A second lobbying mission will start at the beginning of October targeting four countries namely, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and United Kingdom.
Cabinet has also taken note that-
(i) Mr Hervé Gaymard, French Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Rural Affairs who will be in Mauritius on 18 September will meet the Prime Minister and will also have meetings with stakeholders of the sugar industry; and
(ii) the Mauritius Sugar Authority was working on the request for the closure of Mon Loisir sugar factory.
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4. Cabinet has reviewed the situation in the tourism industry and has taken note of the positive outcome of the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on 15 September with the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, the Joint Economic Council, the "Association des Hoteliers et Restaurateurs de l'Ile Maurice", the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) and Air Mauritius on the marketing of Mauritius abroad and the review of the functioning of the MTPA.
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5. Cabinet has taken note of the successful visit of HE Mr Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the "Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie" to Mauritius from 14 to 17 September 2004. Mr Abdou Diouf met the Prime Minister on 14 September.
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6. Cabinet has taken note that following further instances of abuse of privacy by a private radio licensee, there is consensus that the Independent Broadcasting Authority should have the power, besides that of varying or revoking licences, to impose fines, when the situation so warrants, as is the case in other countries.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that the road at Grand'Baie would be reopened shortly, following the demolition of the Grand'Baie Store. Further, the Police has sent the reports of the FBI and the Forensic Science Laboratory to South Africa for a counter expertise.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the various recent cases of intoxication of school children and has agreed to the setting up of a Ministerial Committee under the chair of the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology and Natural Resources and comprising the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit, the Minister of Health and Quality of Life, the Minister of Education and Scientific Research, the Minister of Local Government and Solid Waste Management to look into precautions to be taken to avoid occurrence of such cases and to make recommendations.
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the urgency to reconstruct the airstrip at Agalega, and the setting up of a technical committee at the Ministry of Shipping, Rodrigues and Outer Islands to advise thereon. In this connection, the Assistance of the Aéroports de Paris will also be sought.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of:
(i) the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Senior Citizen Welfare & Reform Institutions to Singapore from 4 to 7 September 2004 where he attended the 7th Global Conference of the International Federation of Ageing (IFA);
(ii) the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment to Ouagadoogou, Burkina Faso from 5 to 9 September where he participated in the Executive Council and the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Employment and Poverty Alleviation.
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