HIGHLIGHTS OF CABINET MEETING – FRIDAY 06 MAY 2022…

The Cabinet met today under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister,
the Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. The highlights of the deliberations are as follows:
1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Supplementary Appropriation (2020-2021) (No. 3)
Bill into the National Assembly. The object of the Bill is to provide for the supplementary
appropriation, by votes of expenditure, both recurrent and capital, in respect of services of
Government for the financial year 2020-2021, in excess of the expenditure appropriated by the
Appropriation (2020-2021) Act 2020, the Supplementary Appropriation (2020-2021) Act 2021
and the Supplementary Appropriation (2020-2021) (No. 2) Act 2021.
2. Cabinet has agreed to extending:
(a) the variation of the Public Service Vehicle Licence held by contract bus operators
involved in the conveyance of tourists up to 31 December 2022 so as to allow them to
convey employees;
(b) the replacement age of Standard and Executive vehicles used for the conveyance of
tourists from 8 to 10 years and from 12 to 14 years, respectively as regards replacement
due within financial year 2022/2023;
(c) as an administrative measure, the delay for the implementation of a Public Service
Vehicle Licence in respect of a contract bus, a contract car and a taxi up to 31 December
2022; and
(d) as an administrative measure, the timeframe to replace a contract bus, a contract car and
a taxi up to 31 December 2022.
3. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Health and Wellness would make the Dental
Council (Medical Institutions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2022 for the recognition and
listing of Dr D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune in India as a dental institution.
4. Cabinet has taken note that in order to further promote freeport trade and to position Mauritius
as a logistics, marketing and distribution hub in the region, the Freeport (Amendment of
Schedule) Regulations 2022 would be promulgated to include a new Freeport Zone of an extent
of 15,870m2
.
5. Cabinet has taken note of the logo selected for the 12th edition of the Commission de la
Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan Indien (CJSOI) Games, which would be held in Mauritius
from 04 to 11 December 2022.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Recreation would organise a ceremony for
the unveiling of the logo on 06 May 2022 at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex. A cash
prize of Rs25,000 would be awarded to the winner of the logo competition.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to an upward revision of bus fares and light rail fares. Appropriate
Regulations would be made to that effect.
7. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security setting up the Man and
Biosphere (MAB) National Committee to ensure the implementation and management of the
Black River Gorges – Bel Ombre Biosphere Reserve. The MAB Programme is an
intergovernmental scientific programme launched in 1971 by UNESCO aiming at establishing a
scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environment.
The MAB National Committee would be chaired by the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry
of Agro-Industry and Food Security.
8. Cabinet has taken note of the main findings and recommendations of the Court of Investigation
on the casualty at sea of the tug “Sir Gaetan” on 31 August 2020, chaired by
Mr Joseph Gérard Angoh, GOSK, former Puisne Judge.
A Ministerial Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister and comprising the Vice-Prime
Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, the Minister of
Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, the Attorney General, Minister of
Agro-Industry and Food Security and the Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources,
Fisheries and Shipping would be set up to examine the recommendations of the Court of
Investigation and come up with the way forward for the effective implementation thereof.
9. Cabinet has taken note of the initiatives currently being taken by the Ministry of Health and
Wellness with regard to the upcoming implementation of the Food Fortification Programme in
Mauritius. The Mauritius Nutrition Survey 2012 showed that the prevalence of anaemia is
highest in females aged 20 to 49 years (33.6 percent), followed by those aged 12 to 19 years
(28.5 percent). It is also revealed that iron deficiency with or without anaemia has adverse
consequences on human health and development.
In Mauritius, wheat flour is the most commonly consumed staple and is the most appropriate
food vehicle for inclusion in a fortification programme. The objectives of a mandatory wheat
flour fortification programme, amongst others, are to:
(a) reduce nutritional anaemia in female adolescents from 28.5 percent to 10 percent as
specified in the National Plan of Action for Nutrition 2016-2020; and
(b) achieve the global nutrition target of reducing anaemia by 50 percent by 2025.
In order to set up a Food Fortification Programme relevant to the local context, technical
assistance was sought from the Southern African Development Community. Two consultants
from the Food Fortification Initiative, who were in Mauritius in February 2022, have submitted
a draft report on the Wheat Flour Fortification Landscape Analysis. The draft Report was being
examined.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and
Family Welfare for the International Day of Families commemorated on 15 May. The theme
retained by the United Nations for this year is “Families and Urbanisation”. The theme retained
by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare is “Avek enn fami ini, nou pou resi”.
The Ministry would conduct a sustained media campaign through television, radio and social
media on 10 themes.
The Ministry would, in collaboration with:
(a) the Mauritius Family Planning and Welfare Association, shortly launch a fertility
awareness and couple consolidation campaign;
(b) the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, organise mural
painting competitions under the theme “Anou grandi san violans” for pupils of primary
schools and the theme for students of secondary school is “Violans: Zero Tolerans”; and
(c) the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection and the
Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry, arrange for discounted prices on a wide
variety of products in supermarkets, in food outlets, on pharmaceutical products and
electronic products as well as discounted prices for entrance and activities in leisure
parks. The special prices would be offered from 15 May to 15 June 2022.
11. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, in
collaboration with the European Delegation in Mauritius, had commissioned an updated sector
wise Gender Country Profile (GCP) Report with a view to identifying the needs and gaps that
should be addressed in the future actions of the EU delegation as well as Government policies.
The Gender Country Profile forms part of the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme of the
European Union which is being formulated for the period 2021-2027 for the determination of a
country allocation under the new EU financing instrument – Neighbourhood, Development and
International Cooperation Instrument. During the drafting of the Report, consultations were
held with various stakeholders.
The findings of the study reveal that significant progress has been made towards removing
formal barriers to achieving gender equality and that Mauritius continues to make progress in
advancing women’s and girls’ rights. The Gender Country Profile for the Republic of
Mauritius includes an updated sector wise gender gap analysis in line with the EU Gender
Action Plan (GAP) III which seeks to catalyse progress on empowering women and girls and
safeguard gains made on gender equality since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and its
Platform for Action.
The Report would be launched by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare in
collaboration with the European Union during the European Week, scheduled from 09 to 13
May 2022.
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12. Cabinet has taken note of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic prevailing across the world.
Some 515.3 million cases have been reported globally, of which 470 million persons have been
successfully treated.
With regard to Mauritius, as at 04 May 2022, there were 252 active cases of COVID-19, out of
which eight were admitted at the New ENT Hospital. Over the period 28 April to 04 May
2022, two deaths were attributed to COVID-19.
Cabinet has also taken note of progress in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, including
the administration of the booster dose in the Republic of Mauritius.
13. Cabinet has agreed to the holding of the next International Conference on Fruit Fly in Mauritius
in April/May 2024. The Conference would be organised by the Tephritid Workers of Europe,
Africa and Middle East (TEAM). The TEAM Work group is an international consortium of
more than 300 scientists, Governmental officers and stakeholders conducting research on and
management of tephritid fruit flies.
Fruit flies are considered one of the major pest groups affecting production and trade in
horticultural produce such as fruits and vegetables. Around 150 international fruit fly
researchers from countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East were expected to participate
in the Conference.
14. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the meeting which the Minister of Land Transport
and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade had
with HE Mr R. Randriamandrato, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar
during his recent visit to Mauritius in the context of Madagascar’s chairmanship of the Indian
Ocean Commission.
Issues such as food security, the development of an industrial zone in Madagascar, air
connectivity and response to natural disasters were, inter alia, discussed.
15. Cabinet has taken note of the official visit of the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and
Cooperatives to Rodrigues. The Minister had a meeting with the Chief Commissioner and
discussed existing and potential areas of cooperation and collaboration. The role and presence
of SME Mauritius Ltd in Rodrigues as a service provider to SMEs was also highlighted as well
as the importance of having efficient cooperative societies.
The Minister inaugurated the SME Mauritius Ltd Headquarters at Malabar. The refurbished
building would enable Rodriguan entrepreneurs to benefit from the same services and logistics
as their Mauritian counterparts. He also had a meeting with the staff of the Cooperatives
Commission and some Rodriguan Cooperators. The aim of the meeting was to explain the reengineering of the Cooperatives Division, take cognisance of the impact of COVID-19
pandemic on the Cooperative sector and provide insight as to the prospects and avenues
available in addressing the challenges in collaboration with the Rodrigues Regional Assembly.
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16. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Pharmacy Council of Mauritius for period
May 2022 to April 2025.
Note: Cabinet decisions are available on the internet. The address is http://pmo.govmu.org
Government Information Service
Prime Minister’s Office
06 May 2022 Port Louis

Posted by Minority Voice on May 7 2022. Filed under Actualités. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry