Décisions du Conseil des Ministres du 18 janvier 2019

Les membres du Cabinet ont pris note de la visite officielle du Président de la République du Mozambinque du 30 Janvier au 2 Février 2019, que la hausse du 4% sera faite sur les pensions et le Social Aid entre autres.

1. Cabinet has taken note that HE Mr Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, would effect a State Visit to Mauritius from 30 January to 02 February 2019 and would be the Chief Guest on the occasion of the Commemoration of the 184th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius. During the Visit, the President would, among others, pay a courtesy call on the Acting President of the Republic of Mauritius, have a working session with the Prime Minister, and attend a Business Forum organised by the Economic Development Board.

2. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Mozambique and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius in the field of tourism. The Memorandum of Understanding provides, inter alia, for cooperation in the following areas:

(a) promotion of both countries as attractive tourist destinations;

(b) technical assistance in the field of tourism marketing;

(c) facilitating the flow of investment in the area of tourism development; and

(d) encouraging greater participation of the private sector.

3. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius signing of the ESA-UK Economic Partnership Agreement on 22 January 2019 in London. This will preserve market access and provide predictability and legal certainty to Mauritian operators exporting to the United Kingdom, independent of any UK-EU BREXIT outcomes. The Agreement contains three main chapters namely, trade in goods, fisheries and development cooperation.

4. Cabinet has taken note that the 16th Meeting of the Mauritius-Seychelles Joint Commission of the Extended Continental Shelf was held in January 2019 in the Seychelles to review progress in the elaboration of the institutional and regulatory framework for the Mauritius-Seychelles Joint Management of the Extended Continental Shelf in the Mascarene Plateau Region.

5. Cabinet has taken note of the elaboration of a National Blood Policy by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, to enable the National Blood Transfusion Service to promote blood safety and to safeguard the health of donors and recipients alike. The Policy addresses the following issues:

(a) requirements for a quality system to maintain the highest possible standards in all aspects of blood transfusion;

(b) provision of adequate supply of safe blood; and

(c) promotion of safety and health of blood donors, recipients of blood and blood products and health personnel.

The Policy would, through the setting up of a National Blood Advisory Committee, provide guidance in the management and coordination of the National Blood Transfusion Service, ensure the mobilisation of resources, provide guidance in the management of human resources and consider and approve requests for exchange of blood and blood products in specific circumstances.

6. Cabinet has taken note of the development of the National Health Accounts (NHA) 2018 for the Republic of Mauritius, including the island of Rodrigues. The main objective of developing NHA 2018 is to support health system governance and decision-making. It would also, inter alia, support the monitoring of the health-related Sustainable Development Goal 3, the monitoring of universal health coverage and the updating WHO’s Global Health Expenditure Database.

Cabinet has also taken note of the constitution of the National Health Accounts Committee 2019 with the Lead Health Analyst as Chairperson.

7. Cabinet has taken note that following the decision of Government regarding the payment of the compensation of Rs400 as from January 2019, the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development would adjust the rates of pensions and social aid payable under the Social Aid Act by 4%, and the new rates would be effective as from January 2019.

8. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security would make the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority (Sale Price of Molasses) Regulations 2019 for the sale price of molasses for crop years 2017, 2018 and 2019. The sale price per ton of molasses to distiller-bottlers producing potable alcohol for the domestic market or any person using molasses to produce syrups and beverages would not exceed Rs3,500.

9. Cabinet has agreed to the hosting of the “Atelier régional des Correspondants nationaux de la Francophonie” in Mauritius on 27 and 28 February 2019. The Atelier régional would bring together the “correspondants nationaux“ of the Indian Ocean region namely, from Comoros, Reunion Island/France, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Djibouti, and representatives of the operators of the Bureau Régional de l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and key francophone actors/partners. Some 30 participants would attend the Atelier régional.

10. Cabinet has agreed to the organisation of an International Gita Mahotsav in Mauritius by the India-Mauritius Trade and Cultural Friendship Forum, the State Government of Kurukshetra, the Kurukshetra Development Board of Haryana, the State Government of Tripura and socio-cultural organisations in Mauritius, from 13 to 15 February 2019. A series of activities including an exhibition on Bhagavad Gita, a two-day seminar on the theme “Gita as an epitome of peace, brotherhood and humanity” and a Mahayajna would be organised on that occasion and some 300 delegates from overseas would attend the event.

11. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives to South Africa where he participated in the Ministerial Conference of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy on ‘Advancing Inclusive, Green and Sustainable Economies’. The aims of the Conference were to discuss on the tools and strategies for shaping greener economies to achieve the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The Conference focused on themes such as ‘green investment, strategies and policies for a green economy, social and economic inclusion, sustainable consumption and production and the circular economy’.

In the margins of the Conference, the Minister had bilateral discussions with
Mr Frank Rijsberman, Director General of the Global Green Growth Institute, Ms Astrid Schomaker, Director of the Global Sustainable Development, Environment European Commission and Mr Steven Stone, Chief of the Resources and Markets Branch, UN Environment to identify future possible assistance, towards greening of the SME sector in Mauritius.

12. Cabinet has taken note of the constitution of the Tissue Donation, Removal and Transplant Board with Dr (Mrs) M.B.M. Timol, Acting Director-General, Health Services, as Chairperson.

13. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the following Boards/Council:

(i) the Board of Governors of the Université des Mascareignes with Mrs B. Tahir as Chairperson;

(ii) the Fashion and Design Board with the Permanent Secretary of the Industry Division of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection as Chairperson;

(iii) the Council of the National Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Foundation with Mr Medavy Pillay Munien as Chairperson; and

(iv) the Sugar Investment Trust (SIT) Board with Mr Preetam Boodhun as Chairperson.