Décisions du Conseil des Ministres du 11 Avril 2019

Les membres du Cabinet ont pris note de l’introduction prochaine du Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill à l’Assemblée Nationale, de la notation de Maurice par Moody’s Investors Service et que le Annual National Award Ceremony for Artists aura lieu le 25 Avril 2019 à Balaclava entre autres.

1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill into the National Assembly. The main object of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill is to provide that any person who, whilst being under the influence of a drug or an intoxicating substance :

(a) rides a cycle on a road or any other public place;

(b) drives, or attempts to drive, a motor vehicle on a road or any other publicplace;

(c) drives, or attempts to drive, a vehicle which is involved in a road accident;

(d) is in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or any other public place; or

(e) occupies the front seat of a motor vehicle as a competent driver supervising a learner driver who is driving the motor vehicle on a road or any other public place,

shall commit an offence.

2. Cabinet has taken note that Moody’s Investors Service has rated Mauritius’ sovereign credit as Baa1 with a stable outlook in its report released recently. The credit rating is supported by :

(a) the good resiliency to external shocks demonstrated by Mauritius with its diversified economy and Government’s proactive economic development policies;

(b) the strong record of Mauritius in economic management; and

(c) the high economic and institutional strength of Mauritius and low susceptibility to event risks.

3. Cabinet has taken note that the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities would make the Energy Efficiency (Registration of Energy Auditors) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 under the Energy Efficiency Act 2011 to provide, among others, for the following elements :

(a) any individual or firm will have to register with the Energy Efficiency Management Office to be able to conduct energy audits, whether mandatory or voluntary, in Mauritius;

(b) it will become mandatory for an energy auditor to carry out energy audits of at least 3 non-residential buildings during his 2-year registration period in order to qualify for the renewal of his registration. He may be granted an extension of his registration for a maximum period of one year to enable him to meet the requirement of 3 energy audits;

(c) the registration of an energy auditor, whose certificate of registration is due to expire in 2019 and intends to apply for renewal, will be given one year extension to enable him to carry out the energy audit of at least one non-residential building to qualify for the renewal of his registration;

(d) an energy auditor will be deregistered if no application for renewal or request for extension of registration is submitted before the expiry date of his registration; and

(e) an energy auditor will have to inform the Energy Efficiency Management Office if he no longer meets the minimum requirements for registration, within 10 days of the date of non-compliance.

The Energy Efficiency (Registration of Energy Auditors) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 would be effective as from 01 May 2019.

4. Cabinet has agreed to the National Transport Authority launching a procurement exercise to invite bids from financial institutions for the implementation of a Cashless Bus Ticketing System on a turnkey basis.

5. Cabinet has taken note of the School Emergency Response Plan for pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, which has been developed by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development (Environment and Sustainable Development Division), the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre. The School Emergency Response Plan identifies measures to be adopted to prevent an incident from escalating and also establishes the means in manpower and equipment required for a rapid and timely response to such emergency. The objectives of the School Emergency Response Plan are to :

(a) provide the Head of school a tool so that, in collaboration with staff, possible risks could be identified and preparedness developed;

(b) identify, well beforehand, staff responsible in case of an emergency and the tasks assigned to each;

(c) establish a response plan, which will be available at school but also in a place outside but near the school premises, in case access to the school is obstructed;

(d) ensure the safety of students, staff and any other persons within the facility; and

(e) minimise the damage to property and facilities.

6. Cabinet has taken note that the Second Edition of the Annual National Award Ceremony for Artists would be held on 25 April 2019 at The Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Balaclava. The objective of the National Award Ceremony is to honour Mauritian creators and performers for their outstanding contributions in the artistic and cultural fields for the year 2018 in the following artforms – Cinema (local films produced and released), Visual Arts (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography and Graphic arts), Literature (Poetry, Fiction and Play Writing), Theatre (One act play, Full length play), Music and songs produced and released, Dance choreographed and performed. A ‘Promising Talent Award’ for one artist aged 16-26 years, and a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, irrespective of categories would also be given.

7. Cabinet has taken note of the activities that would be organised by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training to mark the International Labour Day 2019. The activities include, among others :

(a) a full day brainstorming session for the staff of the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training on the theme “A Safe and Healthy Future of Work” to familiarise them with the challenges and constraints of an evolving World of Work;

(b) a wreath laying ceremony at the Anjalay Coopen Stele at Cottage; and

(c) distribution of posters based on the theme “A Safe and Healthy Future of Work”, proposed by ILO, as well as ILO postcards, to Ministries, Departments and private enterprises on the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work to be celebrated on 28 April 2019.

Arrangements have been made for workers and their families to benefit from concessionary rates in leisure parks, cinemas, hotels and restaurants and shopping malls.

8. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the 12-Hour National Relay Walk, Jog, and Run for Health and Fun, held on 30 March 2019 at Maryse Justin Stadium. Some 2,370 participants from Ministries/Departments, Municipal Councils, District Councils and private companies took part in the Relay. The Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service came out first with a total number of 424 rounds, followed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports with 348 rounds and the Mauritius Prisons Service with 343 rounds.

9. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Council of Registered Professional Engineers of Mauritius for a period of two years (2019 – 2021).

10. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board with Mr Soorendraduth Unnuth as Chairperson.