Decisions du Conseil des Ministres du 27 décembre 2019

Les ministres ont pris note de la fake news concernant la nomination de Gabriel Louis de la Trémoille comme Consul de Maurice en France, de la promulgation de la Light Rail Fares and Light Rail Tickets Regulations 2019 entre autres.

1. Cabinet has agreed to the promulgation of the Light Rail Fares and Light Rail Tickets Regulations 2019 which relate to payment and issuance of tickets through electronic means and provide for offences related to fare evasion. The Regulations also make provision for the free travel of senior citizens, students and disabled persons on board the light rail.

Cabinet also noted that a two-stage approach would be adopted with regard to the fares,
inter alia, to be charged on light rail:

(i) for adult, Rs 20 for a single-stage trip and Rs 30 for a two-stage trip; and

(ii) for child, Rs 11 for a single-stage trip and Rs 16 for a two-stage trip.

Cabinet further noted that the feeder service would be free of charge, pending the introduction of the Electronic Ticketing System on feeder buses, for all passengers as from 6 January to the end of February 2020.

2. Cabinet has taken note of the recommendations of the Technical Committee set up to look into the immediate difficulties being faced by the Sugar Industry, pending the outcome of the study being undertaken by the World Bank in the sugar sector.

Cabinet has agreed to the following recommendations:

(a) the Sugar Insurance Fund Board would extend the financial support given to small planters for Crop 2018 to other categories of producers, namely, large planters and millers;

(b) as regards the Portable Retirement Gratuity Fund (PRGF), employers in the Sugar Cane Industry would, for past years of service of their employees up to 31 December 2019, compute the amount due as lump sum on the basis of the provisions of the relevant Remuneration Orders or enactment. As from 1 January 2020, the contribution would be according to the prevailing rate of the PRGF and the computation of gratuity for their years of service post 31 December 2019 would be in accordance with the provisions of the Workers’ Rights At. In this respect, the regulations to be made by the Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training would cater for the rate to be applicable for the PRGF and would further provide for a benchmarking with a view to ensuring that the employees in that sector are not worse off; and

(c) an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development has been set up to determine the remuneration for bagasse for Crop 2019.

3. Cabinet has taken note of the determination of the sugar price for insurance purpose for Crop 2019 by the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security which are as follows:

(a) Planters/Métayers Rs10,823 per ton of sugar

(b) Millers Rs10,000 per ton of sugar

The sugar price of Rs10,823 for the planters/métayers also includes the value for molasses which is estimated around Rs823 per ton of sugar.

4. Cabinet has taken note that following the fire outbreak at Cité Longère Tôle, Baie du Tombeau, on 25 December 2019, four houses had been damaged and arrangements were made for the opening of the Baie du Tombeau Community Centre to accommodate the victims and for the provision of meals to them. Appropriate allowances are also being paid to the fire victims. In addition, the National Empowerment Foundation would arrange for the construction of temporary housing units for the victims at the same site.

5. Cabinet has taken note of fake news being circulated to the effect that Government has appointed a certain Mr Gabriel Louis de la Trémoille as Consul of Mauritius in France. To set the records straight, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, in consultation with the Prime Minister’s Office, is issuing a communiqué to deny this information. The French Embassy is being informed accordingly and a police enquiry has also been initiated.