Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694840763602.pdf (Mauritius)
CABINET DECISIONS – 31 JULY 2015 Page 1 of 5 1.

Cabinet has agreed to the Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Disaster and Beach Management making the Environment Protection (Banning of Plastic Bags) Regulations to ban the manufacture, import, sale and supply of plastic bags as from 1 January 2016 as announced in 2015-2016 Budget Speech.

Some 300 million plastic bags are used annually, and these bags take more than 400 years to degrade, thus causing multifarious environmental problems.
Severe penalties are being provided for breach of the regulations.

***** 2.

Cabinet has taken note that Mr Daniel Raymond, from Reunion Island, would be appointed Road Safety Coordinator.

Mr Raymond holds expertise in road security, management of road risk, and training on road security.

He was head of the Bureau de la circulation et des transports of Reunion Island from 1991 to 2000.
Cabinet has further taken note that, in the context of the implementation of the new National Road Safety Strategy, 12 Riders from the Police Force would follow an intensive training course on road safety in Reunion Island.

***** 3.

Cabinet has taken note of the holding of the first edition of „Port Louis by Light‟ Festival in December 2015.
The „Port Louis by Light‟ Festival, a public-private sector initiative, would be the first of its kind ever held in Mauritius, and focus on the touristic, cultural, educational, social and economic dimensions of Port Louis.

The project aims at depicting the richness of the Mauritian culture, with emphasis on the wonders of the capital city, via lights, video projections, music, guided tours, artistic performances and shows.
The proposed event would enhance the status of Port Louis as a capital city, and provide opportunities to the Mauritian public, as well as tourists, to discover local talents.

***** 4.

Cabinet has taken note of the programme of activities that would be organized in the context of the celebrations marking the tricentenary of French presence in Mauritius.
The activities are, among others, – (a) Gala event organized by the President of the Republic at Le Réduit; (b) (c) inauguration of a monument at Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis; exhibition of projects and artefacts; (d) music concert by Elisabeth Vidal and Véronique Zuel; (e) Semaine de Cinema Français; (f) (g) (h) (i) conference on “Les Botanistes Français à l‟Ile Maurice”; prize giving to winners of “Concours des écoles”; horse racing day – Trophée du Tricentenaire; and fête de la famille – reconstitution, concert par des groupes hoteliers français.
Page 2 of 5 The tricentenary presents an opportunity to celebrate the long lasting relationship with France.

***** Cabinet has taken note that, in the context of boosting economic partnership with 5.

Africa, Mauritius proposed to assist in the development of Special Economic Zones in certain African Countries, particularly Ghana, Senegal and Madagascar.

In that connection, a delegation led by the Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning of Senegal visited Mauritius from 28 to 30 July 2015.
During the visit, the following Agreements were signed, namely – (a) (b) a Framework Agreement on cooperation in the economic, financial and technical fields; and an Agreement between the Strategic Investment Sovereign Fund of Senegal and the Mauritius Africa Fund for the establishment of a Special Purpose Vehicle to develop and promote the Special Economic Zone of Dakar.

***** 6.
***** 6.

Cabinet has taken note of the appointment of Prof Dr Ramesh Durbarry, as Director General of the Civil Service College, Mauritius.

Prof Dr Durbarry holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Nottingham.

He has a long and significant experience in tertiary education.

He is currently Professor of Tourism and Deputy Director at Amity Institute of Higher Education.

***** 7.
***** 7.

Cabinet has agreed to the National Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Plan that provides a national framework for coordinating civil search and rescue services, responds to the needs of maritime and air traffic for the rescue of persons in distress at sea, and details the management responsibilities for SAR organizations within the area of responsibility of the Government of the Republic of Mauritius.

***** Page 3 of 5 8.


Cabinet has agreed to the elaboration of the second generation Decent Work Country Programme for Mauritius for the period 2016-2019 with a view to benefiting assistance from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) after the completion of the current Country Programme.
The Decent Work Country Programme provides a policy and operational framework to guide Government, social partners, and other stakeholders, in regard to priority actions towards the realisation of the Global Decent Work Agenda of the ILO in Mauritius.

***** Cabinet has taken note that an International Ramayana Conference would be held in 9.

Mauritius from 21 to 24 August 2015.


The topics that will be discussed during the Conference include – (a) (b) Country experiences of the Ramayana; Heal the modern family on the Ramayana Model; (c) Guidance for social inclusiveness from Ramayana; (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) Ramrajya as the ideal objective of politics; Lessons in green living from Ramayana; Universal appeal of Ramayana; Ramayana for spiritual/inner growth; and Impact of Ramayana on various cultures and civilizations.
Around 50 foreign delegates, including Ramayana Scholars, from abroad would participate in the Conference.

Dr Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism, would be the Chief Guest at the Conference.

***** 10.
***** 10.

Cabinet has agreed to officers in the grade of Shop Assistant, Sales Assistant and Salesperson employed by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority being governed by the terms and conditions of the Pay Research Bureau with a view to harmonizing their conditions of service.

***** 11.

Cabinet has taken note of the activities that would be organized by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to mark the World Breastfeeding Week 2015.
The theme for this year is Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make it Work.

The activities will include – (a) (b) (c) (d) a workshop to brainstorm on breastfeeding during working hours, the constraints encountered and the implications of implementing such a practice; launching of a Survey on the Practice of Breastfeeding in Mauritius; sensitization campaigns on the benefits of breastfeeding; and Continuous Medical Education and Continuous Nursing Education for health personnel in each regional hospital.
***** Page 4 of 5 12.

Cabinet has taken note of the activities that would be organized to mark the “International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2015”, commemorated on 16 September.

The theme for this year is 30 Years of Healing the Ozone Together.

The theme is supported by a slogan Ozone: All there is between you and UV.
The activities will include – (a) (b) (c) the launching of an ozone corner on the website of the Ministry of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Disaster and Beach Management, and a fact sheet on the use of natural refrigerants; an exhibition at the Town Hall of the Municipal City Council of Port Louis; and a sensitization campaign on the protection of ozone layer.

***** 13.
***** 13.

Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Health and Quality of Life participated in the Addis Ababa Call to Action High Level Ministerial Meeting on “investing in human resources for health for sustainable development” held in Addis Ababa.
The Call to Action, adopted during the Meeting, deals, inter alia, with – (a) (b) (c) a substantial increase in domestic financing for recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in order to implement target 3c of the Sustainable Development Goals and achieve other goals and targets on education, employment, gender equality and poverty; support the capacity of the existing workforce to improve performance and productivity at all levels where health care is dispensed from primary to tertiary stages; and resource encourage South–South development, including the establishment of Africa regional training centres of excellence for capacity building and knowledge management.
learning collaboration for human ***** 14.

Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Health and Quality of Life participated in the 9th Conference to Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa held in Kenya.

The main objective of the Conference was to raise awareness on cancer.

The Conference addressed mainly the policy challenges that should be put in place in order to stop the disease from becoming an epidemic, and the cost of cancer treatment.

***** Page 5 of 5 15.


Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands participated in the 4th Meeting of ACP Ministers responsible for Fisheries and Aquaculture held in Belgium.

The Meeting took note of progress in the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The Meeting also adopted a road map for the implementation of the strategic action plan whilst calling for mobilisation for funding and technical cooperation through partners such as the EU, the World Bank, the FAO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 10.
The Meeting further mandated the ACP Fisheries Mechanism to develop and implement a communication strategy to enhance its effectiveness and identify and facilitate programmes and projects aligned with priorities and actions identified in the road map.

***** 16.

Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of – (a) (b) the National Heritage Fund Board with Mr Yannick Cornet as Chairperson; and the Agalega Island Council with Mr Laval Soopramanien as Chairperson.

***** 17.
***** 17.

Cabinet has taken note of the appointment of Mr Jacques Li Chung, Managing Director of Ranray International Ltd and Mr Rhoy Ramlackhan, Managing Director of Broll Indian Ocean, as Member of the Board of the Financial Services Commission.

Mr Antoine Domaingue had, on 22 July 2015, submitted his resignation as Member of the Board.

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