Highlights Of Cabinet Meeting – Friday 02 February 2024

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 promulgation of the National Identity Card Regulations 2024, the National Identity Card (Card Usage) Regulations 2024 and the National Identity Card (Mobile ID) Regulations 2024. The Regulations provide for, inter alia:
   • new measures and features in the new National Identity Card System;
   • the required legal framework to enable the use of electronic devices and appropriate software, as prescribed in the schedules, for the electronic reading of data on the ID Card and from the Mobile ID; and
   • the use of the electronic version of the ID Card (Mobile ID) stored in a mobile app (digital wallet) which could be downloaded on a smart mobile device, instead of using the conventional ID Card.
2. Cabinet has taken note of the promulgation of the Insurance (Industry Compensation Fund) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 which provide for, inter alia, the following amendments to the Insurance (Industry Compensation Fund) Regulations 2015:
   • the maximum proportion of the yearly income that the Insurance Industry Compensation Fund (IICF) might use to meet its yearly expenses would be increased from 10 percent to 20 percent;
   • the statutory period during which a victim of a hit and run road traffic accident could make a claim for compensation from the IICF would be increased from two to five years as from the date of occurrence of the accident;
   • assistance in kind to persons suffering from personal injury in a hit and run road traffic accident or their heir(s) in the case of the death of the victim; and
   • the maximum amount of compensation payable to victims of hit and run road traffic accidents would be doubled.
3. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration and the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute of the University of Tokyo, Japan. The objective of the Memorandum of Understanding would be to create the necessary environment for both institutions to collaborate and further enhance cooperation in, inter alia, the field of sea floor mapping and tectonics in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Mauritius.
4. Cabinet has agreed to the Republic of Mauritius:
   • acceding to the Protocol of 2003 to the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (2003 Supplementary Fund Protocol); and
   • domesticating the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1992, the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (Fund Convention), 1992 and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (2003 Supplementary Fund Protocol), through a Merchant Shipping (Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage) Bill.
5. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Funding Agreement between the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping and the University of the Sunshine Coast of Australia for the implementation of a Sandfish (sea cucumber) Resource Enhancement Research The Project which would be funded under the Australian Food Aid Counterpart Fund, would cater for, inter alia, the following:
   • improvement in the capacity for sandfish seed production;
   • pond and field-based culture at the Albion Fisheries Research Centre, as a basis for further development of sandfish culture in Mauritius;
   • larval rearing and culture of sandfish;
   • marine ranching to enhance sandfish stock; and
   • implementation of culture for commercial purpose at designated prescribed areas and potential barachois along the coast.
6. Cabinet has taken note that the Central Water Authority would implement the rehabilitation and upgrading of Piton du Milieu and Mont Blanc Water Treatment Plants.
7. Cabinet has agreed to the review of the rate of wages for the computation of overtime, attendance bonus and the piece rate in the Export Oriented Enterprises and the alignment of the overtime rate and the mode of calculation thereof with the provisions of the Workers’ Rights The Export Enterprises (Remuneration) Regulations 2019 would be amended accordingly.
8. Cabinet has taken note of the third progress report on the implementation of the Health Sector Strategic Plan 2020-2024 highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services. Various action plans had been elaborated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

In line with the strategic planning, substantive investments had been made towards the construction of new public health infrastructure and the upgrading of existing facilities to scale up the provision of advanced healthcare services to the population as well as reinforce the primary health care service delivery at community level. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has progressed with the implementation of the National e-Health project with the support of the United Nations Development Programme.

9. Cabinet has taken note that, as at 01 February 2024, there were 130 active cases of Dengue fever in Mauritius. A protocol for triage and monitoring of Dengue fever patients was being implemented in all hospitals. Domiciliary Monitoring Units had been constituted in each Health Region to cater for Dengue fever patients at their homes.

A multi-sectoral Committee on Dengue fever was held on 30 January 2024, comprising representatives of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, the Municipal and District Councils, the Special Mobile Force, the National Environment and Cleaning Authority, the Tourism Authority and the Press and discussed the following:

• situational analysis;
• detection of active cases and testing protocol;
• sensitisation campaign strategies;
• vector control activities (cleaning campaign, larviciding and fogging activities); and
• monitoring of stock of drugs and consumables.

10. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Health and Wellness would conduct the Global Youth Survey (GYTS) for Mauritius and Rodrigues in February and May 2024, respectively. The GYTS is a nationally representative school-based survey carried out in more than 188 countries by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

The GYTS would be carried out among students aged 13 to 15 years of some selected secondary schools in Mauritius and Rodrigues. The objectives of the survey would be to determine the level of tobacco use by school students, their knowledge and attitude regarding tobacco use as well as their level of exposure to pro-tobacco activities and environment tobacco smoke and cessation efforts. It would also enable the collection of data on the magnitude, patterns, determinants and consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.

11. Cabinet has taken note of the holding of a Training Course on Port Security Risk Assessment from 05 to 08 February 2024 which would be organised by the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation to train all those concerned, inter alia, on how to conduct port facility security assessments.
12. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage for the celebration of the second edition of Bhojpuri Gammat Day. The 08 February had been declared as Bhojpuri Gammat Day which was the date on which Late Mr Sona Noyan, commonly known as the King of Gammat, had passed away. Bhojpuri Gammat Day would be celebrated yearly whereby cultural and artistic activities would be organised.

In that context, a cultural programme would be organised on 16 February 2024 comprising performances by Gammat singers with a view to promoting the rich tradition of folklore and folk songs as well as the Gammat Style of singing which is unique in its genre.

13. Cabinet has taken note of the programme of activities being organised in the context of the National Spring Festival 2024 by the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy, the China Cultural Centre, the Chinese Speaking Union and the United Chinese Associations.

Under the Executive Programme 2022-2025 signed between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius, the Zhejiang Performing Arts Group from China, comprising 32 members would be in Mauritius from 08 to 12 February 2024. The following activities would be organised for the National Spring Festival 2024:

• Chinese Spring Festival Parade and Fair on 03 February 2024;
• Annual Banquet on 07 February 2024;
• Regional Show by the Zhejiang Performing Arts Group on 09 February 2024; and
• Gala Show on 10 February

14. Cabinet has taken note of the Stamp Issue Programme for Year 2024. The Stamp Advisory Committee recommended the issue of nine postage stamps for the year 2024 under two different themes namely:
    • Theme 1 – Anniversaries and Events
      • a First Day Cover and two stamps depicting the new infrastructure of Agalega in the context of the forthcoming inauguration of the Agalega Infrastructure project;
      • a stamp to commemorate the 200^th Birth Anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati;
      • a stamp to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of the World Health Organization;
      • a stamp to commemorate the 150 years of the Establishment of the Royal Alfred Observatory as a Government Department in 1874; and
      • a Commemorative stamp on the occasion of World Post Day.
    • Theme 2 – Fauna

Three stamps for a definitive series under the theme Fauna, in the context of the International Day for Biological Diversity as a single release featuring pictures of extinct species of Mauritius.

15. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance to China and Hong A promotional and awareness campaign was held in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong by the Ministry of Financial Services and Good Governance in collaboration with the Economic Development Board (EDB). The purpose of the mission in China was to connect with key stakeholders, to meet and inform business partners, such as law firms and accounting firms, of new palette of activities and the ease of doing business in Mauritius. Three business forums, and around 30 targeted one-to-one meetings were held and were attended by High-Net-Worth Individuals, prospective investors and key professionals, including tax advisors, Wealth and Asset Managers, practitioners who have discussed about investment opportunities in Africa.

In Hong Kong, the Minister participated in a business forum which was organised by the EDB on the theme “Mauritius: Your Partner of Choice for Africa”. He also participated in the Asian Financial Forum organised jointly by FSDC and the World Alliance of International Financial Centres (IFC) which was attended by the Hong Kong business community to understand the offerings of Mauritius IFC. He attended meetings with key institutions such as the Financial Services Development Council, Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission.

16. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Agalega Island Council with Mr Gino Alfred, as part-time Chairperson for a period of one year.
17. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Board of Trustees of the Media Trust up to 2025, with Mr Taluck (Ashok) Beeharry, as part-time Chairperson.
18. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Board of Trustees of the Trade Union Trust Fund for a period of one year.
19. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Nursing Council of Mauritius for the period January 2024 to December 2026.