Highlights Of Cabinet Meeting – Friday 09 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 Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Regulated Machinery) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 which provide for the extension of the moratorium from 29 February to 31 May The Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Regulated Machinery) Regulations 2017 provide for mandatory affixing of energy efficiency labels, also known as energy labels and for their registration free of cost with the Energy Efficiency Management Office. Energy Labelling aims at improving the energy efficiency of products and providing information on product’s efficiency to consumers.
2. Cabinet has taken note of the promulgation of the Children’s (Conduct of Child Mentors) Regulations 2024 which provide for mandatory compliance by Child Mentors with the Code of Ethics and sets out the procedures in case of non-compliance. The Code of Ethics establishes a set of principles designed to regulate the conduct of child mentors in performing their duties with honesty and integrity. It also establishes accountability for adherence to the code, provides guidance and sets common ethical standards to promote consistency in behaviour for all child mentors.
3. Cabinet has taken note of the promulgation of the Limited Liability Partnerships (Application) Regulations 2024. The Regulations provide for broadening the scope of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act and extending the activities under the Limited Liability Partnership framework to include a business activity whose primary object is to hold an ownership interest in, or to enter into contractual relationships with, entities offering professional or consultancy services. The Regulations would help consolidate the financial landscape by encouraging more entities in Mauritius or located abroad to be incorporated as a Limited Liability Partnership under the Act.
4. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Economic Development Board and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the United Arab The objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding would be, inter alia, to:
   • encourage the exchange of trade delegations, exports and economic discussion and follow-up of visits;
   • coordinate with a view to establishing and expanding a business network which will facilitate the business opportunities available in both countries;
   • encourage the flow of reciprocal economic information, statistics and trade data, and ensure making them accessible to the members of both parties to facilitate trade contracts and activate joint projects;
   • encourage joint research activities whenever possible and required; and
   • assist in organising or participating in trade fairs, exhibitions, conferences, seminars and other similar activities held in both countries.
5. Cabinet has taken note that Request for Proposals would be launched for Urban Terminal Projects at Rose Hill and Vacoas. In that respect, the Ministry of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management would invite proposals from promoters having the necessary experience, expertise and resources for the development and operation of an integrated Urban Terminal.
6. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change signing a Small-Scale Funding Agreement with the United Nations Environment Programme to support the implementation of the “Capacity development to catalyse actions and commitments at the national and global levels to reduce plastic pollution, including in the marine environment”. The Agreement would comprise the following:
   • a gap analysis and data collection regarding the different aspects of plastic pollution;
   • the production of a National Source Inventory which would identify and assess the main sources and pathways of plastic pollution and marine litter in Mauritius;
   • a review and analysis of the legislative and policy landscape pertaining to plastic pollution and marine litter; and
   • the drafting of a National Roadmap/Strategy/Plan based on evidence and information gathered in the National Source Inventory.
7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the visit of HE Mr Wavel Ramkalawan, President of the Republic of Seychelles to Mauritius from 31 January to 03 February 2024 in the context of the Commemoration of the 189^th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery. The presence of the President of Seychelles to this event was an important testimony of common history and culture.

On 01 February 2024, HE Mr Wavel Ramkalawan participated in the Commemoration Ceremony at Le Morne International Slave Route Monument, where he delivered an address recalling common ancestry and struggle for liberation. He also mentioned the unconditional support of Seychelles to Mauritius for its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago. Collaboration in a number of sectors were also discussed.

8. Cabinet has agreed that the 56^th Anniversary of the Independence and the 32^nd Anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius would be celebrated at national level at the Champ de Mars in Port Louis on 12 March 2024. The programme would include the flag raising ceremony followed by parade and défilé by uniformed forces, majorettes of the Queen Elizabeth College accompanied by the Police Band, défilé of floats by the Local Authorities and Non- Governmental Organisations, as well as a cultural programme with renowned popular local artists.
9. Cabinet has agreed to bring at par the rates charged by the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority for land preparation and transport cost to food crop growers with those charged to sugarcane growers.
10. Cabinet has taken note that, in the context of the 65^th anniversary of the Office of the Electoral Commissioner, a Regional Conference on Electoral Democracy would be held on 24 and 25 April 2024. The Conference is being organised by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner in partnership with the “Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy”, under the joint aegis of the Cambridge Malaysian Education and Development Trust of the Malaysian Commonwealth Studies Centre and the International Foundation for Electoral Various thematic areas would be discussed during the Regional Conference.
11. Cabinet has taken note that the 7^th meeting of the Groupe de contact Maurice-Réunion sur la Sécurité would be held on 20 February 2024 in Mauritius. The meeting would focus on progress made, inter alia, in the following areas, namely Sécurité intérieure, Sécurité maritime, la Circulation entre les deux îles, Coopération judiciaire and Lutte contre les atteintes à l’environnement.
12. Cabinet has taken note that a workshop on the Marine Protected Area which would be created by Mauritius, around the Chagos Archipelago would be held from 27 to 29 February 2024 with the support of the Zoological Society of London.
13. Cabinet has taken note that the Christening Ceremony of the new multi-purpose cargo vessel, MV Peros Banhos, acquired by Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd would be held on 28 February 2024 at the Port Louis Cruise Terminal.
14. Cabinet has taken note that as at 08 February 2024, there were 408 active cases of Dengue Fever in Mauritius, of which 85 were hospitalised both in public and private hospitals. In Rodrigues from 19 January 2024 to 08 February 2024, 198 new cases of Dengue Fever had been recorded, out of which there were 134 active cases and 18 patients were On 07 February 2024, the Prime Minister chaired a Meeting with relevant stakeholders to take stock of the situation and the measures being taken by the various Ministries/Authorities to fight the propagation of the disease as well as the treatment and the prevention, thereof.
15. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare to mark   International   Women’s   Day   which   is   celebrated   on 08 March every year. The national theme retained for this year is “More power to Women”. A national gathering would be held on 25 February 2024 at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre, whereby members of women’s associations, the private sector, Government institutions and the civil society would be invited.

In that context, the “Gender Equality Seal for the Public Sector” which aims at acknowledging Ministries/Departments actively engaged in gender-responsive initiatives would be launched. In addition, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare would carry out, inter alia, the following activities –

• capacity building programme/workshop on “Digital upskilling of Women and Girls in Africa” with the collaboration of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and Gender Concepts with members of 25 HeforShe Clubs;
• replicating the gender mainstreaming process in Rodrigues; and
• revamping the National Women Entrepreneur Council to become an apex body for women entrepreneurs with technical assistance from the Investment Climate Reform Facility, funded by the European Union.

16. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security in the context of World Wetlands Day 2024 to raise public awareness on the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet while also marking the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands. The aim is to sensitise the youth and the public at large on the importance of wetland conservation and the negative impacts of wetland destruction on human lives. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing”, highlighting how all aspects of human well-being are interrelated to the health of the world’s wetlands.