The Cabinet has today decided to decentralize delivery of public health services.
When the decision comes into effect tomorrow, as agreed by the Cabinet, all the health workers in islands who are currently employed by the Ministry of Health and Family will be transferred to island councils. Number of health workers in each island council will be determined by frameworks to be formulated by National Offices in each region.
Health workers will oversee the implementation of public health programmes in their respective islands.
At today’s meeting, the Cabinet deliberated on providing financial assistance for students seeking higher education.
After discussing the matter, the Cabinet settled on adding a further Rf50 million to the higher education loan scheme as an immediate measure to meet the increasing need and demand for higher education funding.
Members highlighted the need for a sustainable mechanism to provide financial assistance for increasing number of students who seek higher education.
Further, they decided to work out a viable mechanism to provide accommodation allowance for higher education students and award scholarships.
During today’s meeting, the Cabinet also discussed the matter of waiving import duties on imports for resort development as an incentive for developers.
While on the matter, the members acknowledged that the main reason for the delay in completion of most of the islands leased for resort development between 2004 and 2008 was difficulty in obtaining finance. They noted that financial viability of most of these projects was compromised due to high rents at which they were leased.
The Cabinet decided to waive 50 per cent of import duty on materials imported for development of resorts which are scheduled to open between 1 March 2011 and 29 February 2012.
At the meeting, the members finalized the conditions on which the import duties are to be waived.
In addition, discussions were held at today’s Cabinet meeting on a paper presented by the Ministry of Transport and Communication regarding making Male’ Lonuziyaaraikolhu, South-East corner of Male’, a vehicle free zone.
The Cabinet decided to finalize a decision after discussing the matter with Male’ City Council.