Ref: 13/6/26
16 May 2007

MEDIA BRIEFING FROM CABINET CHAMBERS

Cabinet took the following decisions at the 7th 2007 meeting of the 4th Government held on 8 May 2007:

1.ESTABLISHMENT OF A COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE MEDICAL AIDS SCHEME FOR PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES (PSEMAS)
The Public Service Employees’ Medical Aid Scheme provides for the granting of medical assistance in defraying expenditure incurred by public servants and their dependants for medical treatment. The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Finance on whose budget annual provision is made for expenditure resulting from medical services rendered to beneficiaries of the scheme.

For the past six years, the administration and payment of medical claims were contracted out because the Ministry of Finance could not keep track with the increasing number of members and the subsequent increase in medical claims. Furthermore, medical claims administration is not part of the core functions of the Ministry of Finance.

The consultant was appointed by tender to assist the administrator and Ministry of Finance in the prudent, cost effective and efficient administration of members’ medical claims. The consultant is also supposed to provide members with timely and relevant updates on diseases and developments in the medical field in conjunction with stakeholders.

Cabinet, therefore, approved the establishment of a Coordinating Committee for the Medical Aid Scheme for Public Service Employees (PSEMAS) to ensure among others:
- that PSEMAS business is conducted prudently and on sound principles;
- periodic benefit structure reviews;
- amendments to medical aid rules;
- that formal channels of communication are established between PSEMAS, members, administrators, consultants, service providers and other relevant stakeholders.

The Coordinating Committee will be composed of staff members from the Office of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, recognised trade unions and co-opted members of medical boards.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Finance at telephone number 2099111.

2.PROGRESS REPORT ON THE DELINEATION OF NAMIBIA’S CONTINENTAL SHELF PROJECT AND REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO DISCUSSIONS AND AN AGREEMENT ON PHASE THREE OF THE PROJECT WITH THE BRAZILIAN NAVY:

Namibia became a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, having signed the Convention on 18 April 1983. The Convention constitutes the comprehensive international legal framework for the uses of the oceans and their resources, including those related to the continental shelf.

The Convention provides for the extension of a country’s continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone. Namibia’s submission for a claim to the extended continental shelf is due by 31 May 2009.

Consequently, two Memoranda of Agreement were signed with the Brazilian Navy. The first agreement of 2002 was for a desktop project to study the existing bathymetric and geophysical data on the Namibian continental margin. The study concluded that Namibia has a legitimate claim to extend its continental shelf. The second agreement was signed in 2003 for the physical hydrographic and geophysical survey of the Namibian continental margin and Walvis ridge, processing, analysis and interpretation of the acquired data and writing of the report for submission to the United Nations for the claim.

The third phase of the project involves the submission of the claim to the United Nations and Defence of Claim. According to the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), a coastal state must submit its continental shelf claim beyond 200 nautical miles to the Secretary General of the United Nations. He, in turn, shall publicise an executive summary of the claim for three months to enable other nations to comment on the claim. Thereafter, the coastal state is required to make oral presentations on the claim to the CLCS and answer questions from members of the Committee. This necessitates the establishment of a defence team to make oral presentations to the Commission.

Cabinet, therefore, mandated the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement to negotiate and conclude an agreement with the Brazilian Navy to execute the third phase of the project. Cabinet also approved the submission of the claim to the United Nations during the second quarter of 2008, while Cabinet also approved the establishment of a Defence Team for the oral presentations to the CLCS. The Defence Team is composed of the Permanent Secretaries of the following Ministries:
Ministry of Lands and Resettlement;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry;
Ministry of Justice;
National Planning Commission;
Ministry of Mines and Energy;
Ministry of Defence;
Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication;
Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration; as well as the:
Surveyor General;
The Director: Geological Survey; and
The Brazilian Navy.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement at telephone number 2965000.

3.APPOINTMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS OF THE MEAT BOARD OF NAMIBIA:
Cabinet approved the appointment of the following persons to the Meat Board of Namibia to replace Board Members whose terms of office have expired:
Mr. H. E. Kuhne, representing the Eastern Commercial/Communal region for a period of three years commencing on 2 September 2007. He will replace Mr. A Kangootui, the Namibia National Farmers Union representative on the Board;
Mr. W. Raith, representing Meat Traders on the Board for a period of three years commencing on 2 August 2007;
Mr. J. Hengari, representing Eastern Communal Producers on the Meat Board for a period of three years commencing on 2 August 2007;
Mr. S. Uanivi, representing the Southern/Western Communal Producers on the Meat Board for a period of three years commencing on 2 August 2007. He will be replacing Ms. V. Tjombonde on the Meat Board; and
Mr. E. Haikela, representing the Northern/ Western Communal Producers on the Board for a period of three years commencing on 2 August 2007. He will be replacing Ms. R. Amutenya on the Board.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development at telephone 2087643.

4.2005/2006 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NAMIBIA AGRONOMIC BOARD:
Cabinet noted the Namibian Agronomic Board’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2005/06 and gave permission to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to table it in the National Assembly.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry at telephone number 2087643.