[This is the version of this document at 30 June 2017.]
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Media Trust Act.
2. Interpretation
In this Act—"Board" means the Board of Trustees referred to in section 5;"media" means newspaper, periodicals, television and radio;"Minister" means the Minister to whom responsibility for the subject of information is assigned;"newspaper" means a printed publication containing news and appearing regularly on a daily, weekly or fortnightly basis;"Trust" means the Media Trust established under section 3.
3. Establishment of Trust
There is established for the purposes of this Act a Media Trust which shall be a body corporate.
4. Objects of Trust
The objects of the Trust shall be to—(a)receive and manage funds obtained from Government and other organisations;(b)run a media and documentation centre;(c)organise seminars, conferences, workshops and training courses;(d)foster relations with the international media; and(e)carry out such other activities as the Board may decide.
5. Management of Trust
(1)The Trust shall be managed by a Board of Trustees to be appointed by the Minister and shall consist of—(a)a Chairperson;(b)a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of information;(c)a representative of the Ministry responsible for the subject of finance;(d)a representative of registered associations of journalists;(e)a representative of the electronic media; and(f)4 representatives of the press, two of whom shall be Editors-in-Chief, elected by the press.(2)The representatives referred to in subsection (1) (d) to (f) shall be fulltime journalists.(3)The members of the Board shall hold office for a period of 2 years and shall be eligible for reappointment.(4)The Board shall appoint, from among its members, a Secretary and a Treasurer.(5)Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.(6)Subject to this Act, the Board shall regulate its proceedings and meetings in such manner as it thinks fit.
6. Powers of Board
The Board may do all such things as appear requisite and advantageous in furtherance of the objects of the Trust.
7. Annual report and accounts
(1)The Board shall, on or before 1 April in every year, submit to the Minister a report together with an audited statement of accounts on the operations of the Trust in respect of the 12 months ending on 31 December in the preceding year.(2)The report of the Board shall be laid before the Assembly.
8. Donations and legacies
Article 910 of the Code Civil Mauricien shall not apply to the Trust.
9. Dissolution
(1)The Trust may be dissolved by the unanimous decision of the Board.(2)In the event of the dissolution of the Trust, all assets of the Trust shall be transferred to such organisation as may be designated by the Board.
10. Regulations
(1)The Board may make such regulations as it thinks fit for the purposes of this Act.(2)Notwithstanding the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, regulations made under subsection (1) shall not be required to be—(a)approved by the Minister;(b)published in the Gazette,(c)laid before the Assembly