Cabinet lauds royal visits' success

Manama, May 16 (BNA): The Cabinet has lauded the positive results of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's recent visits to the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom, stressing that their fruitful outcomes will develop cooperation between Bahrain and the two friendly countries through the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed with them. Chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Gudaibiya Palace today, the Cabinet session recalled with appreciation the lofty and noble goals behind HM King Hamad's establishment of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) which represented a unique event in the region and the world. The noble royal goals have motivated the Kingdom of Bahrain to work to fully implement BICI recommendations accurately and transparently and according to the best international standards and practices, the Cabinet said. The Cabinet voiced deep pride in HM King Hamad's praise of the government for its dedicated efforts to implement BICI's recommendations through an integrated system of reforms and effective procedures, Cabinet Secretary General Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said in a statement following the session. The session attributed the success of the government in devising its implementation system to the far-sighted royal vision and to the strong official and popular resolve that ultimately resulted in the kingdom's outstanding success in overcoming the regretful events it had gone through. All thanks to HM King Hamad and his loyal people for conveying a message to the world that Bahrain is sincere in its reforms and national progress to ensure the non-recurrence of the events it had gone through, the Cabinet said, affirming HRH Premier's close follow-up of all the stages of the implementation process of the BICI recommendations, in line with his sincere desire to consolidate the reform process as an approach to which the kingdom has been committed. In this regard, HRH the Prime Minister extended thanks and appreciation to all the relevant government departments for their role in the implementation process, stressing that the government will continue adopting development and modernisation initiatives in various areas to ensure more security and prosperity for the nation, and to fulfill the aspirations of the Bahraini people through HM King Hamad's national Project. Moving to development efforts, HRH the Prime Minister lauded the inauguration of a 400 kV electricity transmission line, with a first phase that includes the building of three electricity transmission stations in Hidd, Um Al-Hassam and Riffa and linking them. The strategic power project is within the government's plan to improve the performance of the electricity network and enhance its readiness to meet the growing demands for electricity by the various development projects implemented across the kingdom, the session said. The Prime Minister then directed ministries and the relevant government departments, especially the Housing Ministry and the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry to follow-up on the needs of Al-Shakhoora villagers regarding municipal, housing, education, and youth services, as well as basic facilities. In this context, HRH Premier urged ministers and officials to continue making field visits to villages to meet local citizens and identify their needs. Reviewing the preparations for the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, HRH the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism to intensify control on prices and ensure the sufficiency of basic goods and foodstuffs, stressing the need to ensure that enough quality goods are available at reasonable prices. Referring to the Muharraq Suq which was partly damaged by fire, the Prime Minister called for speeding up the reconstruction work to preserve the livelihoods of the owners of burnt shops and ensure that the iconic market resumes its usual role and activities. The session then approved the continuity of the central slaughterhouse for another period of six months to meet the growing demand for meat during Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha, noting that the facility's management and operation will be put out to tender after the end of the aforesaid period, in line with the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure, presented by the Deputy Premier and the panel Chairman. The Cabinet endorsed a memorandum of cooperation in the educational, scientific and technological fields signed between the governments of Bahrain and Italy, as outlined in the memorandum presented by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. An air transport services agreement between Bahrain and Finland, included in the memorandum presented by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The session discussed ten proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives, and approved the government's replies to them, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. They proposals were on the eastern coast, the A'ali pottery workshops, the removal of deserted cars in residential neighbourhoods and public streets and the revamp of the Abu Sobh Coastline. They also included training on dealing with spectators, the importation of pork, the building of mosques in Juffair and Amwaj, the establishment of a walkway that serves the villages of Al-Qidam, Al-Hajar, Abu-Saiba, Al-Shakhoora and Maqaba and the building of an elderly care house in the Capital Governorate's Third Constituency.