Cabinet: Measures to rectify political process to continue

Manama, June 20 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has affirmed the continuity of the government’s firm procedures and decisive measures aiming to reinforce security and stability and rectify the political process and protect it from deviations. The measures also aim to safeguard the political process in the kingdom against being used as a means to deepen sectarianism, violence and incitement, and to seek support of foreign parties through allowing interference in domestic issues or affiliation with foreign political and religious references. The government, which is responsible for the security and safety of all the segments of the Bahraini people, will never allow any activities or actions that target the nation’s high interests or indicate disloyalty, and will take every measure it deems adequate in this regard, HRH Premier said while chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session, held at the Gudaibiya Palace today. There will be no place for whoever incites violation of the law, poses a threat to the nation’s integrity or tries to distort its reputation or to denigrate its advanced human rights and democratic forward-movement, Cabinet Secretary General Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al Nasser quoted HRH Premier as saying in a post-Cabinet statement. Dr. Al Nasser said the Cabinet had extended gratitude to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that backed the measures taken by Bahrain to safeguard its security and stability, and protect its citizens against extremism and terrorism. GCC countries were also praised for supporting the judicial measures taken by the Kingdom against associations and organisations that fuel sectarianism, sedition and discord. The session called on the Bahraini citizens to assume their patriotic role through supporting the actions taken by the government for the sake of maintaining their security and stability. Commenting on a security briefing presented by the Minister of Interior, HRH Premier praised the high-level coordination among the relevant government departments regarding the recent rectification procedures aiming to enforce the law. The Interior Minister briefed the Cabinet on the procedures taken so far in coordination with the competent government departments. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments and the Minister of Labour and Social Development, also presented reports in which they highlighted the executive steps taken by their ministries in accordance with the rectification measures. On development, HRH Premier followed up on the progress of the projects across the Muharraq Governorate, stressing the need to start the implementation of the plans and to complete the currently-implemented projects as soon as possible. The Prime Minister reviewed the procedures taken by government departments to facilitate the work of transaction agents at ministries and government departments for the sake of protecting their livelihoods, and directed to expedite the implementation of those procedures. On health, HRH Premier directed to ensure the citizens receive all forms of therapeutic services, and to intensify programmes that provide treatment for all cases, especially the difficult ones. He also stressed the importance of taking the rights and safety of patients into consideration, and the commitment to international standards, particularly in dealing with medical errors, and to avoiding them. The session then approved the issuance of a license by the Information Affairs Minister of a dedicated sports newspaper named “News of the Bahraini Sport”, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Social Services and Communication, chaired by Deputy Premier HH Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. The session discussed the construction regulatory requirements needed to keep pace with the legislation and regulations governing urban development in the Kingdom, preserve Bahrain’s urban and social fabric and enhance sustainable development in various regions. In this context, the Cabinet endorsed the creation of a new category –“Private Housing C”. The new category allows the building of houses and villas, including necessarily parking lots. The new category aims to address the disadvantages noticed in category “B” which allows the building of residential units without the provision of car parks. The session approved a recommendation to amend the construction regulatory requirements through allowing the building of more than a housing unit on one land lot provided that a car park is provided. Accordingly, the Cabinet endorsed a draft-edict on amending some construction regulatory requirements included in Edict 28/2009. The session endorsed the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister’s issuance of edicts to acquire four real estates in Shakhoora, Sanabis and Al-Eker for public benefits. The estates are worth about BD 1.2 million. Tackling energy issues, the Cabinet was informed, through a memorandum presented by the Electricity and Water Affairs Minister, about the preparations made so far to meet the growing demand for electricity and water during the summer season. The minister highlighted the development projects of the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in this regard. The session referred a draft-law on amending some provisions of decree-law 21/2001 with respect Commercial Companies Law to the Council of Representatives, along with a memorandum including the government’s opinion, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. The Cabinet also discussed a number of proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives regarding fees levied on foreign workers, lands acquired in Al-Daih and Damistan villages, transforming some lands into housing projects and the building of a mosque. The session will reply to the proposals as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs. Number of readings : 952 Last updated : 07 : 34 PM - 20/06/2016