Cabinet pays tribute to sacrifices of fallen servicemen

Manama, Apr. 18 (BNA): The Cabinet today lauded His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s keynote speech at the 13th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit, in which he called for the international community to declare war on terrorism. HM King Hamad also urged immediate action to tackle the causes of terrorism. The Cabinet hailed the summit's communiqué that included a unified and cohesive Islamic stance against terrorism. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister represented HM the King at the summit. Chaired by His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, at the Gudaibiya Palace, the Cabinet meeting strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack on policemen in Karababad. The Cabinet described the attack, in which a policeman lost his life and two others were severely injured, as a heinous crime that contravenes all national, moral and human values, Cabinet Secretary General Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser said, in a statement, following the session. Extending deepest condolences to the family of policeman Mohammed Tanweer and wishing the injured policemen a speedy recovery, the Cabinet said the terrorists would be punished. Ministers also paid tribute to the sacrifices security personnel had made while defending the country’s citizens. In other matters, HRH the Prime Minister directed officials to follow up on the facilities and infrastructure in Halat Bu Maher. He also issued instructions to verify residents’ complaints about workshops and garages inside residential areas in Buri. He instructed the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to follow up on the complaints. HRH the Prime Minister also gave instructions to expedite the distribution of homes in the East Riffa housing project, and requested the Housing Ministry to take the necessary measures to keep the homes secure, pending their hand-over. The Cabinet then endorsed a recommendation, submitted by the Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, to supply motorists with a Super 98 octane petrol, alongside the 91 Octane Jayyid petrol and the 95 Octane Mumtaz petrol. The price of the Super petrol will be adjusted periodically, taking into account global oil prices and operational and transportation costs. The price will be determined by a committee drawn from the Energy Ministry and Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco). The prices of the Jayyid (125 Fils) and Mumtaz (160 Fils) will remain unchanged. The Cabinet also approved a draft law amending the Penal Code to allow judges to issue alternative penalties instead of prison sentences, if the suspect is a minor. Ministers also endorsed a draft law to amend provisions of the Law on Juveniles that would set the time frame for the rehabilitation of juvenile criminals to between six months and three years. The Cabinet referred to the Council of Representatives a draft law on adding "Clause 8" to Article 6 of Decree-Law 17/1976 on Juveniles, and another on amending Article 73 of the Penal Code promulgated by Decree-Law 15/1976. Ministers then approved a draft law on amending Article 105 of the Public Security Forces Law. Under the amendment, the Interior Minister will issue regulations governing the fees for the services delivered by the Ministry. The session also approved the signing of a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and executive programmes with Egypt, in the education, health, diplomacy, youth and sports, environment and civil service sectors, as well as electricity, water, petrochemicals, agriculture and tourism. The Cabinet approved the kingdom's support for the global initiative launched by the World Bank to end gas flaring at oil production sites and ensure "Zero Routine Flaring by 2030". The Kingdom has stopped gas flaring at oil production sites as Bahrain’s contribution to the efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions. Ministers discussed cancelling the Information Affairs Authority (IAA), established as per Decree 31/2010. The Ministry of Information Affairs will be re-structured and will be in charge of all matters related to information affairs. A draft law on amending some provisions of Law 26/2005 with respect to political associations was referred to the Council of Representatives, along with a draft law on living costs allowances. The session then discussed a proposal on ending over-fishing.