150 retirees honoured

Manama, May 18 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has deputised the President of Supreme Council for Health and Board Chairman of the Al Hikma Pensioners Society Lieutenant-General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa to attend the first ceremony to honour long-serving 150 public and private sector retirees. Held under HRH Premier's patronage, the event is organised by the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) in coordination with Al Hikma Pensioners Society. Ministers, MPs, senior state officials, heads of NGOs and families of the honourees attended. Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa delivered a statement in which he extended sincere thanks and appreciation to HRH Premier for deputising him to attend the ceremony on his behalf, noting that the Premier's patronage of the event re-affirms his sound leadership of the nation building and development march for which he received innumerable prestigious international awards and recognition. He stressed that the progress boom currently witnessed by the kingdom is the fruitful outcome of the cohesion between the leadership and the people, which, he said, entitled Bahrain to be a leader in many fields. He pointed out the honouring of the public and private sector retirees is a civilisational gesture that carries the highest humanitarian values. Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa added that over 25 years, the Al Hikma Pensioners Society has spared no effort to provide the requirements of welfare, care and dignity for retirees through the directives of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH the Prime Minister and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, and in collaboration with the Social Insurance Organisation. Then SIO Chief Executive Officer Dr. Zakariya Sultan Al-Abbasi delivered a statement in which he extended thanks to HRH the Prime Minister for patronising the event, noting that the ceremony is in line with SIO's commitment to implementing the directives of HM the King, HRH Premier and HRH Crown Prince to honour distinguished and dedicated Bahrainis, including the retirees. After that, Wedad Al-Musawi spoke on behalf of the retirees. She asserted that HRH the Prime Minister's patronage of the ceremony embodies the existing leadership-citizens cohesion, anchored by HRH Premier. It is also a sincere humanitarian and fatherly gesture carried out by the leadership towards those exerted tremendous efforts. Alongside the leadership, to develop Bahrain and place it among civilised countries, she said. She also extended, on behalf of the retirees, heartfelt appreciation to the Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, who is in charge of SIO, for his directives to hold the honouring ceremony, as well as Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and SIO for their efforts in this regard.