Focus on ‘neediest’

Manama : Restructuring of government subsidies should be through consensus between the Executive and the Legislative branches, said His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday. 

Lauding the Royal Directives in this regard, HRH the Premier said that the move is aimed at ensuring that “only the neediest benefit from subsidies.”

The criteria approved, in this regard, the Prime Minister said, will optimise the gains of Bahraini families and citizens. 

HRH the Premier was chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session, at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday. 

The Government, His Royal Highness said, is keen on consolidating government-parliament partnership in all aspects, and on strengthening the existing full cooperation between the two branches.

Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser revealed the decisions in a post-session statement.

The Cabinet was also notified by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure, about the outcomes of the first government-parliament coordination meeting on subsidy restructuring.

Tackling development issues, HRH Premier gave directives to pay more attention to central markets in Bahrain, given their importance in providing the needs of the citizens.

In this regard, the Prime Minister was updated about the revamp and renewal of the Manama Central Market. 

HRH the Premier instructed the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to expedite the revamp of the market taking into consideration the requirements and interests of merchants and stall-owners there.

Ensure quality of Education  

The Cabinet yesterday reviewed the measures taken by the authorities concerned to ensure the quality of education system and institutions in the Kingdom. 

While reviewing a memoranda on the session’s agenda, HRH the Prime Minister was informed about the efforts exerted to ensure the performance of public and private schools, universities and training institutions in the Kingdom. 

In this regard, the Cabinet approved the annual report of the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), which includes an overall evaluation of the educational and training system and the results of the National Exams. 

The memorandum was presented by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Deputy Chief Executive of the BQA.

The session commended the efforts exerted by the Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training, presided over by Deputy Premier, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the Education Ministry, the Labour and Social Development Ministry and BQA. 

Healthcare: Priority for Bahrainis

Qualified and experienced Bahraini medical staff will be given priority while recruiting staff for private health facilities.

“Bahraini medical staff, including doctors, technicians and nurses” should be given priority, the Cabinet said while approving a plan tabled to this end. 

In this context, the session endorsed a draft-law on amending Article 14 of Decree-Law 21/2015 on Private Health Institutions, which was prepared based on a proposal by the Council of Representatives, and referred it to the Legislative Branch.

Oil field development

A memorandum to regulate and ensure that all oil and gas resources in Bahrain are owned by the government was approved by the Cabinet. 

The move, as per a memorandum submitted by the Oil Minister and approved by the Cabinet, endorsed new services contracts and cancelled old ones. 

The deals were signed by the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) and the Oil and Gas Holding Company.

Other major decisions

Praised the successful visit of the Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Kuwait’s First Deputy Premier and Defence Minister to Bahrain. 

Approved Kingdom’s accession to the Agreement for the Promotion, Protection and Guarantee of Investments among the Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

Endorsed a draft resolution on the model regulation of the youth centres and entities reporting to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs. 

Discussed Bahrain’s ratification of the two protocols amending the Universal Postal Convention, signed in 2012 and 2016, respectively. 

Referred a Bahrain-Morocco agreement on air services to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.

Discussed ways to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations (UN), through supporting its youth-oriented programmes. 

Discussed a draft-law on the Dilapidated Houses Financing Fund, and another on amending Article 5 of the Municipalities Law

Referred two bills to the Council of Representatives, along with memoranda on the government’s opinions on each of them.

Endorsed a proposal to ensure easy procedures for charity associations and institutions regarding their charitable services.