MP demands retroactive compensation to citizens

Manama : A Bahraini legislator has demanded the Government to compensate citizens retroactively for the increase in prices and fees during recent months.

In a time when MPs seek legal alternatives for the ever-increasing taxes, fees and financial burdens on citizens, MP Abdulhameed Al Najjar called for compensating Bahraini citizens for the increased fees since the day it was implemented.

This includes the increase in electricity and water tariffs, gasoline prices’ hike, the general increasing cost of living and the recently implemented taxes on certain commodities.

Al Najjar paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa for stressing the importance of consensus between the executive and legislative branches of government. Council of Representatives Speaker Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Mulla hailed the royal directives given by HM the King, as he received His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on Sunday.

As reported on DT News yesterday, HM the King stressed that consensus on subsidy restructuring should be given priority to ensure that government subsidies benefit the citizens who are affected by fee increase, affirming that there will be no fee hike until the joint executive-legislative committee completes its work, and until the National Audit Office makes sure that the process is in line with the laws and criteria in force in the kingdom.

Al Najjar said in a statement issued yesterday that his demand to compensate citizens should be given priority, “even before the committee completes its work”.

He added, “The supportive stances of HM the King reaffirms on the importance of consensus between the Legislative (Parliament and Shura councils) and Executive (Government) authorities. We hope that subsidies could be granted to citizens retroactively to compensate them for the recent price hike.”