Stocktaking!

Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has extended congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the people of Bahrain on the country’s National Day and the 16th anniversary of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the throne, and wished the Kingdom further progress and prosperity under His Majesty’s leadership.

The Prime Minister was speaking as he chaired the Cabinet session at Gudaibiya Palace yesterday, which was also attended by Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

During the meeting, the Cabinet stressed that the upcoming occasion provided an opportunity to strengthen cohesion across all members of society, support continued progress and development and further build on the country’s achievements in the political, economic, social, and human rights fields.

A statement released by Secretary-General of the Cabinet Dr Yaser bin Essa Al Nasser following the session said the Cabinet emphasised that the country’s achievements emanated from public consensus and determination, which underpins the nation’s progress and stability.

Regarding the upcoming Commemoration Day, on December 17, the Cabinet emphasised their gratitude to the soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty for their country. 

The Cabinet stressed that their sacrifice and bravery, which are distinctive features of Bahraini society, would remain engrained in the nation’s history and would be a source of inspiration for future generations.

The Cabinet then moved on to welcome the outcomes of the 36th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Supreme Council Summit, held recently in Riyadh, which reflected the GCC leaders’ commitment to enhancing joint GCC action to protect long-term security and stability.

The Cabinet praised the vision of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, regarding ways to enhance cooperation among GCC states to achieve the GCC’s shared objectives. The Cabinet also praised King Salman’s directives to complete assessments of the efficiency of the King Hamad Causeway.

On the occasion of Bahrain Police Day, the Prime Minister greeted security authorities and policemen during the session and commended their efforts to maintain security and stability and protect citizens’ safety. The Cabinet then addressed and gave its endorsement to the climate change agreement reached at the COP 21 conference in Paris, noting that the agreement directly supported international efforts to combat global warming and encourages sustainable development and economic growth. On improving infrastructure in the Kingdom, the Cabinet discussed a number of plans to reduce traffic congestion, including the expansion of the Shaikh Khalifa Highway to five lanes, and the Crown Prince Avenue to three lanes. 

In addition, the Cabinet discussed replacing the Riffa Clock Tower Roundabout traffic lights to ease traffic between the Hamad Town Roundabout and Riffa Avenue. In this regard, the Cabinet reviewed the Traffic Council’s recommendations, as presented by the Interior Minister, and requested the Ministerial Committee for Urbanisation and Infrastructure to follow up on the implementation of the projects.

On education development, the Prime Minister stressed that private universities should ensure their academic facilities meet international standards.