For the Heroes

Manama : Servicemen in the Kingdom and their families have something to cheer for, as His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has issued a Royal Order establishing the Royal Fund for Fallen Servicemen.

The Fund would be affiliated to the Royal Court and under the supervision of a supreme commission presided over by Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. 

According to the Royal Order, the supreme commission will take decisions regarding the Fund, such as disbursement of compensation, benefits and entitlements of a martyr to those eligible.

The term and appointment of the Fund’s management, including chairman, deputy chairman and seven members would also be decided following a resolution by the chairman of the commission.

The Royal Order also stipulates the commission’s prerogatives to achieve its purposes, including the fund’s general policy of management and investment, regulation to implement its purposes, organisational structure, work procedures, rules and regulations, annual budget and final account and periodic reports by the director of its administrative body.

The Order becomes effective and enforceable as from the date of its issuance, and will be published in the Official Gazette.

The Fund’s management body will be formed during the commission’s first meeting, comprising administrative and financial experts.

The Fund would have an independent budget, including its own revenue and expenditures, and the money allocated by the Royal Court for the fund, gifts, grants, inheritance, wills, endowments and other additional sources as will be decided by the commission.

For better transparency, a special bank account will be opened for the Fund money, and surplus of this account shall be carried forward to the budget of the following
year.

Adding on, the body’s director would submit the Annual Report to the supreme commission, including the results of the fund’s business, final accounts, proposals necessary to develop the fund and also defining the impedances to the fund’s performance.

Other important points covered in the Royal Order include the responsibility of the director’s work procedures, including implementation of its decisions, and offering necessary proposals to achieve the fund’s objectives and purposes.