Move to impose fees on sanitary services rejected

Manama : A proposal to impose sewage tax in the Kingdom was rejected by Parliamentarians yesterday.

This came as the Council of Representatives discussed amending the existing Law 33 of 2006 with regards to sewage and surface water discharge and adding an article stipulating imposing fees on public  sanitary services granted to non-domestic sectors (industrial, commercial and hospitality).

The MPs voted against the amendment as they reviewed a report prepared by the council’s Public Utilities and Environment Committee, which passed the proposal.

During the discussion, Mohammed Al Maarifi stated that “imposing the fees will drive investors away from Bahrain”.

“This will make the country a less tempting destination for investors, who the country need, especially during the current deteriorating economic circumstances,” Al Maarifi added.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee Member Mohammed Al Jowder said “similar fees are taken in many countries across the world, including poor countries in Asia and South America”.

“Researches show that the international average of these fees is USD0.5,” Al Jowder said while voicing out his support to the amendments.

However, several MPs, including the council’s Second Deputy Speaker Abdulhalim Murad and Ahmed Qarata, criticised the proposal,
stating that no fixed rates were mentioned in the amendment.

“We will not pass these amendments with such a crucial gap. The fees could be BD1 or it could be BD100. If we pass it today, we will be blamed in case any fees are imposed on citizens. This is a risk we will not take,” they commented.

Representing the Government at the sessions was Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan, who called to withdraw the proposal for revising, considering the many points raised by MPs.

Public Utilities and Environment Committee Chairman Hamad Al Dossary requested to withdraw the proposal for two weeks before it could be reviewed again before the parliament. 

He also called upon the MPs to share their views with the committee, so the required amendments could be added.

Al Dossary also confirmed that a meeting will be arranged with Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf and the concerned officials to discuss and clarify several points, adding that all the lawmakers are invited to attend the meeting along with the committee members.

The move to impose fees on expats and non-domestic users such as shops, factories and other facilities was rejected earlier by MPs as it included all beneficiaries. 

They amended it later and exempted Bahrainis from the proposal.