‘Isa Award’ strengthens humanitarian work: cabinet

Manama : The “Isa Award for Service to Humanity” has strengthened Bahrain’s role in promoting the humanitarian work culture, said Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday. 

Hailing His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s support to the award, the Prime Minister congratulated the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE) for winning the third edition of the award. 

The Premier also commended the efforts exerted by the award’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Deputy Premier, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, as well as its jury.

The Prime Minister was chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday. 

The session also welcomed Kuwait’s election as a non-Permanent Member to the UN Security Council (UNSC), noting that the exploit is the outcome of the leading role played by Kuwait, under the leadership of HH Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah. 

The UNSC seat is a landmark achievement for both Kuwaiti and the GCC, and will contribute to serving the region’s issues and consolidating its security and stability, the session said.

The Cabinet also discussed HRH the Prime Minister’s talks with the Kuwaiti Amir, Shaikh Sabah, during his recent brotherly visit to Kuwait.

On development issues, HRH the Prime Minister gave directives to the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, and the Minister of Housing to visit the Duraz village and neighbouring villages, and identify their needs regarding services and facilities. The ministers were also requested to meet the local villagers there to collect first-hand information about their needs.

HRH the Prime Minister also gave instructions to solve the issue of traffic conjunctions, including that in the capital, after the completion of the revamp works, and delegated the Interior and Works ministers to oversee the matter.

Moving on, HRH the Prime Minister requested the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to submit a memorandum on shrimp fishermen, which shall include options for preserving their livelihoods during the shrimp ban while taking into account the government’s efforts to preserve wildlife and the relevant GCC resolutions.

Budget draft

The session approved the estimates of the budget, fiscal policies, oil and non-oil revenue, as well as spending and expected deficit estimates and requested the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure to prepare the General State Budget Draft Law ahead of its referral to the Legislative Branch.

60 day law

A draft law on amending the Sharia Courts’ Procedures law was endorsed. As per the amendment, cases shall be now cancelled 60 days after they have been lodged, instead of six months. 

Pedestrian bridge

A proposal to construct a pedestrian bridge near Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifiya School was approved. Another proposal to establish a Rainwater Drainage Directorate was also approved.

Other decisions

Reiterated support to anti-terror measures by Saudi Arabia.

Condemned terror attacks in London.

Referred a memorandum on establishing the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage to the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure.

Congratulated students who obtained their Secondary School certificates.

Directed Electricity and Water Affairs Ministry to avoid electricity and water cuts.

Instructed to submit a report on the power outages in Hamad Town and other regions.