Council holds crucial meeting to ‘implement royal directives’

Manama

Following the issuance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives to the Jaffari Endowments Directorate to follow up the expenses of Bahraini citizens who are still abroad because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), in co-ordination with the relevant authorities, and until their return home, the Jaffari Endowments Council yesterday held an emergency meeting, under the chairmanship of Yusuf Saleh Al Saleh.

Mr Al Saleh extended, on behalf of the council’s members, deepest thanks and gratitude to HM the King for his kind gesture that adds to the multiple royal achievements for the sake of his loyal people during his prosperous era. He also praised the precious royal trust bestowed upon them, pledging to carry on the national mission to the fullest in order to meet HM the King’s aspirations.

Mr Al Saleh stressed that the sound royal directives reflect HM the King’s care for all citizens in Bahrain and abroad, paying tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, for the tremendous efforts he is making, as well as his follow-up on all precautionary and preventive measures adopted to combat COVID-19 and prevent its spread.

He pointed out that the Jaffari Endowments Directorate will co-ordinate with the relevant authorities and cover the expenses of the citizens during their stay abroad until their return, noting that the expenses will be added to the Directorate’s budget, based on HM King Hamad’s instructions. The Jaffari Endowments Council said that the other relevant authorities will follow up on the return of the citizens according to the pre-set plan.

The Jaffari Endowments Council formed a work team, led by its Chairman, to follow up on the implementation of the royal directives, and take the necessary procedures, in coordination with the competent authorities. The work team held its first meeting to develop a plan to translate HM the King’s directives into the ground, in co-ordination with the Interior Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry and the National Task Force for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition to all relevant parties.

The team’s tasks include determining the names of the relevant citizens, in co-ordination with the competent authorities, allocating a hotline (phone and WhatsApp) to follow up on the remarks of the citizens, co-ordinating with all the relevant sides, including travel agencies, and discussing the mechanisms to compensate the citizens, as well as the period on which compensations will be made.

The panel will have to submit its recommendations to the competent authorities, appoint an independent financial auditor, submit an audited final account of the project, regulate media communication, respond to all inquiries and contact all parties to implement the royal directives to the fullest.