Municipal fee payments for Bahrainis suspended

TDT | Manama

The Cabinet decided yesterday to exempt citizen subscribers of electricity and water services from paying municipal fees for their first household, for a period of three months, starting from July. This is in line with the directives of His Majesty the King to unite national efforts to counter the repercussions of the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and to ensure the safety and health of Bahraini citizens and residents while ensuring the continued provision of government services aimed at supporting sustainable development.

It also follows the decisions made by the government, led by His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, and in support of national efforts led by HRH the Crown Prince. The decision was made during yesterday’s weekly Cabinet session, held remotely and chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

During the meeting, the Cabinet extended its best wishes to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, HRH the Crown Prince, and the Kingdom’s citizens and residents on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.

The Cabinet underscored the importance for all to adhere to precautionary measures during the Eid holidays, in order to further mitigate the spread of the COVID-19. A number of other submissions, memorandums and proposed laws were discussed during the meeting. The Cabinet outlined the following outcomes:

• The Cabinet approved a proposal to provide masks and sterilisers to institutions and companies, and to ensure the government oversees the process to prevent misuse, represented by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

• The Cabinet approved two proposals related to the repatriation of citizens abroad and facilitating treatment needed, through the measures taken by the government, to repatriate all Bahraini citizens oversees who wish to return to the Kingdom.

• The Cabinet approved a recommendation submitted by the Civil Service Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, on the restructuring of the Horse Care Affairs Authority, by establishing two directorates and determining the rank of the CEO position.

• The Cabinet approved a recommendation submitted by the Civil Service Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, regarding a decision to organise shared services at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy. The draft decision outlines the mechanisms and procedures for organising employee affairs in the financial services sector, including the mechanism for mandating and paying salaries and job benefits, as well as regulations on reviewing the administrative organisation of financial resource departments across government agencies.

• The Cabinet approved a memorandum on the exchange of information regarding refugees and asylum seekers between Bahrain and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The memorandum aims to enhance cooperation and exchange of experiences and information regarding refugees or asylum seekers, who are proven to be residing within the Kingdom, in accordance with the national legislation of Bahrain.

• The Cabinet approved a recommendation submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance on working according to the current mechanism regarding the construction projects budget for the Ministry of Education.

• The Cabinet referred a periodic report to the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs on the work of the coordination and follow-up committee between Bahrain and UN agencies, submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

• The Cabinet referred the fifth National Telecommunications Plan, submitted by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, to the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs.

• The Cabinet referred to the Council of Representatives a draft-law with a memorandum on the government’s opinion on a proposal of a law submitted by the Shura Council, to amend some provisions of the Law on the Promotion and Protection of Competition.

Also during yesterday’s Cabinet session, the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning and the Minister of Housing were commissioned to visit Dair and Samaheej villages, to assess and follow up on housing needs and requirements, in line with directives of HRH the Prime Minister.

The Cabinet extend - ed thanks and appreciation to the leadership and government of the UAE for their strategic cooperation across a number of sectors, particularly their coordination on efforts to combat COVID-19, and providing the Kingdom with medical equipment, medicine, and scientific research.