BD413M development projects

TDT | Manama

Ninety-one development projects being implemented at a cost of BD413 million were reviewed yesterday during the 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. The projects are in three sectors, namely roads, sanitation and buildings.

The cost of the projects is 54 per cent higher than those that were implemented during the same period of 2019. The Cabinet also approved yesterday a recommendation submitted by the Civil Service Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, regarding the adoption of two organisational structures.

The first will be adopted by public hospitals, and includes the provision of a chief executive position, with a hiring rank of undersecretary, reporting to the board of trustees, with three directorates reporting to the chief executive.

The second organisational structure will be for primary healthcare centres, by the provision of a chief executive position, with a hiring rank of undersecretary, reporting to the board of trustees, with three directorates reporting to the chief executive.

The Cabinet reviewed a memorandum submitted by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, regarding the Kingdom’s economic indicators of various sectors through to July 2020. The Cabinet approved a draftlaw amending some provisions of the executive regulations of the Municipalities Law.

The draft law includes the reorganisation of municipal affairs within the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, in line with the abolition of the financial and administrative services directorate and the technical services directorates in each municipality as well as the Capital Municipal Council, and replacing them with administrative and technical units.

The Cabinet followed up on the implementation of voluntary commitments of Bahrain, in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the recommendations that the Kingdom received during the universal periodic review process, including the preparation of a national action plan for human rights.

The Cabinet also approved the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ idea to conduct a number of workshops in preparation for the formulation of a Human Rights National Action Plan. The Cabinet reviewed a memorandum, submitted by the Minister of Works, which included the 35 tenders awarded during the first half of this year, valued at BD48 million, and 44 bids, valued at BD102 million—an increase of 37 per cent over the projects offered during the first half last year.

The Cabinet approved a proposal regarding the distribution of housing units for individuals within the third district of the Northern Governorate, and allocating them from housing projects implemented in Budaiya, Al Jasra, Hamala and Salman Town. Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved a number of proposals that have already been achieved.

Also during yesterday’s meeting, the Cabinet extended its best wishes to HM the King, HRH the Prime Minister, HRH the Crown Prince, Bahrain’s citizens, and Arab and Islamic countries on the advent of the Hijri New Year 1442. The Cabinet extended its gratitude to all citizens and residents who have volunteered to register for the phase three clinical trials of the COVID-19 inactivated vaccine.

The Cabinet congratulated the UAE for its diplomatic achievement in announcing, with the US and Israel, an agreement halting the annexation of the Palestinian territories; and condemned the threats made by Iran against the UAE, affirming its full support of the Emirates’ measures ensuring its security and stability.

The Cabinet condemned the Houthi terrorist militia’s continued launching of ballistic missiles targeting civilians in Saudi Arabia, and expressed Bahrain’s continued support to Saudi against any threats to its security and stability.

The Cabinet further denounced Turkish military aggression in Sidekan, Iraq, noting that the attack constitutes a flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, the principles of good neighbourliness, and international law.