HRH Premier chairs regular weekly Cabinet session

Manama, May 11 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa today chaired the regular weekly Cabinet session, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. King’s address to Non-Aligned Movement Summit hailed HRH Premier lauded the kingdom’s address to the virtual summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, noting that it reflected His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s keenness to put forward a preemptive strategy to ensure optimal dealing with various circumstances and developments. Deputy Premier, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, delivered a keynote speech on behalf of HM the King during the summit, called by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, the chair of the current session of the Non-Aligned Movement. The session welcomed the summit’s outcomes and final communiqué, Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said in a statement following the meeting which was held via the video conferencing technology. Committees to prepare post COVID-19 plans HRH the Prime Minister tasked the ministerial committees, each in their capacity, to prepare plans for the post-coronavirus phase, and to come up with visions on ways to enhance readiness for continuing the development process and ensuring that it is back on track in the economic, social, educational and health fields. Sacrifices of medical staff praised The Prime Minister praised the sacrifices made by the medical staff at the frontlines of the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic, affirming that they deserve every appreciation for the tremendous efforts they are exerting for the sake of the nation and its people, in the midst of the exception circumstances during which they have to work under pressure. Premier commends nurses’ noble efforts HRH Premier commended, marking the International Nurses Day, which falls on May 12, the efforts made by nurses while they are performing their noble humanitarian duties at the frontline of the health system, extending thanks to the Minister of Health, as well as the Health Ministry’s medical, nursing and administrative staff for their commendable efforts. Cabinet Affairs Ministry to have an undersecretary The session endorsed a recommendation by the Civil Service Council, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, to modify the organisational structure of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, through creating the position of Undersecretary. The competent authorities were requested to take the necessary technical procedures and prepare the required legal tools. Justice Ministry’s e-correspondence system endorsed The cabinet approved the electronic system launched by the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments to exchange correspondence. The electronic system aims to ensure easy and speedy exchange of correspondence between the Justice Ministry and the courts, on the one hand, and other ministries and government departments, on the other, which will lead to fast-tracking judicial procedures. Cooperation committee with Kenya to be set up The cabinet approved a draft decree on ratifying the agreement between Bahrain and Kenya to establish a joint committee for bilateral cooperation. The committee aims to enhance friendship and cooperation between the two countries, a memorandum, submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs and presented by the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the committee, said. MoU between Bahrain and UNHCR discussed The session discussed a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the exchange of information on refugees and asylum seekers between Bahrain and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the draft MoU was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs. Law on human organs’ transplantation to be amended The cabinet discussed a draft law on amending some provisions of Decree-Law 16/1998 regarding the transfer and transplantation of human organs, which was prepared based on a proposed by the Council of Representatives. The bill was referred to the Council of Representatives, along with the government’s reply, as recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs in the memorandum presented by Deputy Premier and the panel chairman. Parliamentary proposals: - Addressing Tubli Bay pollution: The cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on addressing pollution in Tubli Bay and the surrounding area through monitoring the application of the environmental standards and requirements. - Selling centres for productive families: The cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on establishing selling centres for productive families across the kingdom’s governorates. - Shelter centres for home accidents’ victims: The session approved the government’s response to a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on establishing shelter centres for widows, divorced women and those affected by fortuitous accidents to their homes. - Government services’ complexes: The cabinet approved the government’s response to a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on government services complexes in various governorates. Ministerial reports: The cabinet was informed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the results of the Extraordinary Session of the Arab League Council, held last Thursday.