Prime Minister chairs regular weekly Cabinet session

Manama, May 4 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salam 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. Directives to ensure safety of citizens, residents lauded The cabinet lauded the orders issued by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the measures taken by the government, following directives from HRH Premier and HRH Crown Prince, to ensure the safety of the citizens and residents, support the segments that have been affected by the novel coronavirus outbreak and mitigate the financial, economic and social impacts resulting from it. In this regard, the session reviewed the positive impacts of the 14 initiatives included in the BD 4.3 billion-financial and economic stimulus package, and other support programmes launched to address the current circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said in a statement following the meeting which was held via the video conferencing technology. Premier: Government’s efforts to mitigate virus effects to continue HRH the Prime Minister affirmed the government's keenness to carry on its efforts to mitigate the effects of the pandemic at various levels, and tasked ministries and government departments, -each in their capacity, to submit a follow-up report on the implementation of initiatives, directives and orders issued in this regard. Prime Minister congratulates press, media community The Prime Minister congratulated the press and media personnel on the Bahrain Press Day, and commended their achievements and efforts to defend the interests of the nation and the gains of its people, as well as on their contributions to enlightening the public opinion and enhancing social awareness. HRH Premier underlined the government’s support to the Bahraini press, through enabling the press and media staff to perform their professional and enlightening role. Ambulance system’s performance meets world standards In line with HRH Premier’s directives, the Interior Minister presented a report on the performance of the national ambulance system in its first phase extending from May 2019 to April 2020. The report revealed that the national ambulance system had received nearly 23,000 notifications, or about 70 cases daily. It also showed that the average response time is 90 seconds, and the arrival time to cases was 11 minutes, which is consistent with international standards. Housing installments postponed for six months As part of the initiatives of the financial and economic stimulus package, launched in line with HM the King’s directives, the order of HRH Premier and instructions of HRH the Crown Prince, the cabinet decided to postpone the installments due for the Eskan Bank for six months, starting from April, 2020. The session also decided to stop the collection of rent from tenants and beneficiaries from the shops owned by the Eskan Bank, for a period of three months, starting in April 202. The cabinet also requested the same bank to re-prioritise the disbursement of its budget for the current year by giving priority to providing the budget necessary for funding 700 housing services, as outlined in the memorandum submitted by the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance, and presented by the Deputy Premier and committee chairman. Air transport agreement with Italy referred to Legislature The cabinet endorsed a draft-law on ratifying an air transport agreement between Bahrain and Italy, and referred it to the legislative branch. Recommended by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs, and presented in the memorandum submitted by the Deputy Premier and committee chairman, the agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the field of air transport and facilitate the establishment and operation of air services between and beyond their regions. Proposal to transfer Education Ministry’s construction budget to Works Ministry discussed The Cabinet discussed a proposal to transfer construction projects budget of the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, in light of a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Education. The matter was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance for further study. Parliamentary proposals: - Amending decree-law 39/2002 on state budget: The session reviewed a draft-law on adding a new clause to Article (6) of Decree Law 39/2002 regarding the general state budget, prepared based on a law proposed by the Shura Council, and referred it to the Council of Representatives, along with a memorandum outlining the government’s opinion on it. The bill was referred to the parliament based on a recommendation submitted by Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs and presented by the deputy premier and committee chairman. - Amending decree-law 39/2002 on housing: The session reviewed a draft-law on amending Decree Law 10/1976 on housing, prepared based on a law proposed by the Representatives Council. The bill was referred to the Council of Representatives, along with a memorandum outlining the government’s opinion on it, based on a recommendation submitted by Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs and presented by the Deputy Premier and committee chairman. - EWA not obliged to provide customer information: The session endorsed a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives regarding the non-inclusion of the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) among the entities obliged to provide credit information centres (BENEFIT) with customer information. - Maternity hospital in Riffa: The Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives to establish a maternity hospital in Riffa, and mandated the Supreme Council of Health to study the proposal in light of the application of the Health Insurance System and the self-management mechanism in hospitals and health centres. - Acquisition of land for a park in Isa Town: The session discussed a proposal to acquire a land lot and turn it into a park in Isa Town. The issue was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance for further study. - Conocarpus trees’ import, cultivation to be regulated: The session mandated the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to regulate the import, sale, and cultivation of conocarpus trees. The move was in response to a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives in this regard.