HRH Premier chairs regular weekly Cabinet session

Manama, June 15 (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. Cabinet expresses pride in HRH Premier’s UNESCO honour The cabinet expressed deep pride in HRH Premier’s International Day of Conscience initiative, stressing its importance in the midst of the current circumstances the world is going through, and which require resorting to Conscience to consolidate peace and the good of the entire humanity. The session extended thanks and appreciation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) following the endorsement of the Preparatory Group of the UNESCO Executive Board of a proposal to celebrate the International Day of Conscience at its headquarters in Paris and regional offices every April 5. The move reflects the global appreciation of the status, policies and vision of the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser, said in a statement following the session which was held via the video conferencing technology. Premier praises Bahraini people’s high awareness, sense of responsibility The Prime Minister lauded the Bahraini people’s high awareness and sense of responsibility, giving directives to step up efforts to ensure the commitment of all the citizens and residents to the precautionary and preventive measures taken by the kingdom to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). HRH Premier stressed the need to maintain the successes attained by the kingdom so far in its fight against COVID-19, praising the distinguished achievements of the Team Bahrain, led by HRH the Crown Prince in this field. ‘Bahraini Doctor’s Day’ to be marked in November each year The cabinet, based on HRH Premier’s approval, decided to mark the “Bahraini Doctor’s Day” on the first Wednesday of November each year, and to allocate an award carrying the name of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to honour Bahraini physicians who are distinguished in the therapeutic and medical research. The move is in recognition of the efforts made by doctors to preserve the safety and health of the society. It also aims to motivate the medical staff to exert more efforts to improve the quality of the health services delivered to the citizens and residents. Directives to meet Al-Salhiya villagers’ housing needs HRH Premier was informed about what has been done so far to meet the housing demands of the Al-Salhiya citizens, and implement his directives to allocate a housing project for them. The Prime Minister requested the Housing Minister to visit Al-Salhiya village and submit a report on the housing needs of the local villagers. Ministerial Committee tasked to examine BCCI’s proposals The Prime Minister instructed the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance to consider the proposed studies and initiatives submitted by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Bahraini Businessmen's Association (BBMA) on the sectors that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel was also tasked to study the impacts of the pandemic on the Bahraini economy, and to submit its recommendations on the two matters. Directives to activate Maritime Law HRH the Prime Minister gave directives to put in place the appropriate mechanisms to ensure the activation of the Maritime Law, including the Bahraini 'Nokhatha', and to tighten control over violators, with the aim of regulating fishing and protecting the marine wealth. The Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects was entrusted with the matter. Student bus owners to be supported HRH Premier was briefed by the Minister of Labour and Social Development on the mechanism through which the owners of private buses used for transporting students are supported during the current situation resulting from coronavirus, just like the other social segments. Draft-decree on emergency expenses approved The cabinet endorsed, based on a recommendation by the Government Executive Committee, led by HRH the Crown Prince, a draft-decree on including emergency expenses in the general state budget for the fiscal year, 2020. Submitted by the Minister of Finance and National Economy, the bill aims to allocate a budget not exceeding BD 177 million to deal with the emergency expenses required for mitigating COVID-19 impacts and curbing its spread. Reorganisation and Bankruptcy Law to be amended The Cabinet approved, based on a recommendation by the Government Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, a draft law decree amending some provisions of the Reorganisation and Bankruptcy Law. The bill aims to enhance transparency in the reorganisation and bankruptcy procedures, as well as to ensure the rights and role of creditors in them. The cabinet decided to take the necessary constitutional and legal procedures in force regarding the draft decree. Directives to improve environmental situation, air quality in Ma’ameer The session reviewed, in line with HRH Premier’s directives, a report submitted by the Minister of Oil on the environmental projects and initiatives implemented in Ma’ameer and the neighbouring region to improve air quality and the maritime environment, through the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC). The cabinet approved proposals to further improve the environmental situation in Ma’ameer, reduce environmental loads in the region, and study a strategic assessment of the environmental impact there. The Ministry of Oil and the Supreme Council for the Environment were requested to coordinate in order to implement the proposals quickly. Plan to develop infrastructure in Karzakan In line with HRH Premier’s directives, the session reviewed a report submitted by the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning that included a plan to develop infrastructure in Karzakan. The plan includes the development of internal roads and the sewage network in new blocks there. The plan was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance. Labour Ministry’s employment e-platform under spotlight The session reviewed a report presented by the Minister of Labour and Social Development on the electronic platform aimed at accelerating the communication among the Labour Ministry, employers and job seekers, as well as increasing and facilitating recruitment operations by linking employers’ data and their needs with the data of job seekers. The platform also provides other services related to registration, employment, training and insurance against unemployment. Parliamentary proposals: · Exempting state-owned commercial outlets from paying rent for three months: The session approved a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on exempting the tenants of state-owned commercial outlets from paying their rent for three months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The proposal has already been achieved on the ground following HRH Premier’s directives to stop collecting rents from the tenants of municipal and Supreme Council for Environment property, in addition to the Cabinet’s resolution to stop collecting rent from tenants of Eskan Bank-owned shops. · Supporting SMEs: The session endorsed a proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives on supporting small, medium-sized and micro private sector enterprises through the BD 4.3 billion stimulus package announced by the government to confront COVID-19 in Bahrain. The proposal has been achieved through the package’s various initiatives, especially the one launched by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to ensure the continuity of those enterprises. · Tightening control over markets: The session endorsed a proposal submitted by the Representatives Council on tightening control over markets, especially regarding preventive and sanitary tools. · Housing installments: The session approved the draft reply of the government on a proposal submitted by the Representatives Council regarding the monthly installment to be paid by the beneficiaries of housing services delivered by the Ministry of Housing. · Boys School in Budaiya: The session approved the draft reply of the government regarding a proposal submitted by the Representatives Council on building a boys’ school in Budaiya. Ministerial Reports: · The session was briefed by the Foreign Affairs Minister on the outcomes of the conference that was held marking 75 years since the issuance of the UN Charter, as well as on those of the extraordinary ministerial meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). · The session was also informed about the results of the meeting of the Arab Health Ministers’ Council.