The Minister Works was briefing the Cabinet about the implementation of the roads, sanitary networks and buildings projects included in the government work plan, the Works Minister informed the cabinet on the tenders awarded during the first half of 2012, explaining that 59 were given for BD54 million, 37 for BD38.5 million, 26 for BD25 million and 17 for BD9 million.
His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has extended sincere congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the citizens on the advent of the Holy month of Ramadan, wishing the Bahraini, Arab and Islamic peoples a happy return of the occasion.
Speaking as he chaired the regular weekly cabinet meeting, HRH Premier instructed the concerned sides to control prices of basic goods and products during the holy month of Ramadan in order to ensure that they are not manipulated because of the increasing demand on them, urging the Industry and Commerce Ministry to intensify its inspection visits.
HRH Premier reviewed the report issued by the Committee in Charge of Follow up of the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BCCI Follow up Committee), asserting that the measures taken by the government in this regard are within the framework of a purely national effort to support the reform and development march, anchored by HM King Hamad.
The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister briefed the cabinet on the BCCI Follow up Committee’s first report on what has been implemented so far, especially regarding security bodies, houses of worship, accountability and reparation of victims.
The cabinet also reviewed the steps taken so far to enhance the freedom of expression, develop the media and education sectors, reinstatement of those dismissed during last year’s events and the national reconciliation programmes.
On the safety of the food products, HRH Premier instructed the Health Ministry to examine those goods before being distributed to markets, increase its investigation cadres and carry on its overall inspection campaign on factories of bottled and liquid water so as to ensure their compliance with heath standards.
The Health Minister updated the cabinet on the local newspapers’ reports on the health violations discovered in one company’s bottled water and the measures taken by the ministry and its officials in this regard, which HRH Premier commended.
Regarding the government’s support for small and medium institutions and following the memo submitted by the Labour Minister and Board Chairman of the Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), the cabinet called for the need to make the collection of the fees levied by LMRA on institutions and companies flexible and gradual and take their conditions into consideration amid the economic challenges they are currently facing, in line with Law No. (19) For 2006 on the organization of LMRA.
The cabinet reviewed a memo submitted by the Industry and Commerce Minister on the Exhibition City project and its feasibility study and referred it to the Ministerial Committee for Services and Infrastructure.
The cabinet also discussed unifying the mechanisms of financial control and auditing over all civil organizations, and requested the Bahrain Central Bank to come up with a suitable mechanism in cooperation with the Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, Interior, Justice and Social Development Ministries.
The cabinet called for the need to increase contacts with international human rights organizations and inform them about the kingdom’s pioneering achievements in the development and legal fields, as outlined in the two memos submitted by the State Minister for Human Rights Affairs.
The cabinet also endorsed a proposal to rebuild some primary and intermediate schools in the Muharraq Governorate and another to extend the suspension of the construction permits in the Capital Governorate’s first constituency, submitted by the Representatives Council.
On ministerial reports, the cabinet was informed on results of the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister’s visit to the United Kingdom, as well as those of the State Minister for Information Affairs to Russia.