The State Information Minister, who is also Spokesperson for Government, told the media briefing that the government was looking forward to initiate discussions that are inclusive of all political parties in the society, and that is built on what has already been achieved. This will ensure new national gains, reinstate development and enforce the Governments reform initiative initiated by His Highness King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
The cabinet further confirmed that the real guarantee for development and reform is to work within the state institutions, and to respect the legislative and constitutional laws that form the road map for any person seeking progress and development in the Kingdom.
His Royal Highness the Prime Minister chaired the regular session for the Cabinet on Sunday the 7th of April 2013. HRH began the session with talks about his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia yesterday and expressed the importance of his visit which included the exchange of views regarding important issues.
His Royal Highness the Prime Minister stressed that the Gulf unity has become a matter of importance and that the issues of security and stability have become one of the regions priorities.
HRH the Prime Minister confirmed the depth and importance of the relationships and mutual visits between the leaders of the region.
On the local front and in line with His Royal Highness site visit to the Ministry of Health and expressed his satisfaction and commended the significant development in health services and the ongoing development in health facilities, devices and the medical sciences in Salmaniya Hospital
His Royal Highness the Prime Minister praised the important role of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning in paying great attention to the affairs of citizens and the services that the Ministry is providing.
His Royal Highness directed all Ministries to contribute and offer more services to citizens through continuous developments.
The cabinet discussed a number of subjects and memos listed on the agenda. The following decisions were made:
Re-allocating the regions of the Kingdom:
The cabinet approved the proposal of H.E. the Minister of Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning, which consists of re-allocating the regions of the kingdom. This proposal is in order to upgrade the current allocation standards, which will have a positive impact on the future plan to develop infrastructure, and on the flow of traffic.
The cabinet directed the ministry to seek opinion of experts on the matter in order to set a correct urban plan that ensures the national security of citizens and guarantees the required urban development.
The Gulf Security Agreement
The cabinet approved the recommendation of the ministerial committee for legal affairs to accept the daft law of the Gulf Security Agreement signed in Riyadh on Nov 13, 2012. The cabinet will refer the draft law to the legislative authority, in accordance with constitutional procedures.
This agreement aims to activate the cooperation between member countries in the fields of pursuing outlaws, and taking needed actions against them, as well as taking legal actions in what is considered a crime according the local law.
The memo underlined that the agreement does not contradict the Bahraini constitution or laws. However the agreement will need to be issued in a law, in accordance with Article No. 37 of the constitution, as the agreement is considered to be under the rights of sovereignty.
Approving the draft law of the articles of association of the Gulf Statistical Centre
The cabinet also referred the memo presented by H.E. the Minister of Interior concerning the articles of association of the Statistical Centre for the Gulf Cooperative Council states (GCCStat) to the concerned committee.
The higher council of the Gulf Cooperative Council in its 33rd session, held in Bahrain on Dec 24-25, 2012, had approved founding the Gulf Statistical Centre.
The main aim of founding the statistical center is to be the sole official reference accredited by the GCC states, and the main source for official statistical information, in accordance the policy coordination, cooperation and integration among member states.
Initial Public Offering for Zain Telecommunications Company Stocks
The cabinet reviewed the memo presented by the ministerial committee for financial and economic affairs in reference to releasing the liability of Zain Telecommunications Company to offer 15% of its stocks in a public offering.
The cabinet found that Zain Telecommunications Company has previously been offered six opportunities that delayed offering its stocks in a public offering. The cabinet stressed that in general, the process of offering a company’s stock in a stock exchange is a positive process.
The cabinet assigned the Ministry of State for Communication Affairs to communicate with the mentioned company to start offering 15% of its stocks in a public offering as per the regulations of the operating license given to Zain in 2003 by the Kingdom of Bahrain.
4th Generation and LTE telecommunications services auction
The cabinet discussed the memo presented by H.E. the Minister of State for Communications Affairs containing the main notes on the 4th Generation and LTE telecommunication services auction.
In order to encourage the development of telecommunications in the kingdom of Bahrain, the cabinet referred the memo to the ministerial committee for social services, information, transport and telecommunications affairs for further study. Moreover, the cabinet instructed the committee to acquire assistance from unbiased professionals in the field of technical affairs in order to review the rules of an open auction, the legal stances and the competitive platform, in accordance with the goals of the government, and in order to benefit the national economy.
Explaining article No. 58 of the Labour Law for the private sector
The cabinet discussed the memo presented by H.E. the Minister of Labour concerning the legal explanation of the Article No. 58 of the Labour Law for the private sector, concerning the annual leave of the employee, and whether they are based on working days or regular calendar days, including public and national holidays.
The cabinet decided to refer the matter to the ministerial committee for legal affairs for further study.
The proposal of including the Lebanese organization (Hezbolla) in the list of terrorist organization
The cabinet discussed the proposal of the Parliament to include the Lebanese organization of Hezbolla in the list of terrorist organizations, and assigned the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow up on this proposition and set the legal tool needed for implementation, in coordination with the legislative authority.
The cabinet valued the concern of the members of the legislative authority in order to prevent foreign meddling in the internal affairs of the country, especially by those terrorist organizations the targets not only Bahrain, but all country members of the GCC.