MANAMA: His Royal Highness, Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, praised the crucial role played by the media and the press in defending the Kingdom and countering smear campaigns staged against it, valuing highly the patriotic efforts of journalists and columnists.
HRH extended utmost congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahraini people and the Arab and Islamic Nations on the advent of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)’s Birthday Anniversary.
He called upon Muslims to be inspired by the holy occasion and adhere to the noble values and principles promoted by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), and enhance solidarity, fraternity and unity among them in order to further strength the Islamic Nation.
This came as HRH Premier chaired at the Gudaibiya Palace on Monday the regular weekly cabinet meeting, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
The Secretary-General of the Cabinet Dr. Yaser bin Essa Al-Nasser said that the Cabinet had also congratulated the Bahraini leadership and people on the advent of the new Gregorian Year, 2015, wishing the kingdom further progress, peace, security and stability.
HRH Premier directed to count the husband’s salary when determining the family’s basic income, and separate it from the wife’s when applying for housing services as from January 1, 2015, and requested the Housing Ministry to take the necessary procedures.
The Prime Minister also issued instructions to transfer the fuel tanks in Arad to the Bahrain International Airport immediately, and tasked the Ministerial Committee for Facilities, Infrastructure to coordinate with ministries of Energy and Transportation and Communications, the Bahrain Airport Company and other relevant sides to achieve that as soon as possible.
HRH Premier reviewed what has been done regarding the government’s action plan (2015-2015), which will be presented to the Representatives Council on January 6th. He was informed about the remarks submitted by ministries and government bodies regarding it.
He asserted that the government blueprint, being a basic pillar of the kingdom’s democratic process under HM the King’s National Project, should achieve the Kingdom’s policies, strategic plans and the joint government-parliament aspirations for a more prosperous nation and more quality services that ensure decent living for the citizens.
HRH Premier expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to HRH the Crown Prince for his landmark contributions and efforts, being the Chairman of the Committee in charge of preparing the government’s work plan, which also includes Deputy Premiers and ministers.
HRH the Prime Minister, commenting on his recent visit to the Representatives Council, lauded the parliament’s “since desire” to extend bridges of cooperation with the government and open up channels of executive-legislature communication.
He renewed his directives to ministers and officials to interact with MPs and Shura Council members and meet them regularly so as to support government-parliament cooperation and therefore meet the requirements of the new phase of national action.
HRH Premier also instructed ministries and government departments to open to the press and keep their doors open to journalists for the sake of consolidating the role of the Press in national affairs and highlighting the government’s achievements.
On energy, the cabinet discussed the current situation of the oil and gas sectors, and reviewed the efforts being exerted to develop their production, as outlined in the memo submitted by the Minister of Energy.
Another memo submitted by the Energy Minister on extending the contract of Bahrain Aviation Fuelling Company (BAFCO), which is in charge of providing aviation refueling services at Bahrain International Airport, by another six-month period ending in June 30, 2015.
The cabinet also discussed creating a separate law that regulates vocational training establishments, currently governed by Legislative Decree No 25 of 1998 with respect to private education and training institutions.
The draft law, prepared in line with a memo presented by the Minister of Labour, was referred to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs for further study.
The session also endorsed the kingdom’s accession to the Arab Union for Natural Reserves, and gave the green light to start taking the necessary constitutional and legal procedures.
It also referred a memorandum of understanding signed between the University of Bahrain and the Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan and referred it to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.
The cabinet also took note of the Energy Minister’s report on his participation in the Arab Energy Conference, and the ministerial meeting of the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC).