MANAMA: Information Affairs Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi has saluted the press and media community in the Kingdom on the Bahraini Press Day, celebrated for the first time this year following directives from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
In a statement marking the annual occasion, the minister affirmed that free and responsible press and media are among the major achievements attained within the Reform Project which has fostered political openness and democracy and guaranteed the right to express opinions in various newspapers and means of information and communication freely, and without restrictions.
The Information Affairs Minister lauded the values embedded in HM King Hamad’s keynote message on the World Press Freedom Day regarding his support to journalists and media personnel, and keenness to increase their gains through ensuring their right to have access to information and express their opinions freely and independently, and develop the media sector in terms of structure, administration and legislation.
Al-Hammadi highlighted his constant follow-up on the implementation of HM the King’s directives to prepare a comprehensive and advanced media and communication law, help provide decent housing for journalists and media personnel and the issuea media staff structure.
He affirmed that the Information Affairs Ministry had already started coordinating with the Civil Service Bureau to prepare a media staff structure that reflects the pivotal role played by media persons in enriching the media march in the kingdom, and enhances national reforms.
The Minister expressed the press and media community’s pride in His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa’s patronage of the kingdom’s annual celebrations of the Bahrain Press Day. He added that HRH Premier would patronise a special ceremony to honour Bahraini press and media pioneers, which, he said, reflects the government’s appreciation of the press and media message, and its role in building and developing society.
The minister also applauded the constant support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to efforts to develop the press and media work so as to keep pace with the best world practices and the reflect the development and modernisation strides made by the kingdom.
Al-Hammadi also praised the leadership’s constant directives to ministers and officials to be open to the local press, and respond transparently and objectively to all issues raised by the citizens in various media outlets.
The minister paid tribute to the national press’ contributions to safeguarding the kingdom’s security and stability, defence of national achievements and enlightenment of the public opinion. He affirmed that commitment to professional duties, adherence to accuracy, honesty and objectivity, and giving top priority to national interests are the “safety valve” for the nation, and the best means to maintaining its unity and social cohesion and to ensuring the success of its plans to achieve more progress and prosperity
The minister paid tribute to Bahraini women, and voiced pride in their milestone contributions to the journalism and media field, noting that they have been effective in developing mass media, and deservedly held leadership, executive and administrative media positions.
He described the Bahrain Press Day as a special occasion on which the kingdom’s various institutions reiterate support to responsible press freedom according to the constitution and the law, being essential for democratic progress, and the best means to continue the landmark development and civilisational achievements, under HM the King’s reforms.