“The results and recommendations yielded by the multiparty National Dialogue are positive and constructive for the nation and citizens’ interests”, he said. HM the King was speaking as he received a report submitted by the ministerial committee in charge of implementing the National Consensus Dialogue visions.
His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, attended the ceremony at Al-Sakhir Palace. HM King Hamad thanked HRH the Premier for submitting the recommendations in a record time.
He hailed the tasked committee members for studying the visions and submitting them as they were tabled by the participants in the National Dialogue, being representatives of popular will and different societies. “We approve all the visions and refer them to be implemented by the executive or legislative authority, or by us directly”, HM The King said, stressing that all the recommendations would be carried out.
While describing the National Dialogue visions as major strides, he said that “Things can’t happen in one day”.
He said that the National Dialogue strides build on the achievements of the last ten years.
“We will consider this as our national programme and make sure all recommendations are carried out”, he added, stressing the importance of continuing the string of achievements.
“It’s never enough for Bahrain and its people when it comes to political, economic, social or legal achievements, which is a good sign for the Kingdom”, he pointed. HM the King pointed out the need to form a government, which is more competent and efficient as well as a more specialized Shura Council.
“Our will is in tune with popular will when it comes to these considerations”, he said. He pledged the march of development would not abate or stop.
“We reach out to our people, benefit from our experiences and those of others, to further develop our project, taking into account our religious precepts, customs and conditions”, he said. “This is stipulated in our constitution, which stems from the National Action Charter”, he said. this occasion His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa expressed the government’s honour is presented the report related to the National Dialogue visions to His Majesty the King inclusive of all the government procedures for their implementation.
His Royal Highness the Premier hailed His Majesty’s initiative to achieve unity and national consensus in society through his call for National Dialogue that reflects his keenness towards reinforcing harmony via a serious fruitful dialogue.
He also affirmed that democracy and reform in the Kingdom of Bahrain was a way of life and no going back from. The Prime Minister described the National Dialogue as a national epic that was characterized by hard serious work in which every logical national voice was heard.
His Royal Highness affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain under its wise leadership focuses on the principle of justice and equality that is why the Kingdom of Bahrain would continue to be strong by its unified people and its national principles.
He said that all would work towards the implementation of these visions to achieve the aspiration of the king. The Premier praised the efforts exerted by the committee assigned to follow-up on the national dialogue visions with the chairman of the Deputy Premier Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.
Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa outlined the economic theme which featured 85 visions. The recommendations concern four main areas – consolidating Bahrain’s economic competitiveness, upgrading the standard of Government services, public money management governance and redirection of government-funded subsidies.
The minister stressed the Government had given the priority to the recommendations relating to citizens. In this regard, the public employees have been granted substantial pay rises and an allowance to improve their standard of living.
Following HM King Hamad’s orders, the minimum pension has been increased for the retirees. A project aimed at improving the salaries of university graduates working in the private sector has also been launched.
The criteria allowing citizens to enjoy housing services have also been updated to widen the database of recipients.
Under the economic theme, the economic, trade and investment legislations are being modernized to keep abreast of the Bahrain 2030 Economic Vision to promote Bahrain’s competitiveness.
The real estate sector will also be development and reorganized.
The performance of department and authorities will be upgraded to bring them in line with the objectives of the Bahrain 2030 Economic Vision. Under the move, health, educational and housing services will be overhauled. Governance procedures will be enforced regarding the management of public money in government departments, authorities and Government-owned companies.
A directorate affiliated with the Interior Ministry will be established to combat corruption and promote economic and electronic security.
The panel will also be in charge of enforcing financial auditing on funds and societies collecting public money and donations, to ensure money reaches targeted beneficiaries.
Then the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa presented an explanation on the political aspect focusing on the most important procedures.
The aspects were either in the form of constitutional ratifications, legislation or executive procedures. Shaikh Khalid said that the political visions totaled 25 visions and procedures were undertaken towards their implementation. Some of these procedures include the amendment of the constitution to execute 10 visions, the preparation of laws to implement 12 visions and the undertaking of procedures to activate three visions.
With regards to the constitutional amendments the committee involved in formulating the constitution incorporated the suggestions on the constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain to fulfill those visions.
Shaikh Khalid said that one of the most importance changes was that which was related to the legislative and monitoring power of the parliament and placing the criteria for the selection of Shura council members.
In addition to that, the Minister of Justice stressed that legislative amendments were also being made on the by-laws of both the Representative and Shura councils.
The minister also spoke about the voting system in the government.
Following that he referred to the legal aspect related to the judicial authority which included 23 visions. These were divided in to two parts that involved legislative and executive amendments. Meanwhile, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Kamal bin Ahmed bin Mohammed presented also a brief on both the social and judicial visions presented through the national dialogue.
The Minister emphasized that executive plans had been set in place in all government bodies to implement these visions that would be monitored during the coming stage.
Moreover, he indicated that he visions required legislative amendments and the formulation of new legislation along with the preparation of new laws and special decrees to be presented to the legislative authority in its upcoming session.
With regards to social visions 85 of them were agreed upon and were divided into three sub-visions.