Locking the stable door

A complete revamp is mandated: Councillor
Suad Hamada
Staff Reporter

Perhaps the deaths of 16 workers and the Prime Minister’s immediate outrage over the existence of these conditions will do for labour what the Al Dana tragedy did for improving safety standards on water. As it is said with cold comfort, maybe their deaths will not be in vain. Bahrain has always been open and outspoken about Labour living conditions.It did not deserve this but now the system must face the fact that things have to be rectified across the board.
The action has been encouragingly swift. Cabinet’s Legal Affairs Directorate is reviewing the possibilities of introducing a bill banning sponsors from allocating accommodation for labourers in residential areas, Manama Municipal councillor Tariq Al Shaikh said yesterday. He said the bill would also deal with safety measures and mechanisms to ensure sponsors comply with safety rules.
The bill would regulate and control the number of bachelors living in each flat or house since under the law, the minimum requirement per person is 12 metres square, and there should be a bathroom and toilet for every five inmates occupying a room. “The accident could be attributed to a lack of certain laws regulating rent conditions,” he said. The draft bill bans non-Bahraini bachelors, including GCC citizens, from renting flats in buildings with families or living in residential areas.
When the Directorate drafts the bill, it should be first approved by the Cabinet, then sent to the legislative authority, and, when passed by Parliament, the bill would be in force.
He said the Directorate would study the proposal in order to standardise the decision among the five governorates.
Al Shaikh praised the government’s positive response to the draft bill proposed by Manama Municipal Council as he feels it would protect families from disturbances posed by bachelors living in the vicinity. “I think after the accident, the revision of the bill would be expedited.” The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has not been supportive of the draft law as, according to its officials, it could control the freedom of landowners to rent their property to whomsoever they wish. He said before tabling the proposal, the council conducted a three-year study on the negative effects of having bachelors as neighbours.
According to the bill, there would be buildings for families and others for bachelors, and that would be monitored through electricity bills as those violating the rules would not get power supply. Municipal Affairs has the right to evacuate flats or houses if there are violations of the bill’s terms.

No room for bachelors

They might be banned from renting buildings occupied by families
Suad Hamada
Staff Reporter

Non-Bahraini bachelors, including GCC citizens, might be banned from renting flats in buildings occupied by families.
The Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Ali Saleh Al Saleh, has referred a municipal proposal on the matter to the legal directorate at the Cabinet.
The Manama Municipal Council chairman, Murtadha Bader, told the Tribune yesterday that the directorate would study the proposal and might give a go-ahead to enforce the decision in all the five governorates.
Bader said the proposal aimed to ensure that families are not disturbed by bachelors living near them. “The minister had felt that the could control the freedom of landowners to rent out their properties to whosoever they wish. But he respected the council’s decision and referred the proposal to the Cabinet.”
Bader said if the proposal is drafted as a law by the directorate and the Cabinet reviews it, then it would be referred to the parliament for approval.
He said that before tabling the proposal, the council had conducted a three-year study on the negative affects of having bachelors as neighbours.
According to the proposal, separate buildings or areas will be allocated for bachelors. Municipal Affairs will have the right to evacuate flats or houses which violate rules.
The proposal will also help control the number of bachelors in each flat or house as there should be 12 square metre of space for each resident.
There will be at least one bathroom and toilet for every five bachelors.

No room for bachelors

They might be banned from renting buildings occupied by familiesSuad HamadaStaff ReporterNon-Bahraini bachelors, including GCC citizens, might be banned from renting flats in buildings occupied by families.The Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Ali Saleh Al Saleh, has referred a municipal proposal on the matter to the legal directorate at the Cabinet.The Manama Municipal Council chairman, Murtadha Bader, told the Tribune yesterday that the directorate would study the proposal and might give a go-ahead to enforce the decision in all the five governorates.Bader said the proposal aimed to ensure that families are not disturbed by bachelors living near them. “The minister had felt that the could control the freedom of landowners to rent out their properties to whosoever they wish. But he respected the council’s decision and referred the proposal to the Cabinet.”Bader said if the proposal is drafted as a law by the directorate and the Cabinet reviews it, then it would be referred to the parliament for approval. He said that before tabling the proposal, the council had conducted a three-year study on the negative affects of having bachelors as neighbours. According to the proposal, separate buildings or areas will be allocated for bachelors. Municipal Affairs will have the right to evacuate flats or houses which violate rules. The proposal will also help control the number of bachelors in each flat or house as there should be 12 square metre of space for each resident. There will be at least one bathroom and toilet for every five bachelors.

BD65,000 park opens

A BD65,000 park was opened to the public at Ras Ruman, where residents are said to have been waiting for it for over two years.
The park, which has a total area of 1,800sqm and a green landscape of 70sqm, was approved by the Capital Municipal Council in 2003.
"Unfortunately due to some set backs in the electricity cables, the project was delayed until this summer," said council member Majeed Milad.
He said there was a lack of financing to cover the expenses on the transport and installation of the cables.
"Currently the park is running on generators until the electric current surrounding the park is fixed," he said.
The park features playground equipment, small football pitch, umbrella-covered tables and a walkway.
A festival marking the opening of the park was held by the Manama Municipality in co-operation with the Ras Ruman Charity Fund.
The event, which featured recreational games for children and adults, was attended council chairman Murtadha Bader, municipality director general Abdulkareem Hassan and about 700 families and residents in the area.
"We were all very surprised by the number of people who attended the festival," said Mr Milad. "Everybody in that area was waiting for the opening of this park for a long time."

There goes the sidewalk

Much like the neighbourhood, the encroachment is becoming a menace By Titus FilioStaff ReporterThe public market is bursting with vendors taking over pavements and parking spaces as a Manama Municipal Council proposal to redevelop the market remains on the drawing boards. The lack of space for both sellers and buyers can be seen with traders encroaching even on what should have been open public spaces.Many operators have also begun the daily loading and unloading of merchandise at the open spaces and not at designated loading areas which have been largely unused over the past years. In the meantime, stall operators in the main sales area of Central Market were crying foul against the “outsiders” whom they say were stealing business from them. Order, they say, must be brought to the market.“The rule on where to sell must be observed by all,” said a vendor at the stall. “It is unfair because some sellers, like fruit vendors, are openly selling right outside and in parking lots. People no longer come in the market house.”The battle for space among vendors ends up as a difficulty for most buyers at the market. Sellers called on commerce authorities to check the licences of outdoor vendors. A quick check by the Tribune, however, revealed that most of those selling outside had licences and have stalls indoors.“It is easier to sell here because some people do not go inside,” said one of the outdoor vendors. Buyers hardly find a place to park their cars or have to squeeze their way through open stalls.”Developments in Manama Central Market remain frozen but officials believe it is time to redevelop the entire central trading area. The market has been the prime marketplace in the capital for the last three decades. Last week Manama Municipality Council announced that Central Market will undergo a “facelift” with a massive renovation project to develop the indoor public market area.“We had already laid out proposals for the entire market area,” said MMC chairman Muqtada Bader. “The proposal was given to the Ministry of Municipalities six months ago. But we have not really seen or received any go signal from them.”The proposal would cost some BD 100 million. “The problem is space for both sellers and buyers. Parking is a real problem but under the proposal these issues have been well addressed.“It even includes a multi-storey parking edifice because we believe it is time to modernise our central market,” Bader said. Municipal officials estimate that there should be a ready parking space for 3,000-4,000 cars at the Central Market area. The market area is busiest during the morning at weekends.

Councillors visit Alba smelter

MANAMA: A tour of the Alba smelter was conducted for members of the Manama Municipal Council.
Council chairman Murtadha Bader, director-general Abdul Karim Hassan, members and administrators were briefed about its projects and activities.
"This visit by the council is very much appreciated by Alba and is beneficial to both parties. Many important issues were discussed, which will help to improve co-operation even further in the future," said Alba public relations manager Dr Khalid Bomtaia.

Beauty treatment for Manama markets

Face-lift for shopping centresSandeep Singh GrewalContributorMarkets and houses in the Kingdom are being given a face-lift in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the Manama Municipal Council.The secretary of the council, Jassim Redha Hussain, told the Tribune yesterday that the ministry was in the process of renovating the existing buildings and markets. “We plan to convert the Central Market into an indoor shopping market. This BD60 million project in the pipeline aims to develop separate wholesale shopping areas, and separate loading and unloading venues for fish and meat. “There will also be a provision for parking spaces for about 3,000 cars and this will mean easy access for traders.”He said the parking situation in the Capital was getting worse and the council planned to acquire more plots of land, but the land price was a big hurdle.Providing an update on the renovation and reconstruction of old houses under a national project initiated by His Majesty the King, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the secretary said 6,000 old houses would be demolished and replaced with the new ones. “We have received 228 applications. Of these houses, 20 have been completed and 10 are under construction.”He said: “A social services project has been launched to help renovate or expand old houses by adding an additional room in each flat. In this regard, we have received 139 applications and 10 houses are being renovated. The project aims to raise citizens’ living standards.”Each house under the rehabilitation project costs about BD20,000, while the services under the social services project cost about BD3,000.There is also a project for 16 parks in the Capital Governorate. Of these, 10 have been built. The 16-park project is the largest that has been approved for a governorate. This has been done in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and Works, the General Directorate of Traffic and the Roads Department.

Beauty treatment for Manama markets

Face-lift for shopping centresSandeep Singh GrewalContributorMarkets and houses in the Kingdom are being given a face-lift in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the Manama Municipal Council.The secretary of the council, Jassim Redha Hussain, told the Tribune yesterday that the ministry was in the process of renovating the existing buildings and markets. “We plan to convert the Central Market into an indoor shopping market. This BD60 million project in the pipeline aims to develop separate wholesale shopping areas, and separate loading and unloading venues for fish and meat. “There will also be a provision for parking spaces for about 3,000 cars and this will mean easy access for traders.”He said the parking situation in the Capital was getting worse and the council planned to acquire more plots of land, but the land price was a big hurdle.Providing an update on the renovation and reconstruction of old houses under a national project initiated by His Majesty the King, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the secretary said 6,000 old houses would be demolished and replaced with the new ones. “We have received 228 applications. Of these houses, 20 have been completed and 10 are under construction.”He said: “A social services project has been launched to help renovate or expand old houses by adding an additional room in each flat. In this regard, we have received 139 applications and 10 houses are being renovated. The project aims to raise citizens’ living standards.”Each house under the rehabilitation project costs about BD20,000, while the services under the social services project cost about BD3,000.There is also a project for 16 parks in the Capital Governorate. Of these, 10 have been built. The 16-park project is the largest that has been approved for a governorate. This has been done in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and Works, the General Directorate of Traffic and the Roads Department.

Beauty treatment for Manama markets

Face-lift for shopping centresSandeep Singh GrewalContributorMarkets and houses in the Kingdom are being given a face-lift in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the Manama Municipal Council.The secretary of the council, Jassim Redha Hussain, told the Tribune yesterday that the ministry was in the process of renovating the existing buildings and markets. “We plan to convert the Central Market into an indoor shopping market. This BD60 million project in the pipeline aims to develop separate wholesale shopping areas, and separate loading and unloading venues for fish and meat. “There will also be a provision for parking spaces for about 3,000 cars and this will mean easy access for traders.”He said the parking situation in the Capital was getting worse and the council planned to acquire more plots of land, but the land price was a big hurdle.Providing an update on the renovation and reconstruction of old houses under a national project initiated by His Majesty the King, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the secretary said 6,000 old houses would be demolished and replaced with the new ones. “We have received 228 applications. Of these houses, 20 have been completed and 10 are under construction.”He said: “A social services project has been launched to help renovate or expand old houses by adding an additional room in each flat. In this regard, we have received 139 applications and 10 houses are being renovated. The project aims to raise citizens’ living standards.”Each house under the rehabilitation project costs about BD20,000, while the services under the social services project cost about BD3,000.There is also a project for 16 parks in the Capital Governorate. Of these, 10 have been built. The 16-park project is the largest that has been approved for a governorate. This has been done in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and Works, the General Directorate of Traffic and the Roads Department.

Midnight vice clamp curfew in Manama

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
MANAMA: A midnight curfew has been slapped on coffee shops, restaurants and other outlets on the Al Fateh Corniche, as part of a crackdown on vice.
Prostitutes and illicit lovers have been using the late opening hours as a cover for immoral activities, say authorities.
Now all outlets on the corniche must close by midnight during the week and by 1am on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
The curfew has been imposed with immediate effect by Manama Municipal Council and municipal officials, at the request of the Interior Ministry.
Prostitutes ply their trade under the cover of the crowds there into the early hours, says council technical affairs committee chairman Sadiq Rahma.
"The shops and outlets are not the problem, but those who go there for immoral and indecent acts, who take the late opening time as an excuse," he said.
"Now those committing these acts have no excuse to be there and if found will be dealt with seriously by the police.
"This decision has been taken after things went out of hand, with young men and women seen in the middle of the corniche walkway hugging and kissing each other.
"The place has also become a hub for prostitutes, who prey on young men who spend their nights there. "Police are finding it difficult to combat prostitution in nearby Juffair and Exhibition Avenue and they have asked we set the timings on the corniche."

Councils row is put on hold

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
BAHRAIN'S five municipal councils will continue operating until August 31, following talks with the government yesterday.
Councillors throughout the country were angered by a Cabinet decision to suspend the councils, since their four-year term is officially over.
They argued that they should not be suspended, since elections for new councils had not yet taken place.
Muncipalities and Agriculture Minister Ali Saleh Al Saleh and other officials met with council chairmen yesterday, to sort out the wrangle.
The meeting was ordered by Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, to end the confusion.
Now it has been agreed that while the 10-member councils will not meet hold full meetings, their general secretariats will continue to handle urgent issues.
The general secretariat on each council consists of the chairman, vice-chairman and the four committee chairman, in other words, six out of the 10 elected members. It was also agreed yesterday to respect any decision by the Ministry of State for Cabinet Affairs legal affairs directorate on how municipal affairs will be handled between August 31 and the election date, which has yet to be set.
Councils will either continue to operate, or responsibility will be passed temporarily to the ministry.
Mr Al Saleh promised yesterday to instruct all municipal officials to deal with councillors as usual.
He stressed that the councils still have their decision-making powers, which ministry and municipal officials must respect.
Mr Al Saleh praised the councils' efforts in developing gardens and the succesful classification of areas in conjunction with the Land Surbey Directorate. This regulated business hours for scrap dealers and shop owners.
Manama Municipal Council chairman Murtada Bader reassured people after the meeting that the councils were still operating.
"The Cabinet's decision created confusion amongst the people, but councillors are still here and willing to listen to the people," he said.
"Based on the agreement, the councils are on holiday for those two months, but that doesn't mean they are suspended.
"Committee and full meetings are over, but the councils' general-secretariat offices will continue, which mean urgent issues will be dealt with.
Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Mohammed Al Wazzan said the suspension was unfair, since the councils were independent financially and administratively.
"The councils' employees are under the chairmen's authority and not the ministry," he said.
"The councils' budget can't be transferred to the ministry, because the ministry has no right to use that money". Mr Al Wazzan said that the councils were legislative bodies, while the municipalities were executive bodies.
"How could an executive body monitor itself, considering that the councils monitor all municipality workers' performance and input?" he said.
Northern Municipal Council chairman Sayed Majeed Al Sayed said that by law the councils' authority could not go to the executive body.
"The flow of authority goes from one council to another and unless a new council is elected, then we should be continuing, rather than the ministry taking our power," he said.

Police 'soft on parking ban'

By rasha AL qahtani
TRAFFIC police are failing to enforce a ban on buses and trucks being parked in a residential area, says Manama Municipal Council.
Residents in Hoora are still complaining that there is nowhere to park because of the many trucks and buses parked in the area, despite a ban imposed by the council.
The council has put up signs warning that trucks and buses are banned from parking in the area, in co-operation with the General Directorate of Traffic.
But traffic police are not enforcing the ban, says council member Abdulaziz Ahmed Mohammed Al Khaja.
"When the directorate was asked why it was not co-operating, it did not give a clear reason," he said.
"The problem has been going on for four years and residents are continuously complaining about the parking problem."
It is being caused by drivers who take their company lorries and buses home and park them in the street overnight, said Mr Al Khaja.
They take up several parking spaces each, leaving no room for other residents' vehicles.
The trucks and buses involved range from four to 16 wheelers, said Mr Al Khaja.
"Trucks and buses take up spaces provided for three cars and in some cases for four," he said.
"There are many complaints from residents about these vehicles, which cause a big problem between them and the vehicle owners."
"The directorate is supposed to deal with violators in the area and charge them, but it is not.
"Sixty per cent of vehicles parked in that area are trucks and buses, which take up a lot of space and leave residents to suffer."
"These vehicles cause a lot of traffic congestion and complaints arise from families in the area."
Mr Al Khaja said the council would write to Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa this week, explaining the problem to him and seeking an answer. General Directorate of Traffic officials were not available for comment.