Billboards victory for park café

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
MANAMA's only coffee shop situated in a public park has won a small victory in its ongoing feud with nearby residents. Municipal councillors have agreed to let Al Bahar coffee shop, in Umm Al Hassam, charge companies for advertising there.
The coffee shop owner leases the park from the Manama Municipality, but residents in the area have been campaigning to get him evicted and replace the coffee shop with a mosque.
"He wants the municipality to give him permission to set up billboards inside the park for companies to advertise, considering that his coffee shop is one of the most popular in the area," said council financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Majeed Millad Al Jazeeri.
"It is true that the owner has some disputes with the municipality, which we hope will be settled, but we recommend he gets permission to put up billboards."
Mr Al Jazeeri made his comments in a council meeting, but did not disclose what disputes there had been between the owner and the municipality.
Al Bahar is the only Manama coffee shop still open in a public park after the Manama Municipal Council ordered the closure of Al Mishal and Al Bowara Coffee Shops on Exhibition Avenue, Hoora, and Abu Abdulrahman Coffee Shop at Al Andalus Park, Gudaibiya.
The owner's lease is not due to expire until 2012, but Mr Al Jazeeri said an offer could soon be put on the table that could see the coffee shop leave the park for good.
"We are currently finding it hard to evacuate the place, but we informed Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Ali Saleh Al Saleh who has promised to provide the owner with compensation so he could leave as soon as possible," he said.
"At the moment we have no other choice but to facilitate everything for the owner, who is investing in the public park."
Area councillor Shamlan Al Shamlan said the owner shouldn't be compensated if the advertisements are removed.
"The municipality should have the power to remove those advertisements whenever it wants without him being compensated, considering they are not mentioned in his contract," he said.
"The public park's land is earmarked for an extension to a mosque, which will be built in the area soon."
Municipality director-general Abdulkarim Hassan said an agreement would be reached with the owner to allow him to set up advertisements for one year, but he will not be compensated if they are removed during that period.
"Whatever the reason, we have the option of removing them whenever we want or else the deal is off," he said.
The three other evacuated coffee shops are now being developed into public parks.

Restoring suq’s glory

BD3.5 million deal to renovate Bab Al BahrainA BD3.5 million agreement was signed yesterday to start phase one of the Manama suq development project.The accord was signed by the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Ali Saleh Al Saleh, and the chairman of the board of directors of Bu Khowa Constructions, Hassan Abdullah Bu Khowa.The project follows directives of the Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, to restore the suq’s economic and historic position by developing it based on modern standards.The company is expected to complete phase one in 18 months. The phase includes the development of the area from the Government Avenue in the north to Shaikh Abdullah Avenue in the south, with a plaza in the intersection. Under phase one, shops on the avenues will also be developed, and a larger car park built along with a number of traditional coffee shops.The project also includes the incorporation of shades and improvements to frontages along Bab Al Bahrain Avenue. The renovation area will cover 250,000 square metres, stretching from Bab Al Bahrain to Shaikh Abdulla Avenue, and from Shaikh Isa Avenue to the Manama Municipal Council building. The project aims to bring the suq back to its prominence within the daily fabric of life in Bahrain.Three contractors had submitted bids, with value ranging from BD3 million to BD4 million, to the Tender Board. The other two were Almoayyed Contracting and Hafeera Construction. A permanent exhibition on the project would be opened at Bab Al Bahrain area to show the shopowners the progress of the work and give an idea to tourists how the suq is going to be renovated.Three contractors had submitted bids to the Tender Board. The other two were Almoayyed Contracting and Hafeera Construction.The ministry has come to an understanding with the shopowners who would be temporarily affected by the project.According to Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry sources, about 15 people would be affected in the first phase. Some are finding temporary places and others have branches in the country. Most of them will come back to the renovated place once the project is completed.The location of the proposed shopping complex between Al Mutanabi Road and Shaikh Abdulla Road, to be constructed in the second phase, is being shifted to ensure that less number of shops are affected. The traffic department has carried out a study to ensure that there will be minimal disruption to business during the construction phase. The prime goal of the project is to ‘re-brand’ the Manama suq into a significant and self-sufficient urban centre to play a role in the promotion of economic and social activities. Detailed designs have been prepared by Gulf House Engineering.

Council rejects doctor's plea

By Mohammed Al A'ali
MANAMA Municipal Council yesterday threw out a doctor's appeal against an earlier decision to ban him from building an extra half-storey to his clinic. Councillors initially rejected his application at their general-secretariat meeting last week.
But it would not have been official unless presented to a full council meeting, which also rejected the request for a second time yesterday.
Dr Faisal Al Mahroos wanted to turn his four-and-a-half storey clinic into a five-storey clinic.
The council has already given him permission once before to increase the height to its existing four-and-a-half storeys, although zoning for the area limits buildings to three storeys.
Now councillors are also ordering the doctor to install opaque glass in his building after neighbours informed the council they were worried about strangers peering into their homes.
Council technical committee chairman Sadiq Rahma said there were complaints from nearby residents that the building, which is higher than others, was an invasion of their privacy.
"Before any expansion permission is given, the council needs to survey the area to ensure that neighbours are not being affected," he said.
He said that the Manama Municipality had been receiving complaints about the building, even before the doctor asked for an expansion.
"Anyway, we wouldn't have given the doctor permission, because his building is so high compared to others nearby and any increase would certainly be undesirable," said Mr Rahma.
He said that the committee had recommended that councillors order Dr Al Mahroos to out opaque glass in his building, so people could not look out over the neighbours' homes.
"We are the ones to blame in the first place, because we gave him an extra storey, after approving his request to add more rooms to his clinic," he said.
"We hope that he will respect the council's decision this time."
Dr Al Mahroos told the GDN last week that some of his neighbours approached him to complain about the building's height, but he told them to go the Manama Municipality.
He said that the municipality informed his neighbours that he had no problems and that his clinic was above any suspicion.
Dr Al Mahroos said he would take his fight to Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Ali Al Saleh.

30 vice dens to be razed

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
THIRTY abandoned houses used as vice dens in the Capital Governorate will be knocked down soon, says Manama Municipal Council.
The council is planning to instruct the Manama Municipality to find out who owns the houses, before knocking them down.
If the owners are found to be needy, then the municipality will do the work for them.
But if they are not, then the municipality will send them the bill, said council financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Majeed Millad Al Jazeeri.
"We have been receiving a lot of complaints about the activities in these houses," he said.
"There are sex practises being witnessed by people in the neighbourhoods on a regular basis, without anything being done to stop it.
"Those houses will be soon gone and the parasites, whether men or women, going there, will have no place to practise their immorality in.
Mr Al Jazeeri said that he had been warning about the dangers of those houses for a long time.
"I have been calling for the demolition of 14 houses in my constituency (old Manama and Ras Ruman), but it falls on deaf years," he said.
"Now everything will be changed and I am getting back-up from the municipality director-general Abdulkarim Hassan, who is keen on cleaning our neighbourhoods.
"When the issue was referred officially to my committee I was very happy and councillors have started pouring in requests to knock down similar houses in their constituencies.
"I received a request from technical affairs committee chairman Sadiq Rahma to knock down six houses, his vice-chairman Jaffar Al Qaidoom to knock down four houses and Sayed Jameel Khadim to knock down six houses.
"I hope that we get more, because ridding people from those sick places, means a better place to live in.
"We don't want our children to get affected by this going around them, because it is our responsibility to ensure that surroundings are safe for everyone."

Revamp on way for Manama Cemetery

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
FACILITIES at Bahrain's biggest cemetery are to be developed, to make it better for people visiting relatives' graves.
Parking is to be expanded and walkways shaded at the Manama Cemetery, behind the American Mission Hospital.
The Manama Municipal Council has submitted a request to the Jaffari (Waqf) Endowment to allocate finances for the development.
"The place where tombstones used to be built will be removed, because tombstones are being bought ready from elsewhere," said area councillor Majeed Millad Al Jazeeri.
"Residents have suggested the building, near the southeastern gate, be removed, to create parking for 50 cars.
"A wall near the eastern gate will also be removed, which will provide an extra 10 parking lots."
Hundreds of people a day visit the cemetery, which has thousands of graves, said Mr Al Jazeeri.
"People are either being forced to park in the nearby American Mission Hospital, whose parks are full throughout the day, or elsewhere," he said. "Many are forced to park on the pavement or far away just to visit their relatives' graves, which bothers many of them, considering Bahrain is a humid country."
Mr Al Jazeeri, who is also the council's financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman, said the graveyard had four shades on its pathways. "The shades are small considering the graveyard's size," he said.
"We have proposed the three pathways be shaded to ensure that people are protected from the sun and rain.
"I have been receiving many complaints from people over the shades, who say these are useless.
"They say these have no use considering that they just cover a distance of four metres.
Mr Al Jazeeri said he didn't know how much the development would cost. "The directorate should calculate that and inform the council about the date they will have to begin work," he said.

Green light for suq renovations

MANAMA
BUSINESSMEN in the Manama suq have finally agreed to make way so that renovations to the area can start, it was revealed yesterday.
Work on first phase of renovation, costing BD3.64 million, is now due to begin on November 1.
It has been delayed because traders refused to move out of their premises due to a dispute over terms.
However, an agreement was reached on Tuesday after they received guarantees that they will be allowed to return once work is finished.
Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Minister Ali Al Saleh signed an agreement yesterday with Bokhowa Contracting chairman Hassan Abdulla Bokhowa at a ceremony in Bab Al Bahrain.
Mr Al Saleh said that developing the suq would also refurbish the economy and tourism of the country.
"Developing the suq is based on directives from Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, after a visit a few years back, to have it standing on its feet again and encouraging locals and visitors to go there," he said.
"The suq will now have facilities that it has been missing, but without its old shape being affected.
"One of those problems is car parking, which will now be solved with the construction of multi-storey car parks ready to accommodate up to 580 cars."
He said that the ministry was studying proposals to set up a new authority to supervise the suq and come up with strategies to develop it further.
"We are also co-ordinating with the concerned government authorities to ensure that there are no traffic jams during work, especially with the suq's location at the heart of Manama," said Mr Al Saleh.
"I am very happy with the response from tenants who have pledged to give every support possible for the project to go ahead without any hurdles."
Ministry Under-Secretary for Municipal Affairs Dr Juma Al Ka'abi said the introduction of malls to the Bahraini community has reduced visitors the old suq, which is unable to match their facilities.
"This is why we have formed a higher committee to develop the suq, taking into consideration trader's and visitor's demands," he said.
"The suq will be developed in two phases. The first, which we have proudly signed, is expected to end in 18 months and the next will start shortly afterwards."
The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) representative on the committee, Jawad Al Hawaj, hoped the suq's development would be up to expectations - both those of traders and customers.
Capital Governor Shaikh Humood bin Abdulla praised the project, saying it would ensure a Bahrain landmark gets the attention it deserves.

New venue for circus granted

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
THE European Italian Circus will soon move from Zinj near Al Ahli Club to a temporary location at Al Fateh Corniche in Juffair.
Permission to move the circus was granted yesterday by the Manama Municipal Council at its first official meeting following its two-month summer break.
The land where the circus will be moved to is owned by the Manama Municipality and would be leased according to municipal rates in the area.
"We have no objection on the circus move, but it shouldn't obstruct development work nearby," said council financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Majeed Al Jazeeri.
"The council doesn't know the reason behind the move, but it agreed to grant the owner permission to lease land for two months at Al Fateh Corniche."
He said the municipality would be responsible for allocating a land for the circus.
"The owner has asked for an area measuring 50 square metres and the lease rate would be decided accordingly," said Mr Al Jazeeri.
"The circus will be a new addition to the facilities and services offered at the corniche, which already attracts many visitors."
Circus owner Abdulhadi Mansour told the GDN last night said that he wanted to move the circus to attract more business.
"I have no problems with Al Ahli Club, which leased me their land, but business has gone down there and I wanted to move to a more active area," he said.
"The corniche area has more customers, particularly in the two months it will be there during Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha.
"I will start to move in Ramadan, when the contract is signed, to open for customers by Eid Al Fitr.
"I have roughly calculated the move's costs and I believe it will be around BD5,000, but I still don't know whether I will move the current tent there or instal another one, since I may go back to Zinj again."

Special zones for labour camps smack of segregation

BY LES HORTON
I can't get comfortable with the idea of special zones for labour camps, currently being considered by the Bahrain government.
It smacks somehow of a form of segregation, to house labourers in specific areas away from the rest of the community.
But if it means that camps are properly set up and maintained and the workers get cleaner, safer conditions to live in, then perhaps it is better than being forced into slum accommodation.
One reason being given for this plan is that families, Bahrainis in particular, have been complaining about the behaviour of large groups of Asian labourers housed in residential areas.
There are bound to be some cultural differences, but I am sure most of these problems would disappear if employers were not cramming so many workers together in often semi-derelict buildings not designed for the purpose.
The only reason that these camps exist in the first place is because it is cheaper to house large numbers of workers in dormitory-style accommodation, than to split them up into small groups in separate flats or villas.
These workers are paid a pittance that no Bahraini will work for and in many cases are even denied the most basic ammenities in their accommodation, while the owners of the construction companies that employ them live in luxury.
I can't help feel that Bahrain is being ungrateful to a workforce that has helped build the roads, houses, flats, schools, clinics and hospitals from which Bahrainis and others in the expatriate community benefit so greatly.
It seems we want their sweat and labour to create a modern, developed country, but we don't want them living amongst us.
Manama Municipal Council is even seeking a new law banning "bachelors" from living in certain areas, which is clearly aimed at poorer Asian workers, who are paid too little to bring their wives and families here.
I can't decide whether this is born of genuine community discomfort or concern, or out of arrogance on the part of those who think Asians are good enough to sweep their streets, but not to live in them.

No rent until court verdict

Kuwaiti building tenants to seek compensation if forced outSandeep Singh GrewalContributorTenants of the Kuwaiti building have decided not to pay rent till court verdict in their case against the proposed demolition of the premises by the Manama Municipal Council.Paul Roy (name changed), one of the occupants, told the Tribune yesterday, “We are confused about the situation. My family arrived two days back from India and now we are searching for another flat. The building is 75 per cent occupied and there are shops as well. Where will all of them go?”A shopkeeper, who moved in the premises five months back, said, “I have invested money and am paying rent regularly. I learnt from newspapers that the council wants the building demolished. No one from the management has informed us or given notice to vacate. Most of the tenants have paid the rent for August and will not pay any rent till the issue is resolved. We plan to seek compensation of last-month rent if we are forced to move out.”A spokesperson from the management of the building, said, “We have filed a case and the court has given us 10 days. We have got all the documents and are waiting for the final verdict. There are some people who are spreading rumours to ruin our reputation.”

No rent until court verdict

Kuwaiti building tenants to seek compensation if forced outSandeep Singh GrewalContributorTenants of the Kuwaiti building have decided not to pay rent till court verdict in their case against the proposed demolition of the premises by the Manama Municipal Council.Paul Roy (name changed), one of the occupants, told the Tribune yesterday, “We are confused about the situation. My family arrived two days back from India and now we are searching for another flat. The building is 75 per cent occupied and there are shops as well. Where will all of them go?”A shopkeeper, who moved in the premises five months back, said, “I have invested money and am paying rent regularly. I learnt from newspapers that the council wants the building demolished. No one from the management has informed us or given notice to vacate. Most of the tenants have paid the rent for August and will not pay any rent till the issue is resolved. We plan to seek compensation of last-month rent if we are forced to move out.”A spokesperson from the management of the building, said, “We have filed a case and the court has given us 10 days. We have got all the documents and are waiting for the final verdict. There are some people who are spreading rumours to ruin our reputation.”

Owners may face demolition bill

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI

MANAMA

OWNERS of the condemned Kuwaiti Building will either have to demolish it themselves, or foot the bill - unless they win a court appeal against the order. An appeal has been lodged and a verdict is expected within a week, since the situation is so urgent, say sources.

If the order stands, then the court will tell the owners to demolish the 11-storey, twin tower complex in Manama.

But if the owners cannot or will not do it, then the government will and will then send them the bill, said sources.

The national disaster committee, comprising various ministries and government organisations, has already discussed how to go about evacuating and demolishing the 30-year-old building, which houses flats, shops and offices.

But it put off further discussion until the result of the owners' appeal against the demolition order, issued last Monday by the Urgent Matters Court.

It ruled in favour of the Manama Municipality, which sought the demolition order on the grounds that the complex is in a dangerous condition.

"It is expected that the owner of the building will not be able to tear down the building, so it would certainly be the government's duty to do so," said sources.

"The court will ask him to do so, but if he tells them he can't, then the government will come up with a strategy on how to evacuate people and knock down the building."

Area councillor Jaffar Al Qaidoom told the GDN that he had been bombarded with calls from tenants in the building, asking what the next step would be.

"I have promised to meet them during the week to look into their problems, considering many are expatriates with limited finances and finding suitable accommodation for them with the building's rates would be hard," he said.

"It is still early to know what will happen to these families, who will stay put until they are told to evacuate.

"Some are already looking for new apartments, but the poorer ones are still waiting for help from the government."

It is understood that flats in the complex are rented out for BD150 to BD270 a month.

The complex, officially known as Bahrain Centre, is owned by two Kuwaiti businessmen.

There are flats on eight floors of the complex and shops or offices on the first three levels.

The municipality filed the case in July and municipality director-general Abdulkarim Hassan told the GDN two weeks ago that engineers and the Civil Defence and Fire Service had declared the building unsafe.

He said the building was badly damaged by fire eight years ago and there were many cracks in the walls and pillars, with metal bars visible in some places.

Ceilings have fallen down in many places and the air-conditioning system was badly damaged, said Mr Hassan.