Contest is for more powers

81 candidates, including two women, file papers for municipal poll on the first daySandeep Singh GrewalContributorMore powers for the municipal councils is the focus of most of the candidates contesting the civic elections.Registration for the elections started yesterday at five centres in as many governorates. A total of 81 candidates including two women filed papers on the first day. The poll centre in the Capital Governorate witnessed a good turnout of candidates.Taqr Hassan Bin Rajab contesting from District-2 in the governorate, told the Tribune, “The first and the foremost thing to improve the performance of the councils is to give them more powers so that they can achieve their goals. This can be done if the municipal law is amended. “For example, in the capital Manama, many roads and buildings are in a bad condition and need to be improved. This needs immediate planning.” he said.Sheikh Tariq Taha Shaikh contesting from District 1 said, “There needs to be further collaboration between ministries and the parliament to expedite council work. Many projects were passed by the outgoing Manama Council but nothing has been done yet as they are yet to be approved by the parliament. “A collective effort will help tackle issues like housing, electricity, roads and infrastructure.”Two female candidates filed papers in the Muharraq Governorate. One of them, Sabah Al Dossari, told the Tribune, “The key area I would be focusing on is the housing situation in my constituency. If I make it to the council, I will set up a committee to directly coordinate with the parliament on various projects. Modernising the Arad Library which has been neglected by the authorities, is also on my agenda.”Other female candidates are Safiya Al Hassan and Jameela Al Sayed from the Manama Governorate, Fatima Salman from the Muharraq and Himyan Al Ruwaee from the Southern governorates.About 130 candidates are likely to file papers. They include 33 from the Muharraq Governorate, 27 in Manama, 30 in Central, 26 in Northern and 10 in Southern governorates. Al Wefaq National Islamic Society will field 23 candidates. The Wa’ad National Democratic Action Society will field Hussain Al Fardan in District-9 and Hamid Al Rashid in District 7 in the Northern Governorate; Hassan Salman in the Central Governorate (District 8); Abdulaziz Hassan in the Muharraq Governorate (District-7); and Safiya Al Hassan in the Capital Governorate (District-2).There would be two candidates of Wa’ad who would be contesting for the parliament and municipal election the in Muharraq Governorate (District-7). Wa’ad president Ebrahim Sharif told the Tribune that there would be joint campaigning for both.Al Methaq Society is likely to field six candidates.

Poll papers from today

Officials expect fewer municipal nominationsNaila BarakatStaff ReporterThe candidates for the municipal council elections will file their nominations from today. The process concludes at five registration centres on October 24.Sources told the Bahrain Tribune yesterday that this time around, the nominations would be fewer than those submitted for the parliamentary elections because of fewer privileges for councillors and their limited powers.The municipal elections will be held along with the parliamentary polls on November 25. The five municipal councils have 40 seats.The director of elections and referendum, Shaikha Munira bint Abdulla Al Khalifa, told the Tribune, “We will be able to know the total number of contestants only after the registration concludes. “We will also be able to know how many sitting councillors are seeking re-election.” In the presence of presiding officers, the five centres will receive papers between 8pm and 11pm during Ramadan and from 6pm to 11pm after Ramadan. The five centres in as many governorates are Hoora Girls Secondary School (Capital Governorate), Al Hidaya Boys Secondary School (Muharraq), Shaikh Mohammed Buali Al Khalifa Primary School (Northern), Umm Kulthoom Girls Intermediate School (Central) and West Riffa Girls Secondary School in the Southern Governorate.Al Menber Islamic Society and Al Wefaq Political Society, among others, have released the list of candidates.The outgoing municipal councils have contributed immensely to various sector in their four-year term. The achievements include measures to protect the environment and heritage sites, zoning of areas, strengthening building laws, setting up rehabilitation areas and gardens in the neighbourhood.One of the major achievements of the councils was the protection of the Tubli Bay and the Mameer Seashore.The Central and Manama councils coordinated with the authorities on a BD6 million rehabilitation programme for the Tubli Bay and the Mameer coast for which the first phase involving BD 1.4 million has been launched.The councils also monitored small businesses especially in the Central and Capital governorates and set regulations for them. The councils have also contributed to the national project, initiated by the His Majesty the King, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to rehabilitate and reconstruct old houses of the needy families.

Build a beautiful Bahrain yet live in slum!

Hanna GeorgeContributorThe lack of health and safety measures at labour camps is going on even after the occurrence and re-occurrence of dangerous incidents due to depleted living conditions, in certain areas around the Kingdom. Labourers employed by construction companies are living in dreadful conditions, where water leaks, broken stairways and an altogether dwindling room and building greet them every time they come home after a day’s hard work. The Bahrain Tribune took a survey of the labour accommodations in Manama to determine the state of the buildings. Most had a room allocated to approximately eight or ten workers cramped together. Yet surprisingly they all seemed happy on the surface, as in the case of Gurdeep Singh, a labourer at camp, who said: “It is heaven, the air-condition is working, the water doesn’t leak very much and the electricity doesn’t go out frequently. On the whole we are quite happy with our accommodation.” Whereas his friend, another worker encouraged him to speak about their difficulties, but in vain.Jassim Redha, Secretary at the Manama Municipal Council, said: “All the buildings in Manama are being checked by our health and safety inspectors, a report should be out within this week and action will be taken against all unkempt houses and buildings. We have worked on a set of rules and regulations in coordination with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour, which will be shortly approved.“After major accidents like the Gudaibiya fire killing 16 labourers, injuring many more and the recent roof collapse of a two-storey labour building in which luckily no one was injured, it is astonishing to see that people are still risking their lives by living in unkempt buildings ready to fall over their heads.”He said that earlier last week, the Prime Minister announced the building of a mini-city in Hidd industrial area. The area will have a complex of buildings for labourers and technicians.

Flats go-ahead for Bahrainis

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI
YOUNG Bahrainis will soon be allowed to add their own flats to their parents' government homes.The Manama Municipal Council voted yesterday in favour of the Manama Municipality proposal to amend the government housing law.
It aims to allow young Bahrainis to build their flats at their parents' government homes without having to move.
Currently, Bahrainis living in government houses are unable to rent out, expand or build without permission from His Majesty King Hamad. They can apply for permission only if they have lived there for seven years.
Council technical committee chairman Sadiq Rahma said the amendment would help young Bahrainis because they won't have to pay rent elsewhere.
"It will just cost them money to build their flat, instead of paying monthly rent," he said.
"Rent rates are expensive and are a huge burden, particularly on newly married couples.
"We have been pushing for this amendment for a long time and thankfully it has come from the government, which knows how difficult it is to find suitable accommodation these days."
Mr Rahma said the scheme was open to all applicants, but would be regulated based on specific conditions.
"The minimum area for an individual flat - whether on the side, top or first floor of the house - should be not less than 100 square metres or the request will be rejected," he said.
"The house will also be surveyed by municipality engineers to ensure that it can accommodate the additional flat.
"The flat is purely for family use and anyone renting it out will face legal action. These flats will have separate electricity and water registration, since they will be considered as a separate accommodation."
He said councillors were happy with the proposal, which many Capital Governorate residents have been calling for. "We have been receiving numerous applications asking us to amend the current government housing law," said Mr Rahma.

Keep off the road

Councils enforce ban on vendorsHanna GeorgeContributorMunicipal Councils mean business. They would not put public health at stake.Health inspectors from the Central and Manama municipal councils are enforcing the ban on the sale of fruit and vegetables on roads – with an iron hand.The other day, officials from the Manama Council raided a vendor on the Sacred Heart Church road. They seized the fruit and vegetables and hauled the vendor into a van and took him to the headquarters for questioning.Sale of fruit and vegetables on roads, near junctions is becoming a major problem in the Central and Manama council areas. The vendors can be seen near the streets, adding to traffic chaos in busy areas such as the Sacred Heart Church road, for example. What adds to the problem is commotion as customers take their own time to purchase foodstuff from the street vendors. Siobhan Saleem, who has witnessed the frequent disorder on the road said, “It is now an everyday hassle to pass through the road. Vendors crowd the area and customers stop by at every corner, bringing the traffic flow to a standstill. The vendors are adamant. They refuse to move, arguing that for most of them it is the only means of livelihood. Hussain Rabah, who lives in central Manama, told the Tribune, “I earn my livelihood from selling fruit and vegetables on the street. I cannot afford to rent a stall at the Central Market.” Abbas Mafoodh, vice-chairman of the Central Municipal Council, said, “Trading on the street has been banned by the municipal councils, in co-ordination with the Ministry of Health. Most of the vendors keep their stuff uncovered, which remains exposed to the sun. Add the unhygienic surroundings and the foodstuff may not be fit for human consumption.“All food outlets and commodities should be checked by ministry officials before sale to ensure that the items are fit for human consumption.”