Bahrain to curb ministers' travel

Manama: New rules will be soon introduced in Bahrain to curb ministers’ travel and make them spend more time in their offices.

The decision was announced by the Cabinet on Sunday following its weekly meeting.

"Prime Minister Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa has stressed the significance of ministers being present in their areas of responsibility and near the citizens while following up their responsibilities and the affairs of the ministries,"Shaikh Ahmad Bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa, the minister of cabinet affairs, said.

"While it is important that Bahrain be represented at the regional and international conferences and events, this cannot be at the expense of the citizens whose interests are stalled and paperwork is delayed because of the absence of the minister,"Shaikh Ahmad said.

The cabinet said that the solution would be to limit the ministers'  travel and the reduction of the participating delegations, especially that Bahrain has enough embassies to represent the country.

Undersecretaries and other junior officials can also represent the ministers in international conferences, the cabinet said.

A new set of rules regulating the participation of ministers in regional and international events as well as their holidays will be soon submitted to the prime minister for approval, Shaikh Ahmad said.