Bahrain cabinet reshuffle to sweep away corruption

A cabinet reshuffle bring ing in well qualified people with integrity to abolish administrative corruption and change the faces in the government that are no longer trusted by people will constitute two of the most important elements in the forthcoming changes. This will be part of overall sweeping changes to be introduced under the National Action Charter for political, economic and social modernisation of Bahrain.

"The beginning of the new era under the Charter will require a great deal of change including changing the faces no longer trusted by people and me personally. This will be marked by changing many faces in the government to bring about the historic shift we want to see achieved," said Crown Prince and Commander of Bahrain's Armed Forces Sheikh Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa who described himself as a right-wing liberal conservative and a believer in the market freedom but not at the expense of the average consumer.

Sheikh Salman, who is also the head of the NAC committee for activating the principle of the Charter, highlighted the approach to be adopted during his recent meetings with Alumni Club and the Bahrain Lawyers' Society. Some of the points he raised include a thorough overhaul of the entire administrative system and government organisations in keeping with the spirit and the requirements of the time.

The other measures envisaged were:

* Cabinet reshuffle to bring in well qualified people to abolish administrative corruption.

* Lay down an advanced administrative system to outline the responsibilities of ministries and government organisations and help government officials undertake their responsibility. They will be held accountable if they fail to do so.

* Create a state of law and institutions which will consist of diversified groups, young and experienced.

* Tenders will be built on three fundamental factors – specialists, transparency and a unified mechanism which all ministries need to comply with instead of the current wrong system where every ministry works on its own.

* Commitment to transparency especially with respect to public money and quantitative analysis of civil servant performance and ensure free citizen access to government services.

* Reconsider the role of private societies and associations and the existing associations law which no longer keeps pace with the on going democratisation process.

* Establishing an audit house headed by an influential person. The process is underway for forming a sub committee to propose an organisational structure for this audit house.

* There will be majority rule but there will be respect for minorities.

* Bahrain has fully fledged legislation. But they lie idle and thus the need for a mechanism to develop these legislation.

* Revise laws to ensure freedom of press.

* Free market means openness, competition and creativity which takes the credit for success.

* Bahrain is an open, free and tolerant Arab country which grants citizenship on the merits of dedication and will not be confined to some and denied to others.

* There are subtle, sensitive things which society may not be aware of. Change requires patience and concerted effort.

* Laws for strategic schemes will be laid down by the elected assembly in cooperation with the appointed council.

* Democracy needs a new mentality, a new spirit and a new perspective.

* Hope to see the Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research turned into a Gulfwide specialist organisation.