Bahrain vows to cut red-tape

The Bahraini government will make full effort to sustain social and economic growth by eliminating red-tapism and tightening financial and administrative controls, according to a four-year plan presented to the National Assembly yesterday.

The 19-page programme was presented by Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa before a joint session of both chambers of the assembly, the appointed Shura Council and the elected House of Deputies.

"The plan relies upon policies which will strengthen peace and stability in society, assist in the achievement of high rates of economic growth, increase the living standards of the people through the provisions of more job opportunities, and develop further the country's housing, health, and education services."

While addressing the session the premier was flanked by Dr Faisal Al Mousawi, Chairman of the National Assembly and President of the Shura Council, and Khalifa Al Dahrani, Speaker of the elected house.

According to the constitution, the government is required to present to a joint session of the parliament its programme for the four-year legislative term at the outset. The 40 members of the parliament's upper chamber and the Shura Council were appointed in November by the King. In October, 40 members were directly elected by the people for the lower chamber. Sheikh Khalifa urged the MPs to help implement his government's plan.

He explained that his government's priorities for the next four years include targeting an annual economic growth rate of five to six per cent, attracting new IT-based investment, improving infrastructure, development of human resources and reducing unemployment, intensifying decentralisation of power, providing new low-cost housing, development of defence capabilities and keeping strong ties with member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

"To achieve these objectives, the government, for its part, has increased its budget by about eight per cent for 2003 and 10 per cent for 2004. Accordingly, the total amount of the budget will be increased from 1.046 billion dinars in 2002 to 1.129 billion in 2003 and 1.152 billion in 2004."

Of these amounts, he said, 330 million dinars will be directed annually towards strategic and development projects, the infrastructure, housing, educational and health services.

Sheikh Khalifa also said Bahrain will stick to a free-market economy, privatise more sectors and reduce the government to mainly a supervisory and regulatory role while eliminating bureaucratic obstacles and tightening the financial and administrative monitoring system.

He vowed to keep the government's support to the country's Islamic institutions, promote the rule of law, protect public freedoms and human rights and enhance the role of civic society organisations.

Sheikh Khalifa's statement was a general outline of the government which will be followed by detailed plans to be forwarded to the parliament by each ministry and government body, Issa Al Nasser, General Secretary of the Cabinet told Gulf News.

Dr Al Mousawi said the parliament will study the government programme "thoroughly" and then offer an "objective" reply.