Sitra residents reap fruits of reform

Residents of Sitra, the third largest island in Bahrain in terms of area and population which had been complaining of neglect due to lack of facilities, has started to reap the fruits of the past week's reconciliation process brought about by the referendum on National Action Charter.

A secondary school, expansion and modernisation of health centres and the building of proper and adequate housing units are some of the immediate benefits to the residents of Sitra. Once an oasis of farms, palm trees and water wells and a popular destination for holiday-makers, Sitra has become a barren land without any public parks or any form of leisure despite the beautiful beaches there.

Surrounded by industrial complexes and companies, factories, workshops and three industrial areas, Sitra was turned into a hotbed of pollution. Time and again the plight of the people in Sitra and the pathetic conditions there have been highlighted in the media. Just a month ago, a columnist asked "whether Sitra is truly part of Bahrain and whether the residents there are part of Bahrain's population".

The turning point came last Sunday when the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa decided to visit the area, meet the people and get to know their problems first-hand. Men, women, young and aged alike turned out with posters, banners and flags in the area to welcome Sheikh Hamad, and the warmth and enthusiasm expressed was such that it took hours for his motorcade to pass through even a narrow lane.

An excited Sitra resident who described this visit as an emotional home-coming, said: "I still can't believe all that happened last week and how things have changed since that visit." In his welcome speech, Dr Mohammed Ali Al Sitry brought to the notice of Sheikh Hamad the various problems faced by the people. He spoke of the need for modern roads, sewerage networks, housing units, secondary schools, more health centres, housing units, training and job opportunities, youth and sports centres, modernising the fishing industry and, most important of all, protection of the environment due to rapid industrial growth.

He also appealed to Sheikh Hamad to release the remaining political prisoners. Sheikh Hamad's response was prompt when he said "every family in Bahrain would lead a dignified, free and secure life". He clearly indicated that all prisoners would be released, and ordered the development of Sitra area.

A day after this visit, he instructed the Education Ministry to establish a secondary school there as early as possible. This was followed by his directives to Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Mousawi to improve health services. Dr Al Mousawi, in turn, visited the area for an on the spot study.

He later decided to increase the number of doctors and nurses, besides extending the working hours in the health centre, which is to be upgraded and equipped with the latest medical equipment and faculties such as an X-ray section, laboratory and dental clinic sections, as well as increasing the number of rooms.

Preparations are underway for the immediate implementation of these projects as part of an overall programme to provide better facilities and help raise the living standard of citizens. The Housing, Municipalities and Environment Minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, simultaneously announced the building of proper and adequate housing facilities in Sitra to ease the housing problem.