Bitter standoff escalates between Bahraini officials
Manama: A bitter standoff between the information minister and the assistant undersecretary for culture and heritage deepened on Tuesday following accusations over the theft of a 4,000-year old archaeological artefact.
Jihad Bu Kamal, who was given the information portfolio in a limited cabinet reshuffle last September, has ordered the formation of a commission to investigate the theft of the item from Barbar Temple amid media reports claiming that Shaikha May Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa was guilty of neglect.
But the fiery assistant-undersecretary, who has been calling for full independence of the cultural sector, yesterday said that the theft incident was being used to denigrate her efforts and belittle her achievements.
"The report on the theft is not a coincidence. I believe it was pre-arranged and is part of the drive to keep the culture and heritage sector under the custody of the information ministry, and this is wrong," she said in an interview.
"The drive seeks to undermine the fact that I helped promote Bahrain's culture and heritage and actively involved the private sector with donations of up to $150 million [about Dh550.8 million] in 18 months."
Shaikha May has had difficult relations with Bu Kamal since her decisions have dismissed traditional administrative links with the ministry.
This has angered the minister who, after weeks of silence, last month openly criticised her for meeting MPs to discuss the status of the sector although parliament bylaws state that only a minister can hold consultations with elected representatives.
Bu Kamal's decision to investigate the theft is seen as an authoritative implementation of his prerogatives, particularly after the parliament, drawing on the recommendations of an ad-hoc commission that had investigated "reproachable behaviour" by information officials during a cultural festival, demanded that the minister exercise greater authority in the daily management of the ministry.
The three-member panel, chaired by the ministry's undersecretary and including a legal expert and a senior employee, will quiz Shaikha May and other officials about the theft and will present its findings within 15 days.
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