Email: gdnnews@batelco.com.bh
13
Private sector
Gulf Daily News
gdn1@batelco.com.bh Tuesday, 13th December 2011
Shura Council
greets King on
National Day
SHURA Council members
graft targeted
yesterday congratulated
the leadership on the occa-
sions of Bahrain’s National
Day and Accession to the
Throne.
They said they hoped the
occasion would be a turning
point for further prosperity
and growth in the country.
Councillors said that the
occasions were a time of
expressing loyalty and a
chance to further enhance
national unity.
They urged clergymen
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI from both sects to promote
Free trade zone plan on track
the spirit of unity among
THE private sector could people and ensure that lives
soon fall under a new and properties are protected.
comprehensive law that In the statement read out
punishes bribery and by council secretary-gen-
embezzlement. A FREE trade zone could soon be trade negotiations between EFTA and vises the functioning of the agreement, eral Abduljalil Al Tareef,
The Shura Council yester- established between the GCC and the GCC were launched in February which will enter into force after ratifi- councillors reflected on
day gave its initial approval member states of the European Free 2006 and concluded in April 2008. cation. Bahrain’s success over the
to the government-drafted Trade Association (EFTA) – Iceland, The basis for closer trade relations With a combined population of past 10 years under the lead-
bill that imposes punish- Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. had been laid by a Joint Declaration more than 12 million, the EFTA is ership His Majesty King
ments in line with new leg- The Shura Council yesterday on Co-operation agreed by both sides the world’s ninth largest merchandise Hamad.
islations combating corrup- approved the formation of the zone in 2000. trader as well as significant actors in They said that through a
tion. in line with The free trade agreement covers a the areas of trade in services and for- clear and thorough vision,
Councillors said the Free broad range of areas including trade eign direct investment, according to the the King managed to take
they hoped that the T r a d e in goods, trade in services, competition association. the country to unprecedent-
new law would be Agreement and government procurement. It has concluded 18 free trade agree- ed heights.
imposed on ‘big shots’ s i g n e d Additional agreements on agricul- ments with 27 partner countries outside “It is a new page that
rather than have it just between tural products between each EFTA the EU. has seen Bahrain recognised
applying to ‘scape- both par- state and the GCC form part of the The bill will now be referred to His internationally as a devel-
goats’. ties in June instruments establishing the free trade Majesty King Hamad for ratification oped country and we here
Council defence, 2009. zone. after it was earlier approved by parlia- as councillors will work to
foreign affairs and F r e e A joint committee currently super- ment. further boost that image,”
national security com- they said.
mittee chairman Dr
Salah Abdulrahman already approved by parlia-
said that there were public’s money and property ment, those who will be cov-
prisoners in jail who took without being touched. ered are board chairmen, vice-
‘peanuts’ from embezzle- “They have to be caught and chairmen and members.
ment and bribes, while oth- taken to trial before the scape- It will also include chief
ers who stole millions were goats, because they are the ones executive officers, directors,
enjoying their time outside who are harming people the heads and chiefs besides regu-
prison. most not those who take very lar private sector employees.
“We are with this new little.” Those involved in bribes and
legislation, but we hope Minister of State for Shura embezzlement, whether direct-
that it covers everyone, not Council and Parliament Affairs ly or indirectly, using their
just the weak who have no Abdulaziz Al Fadhel said that positions or jobs, will be sent
backup and have just stolen the new legislation was being to prosecution and the money
peanuts, while leaving the introduced to cover loopholes or gift will be frozen.
big shots,” he said. in the penal code. However, councillors post-
“Nothing harms our econ- “We are now including poned for two weeks a vote on
omy more than embezzle- the private sector in line with the punishment that is up to 10
ment and bribes and yet we agreements signed with the years in jail.
don’t see real action from UN to combat corruption and They said that the punish-
the government to combat ensure that there are less crimi- ment had to vary according to
it.” nal activities in regard to bribes the person’s status rather than
Dr Abdulrahman said that and embezzlement,” he said. have it general.
‘big shots’ were stealing the Under the new legislation mohammed@gdn.com.bh