14 Gulf Daily News Monday, 17th November 2014 Email: [email protected] n Key official is appointed HIS Majesty King Hamad yesterday issued a decree appointing Hussain Ahmed Al Shael as assistant under-secretary for airport safety and security at the Transportation Ministry. n Housing push THE Housing Ministry has launched a project comprising 316 housing units on Island 14 in the Northern City, which is being funded by the Gulf Development Programme, Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer said yesterday. Procedures for infrastructure networks on Islands 13 and 14 have been finalised, and will be funded from the government budget allocated for housing projects, he added. Other bids to build 577 housing units and infrastructure are underway. The project is funded by the Kuwait government through the Gulf Development Programme, he said. n Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro yesterday received the Philippines President’s special envoy to GCC countries Dr Amable R Aguiluz and discussed economic relations and efforts to bolster food security and joint investment. n Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi yesterday received Dr Aguiluz and stressed the role of the Higher Education Council in following up academic programmes. Under-Secretary for education affairs and curricula Dr Abdulla Al Mutawa and HEC secretary-general Dr Riyadh Hamza attended. AMA graduation – Pages 16 and 17 n Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa yesterday received Dr Verna Leber, who is in charge of the Papyrus collection in the Egyptian Museum of Berlin, and discussed co-operation. German Embassy Charge d’Affaires Holger Tillmann attended. Shaikha Mai underscored the importance of co-operating with museums and promoting East-West cultural exchanges, highlighting the efforts of the Bahrain National Museum which is celebrating its silver jubilee. n Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and Supreme Council for Women (SCW) President, yesterday greeted Queen Rania of Jordan. This came as Queen Rania received SCW secretary-general Hala Al Ansari on the sidelines of a two-day forum “Social Gender, Law and Public Policies in the Middle East and North Africa”, which opens today. Ms Al Ansari hailed the efforts of Queen Rania to promote girls’ education as honorary chairperson of the UN Girls’ Education Initiative and founder of the Jordan Valley Institution. n Education chance STUDENTS can improve their English language skills and learn about the community colleges system in the US during two free sessions tomorrow and Wednesday at the American Corner in Shaikh Isa Cultural Centre, Juffair. The sessions run from 4pm to 5.30pm on both days and are open to all. The sessions, entitled Writing Your Personal Essay and Community Colleges and Student Life in the US, are being organised by the US Embassy to coincide with International Education Week from today to Friday. A free online college fair featuring representatives of more than 150 US universities will also take place on Wednesday for 12 hours, starting at noon. To take part visit http://www. collegeweeklive.com/educationusa and for more information call the embassy on 17242700. n Probe completed INVESTIGATIONS into the death of an inmate at the Reformation and Rehabilitation Centre have been completed, Special Investigation Unit acting director Ibrahim Al Kuwari said yesterday. Six policemen have been charged with torture and referred to the High Criminal Court which will begin hearing on November 25, he said. Three other officers have been charged with other offences in the case. n Gita lecture A BHAGVAD Gita lecture series “Geethamrutham” will be held at Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam from Thursday to Saturday. They will be delivered by famous spiritual lecturer from India His Grace Lal Govn Mr Govinda Das inda Das. The lectures begin at 7.30pm and will conclude at 9pm followed by cultural programmes by children. Dinner prasadam will be served to all attendees. The event has been organised by Sri Sri Radha Gopalakrishna Temple, Kanoo Garden. For more details, contact 39642262, 39829348, 33668885. n Fire at house A FIRE started in a house in Hamad Town last night when a car parked in the garage went up in flames due to a petrol leak. Civil Defence put out the blaze, said the Interior Ministry. No further information was available. n Social Development Minister Dr Fatima Al Balooshi yesterday inspected the progress of work on Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Social Centre. The state-of-the-art centre is located at Wadi Al Hunainiya. Present were ministry Under-Secretary Hanan Mohammed Kamal, Works Ministry assistant under-secretary for construction projects and maintenance Mona Jassim Al Mutawa and other key officials. The work on the three-storey centre, which covers an area of 8,350sqm, is expected to be completed within 18 months. It will feature administrative offices, training classrooms, halls for lectures and social activities and a multipurpose theatre. An entire floor will showcase products of productive families. Candidates speak on major issues in live debate By SHAHLAA AHMED FOUR candidates running for a parliament seat in Muharraq’s constituency four took part in a live debate last night. National Unity Assembly candidate Ali Al A’aynati, unionist Mohammed Al Murbati, lawyer Majed Al A’atawi and Mohammed Al Khayami were given up to five minutes to answer questions relating to fighting bribery, importance of strong candidates, quizzing ministers and the Shura Council’s role in the National Assembly. They spoke in the presence of hundreds of residents of the constituency, which covers Halat Abu Maher, Al Ghous Corniche and Old Muharraq Suq. Three other election hopefuls – former MP Isa Al Kooheji, Reema Helal and Hamad Al Mearaj – failed to attend the two-hour event, which was organised by Al Jazeera Cultural Centre. The candidates engaged in a fiery exchange when the debate moderator asked them about a proposal that MPs passed in June that limited their own powers. A minister could be questioned in parliament if 31 of a total of 40 MPs voted in favour of it, but the legislators passed an amendment in June that required 27 to n The candidates at the event agree before questioning. A commission must also be formed to study whether the suggested question is valid before it is put to the vote. “They had the chance to question ministers but they chose to make it difficult by making these amendments,” said Mr Al A’atawi. “Now two-thirds of the MPs have to agree in order to be able to summon a minister and question him, which indicates how some outgoing MPs chose to do their job.” The candidates also discussed the role Shura Council members played in passing legislation. Some blamed the council for opposing certain laws passed by parliament, while others said the members could not be blamed when most of the suggestions put forward by MPs were “weak”. “I have spoken to more than one member from Shura Council who told me that MPS have forwarded hundreds of weak suggestions,” said Mr Al A’aynati. “These members actually saved the country from some disastrous decisions that could have taken place if they were not present.” Meanwhile, Mr Al A’aynati, who has worked as a diplomat for more than 40 years, blamed political societies for failing to spread the importance of voting among citizens. “A democratic transformation can only be achieved when people understand the structure of parliament and the rights and benefits they get from it. The process does not end by voting. “The disaster happens when candidates use religion or bribes to buy their votes, which I am strongly against.” Mr Al Khayami said that people who accept bribes convinced themselves they were merely taking gifts. “People sometimes justify that by saying it is a present and is not ‘haram’ and on the other end we have candidates saying that they give away gifts for humanitarian purposes. It is all ironic,” Mr Al Khayami said.