Page 97 - Records of Bahrain (6)_Neat

nun

Unrest among Baharinah of Manama 85
—;
u :• : .I
s c F) fOio ft / yr/nvn

l nm (5
BRITISH RESIDEMC
j BAHRAIN, ’ -‘«V, $1
Despatch No.37
402/2/50 29th April, 195*0,

Sir,
I have the honour to report that
elections were recently held for the Municipal
Council of Muharraq the second biggest town
in the Bahrain Islands. The Council is com­
posed of 16 members, 0 of whom arc olectod and
8 ore nominated by the Bahrain Government, Any
male porson who puys Rs.4/0/- per year as
Municipal tax is entitlod to a votb; A
candidate standing for election must have a
house or other stake within the Municipal
limits, must be literate, must be not less
than 25 years, and must pay a Municipal tax
.of not loss than Rs.4/8/- a year. Thero
,are also Municipalities at Manamoh and Hadd
organised on similar lines.
2. .The elective principle was first
introduced in 1926. The Municipalities are
empowered to levy taxes on property and goods,
from the receipts of which they are responsible
for the cleanliness of the town, the mainten­
ance of roads, public parks and buildings and
fire fighting services.
3. You will see from the above that some
attention has boon paid by the Bahrain Government
to democratic principles, though there'is little
doubt that'none of the Municipalities would dare
to take any action of which the Shaikh disapproved.
4. I am sending a copy of this despatch to
the British Middle East office, Cairo.

I have the honour to be.
with the highost respect,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,

His Majosty's Principal Secretary of Stato
for Foreign Affairs
The Foroign Office, 1
London, S.W.l.