Page 163 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

Constitutional reforms, 1955 149

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Tine inc.il EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, BAHRAIN.
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II lias boon, and is still centralized in tlic 1 lands of one person directing its
affairs and curtailing its various aspeots, without giving any oaro or thought
to tlio dosiros and wishes of the people. This kind of one person rule is solely
responsible to the present stage of tho corrupted and disorderly Government
Departments, which finally lead tho Govornmont to form an enquiry committeo to
invostigato tlio causes of tills conation in those departments, Wliat lias boon
uncovered so far, in tho Education, Health and Public security departments needs
no further comment to stand as a proof to wliat wo say, which wo are quito 3uro
that it applies as well to all tlia othor departments which lias not boon investigated
as yot, This oomes dAspito tho fuct tliat tho Committoo did not havo sufficient
information because of the boyoott of the pooplo to its work duo to the firm belief
of tlio'soriousness of the Govornmont in tills rospoct. It is liard to grasp the
idea of the ability of one porson to control and administer the whole of the
administration, as it is tho case in Baliraln, even if lie is equiped with remarkable
and suporior qualitios and knowledge in ovory branch of administration to bo able
to stand to his responsibilities aoliievo them in tho best posaiblo way; but how
doe3 it come when this ono porson rulor, tho advisor, is not oquipod with these
abilities whioh is tho main reason why lie does not let tho exports to work freely
in tho various departments they are heading.
I
In the light of wliat we stated, we are astonished and surprised to the
eight minor stops and non-bacio points mentionod in tho memorandum as a proof to
the presence of tho first olement in Bahrain. Wo briefly comment on each point
as followsi-
(1) Tlio Memorandum pointed out the intention of 11,11, The Ruler of
Bahrain in introducing a comprehensive lav? to cover all aspects of conditions of
work and labour mattors in Bahrain, with the assistanoo of the British labour
expert in tlio Middle East, Mr* Audoley, In gladly welcoming tills stop, we would
like to point out that such a lav? should have been passed beforo ten years at least,
and that this intention lias not oomo oxoopt and only as a rosult of the labour
awakening and their coming togetlior latoly in ono syndicate to protect their right
and dofend thoir intore6ts after they lost all hopes in their progressive Govern-*
ment to work out any po3ltlvo action in their favour and interests, Tlii3 comes at
tliat when some of the neighbouring contrios liavo labour lav/s which tho Bahroineso
dosirc to attain ovon a part of. Thus the Government lia3 not sot up on tills stop
as a result of a progressive policy, but as a recognition to the existing situation.
Nevertheless tlie wliolo question is still an intention and we don*t laiow whether it
will be fulfilled in the proper way satisfactory to tho pooplo and protect tho
interests of labourors,
(2) The Memorandum pointed out tliat a new penal code has been drafted,
which is ready for promulgation,by a committee of omminont legal man. We gladly
welcome tliic ajiep which we liavo boon asking the Government to do for so many years,
and which it did not bring about lately except, when it found it impossible to
continue with its present conflicting and oxtomporary laws issued in the form of
noticAos and orders of the day. Wo do not however agroo to tho principle of
enforcing such a law on tho people without giving it a word, so tliat it might come
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