Page 299 - Records of Bahrain (7) (i)_Neat

Developments in autumn 1956 285

On tho 10th or Doconibor 1956 the nominated members of the new
Mujlius . fvjnontod thoiunolvoo before His highness The Kuler of Balirain
«t Ilui'a1 Pali. Thooo Majliuo arc for the municipalities, the regulation
of diving, trade, minora, waqfo, agriculture and water. The total of th*
menibero ia fif ty.
Illo IUghneou deliverod the following speech on this occasion.
Gentlemen:
Bahrain Jiao been exposed to a oerica of incidents and disturbances
during the last three years, during wiiicli time the state of trade, the
(lovornmont inucliinery and tlio public wclfurc in Bahrain liuve been affectefl
and liindcrcd. We arc Jiere not to go tlirough particulars of tjio
damuges caused by those acts, tliougli most of them are known to you. The
uction which we saw nocensary to be tuken in order to muintain security
in Bahrain did not mean that v/c v/ould lieoitate to accomplish tlie

refomio about v/liicji we had already made announcements.
It is much to be regret tea tliat in spite of ull efforts the
Committee of Mationul Union did not co-operate in achieving all tliose
uims and in carrying out the reforms which tjiey alleged tliey were working
for. V/Jiat hupponed was that they concentrated on paralysing tlie
working of the Mujliss and organisations v/hicli were founded thirty or
forty years ago for the public service and for looking after tlie public
interest. TJiooe f.iajliss wore obliged to cease functioning and tlierefore
the Government v/us obliged to dissolve tlie Committee.
V7c v/ould like, on this occasion, to express our appreciation of
those minorities who valued their duty and responsibility toward tlie

public interest and continued to work in the Majlios and bore that burden.
We v/ould like to point out that the formation of the municipal
oouncilo arc usually made by election. But in the preoent circumstances
v/e found, in order that tho work of the municipalities should be no
longei' delayed, it seemed wise t.> appoint the tiajliss for a period of
one year. It was also decided that the majority of the members would
appointed from those who had previously exercised such duties. We
horeby asouro you that v/c v/iil uee that elections will be allowed for

/ tllC30