Page 316 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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GENERAL
Compulsory Third Party Insurance. The Ordinance making it compulsory for owners of
motor vehicles to take out third party insurance came into force on the 1st January, 1955.
During the previous year there had been strong opposition to this ordinance which, after a
strike of bus and taxi drivers, was postponed until the beginning of 1955.

The local organisation known as the “Sanduq,” officially styled The Co-operative Com­
pensation Society, functioned successfully throughout the year and effected insurances
at a lower rate than the ten British Insurance Companies which operate in Bahrain. The
question of the foreign insurance companies reducing their premiums was under discussion
but no satisfactory arrangement was reached. Under the Bahrain Ordinance, which was
drafted for the Government by the legal authorities in London, insurers were obliged to cover
liabilities which they would not be obliged to cover in the United Kingdom.

Press Censorship. In June His Highness appointed a committee of four government
officials as censors of the local press. This action became necessary owing to the irresponsible
and mischievous articles which were constantly published in the two local newspapers, which
on more than one occasion provoked protests from the rulers of neighbouring States and
tended also to stir up ill feeling between the Government and the people of the country. The
Committee consisted of Shaikh Atiatallah bin Abdul Rahman AlKhalifah, Superintendent
of the Sunni Waqf Department, Mr. Ahmed A1 Omran, Director of Education and the secretaries
of the Manama and Muharraq Municipal Councils. At the same time one of the newspapers,
which had been suspended, was allowed td resume publication under a new name. Later in the
year a third paper made its appearance edited and managed by a group of persons whose views
did not coincide with those of the two longer established papers. The censorship committee
carried out its difficult task to the best of its ability and by doing so incurred considerable
criticism from people of all schools of thought.

Statistical Course. In October two Arabs, one of them Mr. Abdul Rahman Fakhri, a
senior clerk in the Customs Department, the other, Mr. Abdul Rahman Takki, a young man
who held a Government Scholarship at the Beirut University and who obtained a degree in
Economics, left Bahrain for a six months course at Beirut in the UNESCO sponsored Inter­
national Statistical and Educational Centre.

Awards. On 1st January, 1955, Dr. I. M. A. Doeg, senior lady doctor in the Bahrain
Medical Service, Haj Ahmed bin Ysuf Fakhroo, a leading Arab notable, and Haj
Mansoor A1 Araydh, an important Shia landowner, received the M.B.E., from the Hon. The
Political Resident.

Appointments and Transfers. Mr. Mohammed Ali Taitoon was appointed Postmaster.
Mr. Ibrahim bin Ali Khalfan, previously Secretary of the Muharraq Municipal Council,
was put in charge of the new Labour Exchange.
Mr. Musaad Zayani, for many years Head Clerk of the Department of Public Security, was
appointed as Secretary to the Muharraq Municipal Council.
Mr. Sadiq Al Bahama, a local merchant, was appointed President of the Shia Waqf Com­
mittee in place of Haj Mohsin Al Tajer.
Mr. Said Zwera, previously Office Superintendent of the Adviserace, was appointed as
Secretary to the Adviser.
Mr. Wash El Nimer, a Palestinian barrister-at-law was appointed Registrar of the Judicial
Department.
Mr. J. H. D. Belgrave was appointed as Public Relations Officer to the Government.
Mr. Ibrahim bin Ali Kanoo was appointed Director of Broadcasting ; he was previously
School Secretary in the Secondary School.