Page 370 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1956
Report by Mr. Malcolm Lees, M.B.E., Director of Works.

General. The intense pressure of the Department reported in 1955 increased still further
in 1956, expenditure on works services amounting to Rs. 124,000,000 as against Rs. 95,21,000
in 1955, an increase of over 30 per cent. Rising costs accounted for only a small percentage of
the higher expenditure and the greater volume of work, undertaken without any increase of
staff or facilities, strained resources to the utmost.
The number of employees on the daily pay roll remained fairly static throughout the year
at around the 1,700 level, and despite the political unrest in the island, no labour troubles of
note were encountered other than the general stoppages in March and November. All the
same unsettled conditions affected output and discipline on works was more difficult to enforce.
After the return to work following the November disturbances there was a noticeable improve­
ment in output and zeal.
Labour rates remained constant throughout the year but the cost of imported materials and
the difficulties in obtaining steel persisted. The timber supply also caused anxiety as our bulk
order for Swedish timber placed early in the year, could not be shipped owing to Swedish and
other vessels declining to call at Bahrain due to Port delays. Shipping space was obtained
eventually in October. The effects of the Suez crisis on the supply position were felt towards
the end of the year when our regular shipments of cement from U.K. ceased. Other sources of
supply were hastily turned to and cement had to be rationed for some weeks until the new
arrangements became effective. Lighter cargoes however, though considerably delayed by the
shortage of shipping space and the longer carry, continued to come through. Few of the
projects in progress were seriously affected through supply difficulties with the exception only
of the new Women’s Hospital where the mechanical and electrical services were badly held up
at times through lack of vital materials and equipment. This in turn affected progress on the
building work and set back the completion date for the Maternity Section to mid-1957.
On November 2nd during the disturbances, the Public Works Department Offices and the
Director’s flat above were completely destroyed by fire. Nearly all the office files and staff
records were lost but fortunately the Stores and most of the record drawings escaped and it was
possible to resume work on November 10th when staff reported for duty after the general
stoppage of work.

New Buildings. Over Rs. 57,00,000 was spent on buildings and works for the Medical
and Public Health Departments during 1956, the greater part of the expenditure being on the
new Women’s Hospital which continued to make heavy demands on the construction resources
of the Department. During the year the whole of the Maternity Hospital, the Nurses’ Home
(South Wing), the Kitchens, Boiler House and Disinfector Block, and the Messes, Stores and
other buildings comprising Phase I of this large project, were brought to an advanced state of
completion, whilst five of the eight blocks comprising the General Hospital and the north wing
of the Nurses’ Home, were taken to roof level and good progress made on the remainder.
At the Government Hospital, Naim, a new wing of offices for doctors, with an Opthalmic
section below, was provided and at the Hidd Women’s Clinic the two-storied Outpatient and
Ward Block commenced in 1955 was opened to patients. Other buildings for the Medical
and Public Health Departments included the conversion of the old T.B. Sanitorium to a Men’s
Isolation Hospital, extensions to the Mental Home and the provision of a number of public
latrines and wash-places.
For Boys’ Education a large school for 800 boys was built at Manama West and sub­
stantially completed by the end of the year, whilst the Hidd primary school was doubled in size
and a new school built at Arad. Substantial extensions also were made to the Boys’ Schools at
Jidhafs, Sitra, Karzakan, East Rafa, and Budaya and a second extension of six classrooms
added to the Boys' Secondary School. For Girls’ Education a new school was built at West
Rafa and two hired houses converted for use as schools.
The rapid expansion of the State Police Department called for much new building work as
well as substantial alteration and modification of the existing buildings in the Fort. As an
initial instalment in providing extra Police living accommodation, three double storied barrack
blocks, each holding 94 men, were put in hand together with a large dining hall, kitchens,