Page 375 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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Regulations
During the year the regulations governing the use of motor transport were completely
overhauled and revised.
The prime reason for the new regulations was to introduce a scheme, whereby employees
who were previously supplied at considerable cost with personal transport, were to be given
the opportunity of using vehicles for duty, which were their own property, and for which the
Government would grant a monthly allowance. When the new regulations were published,
all employees affected, with one exception, chose to purchase their own vehicles and receive the
allowance. In many cases they purchased the Government vehicles which had been allocated
to them and which were sold at a most attractive figure to ensure that the Government were not
left holding a surplus of vehicles. Several small amendments had to be later made to the
regulations, but by the end of the year the scheme appeared to be working smoothly. Both
sides should benefit. The employees who have the vehicle of their choice, with complete
independence and possible financial gain if they maintain and drive the vehicle carefully, and
the Government, to whom the scheme represents a saving in money and organisation.

Labour and Staff
Many labour difficulties were encountered during the year. There is a shortage of auto­
mobile repairmen, both skilled and semi-skilled, in Bahrain, especially in allied trades such as
automobile electrician, body workers and coach painters. Tradesmen in these groups just do
not exist and this problem can only be overcome by training and education within the Depart­
ment. Young men of promise are selected and attached to skilled workmen as assistants, for
the dual purpose of learning their craft and carrying out the majority of the unskilled work.
Fitters, although available, are seldom up to the standard required and have to be given further
training after engagement, and wherever possible are encouraged to specialise.
In September, Mr. Abdul Rahman Ahmed Shater, Garage Foreman, went to the United
Kingdom to attend various courses on modern automobile repair and servicing methods,
workshop organisation and administration. The whole programme, which is most compre­
hensive, is scheduled to cover a period of 12 months.

Pedal Cycles
During the year the Department undertook, as an experiment, the maintenance and repair
of all pedal cycles used by Government Departments. It was soon apparent that the scheme
was doomed to failure. Pilferage was by far the biggest problem. Small, easily detachable
items such as bells, lamps, reflectors, etc., would be fitted and in a matter of minutes, disappeared.
Cycles, fitted throughout with new accessories, would be collected by Departments. In less
than two weeks the same machine would report for repair, stripped of all removable items.
The pedal cycle is a very popular form of transport in Bahrain and it would appear that cycle
accessories are looked upon as “fair game” by all and sundry. Needless to say, it was im­
possible to control, and it was with regret that it was decided to discontinue the service from
the first of the new year.

Tyres
With the civil disturbances which took place during the latter part of the year, came the
by now familiar ‘‘Crown Cork” type bottle caps with a large nail driven through the centre,
placed in large numbers across the public highway at busy intersections in Manama and out­
skirts. Deflated tyres, the results of the above, were handed in for repair by the dozen and were
repaired by the few members of the staff who had reported for duty. During the curfew period,
however, it was impossible for staff to report for work, and essential tyre repairs were taken
over by a team of policemen previously trained by this Department to meet such an emergency,
and who did an excellent job, working day and night. In view of past experience, several
police vehicles were fitted with ‘‘Runflat” tyres. A vehicle so equipped, will, in the event of
the tyre being pierced by nails, bullets, etc., and thus deflated, carry its designed load a maximum
distance of 50 miles. It is intended to fit, wherever possible, all police vehicles with this type of
tyre.