Page 445 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

105
During the troubles in 1956 the law abiding elements in the community, especially the
merchants and shop-keepers, complained that the police force was inadequate. The same
people now complain about the amount of money which is being spent on the police, at the
expense of social services, such as education, hospitals, etc. They resent the fact that most of
what is spent on public protection goes in the salaries and pay of foreigners, for the proportion
of Bahrain Arabs in the police is small. If the police force consisted mainly of men from
Bahrain they would be less unpopular.
In spite of certain economies, such as the conversion of the Schools Hostel into quarters
for foreign teachers the cost of education is 4J lakhs higher than in 1955. Included in the
education budget is the cost of students abroad, among them are members of the Ruling Family.
It is hoped that the new Education Committee will turn their attention to reducing some of the
expenditure which is not essential.
An additional 7 jj lakhs has been provided for Public Health to allow for expansion, new
staff and to cover the cost of running the large new Women’s Hospital for six months during
1947, though there is considerable doubt as to whether this hospital will be completed by the
middle of 1957.
An increase of 2J lakhs has been made in the Government subsidy to the Municipalities.
Unfortunately, however, whenever the Municipalities receive additional grants from the
Government they tend to reduce their efforts to find more money from municipal taxes.
Manama is a rich and prosperous city but the method by which the municipal tax on houses
and shops is applied is inequitable. Premises which are rented are assessed according to the
rent, the tax being paid by tenants, but premises which are occupied by the owner pay maxi­
mum tax of Rs. 5/- per month, often for a small house which is let, usually to foreigners, house
tax of Rs. 20/- or Rs. 30/- is levied, but a large house whose rateable value is high, pays only
Rs. 5/-.
The largest item in the Public Works budget is 67 lakhs for the deep water pier; this is
approximately one-third of the contract price for this project which will take three years to
complete. A number of firms were invited to tender for the contract but several of them
withdrew possibly owing to the disturbed conditions in the Middle East at the time. Recurrent
expenditure is up by 8J lakhs over last year’s actuals. Maintenance of roads and drains will
cost 6 lakhs more than in 1956, this allows for considerable new road work, including the re­
surfacing of the Awali road as far as Radam Al Kawari bridge and the introduction of more
drains in Manama to carry away the water which lies so near the surface. The work which has
already been done for this purpose has proved successful. The $um of 10 lakhs has been
provided for the Muharraq town water supply. Efforts were made to encourage local enter­
prise to undertake this work but after lengthy discussions this was found to be impracticable.
An extensive programme of new works is to be carried out during the year, the largest item
being the completion of the new Women’s Hospital. Altogether 49 lakhs is to be spent on
hospitals, dispensaries and additions to existing buildings. Extensions to schools, a school
clinic and the rehabitation of Aradus House, the block of flats which was gutted during the
November riots, will cost 7 lakhs. Another 7 lakhs will be required to provide accommodation
for the police and for improvements to the jail at Jidda island. The completion of two new
customs sheds and reclammation of more land from the sea alongside the customs piers will
cost 8 lakhs. Extensions to the Transport buildings and the broadcasting station, new P.W.D.
offices and a house for the Director of Public Works, to replace the office and house which were
destroyed in the riots, will cost 10} lakhs. The sum of 7 lakhs is allocated for the rehabitation
of Shaikh Hamed Bridge, 3 lakhs is required for extending the Manama town water supply,
2£ lakhs for new roads and 2$ lakhs for village improvements.
In most cases departmental recurrent expenditure is higher than in 1956 owing to expansion
and normal increments. Public Relations and the cost of the Bahrain Broadcasting Station is
considerably higher than last years actuals, as in 1956 the department was not fully in action
for the whole year.