Latest news with #BD300
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- General
- Daily Tribune
New Jid Al Haj finally gets sewage, lighting, and roads after six years in the making
Sewage, lighting, and roads have finally reached New Jid Al Haj after six years of delay, following the completion of a long-running infrastructure project backed by the government and carried out by the Ministry of Works. Northern Municipal Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wadaei described the development as a turning point for the area. The works, which began in 2019, delivered a sewage network, stormwater drains, water and electricity connections, paved roads, street lighting, speed bumps, and traffic signs. The contract was valued at BD1.05 million, with additional items expected to raise the total cost by BD300,000. Land levelling and backfilling came to around BD50,000. Site visit Dr Al Wadaei said the project followed a site visit on 26 October 2019, during which he and his team met with residents and reviewed the conditions on the ground. The area, he said, was marked by large quantities of building waste, blocked roads, stagnant water, insect infestations, and the presence of reptiles. Basic services such as water and electricity were not available. An action plan was drawn up with the support of the Ministry of Works and the Northern Municipality. The initial focus was on getting electricity and water into homes in coordination with the Electricity and Water Authority. Ease traffic A new road was constructed on the eastern edge of the area to ease traffic and improve access. Eighty truckloads of debris were removed and taken to the Askar landfill. A technical study was carried out to assess road levels and plan the internal road network. This was followed by earthworks and surface preparation ahead of the second phase. Installation That stage saw the installation of the drainage systems, road surfacing, and lighting. The work was completed on 2 June 2025. Dr Al Wadaei said the result was the product of sustained coordination and practical steps based on shared responsibility and cooperation. He thanked Works Minister, His Excellency Ibrahim bin Hassan Al Hawaj, and Undersecretary Shaikh Mishaal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa for their role, and said further development in newly planned residential blocks within the First Constituency remains a priority.
Daily Tribune
26-05-2025
- Daily Tribune
BD300 fine for rubbish left outside bins
Bin bags left outside homes in newer housing areas are to be ignored by collection crews, as the Northern Municipality begins enforcing penalties of up to BD300 for rubbish left outside the designated containers. The municipality has stopped collecting household waste placed directly in front of houses and is instructing residents to use the fixed bins and barrels intended for that purpose. Under the Public Cleanliness Law, waste must be stored in containers with proper lids, and leaving it elsewhere is an offence. Fines start at BD50 and may rise to BD300 depending on the nature and frequency of the breach. The municipality is calling on residents to dispose of rubbish properly. Paper notices outlining the change have been distributed across several neighbourhoods. Notices In the Ramli housing area, the notices were seen affixed to walls and gates, stating that household waste should only be taken out between 8pm and 10pm. In many of the newer developments, the habit of dumping rubbish bags on pavements has taken hold, with bins sometimes unused or not put out at all. The municipality has pointed to this as one reason for enforcing the penalties. The law applies to all types of premises, including homes, offices, shops, factories and other establishments. Waste must be stored in covered containers and kept off public ground.
Daily Tribune
18-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Shura panel opposes plan to lower contract review threshold from BD300,000 to BD100,000
Plans to push an extra thousand government contracts each year through legal review have been thrown off course, after a Shura Council committee recommended dropping a proposed law aimed at widening the remit of Bahrain's Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission. The amendment, brought forward by MPs, would lower the threshold for mandatory contract scrutiny from BD300,000 to BD100,000. It is set to be debated in Sunday's session, but the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee has advised against adopting it in principle. In its report, the committee argued that such a move would weigh down the Commission with additional work, risking delays across public services and procurement. The Ministry of Justice backed this view, warning that reducing the threshold would stretch the Commission's staff and disrupt contract procedures. The current limit was raised in 2010, the committee noted, to account for rising prices and the growing scale of public spending. At that time, it stood at BD100,000. The decision to triple it was based on the need for greater flexibility, especially in dealings tied to investment and time-sensitive services. The committee found no pressing reason to return to the previous figure, and questioned why a rule dropped fifteen years ago ought to be revived. The Commission already examines around 450 contracts each year. Many are detailed, with multiple annexes and drafts. Lowering the bar, the committee said, would double that load and dilute the attention given to larger deals. Public bodies would be forced to send smaller contracts for legal review, which could hold up work and increase delays. The committee also flagged inconsistencies in the draft law's wording. The explanatory note refers to 'transactions' and 'contracts', yet the legal article itself deals only with contracts. That distinction matters: not every transaction is a contract, and the law as written doesn't account for one-off decisions or acts made without agreement between parties. Several layers of oversight are already in place. Ministries are required to run contracts past their own legal teams and gain clearance from the Ministry of Finance before signing anything. Public money The Tender Board handles bidding and supplier appeals, while the National Audit Office keeps an eye on how public money is spent. In the case of contracts worth more than BD300,000, the Commission already steps in. The committee added that public authorities are still free to consult the Commission on lower-value contracts if needed. That, it said, keeps the system flexible without pushing the Commission into every minor deal. Evidence No evidence was provided to show that the current law had caused problems or left loopholes. Nor did the proposal spell out how the change would improve the handling of public contracts. On that basis, the committee has recommended that the Council reject the amendment when it comes up for debate.
Daily Tribune
07-03-2025
- Daily Tribune
Fraudster used stolen cards for taxes and crypto
A man convicted of using stolen bank cards to buy digital currencies and settle a company's tax bill is appealing his five-year prison sentence, BD5,000 fine, and permanent deportation. The High Criminal Court of Appeal will rule on the matter on 24 March. The 34-year-old Asian defendant was found guilty of exploiting another person's card in Bahrain to withdraw BD300 and purchase digital assets. He also used stolen bank cards from an Asian country to pay nearly BD50,000 in tax dues for a contracting company. Prosecutors charged him with working alongside unidentified accomplices to unlawfully use another person's electronic signature and seize funds. Access Investigators allege he gained access to the money by interfering with an information technology system. A fraud specialist from an international card company told the court that suspicious transactions were flagged involving bank cards issued in an Asian country. These cards were used via the eGovernment portal to pay tax bills to the National Bureau for Revenue (NBR) on behalf of a contracting firm. When the issuing banks were contacted, they confirmed the payments were fraudulent and had been challenged by the cardholders. Inquiries A police officer testified that inquiries revealed the accused was aware the cards had been stolen but refused to assist in identifying other individuals involved. An accountant at the National Bureau for Revenue stated that a company had paid BD21,056.942 in taxes through 33 online transactions.
Gulf Insider
04-03-2025
- Gulf Insider
Blogger Awarded BD400 Over Emotional Distress
A Bahraini man, who was previously fined BD50 for misusing telecommunications devices, has now been ordered to pay BD400 in damages to a blogger after a court found hiscomments had caused her emotional distress. A civil court ruled that the defendant's remarks on one of the blogger's posts had resulted in psychological harm. He had previously been convicted in a criminal court and fined for online misconduct. Following that ruling, the blogger sought compensation through the civil courts, which upheld her claim and ordered the defendant to cover legal fees. The plaintiff's lawyer, Fatema Al Thuwaini, said her client had endured harassment and distress after the defendant posted offensive comments in response to her content. A complaint was lodged with the Cybercrime Directorate, leading to an investigation and subsequent prosecution. Al Thuwaini argued that the defendant's words had caused harm by subjecting her client to personal attacks. The defendant's lawyer, however, maintained that the remarks were general in nature and not aimed directly at the blogger. He also challenged the BD1,200 compensation claim, calling it excessive and pointing out that his client, a family man earning BD300 a month, was struggling with debts and financial commitments. Also read: Shariah Court Awards Mother Compensation for Emotional Distress in Custody Battle
