Bahrain has vowed to build on its major achievements in implementing recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).

The Cabinet, chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, stressed that it will follow up and continue the march of reform and development, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Ministers reviewed a summary of Bahrain's achievements in introducing 26 BICI recommendations.

Minister of State for Information Affairs and government's official spokeswoman Sameera Rajab yesterday claimed there are only six BICI recommendations waiting to be implemented.

The GDN reported yesterday that the BICI Follow-Up Unit, in its third report, stated 19 of 26 findings were implemented in full, while work on the remaining seven is still ongoing.

However, Rajab insisted there were only six recommendations were left, but did not elaborate.

"We have to be realistic that the remaining six require a lengthy process and some are beyond the government's hands and need to be studied by the National Assembly," she said.

"The six are in developed stages and will be completed in time."

'IRREGULARITIES TO BE PROBED'

A committee has been formed to investigate allegations of irregularities that were published in Bahrain's audit report. His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday ordered the move during the weekly Cabinet session at Gudaibiya Palace.

It will comprise His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, and Bahrain's four other Deputy Premiers, said the report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The report was released on Wednesday and Cabinet ministers heard that no issue would be off limits.

The committee has also been tasked to study ways to reduce Bahrain's BD5 billion budget deficit.

A committee will begin sitting with each minister to discuss filling the gaps and look into unresolved problems.

"The bureau didn't mention taking action against the issues mentioned in the report, but that doesn't mean the government is not committed to outlining procedures and solutions to prevent the mistakes from happening in future.

"We want to tackle problems and there is no government in the world that doesn't have loopholes," said a statement.

A directive was issued by the Premier that stresses the importance of examining the issue of public debt to reach a secure financial position.

Meanwhile, MPs yesterday agreed not to stand in the way of any plan to quiz ministers in parliament about the alleged irregularities.

MPs also agreed to wait for parliament's financial and economic affairs committee to publish its recommendations on the report's findings before taking action. - TradeArabia News Service