New FTA laws delay rapped
Gulf Daily News
New FTA laws delay rapped
By Mohammed Al A’Ali
26 April 2006
An MP accused the Commerce and Industry ministry of sleeping yesterday after it asked parliament to push through six new laws that should activate Bahrain’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.
Tempers flared during discussions when another MP stood up and started shouting at parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani because he felt he was being ignored.
The heated debate started after the Industry and Commerce Ministry submitted six new urgent laws to parliament, saying they had to be approved before the FTA can be brought into effect.
Parliament’s financial and economic committee vice-chairman Jassim Abdula’al complained that MPs did not have enough time to properly study the laws, which were distributed to MPs just five days previously.
"I don’t know if we have had time to discuss the six laws or not," he said during yesterday’s session.
"We have tried our best, but it’s the ministry’s fault if the laws are not up to expectations.
"For the government everything is done in an urgent matter - whether it’s the budget, which they submit to parliament three months after it is due, or important laws they depend on."
MPs yesterday approved all six laws, which relate to commercial secrets, country of manufacture distinction, production and distribution of CDs, trademarks, electronic dealings and innovations copyright.
They will now go to the Shura Council for approval before going back to the Cabinet.
However, yesterday’s discussions were brought to a temporary halt when MP Shaikh Ali Mattar stood up and accused Mr Al Dhahrani of ignoring him when he tried to speak.
"If I was hailing from a well-known Bedouin tribe you would have allowed me to speak," he shouted across the open floor.
"You nod your head in acceptance of those tribes, but because I am not you don’t show me the proper respect.
"All I wanted to say is that these silly laws are not important to Bahrain because we don’t have inventors or products that we manufacture which we want to protect.
"This applies to the US and not us."
However, Mr Al Dhahrani told Shaikh Mattar to respect him, sit down and be quiet.
"How dare you say that in my presence," said Mr Al Dhahrani as he pointed at Shaikh Mattar.
"What you have just said is a direct attack on me personally, something I will not forgive you for.
"I respect everyone here and I deserve the same respect from you.
"This disrespectful attitude will not pass easily. It has really hurt my pride a lot."
Shaikh Mattar replied that he didn’t care about his pride - since his had already been hurt.
Other MPs intervened in the argument until Shaikh Mattar sat down.
He later apologised to Mr Al Dhahrani, but the parliament chairman refused to accept.
Shaikh Mattar later passed a note to journalists at the session asking them not to report on the dispute.
