Crunch Chamber debate on violations
VIOLATIONS relating to recruitment of staff, embezzlement and lawsuits filed against some members of Bahrain’s main business body will be addressed at a key meeting today.
More than 200 members are expected to attend the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (BCCI) general assembly meeting at its headquarters in Sanabis.
The crucial meeting, which starts at 4pm, will be chaired by Sameer Nass who has agreed to include “any other business” category in the agenda based on requests from 77 members.
A BCCI statement said topics to be discussed under the category included allegations of embezzlement, lawsuits filed by the chamber against members and financial and administrative violations by the previous board.
Other key topics include the Manama Suq revamp project, violations in appointing the current BCCI chief executive officer (CEO), violations in termination of the former CEO and termination or downgrading employees’ job profiles in the BCCI.
“Everything on the table will be discussed and if something is proven to be wrong a detailed investigation will be conducted,” said BCCI board member Abdulhakim Al Shemmari.
“We are expecting 200 BCCI members to attend the meeting because key issues will be discussed, such as the Manama Suq development project.”
The project has been earmarked for review by BCCI which is supposed to pay half of the BD6 million redevelopment costs.
However, rumours that the project could be shelved prompted an angry backlash from traders in Bahrain’s traditional commercial hub, prompting a petition by businessmen who stand to benefit from the ambitious regeneration scheme first announced in 2016.
Today’s meeting will also approve the annual BCCI report and financial statements and appointment of an external auditor.
If no quorum is achieved for today’s meeting, another meeting is scheduled to be held on April 29.
“If there are issues that need more time to be reviewed for further investigation, then according to previous protocols they will be discussed in future meetings before a final decision is taken,” said Mr Al Shemmari, who was elected along with 18 members during the BCCI board elections held on March 10.
In 2016, the BCCI board underwent a major revamp with Ahmed Bin Hindi and Mr Al Shemmari replacing Nabeel Kanoo and Khalid Al Amin on its seven-member executive committee.
Mr Kanoo resigned in January last year amid allegations of nepotism, unjustified spending, internal rifts and a monopoly on foreign trips.
In February last year, board member Othman Al Rayes also quit alleging the role of BCCI chairman had been hijacked and general body resolutions on membership fees were bypassed.
In July 2016, the BCCI board also passed a vote of no-confidence against its former chief executive and voted to replace him with Dr Khalid Al Ruwaihi.
After the board reshuffle chief executive Khalid Almoayed resigned in 2016, citing frustration at alleged interference by the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry, but the board rejected his resignation.
Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/348555/BCCI-meeting-to-tackle-serious-allegations-against-members
