Veterinary quarantine facilities should be built nearer to Bahrain’s borders rather than close to residential areas, urge MPs.
A proposal to carry out and conduct all necessary checks, tests and screenings at border points on King Fahad Causeway, Khalifa Bin Salman Port and Bahrain International Airport has been presented by five MPs, led by Muneer Suroor.
They want the government to consider gradual closure of the National Veterinary Quarantine Centre in Buri, which is now surrounded by new homes.
According to the MPs, borderlines are globally considered the first line of defence to prevent the entry of animal diseases. They also claim the locations would be better suited for carrying out the import and export processes, inspecting and quarantining incoming consignments and examining outgoing animals, as well as issuing health certificates.
The proposal has come after the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry won a lengthy court battle with residents in which the Cassation Court ruled that the centre stays where it is after residents asked for its relocation.
The verdict stated that veterinary quarantine facilities require specific conditions and adhere to certain regulations, ensured in the facility of contention.
The GDN reported in 2023 that a proposed expansion of Bahrain’s national veterinary quarantine centre – at a cost of BD500,000 – and a construction permit were revoked following a ruling by the Supreme Civil Appeals Court.
The court ruled to cancel the expansion project, which had initially been set to be completed in 2022.
Announced in July 2021, the project was set to double the centre’s capacity by building a new quarantine facility next to the old one, at a reported cost of BD556,789.
Citing health concerns, nine Buri residents brought a civil lawsuit against the ministry.
“I had informal talks with Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak on the existing quarantine issues and the suggested proposal of border facilities, which have been initially accepted,” said Mr Suroor, who is also Buri area MP.
“Even though there is a court verdict to carry on, the ministry has no intentions of working on it for the time being, I’m told,” he added.
“Since there is an available budget, then it could be redirected towards providing borderline quarantines.
“It is much easier to deal with animals at entry points, in my opinion, way before they enter the country.”
Seventeen residents had earlier created and signed a petition demanding a stop to the site’s expansion, fearing that the new facility’s proximity to their homes could lead to the spread of diseases and foul odours.
The matter was picked up both by the Northern Municipal Council and by MPs, who in October 2021 unanimously approved an urgent parliamentary proposal to stop the plans.
In their civil suit, the residents of block 762 demanded that construction be paused until a verdict was issued and requested the creation of a report by a legal expert to list all the facts of the case.
They also demanded BD3,000 compensation for the damages incurred by the construction of the facility’s new section, and that the court issue an order to remove any parts of the expansion that had been so far built.
The requested report determined that the distance between the new facility and its neighbouring residential land was not enough to bar the spread of infectious diseases.
Mr Suroor said the current quarantine centre needs to be closed down willingly following the verdict in favour of the ministry.
“There are around 100 homes surrounding the quarantine centre, when years ago it was alone in the middle of wasteland,” he added. “I understand that the quarantine operation came first but that doesn’t mean around 300 people in the residential block have to deal with it forever more.
“What if a sick animal escapes? What if sickness is spread through the air? What if it is an out of control animal that may attack residents?”
The original centre accommodates 3,000 heads of sheep in six livestock pens used to quarantine any entering the country from abroad to ensure that they are free of viruses and illnesses.
“Although the quarantine facility’s purpose is to stop the spread of diseases, it is very close to residential homes and could pose a serious health and environmental hazard,” said Northern Municipal Council vice-chairwoman and area councillor Zaina Jassim.
“Veterinary quarantines are considered the first line of defence to prevent the entry of animal diseases due to the services they provide, such as organising the import and export process, inspecting and quarantining incoming consignments and examining outgoing animals, as well as issuing health certificates,” she added.
“We proposed establishing them at the entrance points to prevent the potential entry of animal diseases as shipments of livestock sometimes pass through main streets to the site of the veterinary quarantine located in Buri.
“Other countries across the world have set up facilities at ports and we propose implementing the same in Bahrain.”
The proposal has been forwarded to Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee to review with the Municipalities and Agriculture Minister.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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