A Government body that has been operating from a rented building for nearly a decade will soon be able to settle into a permanent location.
The Capital Trustees Board will relocate to the Municipal One Stop Shop in Tubli before December this year, following a breakthrough deal with Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak.
The board, appointed by His Majesty King Hamad in December 2014 to replace the former Manama Municipal Council, has been situated in a rented facility in Bilad Al Qadeem since its inception.
Mr Al Mubarak visited the board’s headquarters this week to formally announce the decision.
The move marks a significant milestone for the body, which has been seeking a permanent base to enhance municipal services for the residents of the capital.
The former Manama Municipal Council operated out of shared offices within the Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry’s municipal complex near Bab Al Bahrain. In 2014, a decision was made to relocate the councillors to a rented facility in Bilad Al Qadeem to allow the ministry to expand its operations.
Subsequently, the council was dissolved and the board was formed with officials operating from the rented building since then.
Mr Al Mubarak expressed his support for the relocation, acknowledging the board’s vital role in municipal governance.
“The Capital Trustees’ Board plays a crucial role in serving the people of Manama,” he said.
“It is only fitting that they have a permanent and fully-equipped facility from where they can operate efficiently.”
The minister assured that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure a smooth transition.
“We are working on the modifications needed to make the facility fit for the purpose,” he said.
“This is a significant step in strengthening municipal governance and improving the quality of services provided to the public.”
Board chairman Saleh Tarradah expressed relief over the breakthrough, stressing the financial burden of continued rental expenses.
“It costs around BD60,000 a year to rent our current premises,” he pointed out.
“This is a significant amount that could be better allocated towards public projects and municipal services.”
He also highlighted the limitations of the current facility in Bilad Al Qadeem.
“Even our weekly majlis is being held in a small room that cannot accommodate the number of people coming to see us,” he noted.
“The new facility in Tubli will provide us with a more spacious and suitable environment to serve the public effectively.”
He said the decision to relocate to Tubli is expected to have a positive impact on the board’s operations.
“A deal has been reached with the minister to move us to the Municipal One Stop Shop in Tubli,” he said.
“Hopefully we should be able to move in before December 2025.
“The wait has been long, but it will be worthwhile once we have a permanent home.
“This is something the people of Manama have been calling for, and we are delighted that we are now on the path to making it a reality.
“We want to expand our services to the public to meet growing demand and ensure that people feel comfortable when they visit us.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))