Carrying a plastic chair to a cemetery, park or public walkway could soon become a thing of the past, with Bahrain’s Capital Trustees Board backing a proposal to make seating more readily available at public facilities.
Board chairman Saleh Tarradah said people should not have to bring their own chairs simply to find a place to rest while visiting public places.
“There has to be proper seating for people visiting public facilities,” he added.
His comments came as the board unanimously approved a proposal to establish a clear regulatory framework and application process for setting up concrete chairs through the Capital Trustees Authority (Municipality).
The proposal, submitted by services and public utilities committee chairman Mohammed Tawfiq Al Abbas, calls for applications to be assessed according to clear criteria, with priority given to locations where seating is genuinely needed and would benefit the wider community.
Mr Tarradah highlighted cemeteries as one area where the need is particularly evident.
“We have been hearing complaints from people visiting cemeteries who have to carry their own plastic or foldable chairs over long distances to read the Quran or spend time at the graves of their loved ones,” he said.
“This shouldn’t be the case – permanent chairs installed throughout cemeteries should be the norm.”
The proposal would also cover parks, gardens, walkways, waterfronts, markets and other public facilities where residents and visitors spend a considerable amount of time.
Under the proposed system, individuals, community groups or organisations can submit formal requests to the Capital Trustees Authority identifying the location and purpose of the chairs.
The authority would then conduct a field inspection to determine the actual need and assess whether the proposed locations are suitable.
Requests would be evaluated based on factors including the level of need, population density or number of visitors, available stock and funding, and the extent to which the facility provides a public benefit.
Approved requests would be followed by an agreed delivery and installation process, while all seating provided would be recorded in an electronic database showing its location, installation date and beneficiary.
Regular inspections would also be carried out to ensure the chairs remain safe and continue to be used for their intended purpose.
The proposed framework also includes safeguards to prevent the misuse of municipal assets. Recipients would not be allowed to move, sell or dispose of the chairs without approval.
The Capital Trustees Authority would also have the right to reject applications that do not serve the public interest, and to reclaim chairs if they are misused or if the conditions of their provision are breached.
Mr Tarradah said the same principle should apply beyond cemeteries.
“The same applies for parks, walkways and gardens as well as markets,” he said.
The board believes a formal system would improve the distribution of municipal equipment, strengthen transparency and accountability, protect public funds and create a reliable database to help authorities plan future needs.
The proposal has now been referred to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak for review.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Assistant Under-Secretary for Acquisition and Municipal Councils Affairs Sadiq Al Sitri attended on behalf of Capital Trustees Authority director-general Alya Yousif, who was unable to attend following the passing of her mother.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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