A SENIOR council member has called for virtual official meetings in light of the fears over the coronavirus.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Salah Al Tarradah said he hoped the Capital Municipality takes the lead in introducing electronic meetings – something, he said, has been resisted by senior members in the past.
He said the board members should be ready to adopt virtual meetings in the event the need for them arises.
“What I want to do is to get ready in case we have to conduct meetings electronically,” he told the GDN.
“I want to review our internal procedures on meeting, discussing and voting electronically.
“Currently, the quorum, venue and speakers are all well organised and regulated internally. I want to include a section within this regulation for virtual meetings.”
Mr Tarradah noted that some of the members of the board have already tested and tried using various online applications for electronic meeting.
“It is not just the technology, it is an official meeting, so we have to amend the regulation.
“If, for instance, the situation is fine, then there is no issue, but in case we reach a situation where we cannot gather in the same place, we need to be ready.
“What if half of the members cannot attend a meeting; then we should be able to get them on board and e-meeting should be the solution.”
Mr Tarradah said adopting the practice of virtual meetings was being “pro-technology”, adding that it was the need of the hour, irrespective of the given situation in the country.
“I used to work for Batelco and with my background I am pro-technology and I have always said this, but it was difficult to convince people,” he explained.
“In all my recommendations, I have pushed for the use of technology.
“We cannot send people everywhere; look at unmanned vehicles or the use of technology in farming or in health, there is widespread use and we should adopt it.
“Now, (in the light of Covid19 combat measures), I hope there will be consensus on e-meeting and the Capital Trustees Board hopes to take the lead.”
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