TOUGHER punishments for civil aviation violations, including the death penalty in case of fatalities, will be debated during the Shura Council’s weekly session on Sunday.
Under the amendments, the penalty for any destruction on an aircraft or at airport facilities is between BD3,000 and BD100,000, life in jail for severe security offences and the death penalty, should there be fatalities.
Trained air marshals have to be present on all flights, with a new independent investigation unit being set up for accidents and dangerous incidents during flights.
An inspections task force with judicial powers would also be formed to monitor rates for air travel and cargo, inspect offices of those working in the sector, and enter airport facilities and aircraft.
Civil Aviation Affairs would have the power to terminate contracts, ban or ground specific aircraft.
It would also have the power to ban any aircraft from flying over the country’s air space, permanently or temporarily.
Offices failing to implement aviation rules could be closed and licences of authorised personnel revoked.
Such offences could be fined up to BD10,000 unless they contravene other legislations that are higher.
Those who use laser beams or computer programmes to cause disruption in an aircraft will face criminal action.
A new national committee for civil aviation is set to be formed with government parties concerned, airport companies, airliners, travel agents and other representatives from the sector as members.
The government-drafted amendments were approved unanimously by MPs in January this year following a presentation by Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed on the grounds that amendments to the 2013 Civil Aviation Law were imperative.
Meanwhile, Shura will vote to reject amendments to the 2006 Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority Set-up Law which would have obliged the authority to enter into companies by acquiring 50 per cent or more shares so it could control their boards besides contributing to the national budget.
The amendments presented by former MPs were rejected by a majority vote in February for “contravening financial and administrative independence”.
Meanwhile, Shura is set to vote in favour of amendments to the 2018 Electronic Letters and Deals Law, already approved by Parliament.
People suffering losses or damage through unlicensed electronic providers could be compensated should they provide proper evidence in support of their claims under the amendments originally proposed by Shura.
The current law doesn’t mention electronic financial services done through unlicensed providers.
An amendment to the 1989 Cassation Court Law, presented by three members led by legislative and legal affairs committee chairwoman Dalal Al Zayed, that would see the consultancy chamber introduced in 2014 scrapped is set to be debated.
Shaikh Khalid
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa has raised objections to the plan saying that the chamber provides a filtering system for cases referred for cassation.
“The chamber of judges gives a final verdict in civil and commercial cases, but criminal cases could be contested,” said Shaikh Khalid.
“The seven-year-old system is good, it has flaws, but it could be overcome with legislative intervention and not cancellation.”
Debate on an advanced law to govern stem cell banks, and treatment and research centres is also set during Sunday’s session.
The proposed legislation, which also includes developing medications and technologies, has been presented by five members led by woman and child committee chairwoman Dr Ibtisam Al Dallal.
A vote to join the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals presented by the government, already approved by Parliament, is also set to be rubber-stamped by Shura.
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