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'IT STRIPS BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS'

Bahrain chamber opposes draft traffic law

Manama, June 1, 2014

Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced that it will try to block a new controversial traffic law that has sent shockwaves across the business community, a report said.

The draft legislation will be opposed before it can become a fully-fledged law, it said.

It directed BCCI legal and public affairs committees as well as the chamber's side in the joint committee with parliament to study the possibility of taking action in co-ordination with official authorities, said the report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

The chamber reacted to the new legislation with deep reticence, pointing out its adverse effects on Bahrain's image as a tourism destination.

"Article 20 which bans expat driving, strips immigrants of one of the basic human rights - that's the right of movement," it said in a statement.

While approving the new-look law as a whole, it cautioned against the negative impact on the national economy, saying the driving ban would affect businessmen and curb efforts to encourage investments.

The chamber stressed the importance of preserving Bahrain's standing as one of the best business-friendly environments, whether for investors or foreign workers.

"Such controversial decisions will only harm Bahrain's reputation, hurt its investment assets in the long run and destabilise the business community," it said.

The new law does not take into account the freedom and openness of Bahrain's national economy, nor does it adapt to a fast-changing world which requires more facilities, streamlined laws, attractive investment environment and ease of doing business, it said. -TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | Driving | chamber |

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