Bahrain to build 50,000 homes in face of protests

Manama responds to pro-democracy protests by spending 5.32 billion dollars on housing project.

Middle East Online

By W.G. Dunlop - MANAMA

Will sticks and carrots halt their march for democracy? Bahrain's housing minister on Monday announced plans to build 50,000 homes at a cost of at least two billion dinars ($5.32 billion), in the government's latest response to protests gripping the kingdom. Majid al-Alawi announced that "it has been decided that 50,000 residences will be built over a five-year period in cooperation with the private sector of the kingdom of Bahrain, in different provinces of the kingdom," the official BNA news agency said. "The initial cost is estimated to be at least two billion Bahraini dinars," BNA quoted Alawi as saying, adding that he expressed "hope that this order helps to contribute to forwarding the national dialogue." Anti-government protests in Shiite-majority Bahrain, which is ruled by a Sunni dynasty, entered their 22nd day on Monday, amid a wave of pro-democracy unrest that has gripped the region for weeks and toppled autocratic regimes in Egypt and Tunisia. King Hamad has tasked Crown Prince Salman with opening a dialogue with the opposition. Housing in the kingdom is available, especially for poorer people, for low prices with payments over a long period, which Alawi announced has now been extended from 25 to 30 years, according to BNA. BNA said that according to Alawi, there are over 46,000 people on the waiting list for housing, but "the ministry plans to reduce the waiting period to a maximum five years by 2016." Bahrain's rulers have announced various other economic and political initiatives aimed at assuaging protesters' anger. On Saturday, the interior ministry announced a plan to recruit 20,000 employees. "The interior ministry has today unveiled ambitious plans to speed up the recruitment of 20,000 people to meet its needs in all sectors," BNA said. "The massive recruitment scheme will benefit job-seekers who meet employment terms," it quoted Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa as saying. "The initiative follows directives from His Majesty King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa to boost employment in all ministry departments," BNA added. On February 26, King Hamad changed five of his ministers, in a move that saw Alawi, who was formerly minister of labour, appointed to the housing portfolio. And on February 22, the king ordered the release of Shiite political prisoners, in another bid to ignite talks to end the standoff with anti-regime protesters. An MP said the following day that authorities had released 23 Shiite activists held on terrorism charges and pardoned two others abroad, including opposition leader Hassan Mashaima, who subsequently returned to Bahrain. However, the various initiatives have yet to dissuade demonstrators, who continue to keep vigil in hundreds of tents in the capital Manama's Pearl Square, the focal point for the protest movement.