Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Gulf Daily News
Wednesday, 11th May 2011
3
Protesters ‘hatched plot to seize control of refinery’
BAHRAIN’s anti-government protesters hatched a plot to hijack control of
Bapco and cut off the country’s main
source of income, according to MPs.
However, their attempts were foiled
by patriotic staff, who have since presented parliament with documents and
pictures reportedly proving the extent
of the operation.
MPs pinpointed the blame on Energy
Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza for
allegedly keeping a low-profile on the
problems Bapco was facing.
“Everything was a calculated plot
from the beginning that was waiting
for the right time to be executed,” said
Bapco probe committee chairman MP
Shaikh Jassim Al Saeedi.
“Those involved were for years working to get their sick conspiracy in action
and they almost succeeded in doing
what they intended to do, but their
dreams of a perfect plot fell flat when
the government took a stand.
“The conspirators thought that by
controlling Bahrain’s main source of
finance – Bapco – they would have
been able to threaten the leadership
and how wrong they were because loyal
Bahrainis stood in their face.
“Those employees even removed
Bahrain’s flags from the company’s
poles for a month in line with their
intentions to topple the regime, which is
today stronger than ever.”
Shaikh Al Saeedi claimed the plot
had been in the pipeline since 1980
when Bapco began hiring Sh’ites into
senior posts.
“Employment, promotion and training was divided amongst this sect,
while those belonging to the other sect
(Sunnis) were left out in pain despite
being deserving,” he said.
“Many of that sect were forced to
resign and leave the company and the
management continued with its corrupt
plans. I have evidence solidifying that.
“We have faced hurdles to get information from the company, but thanks
to patriotic employees or in some cases
former employees we managed to get
our hands on documents and pictures
that had been hidden away.”
Shaikh Al Saeedi alleged the company had failed to punish many
workers because it was trying
to protect them – despite the
fact they had called for the
toppling of the regime.
Probe committee vicechairman Al Asala MP
Abdulhaleem Murad said
Bapco could have easily ended
strikes during the unrest.
“But employees were presented with a bonus, which
was around BD8 million,
despite many of them not
showing up for work,” he said.
“Employees in the control
rooms refused to come to work
saying they wouldn’t put their
hands on Saudi oil until the
GCC Defence Shield left the
country.”
Parliament acting public utilities and environment
affairs committee chairman
Hassan Al Dossary said only
patriotic staff helped foil the
plan to hijack the company
By MOHAMMED AL A’ALI
and topple the regime.
“Those behind the plot were
MPs yesterday called
using the company’s cars,
technologies and communicafor Energy Minister Dr
tions to manage their plans
Abdulhussain Mirza to
lost BD6 million during the recent
He also said it had already dismissed those
“During that time we made arrangements for and the management was
be sacked for his alleged BAPCO
unrest, Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza absent from work during the unrest.
the safe transfer of our raw materials and products aware of their actions but it
involvement in the absen- confirmed yesterday.
“Demanding the dismissal of the chairman in and out of the company in co-operation with the left them,” he claimed.
teeism of Bapco staff during
But he told MPs the company managed to limit and board members is unconstitutional and par- Interior Ministry, ordered investigations against
“It didn’t stop here as the
the unrest.
the impact of the disruption on its performance liament has no right to demand this especially violating employees and assessed administrative company’s medical facilities
They also demanded the com- and ensured it fulfilled its obligations to local with MPs knowing that we have done huge work and financial procedures in the company.”
were also hijacked and the
pany’s entire board and execu- and international markets. Dr Mirza also said the to make things right,” he said.
Dr Mirza said only five per cent of the com- biggest evidence was the rape
tive management be immedi- ministry had co-operated fully with the parliament
Dr Mirza said the company chairman and pany’s revenue had been affected by the unrest.
of a Bahraini woman by one
ately suspended and referred to probe into the company’s absenteeism rate.
board had no control over the personal wrong“We only lost BD6m during the unrest and this of the staff there.”
the Public Prosecution.
“We were presented with 62 questions that doings of staff, saying he directed executive shows that our policies are strong and can cope
Dr Mirza is Bapco’s board needed answers in a record time with profession- management to punish those involved.
with any threat even with maximum attendance
chairman.
alism and parliament was presented with 2,443
He said arrangements had already been made being around 40pc in the worst days,” he said.
MPs want the company’s pages divided on 10 files,” he said.
with the Cabinet when Bahrain announced the
Dr Mirza said all pensioners on temporary conTrade Union board and its
“Bapco’s approaches during the unrest were State of National Safety to resolve any problems tracts had seen their employment status terminated.
members to face questioning successful considering that oil extracts, gas and that the unrest caused within the company.
“We are currently improving the structure of BAPCO has sacked a total of
at the Public Prosecution, along electricity supplies never stopped for local or
“We worked to gain confidence in the com- our health facilities and the employment of staff 293 people for their role in
with staff who called for strikes, international consumers. The Bahrain Oil Field pany, comforted our international partners, in them,” he said.
unrest, Dr Mirza announced
participated in them or called continued its production at a constant acceptable protected the country’s insurance grading and
“A grievance committee has already existed yesterday.
for the toppling of Bahrain’s rate and it shows that the company’s 80-year-old replied to negative comments in the Press, which for decades for employees to complain to.”
The minister said another
regime.
emergency plan is efficient as always.”
were mostly untrue,” he said.
Dr Mirza said staff had already been instruct- 50 workers were suspended
The demands were among
Dr Mirza said Bapco’s chairman and board
“There were no intentions to mislead the leader- ed to only speak in Arabic and English.
pending investigations, 17
a string of recommendations successfully managed to thwart the plot by those ship or cover up the situation in Bapco caused by a
“Accusations that the board speaks in Persian were given final warnings and
issued following a four-week trying to damage the company’s performance few – we just wanted to protect the company from are unacceptable considering that we don’t have four received warning letters.
parliament probe into absen- and production.
anything that may have damaged its reputation.
many Persian speaking people in it,” he said.
In addition, Dr Mirza said
teeism among Bapco workers
11 members of the Bapco
during the unrest.
and financial principles especially in the management and staff.
In addition, the company has been board had been referred to
More than 200 staff have already been appointment of directors, if parliament gets
They want staff forced to leave the com- instructed to come up with an emergency the Public Prosecution for
sacked for failing to show up for work.
its way.
pany after being pressurised by the manage- plan to meet any disruptions to its produc- legal action.
Parliament now wants all Bapco employThe company has also been instructed ment to be allowed to return.
tion and distribution services.
He said those sacked had
ment committees replaced with a single uni- to launch an initiative to employ Bahraini
They also called for an immediate invesMPs urged the government to reward been punished for absenteefied neutral body, which would be responsi- youth, who could be used to strike a balance tigation into documents presented by parlia- staff who ignored calls to strike for their ism during anti-government
ble for restructuring its hierarchy.
with its aging workforce.
ment’s probe committee that alleged finan- loyalty.
protests.
MPs have requested the firm reassesses
They demanded all the company’s pen- cial and administrative irregularities at the
They also demanded employees only
Meanwhile, the minisits employment, promotion, scholarships sioners still employed on temporary con- company during the last four years.
speak in Arabic or English in the workplace ter said he had asked both
and training policies and make loyalty to tracts be removed from their posts to make
Parliament wants a grievance committee with any violators punished.
the Interior and Foreign
Bahrain and its leadership the main selec- way for new blood.
set up to hear the problems and complaints
The government has been given a dead- Ministries for information
tion criteria.
MPs said Bapco should be forced to come of Bapco workers and requested the ref- line of October to respond to parliament’s about students sponsored by
Bapco could soon be required to carry up with a plan to improve the communica- ormation of the Awali Hospital and the demands.
the company who had been
out major streamlining to its administrative tion of instructions amongst the company’s Refinery Clinic to ensure their staff safety.
[email protected] involved in protests.
MPs recommend
Bapco overhaul
BD6 million loss for company
293 sacked for
role in unrest