Bahrain reportedly moving towards abolishing culture and information ministry
Bahrain is reportedly moving towards abolishing its ministry of culture and information and splitting its directorates.
According to a report in Al Ayam daily, Bahrain will soon have a ministry of culture and an information authority, Bahrain Media Authority, that will include Bahrain TV, the foreign media and the publication directorate.
Tourism, currently under the ministry, will be for some time under the ministry of culture before it is given the status of an independent authority, most likely next year, the paper said.
Shaikh Fawwaz Bin Mohammad Al Khalifa, the president of the general organization for youth and sports (GOYS), is likely to head the new authority while Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa, the incumbent minister, will be in charge of culture.
Shaikha Mai, known for her outstanding endeavours to promote cultural activities and Bahrain’s heritage, was given the culture and information portfolio in November 2008 when she replaced Jihad Bu Kamal.
The UAE, Qatar and Jordan were among the first Arab countries to abolish their information ministries.
