Informal
If we think of the daily program of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman, we note the difficulty in separating his working hours and his comfort hours. Everyone knows that there are fixed dates for the beginning and end of work in the ministries, offices and departments in the Kingdoms, but work for Sheikh Khalifa continues hours after office hours and has unspecified time.
As there are no certain hours he may be contacted within; this arises from his great desire to keep in touch with the new developments or emergent conditions.
Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Al Mutawa, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Media says that since he began working with Sheikh Khalifa about twenty years ago, he never saw His Highness not involved in a work or interested in a topic that serves the interest of the country. This involvement extends day and night and into the early hours of the day as the matter requires.
The Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Media adds in this regard that Highness the Prime Minister pays equal attention to various issues whether small and precise in detail or big and general. Many little things seem secondary and irrelevant to others, but His Highness is keen to know these details; perhaps he believes that the big things are basically a group of small things.
Another striking thing to consider, in addition to His Highness’ attention to detail, is in the personality of Sheikh Khalifa and strong memory; he retains extraordinary control over the accuracy of these details. This , in addition to his unusual memory and his ability to describe meticulously the places he previously visited only once and for a long time ago. He often describes accurately to everyone uninhabited land areas that have no distinctive markings, which he had visited a few years ago; he can locate and name specific sand dunes and rocks of different names and other minute details.
An architects, who used to work at the palace of His Highness, describes with wonderment, an incident that proves the accuracy of Sheikh Khalifa observation. During his work in the Palace of His Highness, which is surrounded by a large garden, one day His Highness was inspecting the garden with the engineer, when he suddenly stopped and pointed to a certain spot wondering the absence of a small plant in that was there in the previous day. He summoned and asked the gardener, who responded that the plant was there but he moved it to another location, but His Highness ordered him to return it to its original, with the utmost care.!
Sheikh Khalifa begins his day usually before seven with a light breakfast; preferably in the open air if weather permits it. He begins his day by reading the local newspapers and following the latest news, reports and analyses on the global and famous news stations. Whilst drinking his caffeine free coffee, he reads the news and opinion columns in the local press; he reads in detail especially the people’s complains and notes.
and with great complaints and letters readers. If he does not have papers on a particular topic, he reads all local reading newspapers and magazines and often makes his directions and observations before leaving to work on the emerging themes in the press or he might give his instructions to prepare a report on the rapid backgrounds and aspects of a particular topic as a prelude to a decision on this matter on the same day.
If His Highness’ program does not include a visit to the house of family to present his solace and condolences or to a hospital to visit a patient, he arrives to his office at 8:30 am. He starts by reviewing the daily program with Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Rumaihi, Head of his Office, except on Sundays, the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, the program usually contains discussion of a number of topics.
He discusses each topic with the minister or official in charge, then he interviews and visitors, whether foreigners or people of the country. Normally, a priority is given to interview requests received by visitors from friendly, Arab countries or foreign countries, because these are arranged in accordance with prior arrangement through diplomatic channels or due to the limited time of visits by the famous figures for Bahrain.
It is interesting to consider the perfect, political and diplomatic approach of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa in which he addresses the guests of the country from foreign dignitaries. Through this approach, he is always capable of delivering the message and vision of the country to the officials in the host country in a most diplomatic ingenuity. He has remarkable argument techniques and persuasion means that makes the guest, who has a completely different political point of view to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, respect and understand his ideas.
The fact is that many of the world senior political figures know the characteristics and qualities of Sheikh Khalifa and his amazing negotiation capacities and strong argumentation in discussing his certain political point of view. At one occasion, a foreign diplomat, whom I met once, said that there is a recurring scenario in such situations, when a new figures comes to Bahrain for the first time.
They come with their minds filled with what they heard of stories about the magic of the East, and some rumors about the underdevelopment of the country and the oil wealth that the Bedouins in the desert that is useless for them. The first surprise for these would be this cultural and urban renaissance in the country. Then the impression entirely changes upon meeting with Sheikh Khalifa and talking with him to find out that he has a political fascinating sense of the word. He speaks perfect English; even in the proficiency of its people. He is enlightened political thinker who is aware of the latest developments and updates. He has a remarkable way for carefully analyzing the current positions and topics, a logic of strong argumentation and the ability to persuasion.
The author of these lines is not using exaggeration in the use of superlative verbs, but to be honest we say that many of the foreign dignitaries who met Sheikh Khalifa for the first time, came out from the meeting impressed and fascinated by his person and personality. We may not declare a secret when we say in this regard that one of the figures had once said: “you, Your Highness the President deserve to be a prime minister of one of the major countries in the west”.
It was not surprising for those close to Sheikh Khalifa that he responds to the remark made by the official who was visiting Bahrain by saying: “ Bahrain is small in area but huge in its great sons and their enthusiasm.”
Back to talk about the work program of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa; we believe that this program often includes foreign tours to inspect a work site, a production site, or an inauguration of a project or an exhibition, or other occasions that His Highness carries out himself. These tours are set by prior arrangement and under the guidance of His Highness. The remaining time in the work program of His Highness, as Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Rumaihi says, is spent y focusing on reading and responding to all messages received from citizens.
It is usual after a moment of the arrival of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa to the Diwan, all the officers start moving with the utmost activity. The officers start pursuing the directives issued by His Highness; they carry out his replies to the letters of the Heads of States and other local and foreign ministers and other communications, in addition to the preparation of reports and analyzes and the completion of the subjects and communications that are related to this or that.
This activity continues in the office until three in the afternoon everyone knows what is expected of him to do and indulges in performing his work with efficiency and ability. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa leaves the Diwan and later Mr. Mohammed Al Mutawa leaves to his office in the Ministry of Information at Isa City, while Dr Abdel Latif Al-Rumaihi spends some time with senior officials and the staff of the Diwan, including Mr. Ali Al Aread, the Director of the Information Management Board, and follows up with Mr. Zaghloul Abdel Motaleb, the Press Counsel, and Sheikh Fahd bin Ahmed bin Rashid Al Khalifa; he discusses with them some of the topics to be prepared as directed by the Prime Minister.
Often one of these senior officers had to work continue work until the evening to complete one of these topics with the staff.
After the return of Sheikh Khalifa to his home at the end of the working day, the contacts and communications never stop; the most important news and developments are not stopped no matter how late, especially if the news was important or urgent.
I asked Mr. Mohammed Al Mutawa about the reaction of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa when he conveys a good news to him. Surprisingly, the minister laughed and said: “Can you believe that am the least one to convey good news to His Highness; he even noticed this and remarked more than once. The reason behind this is simply because that the official who has the good news transfers it to His Highness himself in most circumstances. But when there is a bad news I am usually asked to deliver it to His Highness!” Mr. Mohammed Al Mutawa has also added that Dr Abdel Latif Al-Rumaihi has also began to suffer from this funny irony.
I asked the Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Information on the reaction of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa if he receives a bad news; he assured me that there would be no unusual reactions whatever the news was and that His Highness goes back to handle his work without any emotions with different attitudes.
Often the working conditions and the follow-up issues of the country require holding meetings with Sheikh Khalifa in the evening with officials from various sectors of the state and most of these meetings are held at Al Rafa’a Palace.
It may not a secret if we say that some very important meetings were held in the autumn of 1994 in his home at Al Jserh. Each of these meetings included members and officials of diverse sectors of work and production in the state in order to discuss the conditions of this sector and means to upgrade and develop its performance in order to serve the masses of workers and the public interest sector officials, vocational training and the development of competencies and capabilities of the Bahraini people in order to qualify them for employment opportunities in the market.
It also included officials from the commercial sector representing trade and the economic movement, in addition to other officials and a number of workers in the judicial area and other employment and production sectors in the state.
Sheikh Khalifa has chosen his House at Al Jasra to hold these lengthy meetings that have not advertised in the press and other media. This reflects the coordinated high taste and His Highness’ great attention to the aesthetic side; to enter this palace you need to pass a long distance across his large garden large to reach the palace which conveys feelings of comfort and calmness and serenity.
The desire of His Highness to give the meetings and discussions an informal nature, has made him choose the meeting table beside the swimming pool, where participants of all sectors will sit together in a rounded table for discussion. The debate will continue until about eleven in the evening; later His Highness would invite his guests to have dinner and talk further.
The guests enter the reception hall and their attention grasps the host’s aesthetic and technical aspects; the palace echoes utter simplicity with its decorations, spacious halls and high walls, which reminds us with old Arab houses. In addition, the guests are stunned by the decorations on the tops of the walls that are made glass plates that connect between the walls and ceiling. The food table is set amid the hall and is made of wood and surrounded by green plants and flowers; this makes you feel as if you were eating with food in a garden.
In the midst of this informal atmosphere, in light of the availability of the all natural and simple characteristics, His Highness listen to all his guests’ diverse points of view, and always stresses, and from time to time, that he is interested to hear more than his interest to speak. Having made these meetings, which some might extend until after midnight, he listens to all the views and suggestions in various matters.
All these views and suggestions drawn from these meetings constitute the nucleus that contributed to the elaboration of the view of His Highness to the form a new government for a new phase of national action in order to complete the mission and achieve the objectives sought by His Highness for further progress and prosperity of the nation and all its people.
It was possible that this cabinet reshuffle would be carried out in 1994, but the unfortunate events in the country as of the end of this year and for a period of a few months in 1995 led to the postponement of the cabinet reshuffle until the announcement of the formation of the new government headed by His Highness on the 26th of June 1995.
Also away from the formalities there is the issue of surprise and undeclared visits carried by Sheikh Khalifa to the work and production sites in the State. This may seem a strange topic for some but I had already heard this before, and was confirmed to me from more than one source. In one of my meetings with Mr. Mohamed Al-Mutawwa, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Information, the conversation turned to such visits. In the beginning I thought that the minister may not wish to talk about this in detail, but he stressed that His Highness the Prime Minister often tours in various parts of the country using a normal car so no one can recognize him.
He goes out to be able to see for himself the progress of work at these sites, which often takes place at night and sometimes might be in the early hours of the morning, and perhaps in three or four in the morning.
When I asked Professor Mohammed Al Mutawa about some interesting and unexpected situations that can occur during such tours. He answered while laughing that there was a funny and strange incident that happened during one of the secret tours of Sheikh Khalifa. His Highness made a surprise visit at night to the port of Salman. The employee in charge refused to let him to enter the port area on the grounds that His Highness had no permit to enter. His friend asked His Highness: “do you Know who am I?” He answered him: “even if you are Khalifa Bin Khalifa Bin Salman himself, though you sure look like him a lot.”
However, the employee insisted on his position. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa tried to persuade the employee with smiles to open the gate, but it was of no avail. Finally, the Security Officer was angry and warned His Highness Sheikh Khalifa that if he does not stay away from the gate, he will call the police for to him! In the morning of the next day, that officer was summoned to the office of His Highness the Prime Minister; he was in a deplorable state of fear. However, his fears dissipate completely when he was received by His Highness and was rewarded for his concern and dedication in his job.
The minister tells another incident and says: “during one of our secret tours in the car, a Public Security inspection car noticed our car touring among regions and stopping in front of certain buildings and installations. Later the police stopped our car for inspection. You can imagine how surprised and confused they were when they saw that the driver of the car was only Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman; accompanied by Mohammed Al-Mutawwa. They performed the salute and left immediately.”
On another aspect of the aspects away from formalities in the life of Sheikh Khalifa,I asked Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Rumaihi, whether His Highness finds time to watch TV, and if so, what are the programs that he is keen to watch? He told me that His Highness is keen to follow up on news and news programs that provide political analyses, in addition to historical documentaries. His Highness is also keen to follow up interviews with heads of state, heads of ministries and senior officials from various countries; he also follows interviews conducted by the Bahraini Television with officials and public figures. Dr. Abdel-Latif added that when he can not attend for such programs at their time, he would watch them later.
The fact is that His Highness insists on communication with people and meeting the citizens; these are the things dear to Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman. He is also keen to communicate with all as part of his daily or weekly activity at most. Hence the concern of His Highness for the reception of citizens in every Sunday morning in the Office of His Highness, the Prime Minister, in Manama.
During the meeting, His Highness receives visitors from citizens and public figures within two or three meetings, in view of the possibility of failure to accommodate the crowd of visitors at once. His Highness will meet with the people of the country at different levels and ages. He knows all their names and insists on building an intimate relation with all. Moreover, if he meets a new face of young people among the visitors, he asks about his name.
As soon knows the name of his attendant, he initiates that talk by saying: “ you are the son or the grandson of so and so.” He inquires about the health and conditions of his father or grandfather. In the past, this meeting was held on every Sunday evening at Al Rafa’a Palace. But the pressures of work called for the conversion of the date and place to the morning of every Sunday morning in Manama.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa wishes to visit citizens in various parts of the country and participe in their celebrations and sad occasions.
His Highness enjoys and rejoices upon by the visits in the evenings of the holy month of Ramadan to the Bahraini families. These visits are the best occasions for him to meet with the dear citizens where they have friendly conversations in an atmosphere of intimacy far from formalities.
In most of his visits, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, is keen to have his two sons, His Highness Sheikh Ali and His HighnessShaikh Salman with him.
The father and the teacher, His Highness the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad, had advised them from their earliest ages and gave them his firm and wise instructions, to prepare them for their future roles.
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