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The
Cabinet consists of the following:
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said
Head of the State & Prime Minister
His Highness Sayyid Fahad bin Mohmoud Al Said
- Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers
His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tariq Al Said,
- Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan
His Excellency Sayyid Ali bin Hamoud Al Busaidi
-Minister of the Diwan of the Royal Court
His Excellency General Ali bin Majid Al Maamari
-Minister of the Palace Office and Head of the Office of the Supreme
Commander of Armed Forces
His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Hareb Al Busaidi
-Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs
His Excellency Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah
-Minister of Foreign Affairs
His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Hinai
- Minister of Justice
His Excellency Ahmed Bin Abdulnabi Macki
- Minister of National Economy
His Excellency Yahya bin Mahfudh Al Mantheri
-Minister of Higher Education
His Excellency Sayyid Al-Mutasim bin Hamoud Al-Busaidi
-Minister of State and Governor of Muscat
His Excellency Malik bin Suleiman Al Maamari
-Minister of Transport and Telecommunications
His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Qatabi
-Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar
His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Ibrahim Al Busaidi
-Minister of Interior
His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Mohammed Al Moosa
-Minister of Health
His Excellency Sheikh Amer bin Shuwain Al Hosni
-Minister of Social Development Affairs, Labour & Vocational
Training
His Excellency Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan
-Minister of Commerce and Industry
His Excellency Mohammed bin Ali Al Alawi
-Minister of Legal Affairs
His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said
-Minister of Heritage and Culture
His Excellency Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Matar Al Azizi
-Minister of Civil Service
His Excellency Hamad bin Mohammed Al Rashdi
-Minister of Information
His Excellency Yahya bin Saud Al Sulaimi
- Minister of Education
His Excellency Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Salimi
- Minister of Awaqaf & Religious Affairs
His Excellency Shaikh Salim bin Hilal Al Khalili
-Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Hamed al Rumhi
-Minister of Oil & Gas
His Excellency Dr. Khamis bin Mubarak Al Alawi
-Minister of Regional Municipalities & Environment and Water
Resources
His Excellency Juma bin Ali bin Juma
-Minister of Manpower
His Excellency Sheikh Suhail bin Mustahil Shimas
-Minister of Housing, Electricity and Water
His Excellency Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi
-Secretary General of the Cabinet
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Financial
Affairs & Energy Resources Council
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In
1996, the Financial Affairs and Natural Gas Councils were amalgamated
by Royal Decree to form the Financial Affairs and Energy Council,
which meets on a regular basis, under the chairmanship of its
Deputy Chairman, the Minister of National Economy, to review all
matters relating to the financial health and development of the
economy.
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Administrative
Regions & Wilayats
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The Sultanate of Oman is divided into eight administrative regions,
which are further sub-divided into 59 districts or wilayats. Each
wilayat is governed by a Wali who is responsible to the Ministry
of Interior.
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Legal
Affairs
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In
1975, the Diwan of Legislation was formed to review all laws and
to draft Royal decrees, international agreements and government
contracts. In 1994, the Ministry of Legal Affairs was established
to match the legal framework of the State with the development
and progress seen throughout the Sultanate. The Ministry is responsible
for the preparation of Royal decrees and for reviewing all draft
laws, regulations and Ministerial Decisions before they are promulgated
and published in the Official Gazette. In March 1999, the Ministry
published the 27th Legislative Volume, which includes all Royal
Decrees, Ministerial Decisions and Government circulars issued
during 1998.
The Ministry issues the Official Gazette and gives legal opinion
and advice to the Government on the interpretation of Royal Decrees
and Laws and any other matter referred to it by His Majesty the
Sultan. Another important responsibility is the scrutiny of any
contract committing the Government to expenditure of over RO500,000.
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Basic
Statute of the State
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This most important piece of legislation was enacted in 1996.
The purpose of the Basic Statute of the State is to provide a
force for political and social Stability, while at the same time
guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of the individual. Besides
laying down a procedure for the succession to the throne, the
statute provided for the formation of a State Council of Oman.
It is a comprehensive document defining the role of Government
and the judiciary, as well as laying down the policy of the State
towards the economy, security, education and social development
of the nation.
On the 27th December 1997, His Majesty presided over the opening
of Council of Oman, which had been established by Royal Decree
86/97 in accordance with the Basic Statute of the State. The Council
of Oman consists of two chambers:
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The
Council of State (Majlis al-Dawla)
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On the 4th of January 1998, the Council of State held its first
plenary meeting after being inaugurated by His Majesty. The meeting
was opened by the President. The members appointed by His Majesty
were then sworn in and a Vice-President elected. The Office of
the Council of State will meet fortnightly and committees have
been formed to examine legal, social and economic issues. Plenary
sessions of the Council are to be held four times per year. The
council offers seasoned advice to His Majesty and works closely
in co-ordination with the Majlis al-Shura, thus strengthening
Oman's consultative process and widening participation in the
public life of the Sultanate.
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The
Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura)
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In November 1990, His Majesty announced that a new consultative
council (majlis al-Shura) would replace the state Consultative
Council (majlis al-Istishari Lil Dawla) which had been formed
in 1981. In December 1991, the first Consultative Council was
inaugurated with 59 members representing each of the Wilayats.
The State Consultative Council had been a nominated body, but
in accordance with the steps being taken towards further political
liberalisation, each member of the present Consultative Council
has been elected with the exception of the President who is appointed
by Royal Decree. The two Vice-Presidents are elected by the membership
of the council in a secret ballot.
The term of membership is three years, which may be extended.
Candidates must be not less than 30 years of age, have a good
reputation and be reasonably well educated. Once a candidate is
selected for membership he or she must give up any other official
post. Elections to the Council were held in October 1997.
The
third term of the Council runs from 1st December 1997 to 30th
November 2000. The previous elections in July 1994 resulted in
the appointment of two women for the first time. Although more
women put themselves forward as candidates in the 1997 elections
under the extension of the franchise for women, only two were
successful in a popular vote. In 1994, the number of members in
the Council was increased to 80, based on the results of the first
National Census held in December 1993.
Because of population increases, the number of members has now
been increased to 82. Wilayats with a population of more than
30,000 people elected four candidates from whom two were elected
to serve as member of the Council. Wilayats with smaller populations
continue to put forward two candidates, one of whom is selected.
In the 1997 elections there were 736 candidates including 27 women.
The franchise of the Council is also expected to be widened at
the next elections in early 2000. The Council will continue to
evolve along democratic lines in accordance with the traditions
and principles of Islam. These are enshrined in the verses of
Holy Qur'an, which contains a chapter entitled Surat al-Shura.
The Council has been instrumental in helping to make studies and
recommendations for Oman's economic and financial policies being
implemented in the current Five-Year Plan.
The Council convened four plenary sessions with some 13 meetings
lasting about 58 hours in 1998, while the various committees held
83 meetings. The council received 21 petitions from citizens requesting
development and improvement of their areas.
One of the principal duties of the Council is to review all social
and economic draft laws prepared by the Ministries before their
enactment. The most important piece of legislation considered
by the Council in 1998 was the draft of the Civil Transaction
Law, which contains 1,348 articles. In 1999 this legislation was
passed to the Majlis al-Dawla for study and discussion. The Council
also has a duty to participate in efforts towards the conservation
of the environment. Much of the Council's work is done in committee.
There are now seven permanent committees - legal, economic, health
& social affairs, education & culture, services &
development of local communities, environment & human resources
and follow up & implementation.
Members
are not at liberty to divulge any of the proceedings of the Council
which are kept confidential. However, under the constitution of
the Council, public service ministers are expected to submit reports
and answer questions on their ministries' performance, plans and
achievements. These are made known to the public through the media.
Foreign
delegations are invited to see the work of the Council and discuss
its procedures. In 1998, several visited Oman, among them one
from the parliament (Bundestag) of the Federal Republic of Germany
which was received by the Council. The Council also sends delegations
to neighbouring countries thus strengthening the links between
parliamentary organisations.
The
television appearances of Ministers to answer searching questions
before the plenary sessions of the Council have been very well
received by the public. In 1998, it was the turn of the Ministers
of Health and Social Security, Labour & Vocational Training
to appear before the Council to deliver comprehensive statements
on the plans and projects of their ministries. Other Ministers
who have addressed the Council in recent times were the Minister
of Education, the Minister of Higher Education, the Minister of
National Economy, the former Minister of Social Affairs &
Labour and the Minister of the Civil Service.
In
its new term, which coincided with the launch of the Year of the
Private Sector, the Council gave the highest priority to manpower
development and training, considering human resources development
to be the prerequisite for national development and a healthy
economy.
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Tender
Board
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The
Tender Board was established by Royal Decree in 1973 to ensure
the fair and equitable allocation of contracts. The board is assisted
by an Executive Secretariat which forms the active link between
the board and the various Government authorities that issue tenders
via the board.
The
board, which usually meets fortnightly, is responsible for all
Government tenders with the exception of contracts and projects
related to Defence and Security. Tenders may involve assignments,
materials purchase or project implementation. In 1998, the board
met 23 times and accepted 135 tenders with a total value of over
RO231 million, compared with 119 tenders worth RO245 million in
1997. The number of companies tendering was 266, compared with
396 in 1997.
In
1998, a total of 418 commercial companies, consulting firms and
contractors in several different categories were registered with
the board. In April 1999, the board introduced a new procedure
at its meetings, whereby representatives of the companies submitting
tenders were invited to be present to witness the opening of the
envelopes containing the bids.
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National
Flag of Oman
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The
National Flag was raised for the first time on 17th December 1970.
The flag carries the Sultanate's emblem of two crossed swords
with a khanjar and belt superimposed. The white portion of the
flag signifies the belief of the Omani people in peace and prosperity.
Red, which is the dominant colour, has been adopted from the old
Omani flag (which was red in its entirety) and this symbolises
the battles fought by the Omanis for the eviction of foreign invaders
from their country. While green, besides being the colour of Islam,
represents the fertility and greenery of the land.
Before
the 25th National Day in November 1995 new regulations were introduced
for the proportions of the three colours, the dimensions of the
flag and the height of the poles on which it may be flown, according
to the building and purpose.
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