[November 04, 2009]

'Immoral acts' at cafe denied

Nov 04, 2009 (Gulf Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- OFFICIALS of a popular seafront coffee shop on Al Fateh Corniche are lobbying to save 13 cabins, 10 of which have been turned into private rooms for customers, from being torn down.

Dolphin Coffee Shop officials dismissed claims by Manama Municipal Council that the cabins were being used for immoral acts, saying that they were made of glass on all four sides, so people could see in and out.

They say the cabins are for families only and are part of a future aqua park project, which the council and the Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Ministry approved in May.

The council launched an inquiry last week into how the coffee shop was allowed to build the cabins without the council's permission.

Members accused municipal officials of turning a blind eye to the alleged violation.

Councillors claim officials did nothing while the cabins were being built, then also turned a blind eye while 10 were turned into private rooms, with satellite TV. Three are being used as store rooms.

The owner only sought a permit after people started commenting on the cabins, claim councillors.

Now, they say they will refuse a permit and have ordered an inquiry into how the development was allowed to go-ahead.

They are due to vote today, but Dolphin complex general manager Ahmed Mahmood said there had been no breach.

"We never thought that we needed a permit to construct the cabins, since they are make-shift and are not made of concrete," said Mr Mahmood.

"The cabins are located close by to the family section and are made of glass on four sides -- with two sides overlooking other cabins, one overlooking our future aqua park project, already approved by the council and the ministry and the other overlooking the sea.

"We have taken our case to municipal officials to seek their opinion on whether the cabins pose a threat to morality and so far we have received support from everyone saying that what we have done was not a big issue, but exaggerated by a councillor." Mr Mahmood said he was willing to visit the council and brief members about the cabins, before they meet or during the meeting.

"We have nothing to hide and hopefully the decision will sway in our favour, or else we will have to dismantle them," he said.

"Our Saudi owner told us that if officials consider the cabins troublesome, then removing them would be the best solution.

"But removing them would be sad, since it would rob families of an air-conditioned resting area.

"We were just trying to be innovative, while at the same time respecting Islamic values, since no curtains have been put up in the cabins and we have no plans to change that." Council technical committee chairman Hameed Al Basri, who is currently abroad, said last week that the issue was bigger than 13 shacks being set-up on municipal land.

It is about how the owner completed building them, put in furniture and connected satellite TV, without any municipal official doing anything about it, he said.

Mr Al Basri said the council received a letter from the owner asking for a permit after people started speaking about the cabins.

He questioned the purpose of having private cabins at a public outlet, saying that the council would refuse the permit.

Mr Al Basri claimed the 10 cabins were being used by couples, most of them not married. Sheesha coffee shops on Manama's Al Fateh cornice are to be closed, to make way for a BD8 million leisure development, work on which is expected to begin in July next year.

The development, in an area of 153,430 square metres would include recreational and family areas, with access to the seafront, as well as restaurants and cafes.

The closure will be done gradually, with those with new contracts, including the Dolphin Park and Coffee Shop, being kept until the last phase, to avoid paying any compensation, councillors said earlier. alaali@gdn.com.bh To see more of the Gulf Daily News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.gulf-daily-news.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Gulf Daily News, Manama, Bahrain Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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