The expected refugees' legislation after the migrants' tragedy in the English Channel
December 12, 2021, 11:39 am

The expected refugees' legislation after the migrants' tragedy in the English Channel

Zara saleh

Since the beginning of the year, thousands of people have tried to cross the English Channel and enter the UK despite the high level of life risks. The French authorities confirmed that more than 30,000 migrants have attempted to do that, whereas thousands of them have been rescued by French border security.

Taking into consideration all risks and UK-French border restrictions, people continue their 'death journey' and try to enter the UK by small and insecure boats. Last November, 27 people including women and children died when they were trying to cross the English Channel after their dinghy was sunk which considers as the worst disaster on record in recent years that happened. The French police and the British coastguard had ignored the calls from migrants who were on the boat according to two of the survivors from the tragic incident.

As the UK government and Home Secretary has made some radical changes in refugee and asylum seekers law since last July, but it doesn't make any difference regarding the number of people who are attempting to cross the English Channel and enter the United Kingdom. In contrast, the number of migrants who entered the UK has been increased dramatically this year. After the tragic drowning of 27 people, the UK Home Secretary was under critics by human rights organisations, other charities deal with refugee and asylum seekers issues and even members of parliament.

The draft bill that has been prepared by the Home Office Secretary Priti Patel regarding the amendments in refugee and asylum seekers legislations and to tackle and stop the waves of migration through the English Channel is expected to be based on the previous bill that started from July. According to the bill, the person who is found guilty they could face up to one year of prison "Any person who enters or attempts to enter the United Kingdom without legal authority shall be guilty of an offense.”. In other words, people who are entering the UK such as asylum seekers without legal permission could be prosecuted because of entering the UK territories. Added to that there are some plans that might be expected by the
government to send out the migrants and asylum seekers to a "designated place" outside of the UK as a part of the asylum case procedure.

Consequently, such measures and expected steps by the Home Secretary might not help in terms of tackling the migration dilemma according to various activists and cannot stop the migrants' journey to enter the UK. Furthermore, the UK is ranked at the bottom of the European countries regarding asylum seekers' applications. The majority of those people are from areas that are still in ongoing civil war such as Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan, and Sudan. Taking into consideration all these facts and

the successful example of refugees settled in the United Kingdom in recent decades,and even some of them has become members of parliament and local councils in several places and might be as identification of the refugees and asylum seekers and an example of the integration process in British society.

BY:Zara Saleh

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.