It is always a pleasure to read the Voice of Bahrain! With reference to your article, “Subsidy may be lifted for expats,” (GDN, January 28) I say stop subsidies for everybody in Bahrain! To only target one group opens massive loopholes for corruption and gymnastics of the law.

Do not subsidise anybody, or any entity. The poor and genuinely needy, give them a monthly cheque, simple. This is a transparent way, and of course should be publicly listed so we can all see who receives what money, online! Nothing shameful to receive aid, provided you are a genuine needy person.

There is no reason not to assist the poor, but, I am not aware of any subsidy programme that has been successful, anywhere in the world. Stop subsidies for anyone, rich and poor, Bahraini and non-Bahraini. This would really make international financiers angry. Why, because they have the Arabs on their knees, the financiers know how thin our economies are, how weak we really are. Subsidising is one way of keeping the Arabs on their knees. Our economies are a shambles, driven by “God-given oil and gas.”

We manufacture nothing, and, we have no technology! How many Arab patents are registered per year? I give up, I couldn’t find any. Yet South Korea, which was a disaster in 1950s, equal to the Arab countries, is now rated fifth in registration of patents! Subsidies, no! Planning and execution of planning, yes!

So Bahrain, remove all subsidies, of course, gradually, with a precise timetable; study who our needy people are, and let us take care of them; but, let us put the able to work. No work, no money. We need a level playing field with the same rules for all loyal Bahrainis. A system based on merit will help us in our future.

If Bahrain has a master development plan, let us know what it is and how “subsidising” will help us achieve these plans, I have yet to see our master plan, I only see wars on subjects “de jour” interlaced with an occasional “real war,” or riot.

I say these things because I love Bahrain and it would be wonderful to see the Arab world amount to something, much more than our current standings in the world.

Karim Mansouri