His Majesty King Hamad’s keynote speech during the inauguration of the third session of the fifth legislative term was exceptional and inspiring.
Its attention to minor details that aim to provide a better life for his people and to draw clear milestones for a comprehensive national revival plan was impressive and much-needed. At the same time, His Majesty turned away from politics and disputes and focused on our lives and future, proving once again that he is the voice of reason and wisdom; he steers our ship calmly, and ushers us to safety, no matter how high the waves.
Trusting in God and the people, calmness, and far-sightedness are some of the qualities of His Majesty. This is in sharp contrast to the speeches of leaders such as Adolf Hitler, Hugo Chavez, Recep Erdogan, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Gadaffi, and other addicts of showmanship who cheer and strike the table as they talk about the nation, and their future massive projects. These orators of high-rhetoric have time and again brought their peoples and their neighbours nothing but ruin and destruction; and eventually became, or are sure to become, an immense burden on their own countries and a source of anxiety to global peace and security.
His Majesty’s use of the inauguration of the third session of the fifth legislative term to direct his comprehensive speech to the nation shows his keenness to support the pillars of his reform project. These are based on constitutional democracy, which confirms that the improvement process is moving towards its goals in Bahrain regardless of any external or internal influences.
I followed the details of His Majesty’s speech, read it carefully in the newspapers, and found it to be a comprehensive roadmap that outlines a national, economic, social and developmental action plan at all levels. This includes His Majesty talking about health conditions and how Bahrain has managed to develop its own successful model for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been achieved not only by providing preventive and curative healthcare for citizens and residents, but also in terms of financial support, social cohesion, family stability and success in maintaining the conduct of public life.
I can affirm that every detail and concept in His Majesty’s speech deserves to be transformed into an operational plan. His Majesty’s talk about food security urges for a national programme to achieve this security sustainably. Moreover, when His Majesty referred to the significance of preserving the environment, this does not mean just independent initiatives; it directs the launch of an integrated effort to ensure a healthy environment that we enjoy and secure for our children.
I thought of our responsibility as businessmen when His Majesty said, “Our future work priorities are the rapid recovery of our national economy in co-operation with the private sector, by adopting solutions and initiatives consistent with the requirements of the circumstances, and for the return of positive rates of national development, as the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 aspires to.” As businessmen, we should be inspired by the broad directives and trends of the Kingdom of Bahrain. We need government agencies such as the Economic Development Board to draw up an economic rescue plan that involves us to redirect the resources, services and products of our companies accordingly.
His Majesty the King’s speech provided us a needed dose of optimism, hope and reassurance, when our fears and concerns are increasing due to the health, economic and living challenges that the world is currently going through.
This constructive speech increased our resolve and our keenness to maintain hard work for the kingdom’s future.
akram@fp7.com