NOW that the parliamentary and municipal council elections have been successfully organised, this is the time to look forward.
Here, I have to congratulate His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, as well as our loyal people for the success of the process during which a record 73 per cent participation rate has been recorded.
This shows the love, loyalty and belonging of the people with His Majesty’s wise leadership, his conviction of the success of the democratic process and achieving its goals.
While I congratulate those who have won and others who took part, I was taken aback when I found several voters actually endorsed candidates they knew nothing about and did not bother to get any details on them or their backgrounds. This process is incredibly easy in this day and age when we have technology at our fingertips.
I spoke to several people who said they voted just to be part of the process and not because they wanted a certain candidate in Parliament or the municipal council. Frankly, this is absurd. It seems we need many more years of awareness, cultural and political maturity. Many do not know the meaning of democracy and correct democratic practices so this is what we expect from ignorant voters who elect their representatives without the correct political thought who are not even aware of their roles and duties.
It is, therefore, necessary to organise workshops and awareness lectures periodically by co-ordinating with the media such as radio, television, newspapers and social media, among others, to educate the public so that they are ready in four years’ time.
The process, of course, requires time and continuous effort and hard work but this will enrich our democratic experience, create a true national culture and be an example to follow.
We have to also ensure that activities at election headquarters of candidates, including music and entertainment for the people of the region, as well as distribution of sweets, coffee and food are in keeping with the sanctity of the process and not made a mockery of through social media. This gives a bad and uncivilised image of the people.
Candidates should also refrain from calling voters soliciting their support because this is never a good idea. Anyone who receives such a call will certainly only say ‘yes’ without meaning to act on it. This ‘coercion’ should stop and the voter should be left to make his own informed choice.
The right thing to do is that candidates’ CVs should be published on official channels and in local newspapers so that people can make their choice on the basis of their qualifications and practical experience.
This is the least Bahrain deserves.
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