Central Governorate – Constituency 4
Isa Town came up in 1968 as a major housing project of the Kingdom. It is famous for its traditional bazaars and is home to many schools and universities. It is one of the most important districts in Central Governorate.
There are nine candidates contesting for the Parliament seat with Dr Munira Fakhro, member of central committee of Wa’ad Society, on a very strong wicket, writes Sandeep Singh Grewal. The municipal council will witness a four-cornered contest with Al Wefaq-backed candidate Hamza Saeed Abdullah leading the field.
Eight most important words
Central Governorate – Constituency 4
Isa Town came up in 1968 as a major housing project of the Kingdom. It is famous for its traditional bazaars and is home to many schools and universities. It is one of the most important districts in Central Governorate.
There are nine candidates contesting for the Parliament seat with Dr Munira Fakhro, member of central committee of Wa’ad Society, on a very strong wicket, writes Sandeep Singh Grewal. The municipal council will witness a four-cornered contest with Al Wefaq-backed candidate Hamza Saeed Abdullah leading the field.
Eight most important words
Whenever an election campaign comes, one reality keeps it interesting: election promises. And it does not matter whether it is a federal, state or provincial election. The situation is the same. Candidates treat the electorate to a host of promises.
As the campaign progresses we are waiting day in day out for what will be the next promise the politicians will launch to further their campaign.
With fifteen days to go the promises tend to get more elaborate.
Because this is the case, it is not difficult to see that election promises are the currency that keeps politics going. Voters listen to what a political party says it will do if elected. Sometimes they like or dislike what they hear. Come election time, a decision has to be made whether to support a party.
Therefore, it has to be seen how practical these promises are and whether they can be fulfilled.
Some voters listen to politicians lay out government platforms like they are watching a river flow or the snow fall. They could care less what their future government plans to do with this country. Others get agitated by the endless rhetoric and glib talk of some politicians. Still others listen carefully and weigh every word the politicians say.
To many voters, a promise is not just a promise. It is something sacred. It is the ultimate test of credibility, integrity and honesty. If a party leader promised to cut taxes, create more jobs, provide more public services and eliminate the deficit, he or she will be judged come re-election time.
A promise is not an empty word. It is a form of a social contract entered into by the electorate and the candidates. It is a commitment to be delivered and fulfilled in the future in exchange for a nod from the voters on election day.
If that is the case, why do politicians break their promises so often? And more importantly why do they get away with it? Does a promise still have a value for the people? If a party leader says he will cut taxes, create jobs and eliminate the problems if he is elected to his post he will be judged, when he seeks re-election, on whether he did indeed cut taxes, create jobs and eliminate the problems.
That is the problem of the incumbent.
A promise, in a sense, is a social contract with the voter. It is commitment to be met in the future, delivered over the five-year mandate of a government, in exchange for a vote, to be delivered at the ballot box now. Politicians who keep their promises rarely let voters forget it. As political consultant Barry McLoughlin puts it, the eight most powerful words in politics are: “I did what I said I would do.”
The candidates speak…
Cowardly acts can’t cow us down: Dr Fakhro
Dr Munira Fakhro comes across as an astute politician with a passion to work for the people of Bahrain. She is a qualified candidate contesting for the parliament elections as she is an associate professor at the University of Bahrain and has a doctorate in social policy, planning and administration from Columbia University. A veteran in politics who is backed by Wa’ad Society, Dr Fakhro has actively worked for women’s rights and democratisation. In an exclusive interview with Bahrain Tribune, Dr Fakhro discusses her plans and policies for the elections.
What prompted you to contest the election?
In the last elections, political societies decided to boycott the elections. We continued our activities for four years and are now prepared to contest the elections. We learned that we have to be in the system to change it and this is what I am going to do. The participation of the societies in the election will enrich the democratic experience in the Kingdom.
What are the issues in your constituency?
Isa Town is one of the oldest places in the Kingdom that was built in the 60’s. The major issues that have not been addressed are housing, unemployment, bad sewerage system and education. There are some blocks where there are old houses that would collapse anytime and this is dangerous as there are families cramped in the small rooms. These are issues in almost every constituency in Bahrain and we as candidates have to focus on them. I would like to mention here that another main issue in my area is that voters are sceptical to vote as the outgoing parliament did not work for their welfare. I am trying to convince them that this time around, things are different.
Now that you have mentioned about the outgoing parliament, what do you think of its performance?
The last parliament was powerless and they could not execute their work on time. There were many projects discussed in the House but at the end of the day we are back where we were four years ago. It’s time for a change and the new parliamentarians have to get more powers and this is what we will fight for.
What about women candidates being harassed?
Some people feel that by sending text messages threatening us, pulling down our posters, or ransacking our tents they can stop us. I would like to tell them that we will continue with our work despite all these cowardly acts. I have been informed that there is a moustache drawn on my face in one of the posters. It’s absurd! Instead of supporting us they are trying to pull us down. There are still people who think it is taboo for a women to contest elections. In my constituency, there are more women voters then men. Well, this year I believe that all women candidates are qualified than their male counterparts and will win more seats in the House.
Tell us about your manifesto?
Empowerment of women is one of the main issues that I would like to work for. People still think that women are not qualified to run the country. One can look at the CV of the women candidates and compare it with their male counterparts. If I make it to the parliament, I would be in the Committee of Education and work for creating awareness about the importance of education and work towards reducing the school dropout rate.
What is the response to your campaign?
It’s a mixed feeling among the voters in my area. Some have decided that they would not cast their vote as they feel nothing will change. I am working to change this mindset among the electorate. I am trying to reach the voters by meeting them in their houses especially the women folk in my area.
Climate good for investment: Hamza
Hamza Saeed Abdullah is known as the son of the soil in his area. Born and brought up in the district, he says that there has only been a superficial change in the constituency, and the problems remain.
What are the main problems in your area?
There is no proper planning for infrastructure carried out in our area for a long time now. The road network is bad, houses are dilapidated and the citizens pay the price for all this. There are old houses that were built in the 60’s and they still stand and pose a threat as they may collapse any time. Land encroachment is a serious issue in my area as there are many pieces of land that have been used for construction without any intimation to the owner of the land.
How did the sitting councillor perform during his tenure?
The electorate will answer this question as they are the ones who have been cheated for four years. They did not see any of the promises being fulfilled and now the voters are angry. We want the voters to give us a chance so that we can make a difference. There is a lot of potential that needs to be utilised properly.
What is the potential that you talk about?
There is a good opportunity for investors and the business climate is good for the business community. The business community, however, is only interested in investing in Manama and other areas of Bahrain but not Isa Town. We need to change this attitude. A green belt of parks is also on my agenda.
Will you throw some light on your manifesto?
I am working on a master plan with my team which aims to improve infrastructure and sewerage. There are old houses with eight family members living. There is no proper provision for housing. Their parents had applied for the housing units and are waiting for years. I will work towards reducing the allocation time.
What is your take on women contesting the elections?
We welcome the decision of women to participate in the elections. In my constituency, of the 9740 voters, about 5200 are women. We will work with them in the House and will support them in their endeavours.
Off the beaten track
House No: 4543, Road No: 1216 should have been a popular address, not because it is some swank building or a celebrity lives there, but it was the first house to come up in the block in 1969.
Today, the house is in shambles, urgently requiring repairs to save it from crumbling down. Basheer Yaqood has been living with his family in the house since 1969 and now there are six members in the family. “There is no proper drainage and the ceiling in the living room is ready to give away anytime. I have repaired it umpteen number of times but have now stopped since I have to save money for my children. If we apply for loan from the Social Pension Fund, I end up paying high interest rates.”
In August this year, one of the walls in Basheer’s house caved in but fortunately no one was injured. “We are living under testing conditions and there is no one to help us. This was the first house in the area and it was allocated to my father,” he said.
People say there are several houses in similar condition which are virtual death traps in Blocks 810, 811 and 812.
It’s ironical that Isa Town, which was launched as a project to solve the housing problems of the people, should present such a pathetic picture now.
Medicare slips away
Poor infrastructure, dilapidated houses ready to fall apart and unemployment are some of the major issues, but the residents are most peeved by the shifting of the only available health centre some time ago. The Isa Town Health Centre was the main medicare centre catering to the people of this area, till it was shifted to Sanad a couple of years ago. This has resulted in great inconvenience to the residents as they have to travel long distances for medical attention now. The health centre has been converted into a home for the aged. The senior citizens in the area find it particularly difficult to trek all the way to Sanad or shell out money on taxis.
Voters have their say
Abdulla Isa:
I will not vote for anyone as we have been cheated in the past and we expect a similar story again. The outgoing MPs did not even bother to show their faces after they got elected. Where have they gone and what have they done? There are no proper roads and houses in our area and they expect us to vote for them. I get BD 120 as pension and have to support my family. I did not pay my electricity bill and the pending amount has gone up to BD 300. Why don’t they create more job opportunities rather than wasting time and money on the elections.
Sayed Ali Hassan:
I will vote for Munira Fakhro as I feel that the goals she has set up are helpful not only for the people in our area but for the Kingdom as a whole. The government should expedite the allocation of the houses to families. Families are growing but they are all living in one room. Munira understands our problems and she is popular among the womenfolk in our area.
Basheer Yaqood:
My family will be voting but I will not vote as I feel it won’t make much of a difference. I would also like to say that there should be a price regulatory body set up to monitor the fluctuating prices of essential commodities. Earlier, one could buy three boxes of potatoes for BD 1 but now the rates have increased.
Salman Abdul Rahman
I think this is the time for us to elect individuals and bring new people and show the way to the old ones. Everyone should exercise their voting rights and should support their candidates. I want the housing situation to improve in my area. Some have to take loans from the Social Funds where the interest rate is high. There are also no street lights in our area.
Fact file
Sitting MP – Saleh Ali Mohammed
Sitting Councillor – Isa Al Khadi
Electorate – 9740 (including 5200 women)
Swing Factor
A strong anti-incumbency wave seems to be sweeping this constituency, with the electorate fed up with the non-performance of the sitting members, both in the Chamber of Deputies and the Municipal Council.
The presence of a strong female electorate – they outnumber the men voters in the constituency – is another major factor which should influence the outcome. Besides, the candidates in the forefront of the electoral battle are staunchly backed by societies, bringing in team work that is bound to overshadow the efforts of the independents.
Dr Munira Fakhro emerges as a strong contender for the Chamber of Deputies seat given her social, political, educational and family background while Hamza Saeed Abdullah appears to be in the driver’s seat when it come to the Municipal Council. Chairman of the Isa Town Ma’atam, Hamza is popular for the efforts he made to improve infrastructure in the area.
Straw Poll
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES
Munira Fakhroo – 60%
Salah Ali – 20%
Salah Fuad Ibrahim – 20%
Municipal Council
Hamza Saeed Abdullah- 50%
Ibrahim Bu Hazza- 15%
Jassim Moh’s Bin Rajab – 35%
Article from: Bahrain Tribune Newspaper- www.BahrainTribune.com
