People vote for ‘issues and not personalities’

A candidate for one of the most densely-populated constituencies in Qatar, Constituency 1 (Al Jasra) yesterday slammed the inaction of members of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) and said his running in the election was based on one agenda: changes in how public servants respond to people’s grievances.

Khalid Ibrahim Mohamed Hussain Langawi, 40, said as a citizen he had not seen CMC “doing anything” since first elections were held in 1999.

“Have you looked at the condition of schools, of primary healthcare centres, the smaller public gardens in my constituency? They are in run down conditions,” Langawi, who stood in local-body elections for the first time, said.

Al Jasra constituency, spreads from the Civil Defence headquarters (Wadi Al Sail) near Corniche to the Marriot Hotel, and includes 23 densely-populated areas of Bin Mahmoud, Al Muntazah, Musheireb, Al Souq, and so on, making it the true heart of Doha.

“The irony is that the Baladiya (Doha) and ministries and other important agencies are actually located in this same constituency… but still not much has been done,” Langawi said.

“I want to change this and make people’s voices heard at the CMC,” he added, while greeting and meeting people at the polling station earmarked for Al Jasra, after they cast their vote.

According to him, HH the Emir himself is bringing changes to the way CMC works and members will no longer just be content with making “recommendations”.

“With the coming empowerment, we will be able to call relevant authorities directly and ask them why the Al Muntazah Park has been closed to public for years now, for example… why the Al Muntazah primary healthcare centre’s walls are broken and parking is not sufficient… what is the status of the Doha Port and so on,” Langawi said.

Other contesting candidates also said the only agenda they have is that of their constituents.

Faisal Rashid al-Badr, who contested Constituency 7 (Al Salata) told Gulf Times at the polling station in Al Mamoura that people around him urged him to stand in an effort to make their voices heard.

“I just always knew I had to get to CMC… not for prestige, but to raise the issues I experience first-hand as a citizen,” al-Badr said.

His opponent, the incumbent from Al Salata, Abdullah Said al-Sulaiti however said his aim was to continue the mission he embarked on years ago.

“I won the elections in 2007 and want to continue the mission. I can say my vision has evolved since then and I want to contribute more to my country through my participation in municipal affairs,” al-Sulaiti said.

“As far as I understand, most voters this time around are voting based on issues and not personalities. That is a welcome move,” al-Sulaiti added.

Photocaption: Officials overseeing the smooth conduct of the polling