Many writers have been expressing their opinion on the issue of national dialogue and reforms, and I can’t say I was not impressed. We may not fully agree on what is being floated, but there is unanimity when it comes to the question of the country’s unity, Islamic principles and loyalty to our rulers who are the very symbol of unity.

Intellectuals, businessmen and officials all agree on the necessity of meaningful dialogue. We need to discuss all matters of direct concern to the citizens, notably the obstacles that hamper development and progress and foster corruption and unemployment.

In our attempt to remove the masks and search for solutions, we must not seek to accuse or incriminate others. Our common goal remains arriving at an acceptable plan even if this means agreeing on just 70 percent of what is being put up for discussion. This would still represent a good start. It has to be supplemented by a carefully monitored timetable.

I suggest as a start that we have a committee of 100 members representing different segments of society to lead the dialogue with the conference itself, chaired by a member of the country’s leadership as an active participant. The dialogue has to be conducted in a free manner, away from any protocols and within Islamic traditions and loyalty to the rulers.

While aspiring for reform and progress, we have to adopt a step-by-step approach and benefit from the experience of others, taking what suits us and rejecting all that is not desirable. Many countries have representative bodies, political parties and opposition newspapers; but all this has not inoculated them against corruption.

Indeed, in some countries we see how a very few have taken control of everything, manipulating their positions to plunder public money. Not every one elected to an office is the best.

Of the many issues to be debated is whether allowing women to run for office or just settle for giving them the right to vote; the basis on which we will conduct elections; whether tribal considerations shall be taken into account or just qualifications; and whether we shall take the experiments of other Gulf countries as a role model.

Some see the solution in copying other experiments; others may opt for a gradual process starting with elections at the level of city councils then moving on to regional and national bodies.

All this could come in phases. But what we need right now is the introduction of urgent and specific measures: Reforming the judiciary to be able to cope with the needs of our time, administrative reforms to rid the public service of corruption, protecting public money, streamlining and controlling public spending, ending the long tradition of spending much of the state budget on government employees and ending all land grants of more than 1,000 square meters.

Introducing new taxes would not be possible if there is no representation of taxpayers in regional or national councils. Also, the mandate of the Shoura Council has to be amended if it is to play the role of other parliaments: Debating the national budget, curtailing military spending, having a say in all policies that affect the freedom, security and livelihood of the citizens.