My Fellow Citizens...
The last thing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia needs now is to present itself to the outside world as a nation in disharmony with its female citizens. The heated debate now raging in the local press, with some commentators advocating and others denouncing the participation of women in the upcoming municipal elections, has highlighted the degree to which we have allowed ourselves to lose sight of the true essence and benefits municipal elections can bring about to the quality of our lives, and to the empowerment of our citizens. Instead, we have allowed ourselves to spark the fire of a gender debate that will have no end.
What we seem to forget is that the whole process of choosing municipal councilors through election is to give the Saudi citizens a first-hand experience in a decision-making process that will primarily affect the family unit. Municipal councils aim to serve the neighborhood and its community. This cannot be achieved without a team spirit and an innate respect for the needs of others as well as the notion of building on each other’s experiences. The primary client and stakeholder who will reap the fruits from the labor of these councils is the citizen: Men, women, adolescents and children, who, in their totality constitute the human race. Without one, the other is incomplete.
As a woman, it disheartens me to see women being made an issue when no issue exists. It also saddens me to see some of our intellectuals and our distinguished writers drift from the burning issue of the moment. Up until now, I have not heard of any plan or agenda, suggested or otherwise, that might constitute the bare framework of any one municipal council among the 178 that are planned to be created. It is as if we have jumped on the bandwagon of municipal elections for the “sake of municipal elections” rather than municipal elections for the sake of our nation’s development.
What we need to focus on at this point in time is to get our energies and our plans together to set a collective agenda for what we wish our candidates, male and female, need to do. Whoever decides to run must be able to convince us that he or she will work as an agent of change. That he or she will live up to the expectations the people have of them.
In order for that to happen, let us engage now on a more constructive dialogue — a dialogue that will bring forth ideas and plans for what we, the citizens of the Kingdom, want from a candidate who has the courage and determination to deliver. What matters now is not the sex of the candidate, but rather his credibility and her commitment to get the job done.
I would like to see future dialogues in our local papers focused on what we, the citizens, require from the candidates. Candidates should provide us with an agenda outlining short-term priority issues as well as long-term strategic plans. They should also provide us with plans outlining achievable and time-related goals. More important, we want our candidates to set a work standard for themselves that highlights their commitment to transparency and accountability to their constituents. We would feel reassured that the process of elections starts off positively and constructively only if these standards are met.
Having said that, I conclude by saying may the best Woman or Man win.
— Fatin Yousef Bundagji is director, Women Empowerment & Research, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry. [email protected]
