The hotels are reporting good business, and the smiles are back on the faces of the ubiquitous gold shop owners in the downtown Manama. “People are coming back in big numbers, and the cash is flowing again,” said Ibrahim Hassan of the Star Jewelry shop. “We have announced excellent promotions to generate sales and to make up for the lost business in the last two months.”
Cultural activities also are back in full swing. On Wednesday, Deputy Premier Mohammed bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa and Culture Minister Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa opened a weeklong Heritage Festival at the 15th century Arad Fort. The event showcases Bahrain’s civilization and the creativity of its people in different fields through the ages.
“People are no longer scared,” said journalist Bonny Mascarenhas. “They are coming out — perhaps with a vengeance. This is their way of making a statement. They want to reiterate their support for the country in a way they deem fit. With each passing day you see things getting back to normal.”
Mascrenhas was in Dubai earlier this week and returned to Bahrain on Wednesday evening. “The Gulf Air flight that my family and I were returning on was full to capacity. The airport at Manama was buzzing with activity, and on Thursday evening when we went out to shop at City Center Mall, we could not find a parking space. So we went around and decided to go the nearby Lulu Hypermarket. There also we could not find a space, so then we reluctantly came back to spend a quiet evening at home.”
“The children have started going to schools,” said Indian homemaker Rubina Siddiqui. “The malls are full of people; the taxis are plying normally, and our social activities are back with full vigor. All that happened just two months ago seems like it had happened ages ago.” In addition to tourists, a large number of expatriate and Saudi children who study in Bahrain are seeing things return to normal.
“My two sons had stopped going there after the troubles had started. Even the drivers who would ferry them over the bridge had stopped their service,” said Dr. Javed Bilal, whose sons are working on their MBAs. “Now they are back and are telling us that everything is just as it was before.”
On Thursday, Bahrain’s ministries, state departments, schools, streets and malls were decorated with the posters of the leaders of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia along with the flags of the two nations as a show of gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s assistance in restoring order.
Although political issues remain to be resolved, the government has succeeded in getting the security situation in total control. For businesses and foreign investors this was the most important aspect. With the initiative now firmly with the government, political observers say there are expectations that the government will slowly switch on the political process to accommodate all sections of society back into the process of governance. Young Bahrainis interviewed by the Bahrain News Agency seemed confident that would happen.
“The recent unfortunate events generated a sense of loyalty toward our country,” said 23-year-old Sarah Yousif Zainal. “I came to realize how blessed I am to be a Bahraini citizen … To think that we, the youth, are the ones who can shape Bahrain’s future is by itself a huge motivation.” “As a nursing student, I believe that cooperation is what could move us forward; therefore, we need to join hands in order to improve and rebuild our beloved country,” said 22-year-old Zakiya Jameel Ahmed. “I believe and I’m certain of the brighter future that awaits Bahrain placed in the younger generations’ higher education and knowledge that will contribute positively in developing and building the kingdom.”
“Being a part of my Bahrain, starts with loving and giving to country, leaders, families and friends; respecting the other parts of the society — the rights and the rules of it,” said 22-year-old Marwan Kamal Al-Theeb. “That way, we can build a strong home and a society together hand-in-hand. Bahrain is for all Bahrainis.”
