Dr Esam Abdulla Fakhro, Chairman Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), yesterday denied the possibility of any financial support by the BCCI for candidates in the upcoming Chamber of Deputies elections scheduled to be held later this year.
Dr Esam, in a statement also rejected the rumours that the BCCI would back certain blocs or political parties and said the Kingdom's Constitution doesn't discriminate any section of the society regardless of their political affiliations.
While underlining the importance of the private sector, he urged the private sector to participate in the upcoming electoral process with a prime aim to serve the national economy as an elected member of the lower house of the Parliament.
Dr. Essam Fakhro said that the chamber would remain open to all parties, movements and associations, as well as independent candidates and was confident that the goal of everyone to participate in the elections would remain to serve the homeland and citizens.
"Politics and the economy go on hand-in-hand and it cannot be the separation between politics and the economy which underlines the important role of the House of Representatives in formulating the economic future of the Kingdom of Bahrain," he said.
"A fair representation from the private sector in the Chamber of Deputies will help the commercial
sector to send across their concerns when it comes to the formulation of the national policies," he added.
The challenges being faced by the businesses, he added, can be well-served by the representatives in the Chamber of Deputies from the private sector.
"Private sector representatives can resolve many of the problems the economy is facing. But I think at the same time the current Parliament, despite some attempts by some representatives who believe in the role of the private sector in economic prosperity, did not give adequate attention to the economy and its development," he said.
"There are many MPs who have no economic background and this particular issue had prompted a large number of traders to embrace the idea of backing businessmen and merchants in the election of the Chamber of Deputies for the next term. "This approach will largely address the issue of private sector representation and also provide a chance to the parliamentarians to focus on the economy which is the main artery for development," he said.
He called upon the private sector to participate actively and constructively in the parliamentary elections and to vote for those who they feel will work for the economic and social development of the country.
He urged the members of the BCCI to exercise their Constitutional right by participating in the municipal and parliamentary elections as a renewed opportunity.
He said that the full participation of all segments of the society would strengthen the democracy in line with the principles of the Constitution and democratic approach as a fundamental pillar.
"We are at the brink of rapid changes due to the economic dynamics and these changes were creating opportunities as well as posing many challenges. These challenges have to be understood and addressed quickly to reap the benefits of such changes by people working in the BCCI as well as in the political arena like the Parliament," he added.
"The Parliament needs people with wisdom, experience and necessary exposure to the economic and business areas so they can protect the rights of the citizens and defend the businesses while being a part of the policymaking," he said.
By Mahmood Rafique
© Bahrain Tribune 2010
