Proposal for Direct Citizen-Government Talks

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

“The goal is simple:

bring the problem,

the person affected

and the decision-maker to

one table.”

              -  Dr Muneer Seroor, MP

A proposal to put citizens face to face with those in charge of housing, jobs, Bahrainisation, schools and public services at talks across the governorates has been lodged in Parliament.

MP Dr Munir Seroor has called for each session to deal with one issue at a time, giving residents the chance to raise concerns directly with the ministry or public body responsible.

The proposal will first go before the relevant parliamentary committee for study before being put to Parliament for a vote.

Dr Seroor said the plan would add to the open meetings already held with residents across the governorates rather than replace them.

‘Each session would focus on one issue and bring in those who deal with it directly,’ he said.

Jobs and Bahrainisation, housing, education, public services and youth affairs are among the subjects named in the proposal.

Citizens would be able to tell those responsible what they have faced, what they need and what they think should change.

Those responsible could then explain the rules, how the system works, the difficulties they face and what can be done.

Dr Seroor said keeping each meeting centred on one subject would give residents and government bodies room to deal with it properly instead of jumping between unrelated concerns.

‘Citizens would have the chance to put their experiences, needs and ideas directly before those responsible for the issue,’ he said.

‘Government bodies would also hear from people on the ground and explain their policies, procedures, challenges and the options available.’

Ideas and suggested fixes raised during the talks would be recorded, passed to the bodies concerned and followed up afterwards.

Dr Seroor said no new councils or departments would be needed.

The talks would use governorate buildings, meeting rooms and other facilities already in place, with the ministry or public body concerned invited according to the subject under discussion.

He summed up the idea as bringing together one clear problem, a citizen affected by it and the person responsible for dealing with it to discuss possible answers and what should happen next.

Dr Seroor said the meetings would also help government bodies see how policies and services affect people on the ground and spot problems that keep returning.

‘The aim is to turn dialogue into action,’ he said.

‘It gives citizens a place to speak directly, hear from the person responsible and take part in putting forward solutions.’

The proposal says the plan should cost little because it would rely on venues and meetings already used by the governorates.

It also seeks to give residents a greater say in finding answers to problems that affect them rather than simply receiving public services.