Expectations of a post-Bajammal Cabinet [Archives:2007/1041/Community]
By: Maged Thabet Al-Kholidy
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A new Yemeni prime minister recently was appointed to replace Abdulqader Bajammal. On this occasion, it's a duty to congratulate him and wish him to be “the best successor for the best ancestor.” As a national reaction, it's expected that the new Cabinet will offer at least a better and stable state of living.
As usual, the new prime minister must learn from predecessors like Bajammal and Eryani. His multiple experiences in various fields of work also might help him make the right decisions, not for personal advantage, but for the nation's prosperity and welfare.
Having held several high-ranking positions in Bajammal's Cabinet, new Prime Minister Ali Mujawar must be aware of situations in government institutions. Although it seems a play to replace one with another, Mujawar's experience has helped him to impartially appoint only qualified personnel, apart from personal relations, mediations, etc. In any event, Yemeni citizens have nothing to do except hopefully expect how a post-Bajammal Yemen will be.
Being academically specialized in economics, Mujawar is expected to find permanent solutions to economic instability, as well as suggest new projects that can strengthen Yemen's overall economy. Prices are expected to go down, although surprisingly, they already increased on the day of his appointment. No unemployment, no poverty and many other no's are expected in the coming era of progress and prosperity.
As a very important ministry, the Ministry of Finance should generate new practical policies to defeat any possible defect(s) from previous Cabinet(s) and they should solve financial obstacles, which, in some cases, are amenable for other ministries' failures. The budget should be balanced properly and foreign currency exchanges rates should be fixed. Above all, the International Bank no longer should make loans to other nations.
Mujawar's experience in the academic and education field will help him appoint appropriate individuals to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. Particularly in this field, thousands of reforms are expected.
Although I've not witnessed it for several years, I really hope the poor government university libraries will become richer with books, so students may realize why they are paying so-called “annual library fees.” This is just one simple problem in the field of education and I think there's no need to talk about others, since they are innumerable, common and well known by all.
Within the Ministry of Health, reforms at least should begin with free treatment, with some, if not all, free medicine. Newly specialized hospitals and departments should be constructed for more complicated diseases. Better health care is foreseen, not merely through good treatment, but also through prevention programs. The ministry itself should be able to say, “No need to travel abroad,” and eventually, “No need for private hospitals.”
A qualified minister at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is supposed to widen Yemen's industrial horizons instead of importing everything from other countries, such as the dear China, the lovely India and others. “It's time to depend on our own resources and potentialities,” one optimistic individual said. Locally made products should be the most demanded, not only because of low prices, but also for the high quality of such local industries.
The Ministry of Interior should establish a bridge of security between citizens. It's hoped that security men no longer will work as beggars at police stations and even at traffic offices and intersections. No terrorist attacks, and subsequently, no terrorists would be “wanted” by the so-called “terrorism fighters.” The number of crazy men on the streets somehow would be decreased. Moreover, security forces constantly must be qualified so they'll prove ready and skillful in any critical situation, such as that of Sa'ada.
Better international relations are the responsibility of the Ministry of Exterior. Diplomatic relations with other countries can strengthen economics through tourism, export, investment and many other commercial projects. Additionally, no disputes should occur with any other nation so that stability can be ensured, both locally and internationally.
Above all, we have the Ministry of Electricity, which was Mujawar's last position. Here, it's not merely an expectation, as Mujawar himself vowed to make 2007 a year with very limited power failures by implementing a revised energy production strategy. That's great, but it would be greater if it lasts longer than 2007.
In fact, the new electricity minister doesn't need a vow for 2007, but maybe for the coming year(s). Actually, citizens don't expect to receive electricity free of charge. It's more than enough for it to be continuous; otherwise, a new ministry is recommended, to be called, “The Ministry of Electricity Failures” to organize and order sudden power failures.
Dear readers, daydreaming is free; do it and neglect “before receiving bills to be paid.” There must be hopes of receiving positive responses from the new prime minister and his Cabinet, who should seriously view our nation's simple needs through the mind's eye.
Majed Thabet Al-kholidy is a writer from Taiz, currently doing his M.A. at English Dep, Taiz Uni. He is an ex-editor of English Journal of the University.
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