Public debate strengthens govt Thursday, 17 February 2011 04:02

The start of 2011 has been full of surprises.

Over the past few weeks we have had one surprise after another. First Woqod raised fuel prices, then came the Qatar Central Bank directive to close down Islamic banking activities of conventional banks, closely followed by news that the government was planning to buy out Mawashi. And finally Qatar Ports Management Company gave the task of managing and operating the Doha Port to Qatar Navigation.

Last Thursday, trading in Mawashi shares on the Qatari bourse was suddenly suspended. According to a statement by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, this was prompted by the fact that the government wanted to buy Mawashi.

This action appeared to indicate that the government was reversing its professed goal of privatisation and opening up of the market to private capital.

No one was more surprised than the Chairman of Mawashi himself. He said on Tuesday that he had not yet received an official buyout offer from the government. He said that no meeting has been held with any representative of the government. He said he came to know about it through the Qatari bourse website.

These developments do not seem to be aligned to the country’s professed policy goals. Instead, it looks like taking the country back to the time when the government controlled primary businesses.

The decisions, moreover, were announced suddenly. Is it because the government thinks by announcing such plans in advance would lead to public debate like the proposal of charging Qataris for electricity consumption beyond a certain limit when the Ministry of Electricity and Water was converted into Kahramaa.

There was widespread opposition over that issue resulting in the proposal being dropped. The subject was never taken up again.

Is the government trying to avoid similar debates over its plans that may slow down or possibly block the government plans?

That, however, is narrow view. The government gets more strength by looking more transparent and being able to face public debate and possibly opposition to proposals. We hope that the Advisory Council would take up these issues for debate.

One surprise that we are, however, eagerly waiting for is the announcement of the Press and Publications Law which has been long overdue various ministers in the past have made promises it would come soon.

The Peninsula