Qatar: Municipal member threatens to quit

DOHA • The lone woman member of the Central Municipal Council (CMC), Sheikha Al Jefairi, has threatened to quit in protest against what she says are improper procedures being followed from the start of the current term of the Council.

Speaking on the phone from Cairo, Al Jefairi told The Peninsula yesterday: "Yes, I have told the Council I would resign if these wrong procedures are not done away with."

During the regular meeting of the CMC on Tuesday, Al Jaffiri criticised the decision to withhold the recommendations of the Council's services committee. The recommendations should be made available to all CMC members before the meeting. It may be noted that only some of the 29 members of the CMC are on the services panel.

Although Al Jefairi is not a member of the services committee and instead heads the Council's legal committee, she told the House not revealing the panel's recommendations on key public issues before the regular meeting of the CMC is a violation of the code of ethics and procedures of the democratically-elected council.

Al Jefairi, who represents the Old Airport area of Doha in the CMC and had won for the second time the last election with a thumping majority, said the practice prevented CMC members from studying the issues listed in the recommendations and taking notes since they directly impact citizens.

Access to the recommendations before they are discussed in the House would help members seek the views of citizens and experts on these issues, she said.

She also criticized the CMC Chairman's decision to end the meeting of the Council without ratifying the recommendations made at the end of deliberations.

The decision is in breach of Article 51 of the law governing the duties of the council which stipulates that CMC recommendations and resolutions should be decided by majority of votes, she said.

"As head of the legal affairs committee at the Council, I reject such unethical procedures being followed at the meetings," Al Jaffiri pointed out.

Ibrahim Al Ibrahim Al Jefairi, another CMC member, supported her stand and said that he had already resigned from the services committee over the issue she has raised. He said all CMC members should get documents in advance to study the issues.

Meanwhile, the CMC meeting reviewed the recommendations on soaring prices in Qatar and were forwarded to the Ministry of Economy for necessary action. The recommendations include diversification of imported products to Qatar, particularly foodstuffs and building materials besides granting new licences for the import of vegetables and fruits for new companies and offering them space in the central market to facilitate merchandise.

- The Peninsula/ By Mohamed Saeed