Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DOHA1257
2006-08-21 14:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
DISAPPOINTMENT IN ELECTED MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
how-tonull sdohasntsc 08/27/2006 04:28:45 PM From DB/Inbox: AUG06 Archive Cable Text: UNCLAS DOHA 01257 SIPDIS CXDOHA: ACTION: P/E INFO: USLO DAO PAO RAO DCM AMB DISSEMINATION: P/E /2 CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:CGUNTERMEYER DRAFTED: P/E:RPYOTT CLEARED: DCM:MRATNEY, P/E:TFINGARSON VZCZCDOI412 RR RUEHC RUEHZM DE RUEHDO #1257 2331431 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 211431Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5421 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS DOHA 001257
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM QA
SUBJECT: DISAPPOINTMENT IN ELECTED MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
UNCLAS DOHA 001257
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM QA
SUBJECT: DISAPPOINTMENT IN ELECTED MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
1. (U) Summary. A recent newspaper survey revealed that most Qataris
are disappointed in the performance of the Central Municipal
Council, to date Qatar's only elected body. Critics said that the
Council has no real power and has not accomplished anything of note.
The survey suggests that Qataris will expect more from the National
Assembly, a legislative body that will see its first elections next
year. End Summary.
2. (U) Eighty-five percent of respondents to a newspaper survey
expressed extreme disappointment in the performance of the Central
Municipal Council (CMC). Many respondents said its performance was
weak and there was a lack of transparency in its workings. The
Municipal Council is Qatar's first (and to date only) elected body;
polls were held in 1999 and 2003, and one woman was elected. The CMC
has been beset by lack of authority on municipal issues. Its charter
gives it only an advisory role to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs
and Agriculture.
3. (U) One of those surveyed said "some members may as well not be
there. They do not serve their constituencies." Another observed
that "there are plenty of problems in society that require lasting
solutions. We haven't had any solutions so far from the CMC or its
members." Another said that "the CMC has not given any services
during its term. The members not qualified to serve should be
dismissed. There are more negatives than positives."
4. (U) Problems mentioned by constituents include high rents,
derelict buildings, improper valuation of land, and poor drainage in
side streets. There are also not enough parks for family outings,
high fees charged by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Agriculture for various services, and issues created by rapid urban
expansion. One responded that "the role of the CMC is weak in
providing services. We haven't seen any achievements to date....
Most of the streets are in bad condition, and supervision by the CMC
over contractors is negligible. Once a new street is completed,
defects crop up in no time."
5. (U) The minority of respondents who approved of the work of the
CMC stated that it was functioning to the best of its ability. The
sole woman member of the CMC criticized the survey on its
statistical merits and said the survey was motivated by ill-feeling
between the paper and the Council.
6. (U) Separately, a member of the CMC resigned because he felt he
had reached a dead-end and had nothing to give or to achieve. In a
conversation with Emboff, he said he holds himself accountable to
the electorate. He had made promises but could fulfill them;
moreover, the constituents themselves lost trust in the Municipal
Council after seven years with no tangible results. Consequently, it
became difficult to keep in communication with his constituents, he
said. He blamed the Municipal Council presidency for turning the
Council into an uninspiring and bureaucratic body. He added that the
CMC has no strategy or work plans.
7. (U) The Central Municipal Council was established by law in 1998.
It consists of 29 Qatari members elected from the same number of
districts throughout Qatar who meet every two weeks. The Council has
a staff and a budget from the national government. Its role is to
"monitor the laws, resolutions, and regulations" of the Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and to "plan and program the
economic, social, financial, and administrative aspects of municipal
affairs and agriculture." The Council's statutes state that it look
into complaints, recommend laws, request studies, monitor the
licensing of hotels and regulations concerning picnic places, and
monitor laws concerning advertising, among other things.
--------------
Comment
--------------
8. (SBU) The CMC suffers from a lack of real power, and the Ministry
of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture -- one of Qatar's largest --
has skillfully avoided any interference by it. Popular
disappointment in the CMC shows that Qataris are keen to participate
in their own governance and will hold their elected officials to
higher standards than prevail elsewhere in the region. The country's
elected legislative body, expected in 2007, will need respond to
this desire, and their expectations, if it is to fulfill a genuine
role as a branch of Qatar's government.
UNTERMEYER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM QA
SUBJECT: DISAPPOINTMENT IN ELECTED MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
1. (U) Summary. A recent newspaper survey revealed that most Qataris
are disappointed in the performance of the Central Municipal
Council, to date Qatar's only elected body. Critics said that the
Council has no real power and has not accomplished anything of note.
The survey suggests that Qataris will expect more from the National
Assembly, a legislative body that will see its first elections next
year. End Summary.
2. (U) Eighty-five percent of respondents to a newspaper survey
expressed extreme disappointment in the performance of the Central
Municipal Council (CMC). Many respondents said its performance was
weak and there was a lack of transparency in its workings. The
Municipal Council is Qatar's first (and to date only) elected body;
polls were held in 1999 and 2003, and one woman was elected. The CMC
has been beset by lack of authority on municipal issues. Its charter
gives it only an advisory role to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs
and Agriculture.
3. (U) One of those surveyed said "some members may as well not be
there. They do not serve their constituencies." Another observed
that "there are plenty of problems in society that require lasting
solutions. We haven't had any solutions so far from the CMC or its
members." Another said that "the CMC has not given any services
during its term. The members not qualified to serve should be
dismissed. There are more negatives than positives."
4. (U) Problems mentioned by constituents include high rents,
derelict buildings, improper valuation of land, and poor drainage in
side streets. There are also not enough parks for family outings,
high fees charged by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Agriculture for various services, and issues created by rapid urban
expansion. One responded that "the role of the CMC is weak in
providing services. We haven't seen any achievements to date....
Most of the streets are in bad condition, and supervision by the CMC
over contractors is negligible. Once a new street is completed,
defects crop up in no time."
5. (U) The minority of respondents who approved of the work of the
CMC stated that it was functioning to the best of its ability. The
sole woman member of the CMC criticized the survey on its
statistical merits and said the survey was motivated by ill-feeling
between the paper and the Council.
6. (U) Separately, a member of the CMC resigned because he felt he
had reached a dead-end and had nothing to give or to achieve. In a
conversation with Emboff, he said he holds himself accountable to
the electorate. He had made promises but could fulfill them;
moreover, the constituents themselves lost trust in the Municipal
Council after seven years with no tangible results. Consequently, it
became difficult to keep in communication with his constituents, he
said. He blamed the Municipal Council presidency for turning the
Council into an uninspiring and bureaucratic body. He added that the
CMC has no strategy or work plans.
7. (U) The Central Municipal Council was established by law in 1998.
It consists of 29 Qatari members elected from the same number of
districts throughout Qatar who meet every two weeks. The Council has
a staff and a budget from the national government. Its role is to
"monitor the laws, resolutions, and regulations" of the Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Agriculture and to "plan and program the
economic, social, financial, and administrative aspects of municipal
affairs and agriculture." The Council's statutes state that it look
into complaints, recommend laws, request studies, monitor the
licensing of hotels and regulations concerning picnic places, and
monitor laws concerning advertising, among other things.
--------------
Comment
--------------
8. (SBU) The CMC suffers from a lack of real power, and the Ministry
of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture -- one of Qatar's largest --
has skillfully avoided any interference by it. Popular
disappointment in the CMC shows that Qataris are keen to participate
in their own governance and will hold their elected officials to
higher standards than prevail elsewhere in the region. The country's
elected legislative body, expected in 2007, will need respond to
this desire, and their expectations, if it is to fulfill a genuine
role as a branch of Qatar's government.
UNTERMEYER