With the state approving its biggest ever budget of QR225.7bn for the 2014-15 fiscal year, which is 3.5 percent bigger than last year, Qatari citizens realise the kind of development our wise leadership is seeking.
Over the past few years the country has been allocating huge budgets for construction of infrastructure that is of the same standard as the high-quality services the state provides to those living in this country. Additionally, the state provides welfare and decent living to its citizens.
Whatever the country is doing to achieve development is part of the National Development Strategy 2011/2016, which is based on Qatar National Vision 2030.
A big part of the current budget was allocated according to estimates of expenditure for development projects. A sum of QR87.5bn has been allocated to the main projects. However, we are suffering due to poor implementation of projects, delays and the inability to complete them in time. In my opinion, this is because of poor planning and lack of sincerity on the part of those responsible for the projects.
The flooding of underpasses on Salwa Road following rains last month was a major betrayal. We cannot be happy when we hear that the country allocated the biggest share of its budget to these big projects and they were found to be flawed. The state has paid hundreds of billions of riyals to dishonest officials who do not fear God. If such amounts of money were spent on a continent, it would be God’s paradise on earth.
When we plan for a project and start implementing it, we get a concussion, accompanied by severe dementia and sudden stupidity, and the reason is unknown. We do not know whether the problem lies with the high figures allocated for the projects or those implementing them. It is a strange thing, as everybody agrees that we are outstanding in holding international conferences and implementing investment projects outside Qatar. However, it is totally different when we implement vital projects in Qatar — everything goes wrong, either due to natural factors or theft and embezzlement.
Hamad Airport is the biggest proof of the corruption, confusion and apathy we suffer from. I hope the rail project does not suffer from the same malaise, as the country is counting on it much and all are paying the price for its construction in terms of road closures and traffic jams.
We are tired of hoping that the guilty get punished for their negligence, poor planning and bad implementation. We hope they serve as an example to others, as Qatar is not the responsibility of a group of people alone; she is our responsibility until the end of time.
