His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, appealed to all Bahraini traders to assume their patriotic role to cement national unity and rebuild their society.
“Bahrain traders have long been known for advocating national unity and shunning division and dissent”, he said during a visit to Beit Al-Tejjar, the headquarters of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) on Tuesday.
He gave a frank account of the difficult times which faced Bahrain, leaving their heavy negative toll on the lives of Bahrainis at national, cultural, social, economic and psychological levels.
He deplored the “unusual crisis” which befell the nation and impacted citizens negatively.
He also made an earnest plea to emerge from the traumatic crisis as soon as possible and avert its recurrence.
“The repercussions of the crisis had a direct detrimental impact on Bahrain’s trade sector and economy”, he said.
He paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa for leading the reform movement towards improving citizens’ living standards.
“HM the King has ordered us to ensure development serves citizens, protects their dignity and achieves the progress they aspire to”, he said, adding that he rallied behind HM the King, with all his force, to carry out royal orders and implement them.
“No one can deny or denigrate the landmark development strides achieved by Bahrain over recent years on all levels and refuses to perceive their positive dividends and build on them”, he said.
HRH Prince Salman hailed the strong historic relations bonding Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He pointed out that he explained the nature of the relations bonding Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and other GCC states in all the meetings he held with the Al-Wefaq Society during the crisis.
In this regard, he said that he had spared no effort to preserve the status of Bahrain, protect hard-won achievements and prevent the country from falling in the cauldron of sedition.
“These things are alien to Bahrain, seeing its landmark status and outstanding achievements on all levels”, he said.
Addressing traders, he told them they are best placed to know, more than anyone else, that productive citizens are Bahrain’s best assets.
“You all know, better than anyone else, that the state spares no effort to anchor justice, equality, sustainability and promote citizens standard of living to ensure absolute social justice.
“This is what HM King Hamad advocates incessantly. This is what we believe in firmly”, he said.
HRH Prince Salman urged all parties to engage in self-evaluation and assess past actions for the nation to regain it unity and cohesion.
He stressed the importance of differentiating between civic and political rights.
He described civic rights are inalienable to all citizens, beyond any doubt.
However, he warned against exercising sectarian-motivated political rights, seeing their detrimental impact on the nation and society.
“We should have a firm belief in Bahrain as a nation embracing all people and that we all are Bahrainis and Muslims”, HRH Prince Salman said.
He called on traders to unify their stances, urging them to voice all that is right, without hesitation, and assume their national duties for the sake of the nation.
He also appealed to the business community to be at the forefront to confront sectarian calls seeking to sow division and discrimination, ensure civic rights for all and leave no stone unturned to cement national and constructive partnership between the public and private sectors.
HRH Prince Salman urged traders to avoid any bickering, heckling or unilateral views and put the unity of Bahrain and vital interests above all other considerations.
“We are losers should we slip in the cauldron of division, sedition and discrimination.
We are all winners when peace, security and unity reign in our beloved motherland”, HRH Prince Salman said.
He said that he had recently opened his majlis to reach out regularly to all citizens and gauge their needs and demands.
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) chairman Dr. Essam Fakhro earlier delivered a speech, welcoming HRH Prince Salman.
He thanked him for keenness on traders’ interests, pledging firm allegiance of Beit Al-Tejjar.
He also extended deep thanks to the wise leadership for supporting Bahraini trading community.