Between Us Only! 

We Need To Be Serious!

REPEAT ARTICLE FROM ONE YEAR AGO!!

Practising more of what is being preached and in reality!

 Thr difference between rhetoric and reality!

In my article last week I had said – What shocked me the most is these elements of wanting to control, dominate and subjugate in the old days methodologies – and in the old guards doctrines – from the higher levels – even to a fellow educated, qualified and experienced fellow peer Omani!

But allowing flexibility and freedom to the expatriate clans – and not your own! Like I always say – Like that General shooting at one’s own troops metaphorically speaking here!

Coincidentally, after coming from a public place – very frustrated, disgruntled and unhappy – I then I found this article I wrote for my column over a year ago! I then asked myself – if anything positive and progressive has happened? You be the judge. The article was titled – We Need To Be Serious!

The article just said – The other day I had gone to this Medical Centre in Town. As I entered the place there was this Western lady who was at the Reception Desk. She was wearing a white nurse dress – so I presume she was a real nurse acting out the duties and function as The Receptionist cum Administrator at the counter.

She was trying hard to be friendly – and you could tell it was all an act and charade – until she realized that we spoke Queens English to be more receptive! Or perhaps the place encourages only the Rich and Famous Omanis – not like us!

I was wondering to myself whether she was really doing the job as such full time – or would not surprise me being just off Eid – if there was an Omani boy or girl doing the ‘real’ job – but as usual – and not surprising again – the fear of the rain and the Wadis – or just Shuwa and Mishkaak (Meat Meals!) at the home village had decided not to turn up – like the rest of the Private Sector did!

It then dawned to me that if she (Receptionist) was really doing this job full time – then she must have come in on a Labour Clearance and Visa of a Nurse (or even Doctor – nothing is surprising anymore to me now!). And that must be a very expensive exercise for the establishment – and needed to be done anyway because she came with the ‘investment package’ from home – or through other connections, contacts and reasons.

If that was the case, for sure this job (like many others too!) could easily have been done by a local – given the right touch, encouragement, push, mentoring, guidance and coaching! But then who really cares? If you can circumvent the rules and regulations for your benefit – and the others are looking the other way – why not I ask you? Not only in that place but in so many other places too in Town! We Need To Be Serious!

But if even more senior jobs ‘reserved only for Omanis’ like Admin, PRO, Secretaries and Human Resources Managers are being done now openly by expatriates under fanciful names – why not? Incidentally and coincidentally if you go to the Professional Sites liked LinkedIn, you will see them brave enough to call themselves as just plain HR Managers – and nothing to be scared or to be afraid about!

Frankly too – and the other side of the coin – if you as a local and are not really serious about your job aspects, accountabilities and responsibilities – and give them an excuse to bring in a friend or contact from home – or is already here looking for a job or something better – whom do you blame – them or just plain you?

After all they have come here to invest with Returns (Profits) On Investments – ROI! And if the office atmosphere can be cheered the more by having home faces – or more friendlier faces – why not!

If the excuse was that she was acting because it being Thursday and the Youth insist on a five-day week as per the new regulations– the two days off could be made on shift-basis – and recruiting more Omanis for the position. This instead of wanting to give bad name to Omanis as being ‘not cooperative – even with overtime offers’ – instead of these short cuts!

The same story starts to repeat itself with the introduction of the basic minimum salaries – and what followed next! Here we go again! There is something that I must also say and repeat here for the benefits of everyone – and I hope common sense, dynamism, realism, pragmatism and vision will come in!

First and foremost – there is no more this element of fear still running or even scantily – and secondly everybody is just fed up to the tilt! The element of being afraid is now well a thing of the past!

And if you still think that the old games and gimmicks will still work in winning always – you have got it all wrong – and are just deluding no one but yourself only – and those near you! In desperation and last attempt and effort – last week I had written in the same column – Let The Strong Man Win!

Please do not tempt to scare me anymore now – because in the end we will all lose – some even sooner than the others! Perhaps I think I may need to start to think to quit now writing anymore for ever – because I always get hurt and pained in the end – and I end with a bloodied face – and swollen head banging it against brick walls!

Added  Comments – I feel sometimes like just giving up – and just let whatever is designated to come just pass – because we are still not hearing people speaking to us – and or seeing the things they are saying to us – and not even allowing them to talk to us now! When will we ever learn? Until it is too late – for everyone?

Take Care! 

By: 

Majid Al Suleimany

I am so angry and not puting in any images 😦 !!!