As Oman is celebrating the 42nd Renaissance Day of the nation, every corner of the country is thrilled with joy. The day is very promising for the citizens and residents alike for the prosperity and stability the Sultanate has achieved ever since His Majesty Sultan Qaboos ascended the throne.
It is also a day of thanksgiving for His Majesty’s wise governance during the last four decades of the blessed Renaissance. The day is also the time to reaffirm allegiance to the benevolent leader and renew our pledge to safeguard, consolidate and take active part in the ongoing process of nation building.
The blessed Renaissance that dawned on Oman 42 years back continues to grow in the same path of success. The enviable development that we see today is the result of His Majesty’s vision for a country enriched in basic values.
The optimism which has reigned upon the country four decades ago is now at its helm. The liberalisation policies and socio-economic development taking place in the country is very much on line with its glorious historical culture of the past.
His Majesty’s commitment for a promising era was very evident from his earlier speeches. In an inspiring address to the nation he pointed out: "My people, I will proceed as quickly as possible to transform your life into a prosperous one with a bright future." He is indeed a gifted man who left no stone unturned in fulfilling his promise to his subjects.
Within a record time, Oman saw the light at the end of the tunnel as the blessed Renaissance began to spread to all over the Sultanate. On His Majesty’s call, people who migrated to other countries started returning to their homeland. They listened to him and trusted in his able and caring leadership. Today the Sultanate and its citizens enjoy the fruits of his efforts.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has led the Renaissance with supreme dedication and devotion. Thus, Oman has been transformed into a modern nation with a sense of commitment and pride to its rich heritage and deep-rooted traditions.
Along with His Majesty’s personal commitment to the national development, he called upon all Omani citizens to shoulder the responsibility and play an active role in shaping their country. He believed it was essential that the people should work closely with the government like different organs of a single body.
On the Sultanate’s first National Day, His Majesty said: “As far as domestic policy is concerned, our plan is to build our country and provide its entire population with a prosperous life. That can only be achieved when the people share the burden of responsibility and help with the task of building. We have opened up opportunities for our citizens to achieve this end, and we shall strive hard to establish just, democratic rule in our country within the framework of our Omani Arab reality, the customs and traditions of our community and the teachings of Islam — which always light our path”.
Following the royal call for active participation of the citizens in nation building, Omanis have adjusted themselves to the changes taking place around them. The Omani society now enjoys free access to education, healthcare and employment.
Members from all wilayats of the Sultanate were nominated to join Majlis Ash’shura. In fact, Oman’s traditions and the close social cohesion that exists among the members of the community helped the collaborative work in the country and formed an integrated society.
Commenting on the collaborative process of taking the national decisions, His Majesty said: “It was our wish, from the very beginning, to see Oman embark upon its own enterprise in the field of democratic action in which its citizens play their part in taking national decisions. This enterprise has been built up brick by brick on firm foundations based on the realities of Omani life and the conditions of the age in which we live. This is reflected on the step by step approach which we adopted in this regard, which culminated in all legally eligible citizens — both men and women — being granted the right to vote”.
His Majesty has established the framework for mutual co-operation between the government and citizens to guarantee survival, growth and strength of the national development. In this regard, he pointed out: “The Government and the people are as one body. If one of its limbs fails to do its duty, the other parts of the body too will suffer”.
The national Renaissance continues with the clear philosophy based on two important elements of priority in the leadership vision, the first of which is to build a modern state, while the second is to develop the Omani people in order to participate fully in the task of the realisation of comprehensive development of the country.