ABU DHABI // Dr Abdullah Al Shamsi is an FNC member who has made a point of addressing the needs of retirees.
“For me, the important issue was retirees, their concerns and their salaries,” he says, noting that their pensions do not match the standard of living in the UAE.
But he stresses that the FNC simply reminds the Government of its duties.
“Our nation and its Government are the ones who find the solutions before we present our questions in the council – our initiatives are only reminders, while the work goes on without us knowing,” he says.
However, there is much transparency between the Government and the representatives of the Emiratis on the council.
Furthermore, Dr Al Shamsi says he is thankful for being a part of the FNC. Many wish for the opportunity he has received.
“I won the election during that time and my desire to be a member on the FNC drives me to do the best work in the council for the sake of serving our sons and the nation,” he says.
He adds that the election was a challenge as he had to prove his abilities to voters. The election and the FNC have come a long way in becoming modern and meeting the needs of people.
“We are in a modern era that is always changing and our council is keeping the pace with changes, whether they be technology or information,” he says.
“For this is an era that does not stop for anyone and what is new today becomes old after a short time.”
Dr Al Shamsi, who represents Ajman, says that even though members are from different emirates, they speak on behalf the UAE as a whole.
“We represent the people of the whole nation, not just the emirate we were elected from, and this is a huge responsibility for us to do good work and serve the good people of the UAE, which deserves a council that gives to them and finds solutions to problems,” he says.
He adds that his previous work with the police has helped, allowing him to learn about people’s issues and concerns.
Dr Al Shamsi has enjoyed his time on the council.
“I cherish being in this grand edifice that works as much as possible to find solutions to many of the problems of the community,” he says.
“Our journey is not just for leaders but for Emirati society.
“Our society offers the most and it is not possible without cohesion and cooperation to serve our country,” he says.
“We are confident that the amount of development in our country is not limited to one person but it is holistic development of people to be a part of the community that imposes the duties and rights of the UAE.”
osalem@thenational.ae
