*Veteran councillor says she is confident of victory in CMC polls scheduled for Tuesday

Veteran councillor Sheikha bint Yousef al-Jufairi, who is contesting her fifth election as a candidate to the Central Municipal Council, said she is confident of victory this time too on the back of her services to the residents of her constituency.

The sixth Central Municipal Council (CMC) elections will be held on April 16.

Sheikha al-Jufairi is a candidate from Constituency No 8 that includes 25 different localities. She said she has been busy campaigning that included visits and reviewing the final arrangements for the poll.

In an exclusive interview to Gulf Times, Sheikha al-Jufairi said she is confident that she will win easily this time too. She was elected unopposed twice.

“My track record as a CMC representative will help me secure victory. I praise God as he helped me to discharge my duties to my country, to my voters as well as the non-Qatari residents in my constituency,” she said.

This year, there are 94 candidates in the fray for the 29 seats. “Interestingly, we have more female voters than male voters. And it’s high time we ensured a befitting representation for women,” she said adding women empowerment and welfare are among the subjects which she lays stress on. “In fact, my decision to contest the poll and my presence in the CMC have inspired several Qatari women. They are increasingly drawn towards the democratic process. They are now actively involved in social work," she said.

Currently, CMC has two women representatives and five women candidates have filed nominations for the next council.

“I am glad that the number of women candidates is showing an upward trend in Qatar,” she said.

For the first time, Sheikha al-Jufairi contested the second election held for the council in 2003. And she had been the lone woman representative in the council until 2015.

When it comes to social service , Sheikha al-Jufairi has left her mark in infrastructure development, welfare, health, sanitation and education sectors. Following her intervention, parks and walkways were built in various localities of her constituency. This helps residents spend their leisure time in healthy surroundings and engage in physical activities, she said. After she raised the matter, sanitation facilities were improved at various localities by the authorities concerned.

During her present tenure, the veteran 'councillor' made efforts to improve traffic and road transportation facilities. As a result, the condition of various roads and signals was improved. A few pedestrian bridges have also been built. Those bridges, according to Sheikha al-Jufairi, helped both motorists and pedestrians.

Among her other achievements is the establishment of a health centre at Umm Ghuwailina while new treatment facilities were added to existing health centres and hospitals. Also, renovation of educational institutions and mosques was done after she brought the matter to the attention of the authorities.

Kahramaa, which set up a new sub-station, also carried out several development works in her constituency in order to ensure drinking water connection for the residents.

As part of her campaigning, Sheikha al-Jufairi has released a manifesto highlighting her achievements and promising steps for the betterment of the society. She has also issued an exclusive manifesto for persons with visual impairment.

“I want to become a representative of all and give all due consideration,” she said.

She has pledged to work for more pedestrian bridges, exclusive halls for wedding, playgrounds for kids, football ground for the youth and parks for residents, in various localities.