Prince urges voters to choose wisely

Umm Al Quwain: Shaikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Umm Al Quwain Crown Prince, yesterday urged voters to pick the right person in the Federal National Council (FNC) election, saying the winners will face a challenge in raising the standard of living in the emirate.

He said this is a new experience for people in the country.

There are 26 candidates, including one woman, contesting two seats. The electorate comprises 403 voters.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, said everything seems to be in place and is running smoothly. He noted that there has been a lot of interest among the people here to come in and vote.

He said this is the most important stage in the election as people are voting for the “right people who will cooperate with the government.''

Voting started at 8am and a woman voter said she had picked the right person who will serve the country well. “The role of women is very important since they have proved successful in many fields and in many responsibilities,'' said Mona Tahnoun, a manager of the social development centre.

The first voter of the day was Sultan Bin Ali As Shuwaiq. He described the day as a “democratic celebration''. “Everyone here knows each other and they know whom they want,'' he said.