Muscat: A record turnout, including 25 expatriate voters, elected 12 new board members to the Omani Journalist Association (OJA).
"We are very pleased to see a big turnout of voters for our elections," Awad Bin Saeed Baquwair, who polled most number of 155 votes, told Gulf News. He added that 192 members turned up at the OJA office in Al Khuwair but only 163 eligible voters voted. "One vote was invalid," he said.
Baquwair said that the newly elected 12 members will now meet on Saturday to democratically elect office bearers. He said that the OJA would now focus on training young Omanis in the profession.
"The big turnout is a proof of fraternity's faith in the body (OJA)," believes the veteran Omani journalist, who is tipped to take over as the chairman. Jihan was the lone woman member elected by the members.
The elected members: Awad Bin Saeed Baquwair, Taleb Bin Saif Al Dabari, Salim Bin Saleem Al Habsi, Saim Bin Hamad Al Jahwary, Al Wadah Bin Taleeb Al Maawali, Abdullah Bin Saeed Al Jahwary, Ali Bin Rashid Al Mataa'ni, Ahmed Bin Salim Ba Timerah, Hamood Bin Ali Al Tooqi, Saif Bin Sulaiman Al Muzani, Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Shizawi and Jihan Bint Abdullah Al Lamkiyah.
