Bahrain News Agency (BNA) acting director Mohannad Suleiman, who bagged the highest votes on Saturday during the BJA elections, extended his deepest thanks and appreciation to members of the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA) for electing him as board member.
“Your confidence is a roadmap for new-look BJA board members to achieve the journalists’ aspirations”, he said, hailing the young Bahraini competencies in the panel. He described the democratic exercise as reflecting Bahrain’s press strides, paying credit to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa for embarking on the reform project which promoted the atmosphere of freedom in Bahrain.
He also extended the tribute to His Royal Highness Prime Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander for their support. Suleiman thanked all journalists for voting for him. “My victory is for all BJA members”, he said, adding that the new-look board is but the first step in the march to promote the press profession for the sake of the nation.
On Saturday, Bahrain Journalists Society (BJA) elected a new-look eight-member board with over 290 BJA members took part in the elections held at the Juffair-based A-Uruba Club.
According to results, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) acting director Mohanned Suleiman topped all the contestants in the fray, landing 242 votes. The other winners are respectively Al-Bilad Editor-in-Chief Moanes Al-Murdi (222 votes), Al-Watan journalist Ahmed Al-Mudawab (219 votes), Ahdeya Ahmed, Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (189 votes), Mohammed Al-Ahmed, Al-Ayyam (179 votes), Al-Watan’s Samah Allam (176 votes), Al-Wasat Editor-in-Chief (175 votes) and Abdulla Al-Mannai, Akhbar Al-Khaleej (134 votes). The other contestants included Mohammed Ismael (131 votes), Ehab Ahmed, Al-Watan (123 votes), Khalil Yusuf, Al-Ayyam, (76 votes) and Hamad Al-Hermi, Al-Bilad, (71 votes). Al-Ayyam Editor-in-Chief Isa Al-Shaiji had already been re-elected as BJA chairman for a new term. Al-Shaiji denied allegations certain foreign reporters were being barred from entering Bahraini. He also described allegations other journalists were wanted for security reasons as untrue. The BJA annual assembly approved the code of honour, urging journalists to give their feed-back.