Former Lebanese Prime Minister and veteran Tripoli MP, Amin al-Hafez, who died last month at the age of 83, will be remembered for the integrity and sense of duty he showed during a period of Lebanese history that would have destroyed lesser men. He came from a generation that believed in putting the interests of the state above all else.
It is worth taking time to reflect on the values espoused by Hafez and the distinguished generation from which he emerged. He was in many ways a moral compass and an example of national selflessness.
Today, as our politicians are trying to form a new cabinet, they would do well to remember his example as they abandon their electoral promises and rush to secure the most lucrative portfolios to further consolidate power, rather than work for the good of the nation.
Hafez is survived by his son Ramzi, a journalist and the publisher of Lebanon Opportunities, a magazine that seeks to put forward Lebanese expertise and know-how.
Some of that resourcefulness would bode well for the Lebanese working in the GCC, as it seems complacency is begining to take hold there.
The Gulf is an area where the Lebanese have traditionally succeeded through a combination of hard work, relevant skill-sets and good relations with their fellow Arabs. For example, the media in the GCC has long been dominated by the Lebanese. Today however, the Lebanese lead in this industry is in danger of being overtaken by hungrier international media groups.
Faced with these sorts of challenges, the Lebanese public and private sectors across all industries must jettison their ‘short-termism’ and culture of self-interest and make genuine plans for the medium and long terms. The world appears to be gearing up to move out of a recession just as Lebanon appears to be once again hunkering down for some regional drama.
A nation with its finger on the regional pulse is out of step with global trends.
