The sultan's birthday is coming November 18 HM to preside over National Day parade The celebrations will coincide with the opening of many development projects both in the government and private sectors - MUSCAT — A military parade to be presided over by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos will mark the 41st National Day celebrations, which will also be celebrated with fireworks in Muscat and Dhofar and the opening of many development projects, both in the government and the private sectors, said Shaikh Sabbaa bin Hamdan al Saadi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for National Day Celebrations. The military parade will take place at parade grounds at the Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Sciences in the Wilayat of Nizwa on Friday, November 18, while fireworks on the occasion of the blessed National Day will be held in the wilayats of Bausher, Seeb and Salalah at 8 pm on Friday. In a statement to Oman News Agency, Shaikh Sabbaa the committee started early to prepare for the celebrations installing illuminated festoons and the Sultanate’s flag along the highway from Muscat to Al Baraka roundabout, while at the same time decorating flyovers and pedestrian overpasses. A reception will also be held as part of the National Day celebrations programme, Al Saadi added. Al Saadi expressed allegiance and gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan, the architect of Oman’s modern renaissance, for all the achievements brought about in the country during his prosperous reign. The 41st National Day commemorates an event of momentous significance — the empowerment of the Omani people. Indeed, 2011 has been a year of historic highs for Oman, characterised by a succession of landmark events that culminated recently in the inauguration of an enfranchised, empowered and invigorated Majlis Oman. Political pundits have hailed the opening of the 5th term of reconstituted Majlis Oman as a new beginning for Oman. For one, the Lower Chamber of this 5th edition of the Majlis — the Majlis Ash’shura — is the product of a national ballot that was, for the first time in the decades-long shura (consultative) process, truly free and all-encompassing. For another, the new Majlis’s expanded remit enjoins its members — particularly those of the Majlis Ash’shura — to play their part jointly with the government in advancing the nation’s development and prosperity. His Majesty eloquently articulated this point when he stated thus: The gradual development of the shura process, underpinned by strong foundations and stable pillars, has led to the establishment of a Majlis that is now ready to contribute “effectively to the decision-making process for the higher interest of the country and citizens”. The revitalised Majlis Oman is set to play a national role, given the enlargement of its mandate encompassing the legislative and audit fields. His Majesty devoted a key part of his address to reaffirming the government’s commitment to the continued development of the Omani youth and the nation’s human capital. “We have always affirmed our continued attention to the development of human resources and we said that these resources take top priority in our plans and programmes as the human being is the cornerstone of every development structure and a pivotal component around which all types of development revolve as their ultimate goal is the happiness of the individual, providing him with a means of a decent living and guaranteeing his security and safety,” His Majesty commented. In his address, His Majesty also pledged to ensure that the youth of Oman get all the support and assistance they need in order to develop their collective ability to contribute to the nation’s comprehensive development. In this regard, he underlined the need for a “comprehensive assessment” of the country’s educational sector, with a view to ensure that it is capable of meeting the aspirations of Omanis with regard to their career goals. Royal Decree 99/2011 surpassed even popular expectations of the nature and magnitude of these legislative and audit powers. In a demonstration of His Majesty’s true intent to empower his people, through their elected representatives, the Royal Decree co-opts the Chairpersons of the two Majlises in procedures stipulated for the selection of a successor to the Royal throne. From the Oman Observer November, 14, 2011