Page 323 - Begrave Thesis_Neat

As for the Administration, Belgrave’s stubbornness and insistence on

remaining in his position awarded nationalists with the perfect scapegoat to pour

their wrath and frustration on. Furthermore, the failure of Belgrave and the

Administration in improving the local Police Force haunted Bahrain as policemen

failed to control riots that resulted in terrible outcomes. The Adviser further failed

to keep up with the times, as he did not make use of modern channels of

communication early like the radio, press, and film to highlight to locals the

Administration’s work and achievements over the years. If such channels were

utilised early it could have deflated support from the nationalists.

It is unfortunate that Bahrain’s political party of the 1950s ended on the note

it did. If the opposition had adopted a more flexible approach and managed to build

on to its political gains, it would have turned into an early watchdog to the

Administration and contributed to the political and social development of Bahrain.

© Hamad E. Abdulla 302