The Shweir community is known for its talent in the construction field. In fact, the intricate arches of Beiteddine, Bkerki, Diman, Qartaba and the old souk in Zouk were all built by Shweiris. Sword making is another craft the Shweiris are famous for, not to mention that the locals have historically had a particular interest in pursuing education, a sector which flourished in the hands of missionary Dr. William Carslaw who established the Secondary Shweir School which today is a center for the Evangelical Synod of Lebanon and Syria.

Many prolific figures emerged in the Shweir area including, but not limited to, the great thinker Khalil Saadeh and his son, the founder of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, Antoun Saadeh.

What are the municipality’s major accomplishments on the levels of infrastructure, environment, administrative reform and economic progress?

I’ve been a social and philanthropic activist and a member of the Shweir municipal council long before my predecessor Mr. Elias Abou Saab decided to give up his municipal post to be able delve into parliamentary life. Our municipality has been active on several fronts. We are able to provide electricity around the clock, thanks to five power generators operating under our supervision. Unlike the case in most of the Lebanese towns, all houses and streets in Shweir are fortunate to enjoy 24/7 electricity. Water has also ranked high on our agenda and we have purchased water pumps and generators to ensure continuous supply of water from Aintoura’s well which feeds the Matn region.

The town is home to a medical emergency center established in cooperation and under the supervision of the municipality. We also have a private caterpillar that assists the Ministry of Works and Public Transport’s snow vehicles in opening roads, noting that my predecessor has put his own snow vehicles at the disposal of the municipality to keep roads passable during winter. There is an information center in the town’s square to guide tourists and visitors and the municipal police patrol the town at night to ensure the safety of its inhabitants.

With respect to sewage disposal, a sewerage network has been present in Shweir since 1958 and we are currently waiting until the waste water treatment plant is complete in Wadi Al-Jamajem to connect the network thereto.

On the environmental level, the municipality has built and maintained hiking trails to help new comers explore and enjoy the nature of Dhour Shweir and we are working on the preservation of forest resources in the area in cooperation with Evergreen and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Special attention has been accorded to the architecture of the old Souk. The design of the facades stretching along the Souk’s road has been unified and red-roofed tents were set up to preserve the Shweiri rural aspect and maintain the traditional fabric of the town.

Can you tell us more about the annual Al-Moghtaribeen Festival and its role in attracting Arab and foreign tourists?

The Al-Moghtaribeen Festival (Emigrants’ Festival) has become a vital artery for the town in summer. The festival dates back to 1962. It was halted during Lebanon’s Civil War but returned after 1990. In the past three years, the festival has assumed a new global importance. Every year the festival hosts the Miss Emigrants pageant, which is a crucial event revitalizing the connection between all Lebanese. Expatriate candidates are elected in their corresponding countries from around the world and come to Shweir to participate in the pageant under the auspices of embassies and the World Lebanese Cultural Union.

The festival, which lasts for about a month, offers numerous activities including the Village Day, a combination of arts, music and entertainment events and folkloric and traditional programs. No admission is charged but the thousands flocking daily to attend the festival help reviving the local businesses and tourist facilities and contribute greatly to improving the economic and tourist prospects of the town.

The municipality is also responsible for the organization of the Lebanese Army Day, which features a technical and military show. This year, our town has also been a destination for the Lebanese Motocross Championship.

Shweir is home to two hotels. A school, SABIS, was established last year in order to accommodate disadvantaged children. For now, only primary schooling is provided.

Were there any major obstacles that impeded the evolution of your municipal work?

The town suffers from meager public funding and is not given its timely share of the Independent Municipal Fund or the telecoms revenues. Around LBP 1 billion have been allotted from the telecoms revenues to the municipality of Shweir and Ain Al-Sindyaneh, but we still have not received a penny of it. Fortunately, the local community extends both moral and financial support to the municipality, including generous donations that enable us to improve the well being of the town and its residents.