‘Govt must up food production’
‘Lessen dependency on imports’
“OVER the past few years, we were informed by the local and regional media that Kuwait topped in food security among the Arab nations, which is an apparent positive and a reassuring achievement but the Corona pandemic revealed that Kuwaiti food security did not take into account the global crisis which locked down all areas and activities, most notably economic, social, sports, religious and touristic,” columnist Sheikha Hessa Al-Hamoud Al-Salem Al-Sabah wrote for Al-Anba daily.
“Only countries which have achieved self-sufficiency in providing essential goods to their citizens have proven themselves in the face of the Corona crisis, and the truth is that food security can only be achieved by selfsufficiency without depending on imports, monopoly and management of corruption which will not bring about any food security in these difficult times and circumstances.
“The food security of any society is not an innovation in the modern era, as the Holy Qur’an elaborated on this matter in many verses such as the Almighty saying: ‘Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear’. ‘And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allah; so Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing’. The Holy Qur’an also elaborated in details the issue of food security as we know in the story of Prophet Yousuf, (PBUH), which was based on five axes:
“As we know the governments mush purchase the product at a fair price and encourage more production, the storage facilities must be apt to preserve the product; this should be followed by rationalization of consumption in preparation for the years of drought and finally the most important factor is that the righteous and honest scholars steer the matters.
“Therefore, I was pleased when Kuwait proposed to its brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council states to establish a food security network linking the Gulf states to achieve integration and self-sufficiency. Although the proposal has come late, we go with the saying, ‘Better late than never’ and the same implies to food security externally compounded with the Gulf states investing in agriculture and livestock in the GCC states or in the neighboring countries.
“As for the food security locally within Kuwait, the government is under obligation and has no option other than direct supervision through the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources to support serious farmers and workers in the livestock and fisheries sector by providing them all material support and expertise to develop and increase production and prevent the monopoly of certain companies in the area of food security, and that the government by purchasing products at a fair price, it stimulates workers to increase production and prevents corruption of giving importance to imported products over local produce, which is the main cause of the current crisis.
“I hope the government will assume responsibility and seek the help of experts locally and globally and replace some entertainment and supplemental industries with food industries to exploit any surplus in agricultural crops, livestock and fish resources that can be stored, add to this the media focus on educating citizens to rationalize consumption and preserve the blessing so that God may preserve us in times of distress, because this pandemic, despite its bitterness, it revealed to us the amount of deception and falsehood that we were experiencing and clearly showed us the glitches in everything, it is a golden opportunity to fix what has been corrupted by neglect over the years.
“God save Kuwait and the whole world from all evil.”
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“With the Kuwait government’s success in fighting and thwarting further spread of the Corona epidemic through cohesion and government cooperation, Kuwaitis have restored confidence in their government after a long time. Soon, the epidemic will subside, and its devastating economic repercussions will surface if left untreated with foresight and wisdom,” Adnan Abdullah Al-Othman wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
“I believe that government will be able to get the economy out of the bottleneck if it continues the serious, firm and coherent approach away from street pressures. From my service in banking, real estate and charitable sectors, spanning almost forty years, I believe I am able to give an indication- albeit hypothetically, of handling economic repercussions since the Capital Market crisis with subsequent decisions and laws that were marred by many flaws, extended beyond the brutal invasion.
“The invasion, through which we entered an episode of economic and social crises, was dealt with by laws of reconstruction, which resulted in inflation, steady increase in population, and change in demographics. It was the beginning of an era that recedes in the education and culture. The situation did not get much right until the events of September 11, then came the global crisis in 2008 but the country stood firm. How did Kuwait manage to stand firm in the midst of all these crises? What is the secret of her ability to recover quickly?
“The answer is clear: its investment policy based on the principle of the oldest finance minister in history, the Prophet Yusuf - peace be upon him - and we have the voice of wisdom in the Holy Quran when the Almighty says: “Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people; perhaps they will know [about you]. [Joseph] said, “You will plant for seven years consecutively; and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat. Then will come after that seven difficult [years] which will consume what you saved for them, except a little from which you will store. Then will come after that a year in which the people will be given rain and in which they will press [olives and grapes].”
“This Quranic principle has been observed by Kuwait since the era of late Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, right from the time he was the Minister of Finance. We are now about to open state coffers to deal with the economic effects of this epidemic, and there is no voucher for that, but the question is: How long can the coffers meet the needs of the country in light of pastoral policy and rampant corruption in some parts of the state, poor productivity, and the absence of genuine role played by private sector?
“The answer is clear: we will reach the point of no return and administrative bankruptcy before financial bankruptcy in a short time if economic reforms do not start now – within the support plan for economic sectors facing the repercussions of the crisis. It means the stimulus package must be linked to a reform package, and clearly, grants must be followed by recovery with one law. In the next article we’ll see the possible outcome.”
“The Council of Ministers have stated the accusation of corruption and money laundering raised on the ‘Malaysian Sovereign Fund’ in the era of accountability and integrity will be investigated, and the current focus on health crisis will not distract them from fighting corruption and pursuing the manifestation of infringement of public funds,” Dr Turki Al-Azmi wrote for Al-Rai daily.
“The United States of America is preparing next Tuesday to return to normalcy while observing personal protection laws. Returning to the statement of the Council of Ministers, we want to ask the following questions ...
Months into the Corona crisis, the Ministry of Health has established a special committee on Corona virus amid talks about setting specific requirements for the protection of front line workers among the doctors and nursing staff. What does that mean?
“Administrative corruption is what we are suffering from. The United States stresses personal protection while we are in the process of forming committees. When the task of dealing with any issue - including Corona - is entrusted to non-specialists and every specialist is held accountable, a note of warning will be sounded that a mistake has occurred, so it is very natural that we are facing a dilemma, which we have yet to lay our hands on!
“We talk about a reality that does not differ from the nature of our dealings with all issues of financial, administrative and moral corruption for decades. Many questions come to mind that reformers are burning with concern about the bad situation in relation to previous issues such as social security, Eurofighter, rain crisis, pending projects, demographics, agricultural and animal holdings, and food security. What have they come up with? Are the perpetrators held accountable?
“Personal protection the United States has committed its people to will not end after returning life to normal. Rather, it’ll remain in place and in force, including the freedom and protection of those who report cases of corruption. Therefore, we see that the right approach to fighting corruption comes through the gate of personal protection, while many groups calling for reform are still looking for a suitable way out and only a few remain pessimistic ...
“How do we actually start accounting for corruption? Summary: This is the beginning of personal protection from evil and the symbols of corruption, as we begin a new phase that is different from that of the past.
“We only want to create a valid group that includes reformers from various specializations by announcing the request for volunteers who have experience and competence. Many of them are in the pensioners’ register, so whoever has not been proven guilty of administrative or financial corruption can be part of voluntary work for the benefit of the country.
“This group - if God permits them to emerge with given powers - does not need time to operate, as it only requires a day or two to collect information published via social media, in addition to what has been investigated and researched from other parties. Are we heading toward a new era? ... may Allah help us.”
“Return to normal life in light of the corona crisis is a hot topic these days, but the announcement of conditions for this life is absent until now,” columnist Muddafar Abdullah wrote for Al-Jarida daily.
“Should the corona epidemic have come to reveal all this corruption we are experiencing politically, economically and administratively? In my opinion, yes, but why?
“The answer is not because the legislative and executive authorities have reached the pathological deficit with which they are no longer able to do something -because they are partners in it in the first place -- but for a more serious reason, which is the silence of people over what is happening -- the tragedies. The worst of these tragedies is the stealing of people’s money from the institution which guarantees their dignity once they are no longer part of the job market, I mean the Public Institution for Social Security. This silence could have several justifications, but the timing of its explosion is the biggest danger.
“Before the emergence of corona, this silence encouraged corrupt people to steal. At the time, there were almost weekly attacks that insulted people in terms of their money, job rights and freedoms. It was as if a challenge to them saying, ‘we will steal and break the law because we did not find anyone to stop our hands.’
“Returning to the first question: What is the use of many positions, bodies, and even some ministries, while we endure the corona epidemic? There are other similar questions: What is the benefit for me if we have a higher planning council -- the biggest lie in this country, likewise a higher petroleum council and others, except courtesies, satisfaction and disbursement of exorbitant financial rewards to members without any action or effort? Why the attack on consumer cooperatives a year ago and the attempt of greedy dealers to allocate them under the pretext of corruption with government facilitation, as if the hands of the two authorities are clean of this charge?
“Today, we see these societies and the health system in the country as de facto rulers of people’s lives. Are there people still demanding for privatization of cooperative societies?”
“Cultural security means providing the basics and capabilities of citizens in the freedom of choice, innovation and creation,” columnist Mohammad Nasser AlSanousi wrote for Al-Qabas daily.
“This is the essence of a healthy, innovative, creative and mature society, although cultural security is the most dangerous and comprehensive in my estimation, as it provides the cultural and scientific basis for ensuring development and progress.
“Is there a strategic political decision to enter Kuwait strongly in the field of research of an entire system to catch up with the scientific and technological development? ... The answer is one word and it is in the negative, as there is no strategic decision in Kuwait with regard to Science, education, health, agriculture or cultural diversity for dialogue and development.
“A specialized agency in this field cannot answer a single question about its perception of the future of Kuwait after twenty years -- a short period in the people’s lives.
“A lot of things happened as agreed. The official or minister who claims to have a strategic vision is guiding him in his field of work. But, we are surprised that the official takes his vision with him when the moment of departure comes.
“The new official comes with a new strategic vision. In fact, there was no strategic vision agreed upon by either the former minister or the subsequent minister.
“Kuwait faces many challenges if we are not aware of the dangers, so we may move from the situation in which the soft State establishes laws but cannot implement them to that of a failed State whose problems are deeper and more widespread. The Holy Qur’an urged dialogue and acquaintance among civilizations, while reform starts with self-criticism, improvement and guidance.”