Panel okays KD 6 bln budget to develop Kuwait armament

Cancel licences of ‘suspicious’ cafes: MP

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim

Al-Seyassah Staff

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 20: The parliamentary Finance and Budget Joint Committee appro-ved Sunday the request of the government for a budget of KD 6 billion to develop Kuwait’s armament.

Sources explained the committee endorsed the suggestion to take KD 3 billion from the General Reserve Fund and the other KD 3 billion will come from the subsequent budgets within 10 years.

Meanwhile, Rapporteur of the Women and Family Affairs Committee MP Mohammad Tana disclosed the panel will most likely reach an agreement with the concerned governmental authorities to amend the Civil Service Law in order to prioritize Kuwaitis and the children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis in the employment in government and private sectors.

Attendance

Tana also confirmed the attendance of all the members of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), as well as Chairman Abdulaziz AlZabin and Undersecretary Nahla bin Naji, in the meeting of the Women and Family Affairs Committee recently.

He said Article One of the law states that priority should be given to Kuwaitis first and then the citizens of other Arab countries, but it has no provision for the children of Kuwaiti women married to nonKuwaitis; hence, the need to amend the law. He disclosed the committee has agreed to submit a bill to amend the article and then invite the ministers concerned with CSC such as Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad AlAbdullah, Minister of Finance Anas Saleh and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Subaih to its next meeting to tackle the proposed amendment.

On the other hand, Tana called on Minister of Commerce and Industry Yousef Al-Ali to cancel the licenses issued to cafés suspected of engaging in illegal activities in Jahra if proven that they have violated the regulations. “What we saw on Al-Shahid Channel was clear and unacceptable. I will hold the minister responsible and present an interpellation motion against him if he fails to cancel the licenses of erring cafés” he asserted.

Moreover, Deputy National Assembly Speaker Mubarak Khurainej has presented a proposal to amend Article 12 of law number 1/1999 on the health insurance for foreigners in order to impose fees for health services, such that Bedouns are exempted from the health insurance and health fees while waiting for completion of procedures regarding their legal status.

Mechanism

Furthermore, the Public Funds Protection Committee discussed the mechanism and regulations for selling companies owned by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) in the presence of Finance Minister and acting Oil Minister Anas Al-Saleh. Committee Rapporteur MP Saif Al-Azmi said Al-Saleh presented some documents which are required for selling companies that KIA owns. He affirmed the committee will present some recommendations in this regard and finalize discussions on the issue in another meeting.

In another development, the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee on Sunday approved the proposed amendments to the Economic and Social Planning Law which will be included in the agenda of the National Assembly for its next session.

Committee Chairman MP Faisal Al-Shaye said the panel also approved the bill on insurance for military personnel in the Gulf countries.

He clarified the committee did not deliberate on the Commercial Agencies Bill, but some of its articles were discussed with Minister of Commerce and Industry Yousif Al Ali who attended the panel meeting.

Also, the Education, Culture and Guidance Committee discussed Sunday the Electronic Media Draft Law with the representatives of several nonprofit organizations and some experts in this field.