PAAAFR chief and info minister agree on combating corruption
PAHW seeks help in collecting debts
KUWAIT CITY, July 7, (KUNA): Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) Chairman Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah said Friday that he agreed with Information Minister and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri on combating corruption.
Al-Sabah added in a press statement that they also agreed to develop and upgrade action so as to achieve the desired goals of the authority.
All points of disagreement have been settled, he stressed, noting that he obtained a full backing from the minister to fight any corruption at the authority.
Al-Sabah pointed out that the directives of the minister were clear regarding the empowerment of the Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) to achieve its mission, uncover any corruption at PAAAFR and punish the culprits.
He thanked Al-Jabri for his support to the authority, lauding measures taken to upgrade and raise efficiency of the PAAF.
Meanwhile, several government bodies have received letters from the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), seeking their assistance in collecting debts estimated at KD53 million, reports Al-Qabas daily.
According to sources, the PAHW has provided Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) with a list of companies which have financial obligations to the housing authority.
The housing authority took this step, hoping that KIA will look into records of these companies in case they are on the verge of bankruptcy for the authority to take charge or supervise the liquidation process. However, this will not happen until the housing authority dues are included in the financial settlement plan of such companies.
Sources added the housing authority asked other government bodies not to sign contracts with companies indebted to the authority and freeze any amount which is supposed to be disbursed to the erring companies.
Sources informed that the dues which the housing authority is pursuing are backed with more than 20 final judicial rulings as it filed lawsuits against many contractors and construction companies which received funds for projects and then failed to abide by the contracts.
These contracts are related to construction of houses for citizens and infrastructure in new residential areas, while some of the lawsuits include penal conditions for failure to honor contracts.
Sources said three lawsuits were also filed against contractors and the concerned court has yet to rule on these cases. These three lawsuits will increase the amount that the authority needs to collect to more than KD 60 million in case rulings are issued in its favor, sources added.