‘Arabs must stay united in latest global politics’
Speaker lauds APSU forum success
KUWAIT CITY, May 10: National Assembly Speaker and Honorary Chairman of the Arab Parliamentary Scout Union (APSU) Marzouq Al-Ghanim said the current circumstances and challenges entail that all Arab countries must remain united, because they cannot deal with unprecedented challenges individually.
Al-Ghanim made the statement while welcoming Arab delegations who are participating in the ongoing forum of APSU. He also congratulated them on the success of the forum.
He expressed satisfaction over the increase in the number of Arab countries joining the union, which currently stands at 19; hoping the remaining 22 will join in the next forum. He is also happy that the Arab scout movement is away from political disputes, stressing the need to focus on issues of mutual concern. He said plans are nothing unless they are put into action, praising the training courses lined up for the youths through the coordinated efforts of the union and the Arab Institute for Development.
Meanwhile, MP Osama Al-Menawer forwarded queries to Minister of Social Affairs and Societal Development and State Minister of Housing Welfare and Urban Development Mubarak Al-Arow about the total amount of debts that the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) should collect according to court verdicts.
Deadline
He wants to know the deadline for settling such debts, steps taken to collect this money, if a committee was formed to follow up the collection, if some individuals or contractors have been exempted from paying fines for the delayed completion of housing projects, and if there are government houses in Sabahiya that are still occupied by citizens even if they do no longer meet the requirements for residing in such houses.
On the other hand, MP Osama Al-Shaheen submitted a proposal to amend Health Ministry decision number 5/2010 on the job titles of doctors in order to reduce the period required for promotion to specialist doctor from three years to two years. He said this is one way of rewarding the doctors for their exceptional efforts during the Covid-19 crisis.
Furthermore, MP Saadoun Hammad revealed in a press statement that he had a meeting with Al-Ghanim recently; during which they agreed on specifying the date for holding a special session to vote on the proposed KD3,000 incentive for retirees and annual pension increase of KD20.
Hammad clarified the session will be held only if the government, majority of the MPs and the National Assembly Office approve; affirming all of them have agreed on holding the session.
He also criticized some of his colleagues who called for dissolution of the Assembly; stressing the citizens elected their representatives to serve their interests, not to call for dissolution. He went on to say those who do not like the Assembly can just resign, instead of calling for its dissolution.
He wondered why some of his colleagues are objecting to holding the special session under the pretext that the government already resigned, considering they were not against the special session held earlier to ratify the Sports Law under the same circumstances.