Crimes increasing at alarming rate
KUWAIT: Commenting on the recent murder of a Kuwaiti citizen at the Marina Mall, MP Sultan AlShemmari said that cases of manslaughter have been spreading at an alarming rate in Kuwait. He added that all penalties should be reviewed and made tougher and said “enough is enough”. He also wondered about the purpose of wasting millions on unspecialized media awareness campaigns. “What we need is more focus on finding suitable solutions”, he added, appreciating efforts exerted by security officials in arresting the culprits related to the murder quickly.
“We cannot ask the Interior Ministry to monitor shopping malls and recreation places more because they are facing a shortage of staff already as many young men have been refraining from joining the force”, he said, urging the interior minister compensate for the shortage by accepting Kuwaiti women’s sons. “Our security is at stake and needs a decision-maker like Al-Khaled”, he said. He also called for safety measures and giving all shop owners the license to hire enough security personnel, get more surveillance cameras and metal detectors to trace sharp objects.
MP Askar Al-Enezi suggested establishing a special police force to maintain law and order inside shopping malls and recreational sites. He also suggested that the special security team comprise of retired police and army personnel, in addition Kuwaiti women’s sons to make up for policemen shortage. “Irresponsible people take advantage of situations like this and start rioting, harassing, killing and damaging private and public property”, he warned, noting that such practices have scared families into staying home on weekends instead of heading out for a good time. “These incidents are damaging Kuwait’s reputation in front of other GCC and foreign countries,” he underlined.
In an inquiry he filed to the Deputy PM and Oil Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali, MP Hamdan Al-Azmi wondered why Kuwait lost over $72 million and didn’t take any measures to prevent further losses over the years. “Delay in closing down the Napoli refinery in Italy has cost KPC $72 million”, he said noting that the auditing bureau revealed that KPC had failed to reach a settlement with the Italian authorities regarding cleaning the refinery site though it was closed since 1994. He added that the Italian ministry of environment has prosecuted KPC and is demanding compensation for the damage the refinery caused.
Moreover, Al-Azmi said that Kuwait Petroleum International Co (KPI) has been paying $5 million a year to a security company guarding the refinery site though it is closed. “Who is responsible for such violations and losses? Have we formed any committee to investigate the losses? What are the measures the Oil Ministry took in this regard?”, he inquired.
Kuwait’s KGL said that a company operating in Oman where it owns a 47.7 percent stake recently signed a contract with the US army to provide handling and other logistic services at Omani ports of Qabous and Slalah. KGL added that the $99 million-worth contract was limited to one year and that its expected profit was 5 percent.
The Central Bank of Kuwait agreed to a request made by Boubyan Bank to extend the period of purchasing and selling the maximum of 10 percent of its shares for six months starting October 14, 2013.