kuwait digest Vision of Kuwait’s future

Leaders come up with visions for what goals they want to reach, while political and executive groups are responsible to implement the plan that help achieve these goals. A vision for the future requires a goal, and a goal needs political stability. Stability means that the government is allowed to work, and a functioning government contains ministers who retain their posts for years as opposed to mere weeks or months. Consistent ministers have strategic plans, which must be unchanging regardless of the changes in the minister’s position in order to achieve the ultimate vision.

The general guidelines of this strategy are drawn by undersecretaries in each ministry. These officials make executive programs based on those guidelines, and then hand them over to assistant undersecretaries who in turn depend on executive directors. Directors are specialized people who supervise the implementation of projects. The implantation process on the ground is supervised by heads of departments, who have an army of qualified employees who work hard for financial reward.

The quality of work is assessed through a criteria based on scientific research and supervised by people with experience in the field. He who works hard and helps achieve the goal in the time and quality required is rewarded with allowances and bonuses. This is because their contributions allowed the work plan to go smoothly in accordance with the annual plans, and according to the leader’s vision for what the country should be like in the future.

In Kuwait, this cycle is completely reversed. It starts with employees’demands for financial reward based on their nationality as Kuwaiti citizens which makes them believe that they are entitled to monthly pay regardless of their productivity level. Citizens elect MPs to realize these demands. Since MPs are afraid of voters, they start blackmailing the minister who in turn yields in fear of losing his position.

The more populist laws are passed, the more the budget is inflated. And since the budget relies solely on oil revenues, we continue to take from the depleting natural resource. And since the depleting resource will dry out one day, ministers start thinking of how they can secure their share of the public funds. Since public funds are under the parliament’s watchful eye, the Cabinet starts thinking of best ways to‘buy’loyalties. And since people are different, the price to‘buy’their loyalty differs as well. The price is also subject to supply and demand, and the fluctuation eventually leads to conflicts and threats.

Threats usually come in the form of grilling motions, which eventually forces Cabinet reshuffles. And since a reshuffle is only a temporary solution, the Cabinet ends up submitting its resignation. When so many Cabinets resign, it means that there is no stable political team. Instability means a dysfunctional government that is unable to implement the work plan, which leads for the vision to remain a dream.

Hopefully this gives you an idea about when to expect seeing the realization of the future vision to turn Kuwait into a financial and commercial hub in the region. —Al-Rai