‘Leave safely’ aims at ensuring safe departure for violators

KUWAIT CITY, April 7: On Sunday, April 5, which was the last day to receive residency violators from the Filipino community, a total of 240 women, 25 men and 33 children of unknown fathers presented themselves at the center designated by Ministry of Interior to facilitate their exit from the country without paying fines incurred by their violations, reports Al-Rai daily.

Preparations are ongoing to deport a total of 2,430 people (1,882 women, 350 men and 198 children) out of about 12,000 violators from the Filipino community. Director General of Public Relations and Security Media Department in Ministry of Interior Brigadier Tawheed Al-Kandari said he considers the directives of Minister of Interior Anas Al-Saleh and Undersecretary of the ministry Lieutenant General Essam Al-Naham to follow-up the implementation of the decision and grant an opportunity to the violators to exit the country, as a golden opportunity for the violators of the residency law.

In a press statement, Brigadier Tawheed Al-Kandari explained that expatriates present in Kuwait who are in violation of the residency law should take advantage of the opportunity, so that they can leave the country without facing any legal repercussions.

This campaign, dubbed “Leave safely” is aimed at ensuring safe departure for the violators without having to incur any travel expenses. They can also return to the country if they leave during this period. He said, “While supervising the procedures on the last day for the Filipino community, there was coordination in Ministry of Interior to provide shelters equipped with all necessities.

Through speedy procedures, we have already seen some leave after two or three days. The process is in full swing.” Brigadier Tawheed Al-Kandari indicated, “Monday will be the first of five days for the Egyptian community. We are also waiting for them and will help them by ensuring they leave safely without bearing any cost of the entire process”.

He called on the violators to “take advantage of the decision to exempt them from paying the financial fines incurred by them”. Brigadier Tawheed Al-Kandari insisted that they should accept this generous gesture from Ministry of Interior, and strive to rectify their residency status. He explained that the concerned authorities, after the end of this grace period, will embark on intensive security campaigns to flush out the violators and deport them for good without the possibility of their return to the country. Regarding the two newly designated centers (schools), Brigadier Tawheed Al-Kandari said, “If someone, for any reasons, fails to present themselves on time, they have the opportunity to go to one of the two schools designated for them in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area. The locations and addresses of these two schools were published in various information platforms. The violators can go there and be processed without any problem.”

He urged for increased focus on the passport issue, advising those without any travel documents to contact their embassies so that they can be issued with necessary travel documents so that they can leave.

Regarding those with expired visit visas, Brigadier Tawheed Al- Kandari said they need to present themselves at the designated centers where they will be processed after which they can leave without paying anything. In conclusion, Brigadier Tawheed Al-Kandari thanked the Embassy of the Philippines for its efforts and those of its agencies and technical staff in the centers for helping to complete the processing of its citizens.