KUWAIT CITY, Aug 2: The Kuwaiti Cabinet held its first meeting under chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah at Seif Palace on Tuesday. Emerging from the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al-Fares said that the prime minister had thanked the new ministers for shouldering responsibility at this critical juncture.

The prime minister underlined the judicious directives of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince, especially the latter’s address to the nation on June 22, in addition to his pieces of advice to the new ministers following the oath-taking ceremony, which mainly focused on necessarily doubling efforts in order to speed up development, fulfilling people’s expectations, respecting constitution and solving citizens’ problems. He also pointed out top priorities for the new government to translate the instructions of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince, and to do its utmost to address serious challenges with a view to pushing forward the country’s development process and safeguarding its stability.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, on behalf of the new Cabinet ministers, expressed much appreciation and gratitude for the trust of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince. He vowed that he and his colleagues would work together as a single group to put the political leadership’s directions in place in order to serve the nation and citizens, achieve development, growth and prosperity, accelerate development, offer high-quality services to the public and wipe out corruption in all its forms.

Furthermore, the cabinet expressed thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for his sincere efforts to serve the dear nation during his tenure, while commending his great accomplishments. On the 32nd anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of the State of Kuwait, the cabinet renewed its gratitude to the friendly countries who contributed to liberating the State of Kuwait and restoring its international legitimacy, sovereignty, freedom, and dignity.

The Cabinet also called on the Kuwaiti people, on this painful anniversary, to preserve the security and stability of the homeland, to unite and boost cooperation in serving the country under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. On the other hand, the cabinet touched on several global developments, where it expressed condolences to the US Joe Biden over the victims of the floods that swept through the state of Kentucky, wishing the injured speedy recovery, hoping that the US overcome the natural disaster.

His Highness the Crown Prince earlier received at Bayan Palace His Highness the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet, which included:

1. Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah -- Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior.

2. Dr. Mohammad Abdullatif Al-Fares -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.

3. Issa Ahmad Al-Kandari -- Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Urban Development and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs.

4. Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah -- Minister of Foreign Affairs.

5. Dr. Rana Abdullah Al-Fares -- Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology.

6. Abdulrahman Baddah Al-Mutairi -- Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs.

7. Dr. Ali Fahad Al-Mudhaf -- Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

8. Justice Jamal Hadhel Al-Jalawi -- Minister of Justice, Minister of State for Nazaha (Integrity) Enhancement and Minister of Awqaf (Endowment) and Islamic Affairs.

9. Dr. Khaled Mhawes Al-Saeed -- Minister of Health.

10. Abduwahab Mohammad Al-Rushaid -- Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment.

11. Ali Hussein Al-Mousa -- Minister of Public Works and Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy.

12. Fahad Mutlaq Al-Shurai’an -- Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Social Affairs and Community Development.

During the oath-taking ceremony for the government, His Highness the Crown Prince delivered a speech conveying greetings from His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah to the government. His Highness the Amir, said His Highness Sheikh Mishal, would like to congratulate the Prime Minister for choosing his government members.

His Highness the Crown Prince took the chance to thank His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for leading the previous cabinet, affirming that they went above and beyond to serve Kuwait and its people.

Addressing the new government, His Highness the Crown Prince stressed that the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet had a great responsibility in addressing the aspiration and dreams of the people of Kuwait, saying that they should use the powers at their disposal to overcome challenges and seek overall development. He wished the government the best of luck in attending to its duties under the guidance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

On his part, His Highness the Prime Minister thanked His Highness the Amir for approving the cabinet line-up, pledged to work as one team and to achieve progress, advancement and prosperity under His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince’s leadership.

The members of the government have heard and would implements the tents of the leadership’s speech on June 22, 2022, saying that it was a paramount mission for the government of Kuwait, said His Highness the Prime Minister.

Senior state officials attended the oath taking ceremony. His Highness the Crown Prince on Tuesday issued Amiri Decree No.136/2022 to dissolve the National Assembly as per Article 107 of the Constitution. This in accordance with Amiri decision issued on Nov 15, 2021; assigning HH the Crown Prince to perform some of the duties of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The decree also enumerated reasons behind the dissolution as follows: lack of cooperation and intensified disputes, which must be addressed by allowing the people of Kuwait to elect their parliamentary representatives. In another development, the parliamentary Environment Affairs Committee on Tuesday met with representatives of the Environment Public Authority (EPA), Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), and a number of citizens residing in Qairawan residential area.

Chairman of the committee MP Hamad Al- Matar pointed out that protecting the environment is the responsibility of EPA, which will remove the trees in South Qairawan. He said there are almost 80,000 trees in the area; including 30,000 conocorpus trees which will be cut off because this kind of tree is harmful to the environment while the rest of the trees will be replanted in the alternative site. He added the Municipal Council will specify the place for replanting the trees.