18/03/2018
18/03/2018
KUWAIT CITY, March 18: The parliamentary Environment Affairs Committee on Sunday finalized its discussion on sewers in Al-Ghazali Road, Sabah Health District and a number of other areas which pollute Kuwait Bay. Representatives of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) and the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) attended the meeting. Committee Chairman MP Dr Mohamed Al-Huwaila revealed water from a total of 56 sewers pours into Kuwait Bay and this portends an environmental disaster; hence, the need to solve the problem quickly. He added that the committee will meet representatives of all concerned parties soon to discuss ways to solve the pollution problem in Kuwait Bay. In another development, MP Omar Al-Tabtabaie affirmed that he prepared a grilling request against Minister of Electricity and Water Bakheet Al- Rasheedi and he will submit it if the minister fails to stop the unscrupulous acts of some people in the ministry. Addressing His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah, he said: “Your Excellency, you are upset about corruption so why don’t you call for a meeting with oil sector officials, review the questions of MPs and determine the level of corruption in this sector?” He alleged corruption is rampant in the oil sector where millions of public funds are squandered due to the malpractices of some officials. He said the oil minister and prime minister have been unable to control the oil sector and hold accountable those engaged in corruption. Meanwhile, MP Riyadh Al-Adsani asked the premier about the committee tasked to look into the decline in the ranking of Kuwait in the global Corruption Perceptions Index. In order to improve the reform process, sustainable development, transparency and others, the Cabinet formed a committee headed by the Public Authority for Combating Corruption to review the indicators and take measures to improve the ranking of the country in the Corruption Perceptions Index, he revealed. He added Article 127 of the Constitution stipulates that the Prime Minister presides over the meetings of the Council of Ministers and supervises coordination of work between ministries. The Council of Ministers, headed by the premier, takes care of the interests of the State and drafts policies as per Article 123 of the Constitution. He asked the premier to provide him with the following: ■ Mechanism, measures and period specified for completion of the work of the committee tasked to improve the position of the State of Kuwait in the Corruption Perceptions Index. ■ Article 127 of the Constitution states that Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) does not fall under the supervision of the Council of Ministers, so what is the justification for including the chamber in the committee formed by the Council of Ministers? ■ Government’s policies on reform, improvement of governance, sustainable development, transparency and other key points in the statement of the Council of Ministers. By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff