TO be frank, even though some might find it offensive, the majority of the Kuwaiti people have endured devastation and chaos for nearly 40 years. This matter became worse after the liberation when the centers of influence appeared in the ugliest forms, and the illusory powers multiplied. This is because there were those who saw themselves as a de facto ruler because they either had tribal or sectarian immunity, or because of their position as a legislator, to such an extent that the institutions became more like farms or backyards. Amidst the chaos, even an officer was ordering and forbidding, as if there was no law in the country.

In fact, the police stations were managed by the power of tribal or sectarian pride or the prestige of the region, and on the principle of “scratch my back and I scratch yours,” until the citizens felt that their safe haven was not giving them their rights, because the dominance of interests overshadowed everything. This chaos made people worry about their fate, because corruption struck even the foundations of the state and its pillar, which is the judiciary.

This is because those entrusted with the rights of the people betrayed the trust and worked according to their interests. It is also because hesitation prevailed in the ministries, and some councils of ministers disappointed the confidence of both the ruler and the people. Therefore, we saw that plundering public funds has become “smartness” and “shrewdness”, and preserving people’s rights is “foolish” and “useless”, as those fighting over powers and authority have used all hideous tools in their struggle to achieve their goals. Each of them had his own team, either in institutions or even on social media, to defend him.

From here we saw the corruption of projects, the maximization of their costs to unimaginable limits, and the abnormal spending without a scientific and realistic vision or oversight, as a result of laws enacted to serve a specific group and not the interest of Kuwait. All of this and more was experienced by the citizens over the past three decades until they felt at some point that someone was trying to make amends for them in their homeland.

Therefore, when a wise doctor became available to the nation, he sought to save his people, and the treatment began first by warning against the disadvantages of multiple powers, and not separating them according to what the Constitution ordered, and infringement on powers. However, all this did not dissuade those with bad consciences, so a firm order was issued to stop all this chaos, because he pledged from the beginning to restore his country’s pioneership in all fields, and he took decisive measures.

Also, on this basis, the man of the era, His Highness the Amir, issued a clear warning to the ministers in the first meeting of the current government by literally saying, “We are in a serious phase, and I will hold the negligent accountable. People are looking for real achievements. We want unlimited giving, and I will follow up on the implementation of your work.”

Today, the citizens feel it has begun, and as in all times, there are opportunists of chaos who seek to put thorns in the wheels, and work to obstruct the process in various ways. They hence work to spread stupid questions, the goal of which is to fish in troubled waters. However, we tell them, “The bitter treatment is a characteristic of difficult beginnings, and repairing the ruin of an age cannot happen overnight.”

We have to believe that the process has begun, and according to what we are currently seeing, by the end of the year, Kuwait will be a reconstruction workshop, not only in stone, but also in institutions. What His Highness the Amir said to the ministers that he would hold accountable those who were negligent applies to everyone. When the head of state takes it upon himself to monitor the work of ministers, they must be responsible to exercise their knowledge to the fullest extent and be role models for their subordinates

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
[email protected]