KUWAIT CITY, Aug 10: The 2020 National Assembly addressed 15 discussion requests – seven in the first year and eight in the second year; resulting in 30 recommendations, ratification of one law and issuance of a statement on the Palestinian cause.

On Feb 16, 2021; the Assembly discussed governmental measures for dealing with Covid-19, leading to the following recommendations:

■ Speed up the work of concerned committees tasked to submit reports on bills about granting compensation to the owners of small enterprises who suffered damages due to the lockdown,

■ Ask the Council of Ministers to revise decisions regarding curfew and lockdown,

■ Form a team of doctors and economic experts to ensure the issuance of balanced decisions to protect public health while addressing the economic repercussions,

■ Impose stricter conditions for expatriates entering the country,

■ Increase the number of vaccination centers,

■ Speed up the disbursement of incentive for frontline workers and suspend the collection of loan payments for one year. On May 27, 2021; the Assembly discussed the bill on the allocation of a special budget for the frontline workers incentive, paper-based exams for grade 12 students and the Palestinian cause. It approved the proposal to assign the State Audit Bureau (SAB) and Financial Controllers Bureau (FCB) to follow up the payment of the frontliners incentive and submit reports every three months.

During the discussion of the Palestinian cause, the lawmakers agreed on the need to issue an official statement condemning the Israeli attacks on Palestinians and approval of the bill on amending law number 21/1964 on boycotting Israel.

These recommendations were approved as well – assigning the Inter-Parliamentary Union to follow up the Palestinian cause, continue supporting the Palestinian rights, asking the concerned ministers to follow up procedures to ensure boycotting Israel and Israeli commodities, and for the Information Ministry to broadcast the session on Kuwait satellite channel in order to present the official position of Kuwait on supporting the Palestinian cause. The Assembly rejected the proposal of the Education, Guidance and Culture Affairs Committee to conduct online exams for grade 12 students.

On Feb 2, 2022; the Assembly deliberated on the need to coexist with Covid-19 and schedule of normal life resumption. On Feb 9, 2022; the Assembly presented these recommendations – lifting the travel ban on vaccinated individuals for them to travel to countries which allow them to do so, considering those who got two doses of Covid-19 vaccine as fully vaccinated, no discrimination between vaccinated and unvaccinated children, cancellation of the PCR test requirement for those entering Kuwait, and forming a committee tasked to receive complaints of individuals suffering from the side effects of the vaccine.

On March 7, 2022, the Assembly discussed the consequences of Russian-Ukraine war on Kuwait behind closed doors, resulting in the following recommendations:

■ speed up the formation of a crisis management committee and to consider the successful experience of advanced countries in this regard,

■ instruct Kuwait Investment Authority to buy farms as part of preparations for the possible food shortage,

■ increasing the capacity of wheat storage,

■ strengthen coordination between security authorities to prevent nuclear leakage,

■ ensure ample supply of medicines for nuclear exposure. On March 17, 2022; the Assembly tackled issues concerning retirees, leading to these recommendations – KD3,000 grant for retirees and amendment of the Public Institution for Social Security Law. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff