24/01/2024
24/01/2024
KUWAIT needs a lot of work in all facilities. Therefore, the ministerial responsibility of venturing into the field is beneficial for the official to witness first-hand the challenges the country is facing. This has been a longstanding necessity, particularly following the significant collapse in the infrastructure system that has transcended into mere scandal, illustrating how poorly someone can handle responsibility and fail. It emphasizes the importance of viewing one’s position as a task requiring diligence and sincerity rather than an honor based on status.
Since liberation, there has been no realistic plan to modernize all state facilities despite the many potentials that could transform Kuwait into a developed country in all fields.
This never happened because the majority of the ministers were concerned with enjoying privileges and protocol, and ensuring they receive the exceptional retirement salary after leaving office or ensuring they would not be held accountable by the parliament for any mistake.
Therefore, many of them were subject to the will of the parliamentarians, and worked to implement their demands, even if they violated the law. What was important to them was less drama, and avoiding interpellation. For this and other reasons, the ministers closed the doors of their offices, sat inside waiting for instructions, and left matters unchecked.
All this neglect caused Kuwait to decline in global indicators. For example, Kuwait ranked 101th in education, and 71st in health globally. The roads in Kuwait are considered the worst in the Gulf due to which the country was ranked 64th globally in this aspect. When it comes to practicing business activities, we stand at 83rd globally.
It fell behind in all aspects, not only in the Gulf, but globally. This consequently affected all sectors, especially after the successive Cabinets failed to pay attention to improving the production environment in either the public sector or the private sector.
All of this is the responsibility of the executive authority. It must work on development, which is its first task, instead of reaching deals and settlements with parliamentarians whose only concern is to increase their financial and electoral gains even if it is at the expense of institutions and public funds.
This is why we saw such a level of paralysis, while the absurd political noise rose above everything else.
There is no doubt that this initiative requires follow-up and continuous field work. Therefore, the decision of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem to hold the Cabinet meeting every Monday at 6:00 pm “so that the ministers can devote themselves to following up the work of their ministries” is a good step.
However, there is a fear that this dedication might transform into desk-bound work, involving meetings with MPs, cronies, and influential individuals, and potentially causing ministers to neglect their fundamental responsibility, which should primarily involve fieldwork.
Hence, the ministers, particularly His Highness the Prime Minister, must realize that talking about a new Kuwait in light of the decline at all levels has become a ridiculous joke, not only among citizens, but in the Gulf in general.
We have become the subject of ridicule because of the failure that has been accumulating over decades. Therefore, a mere glimmer of hope intensifies enthusiasm.
To achieve this, let the ministers and their chief render their management office to be on the field, and perhaps they will be able to correct what has been ruined by the age of disappointments.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times