DEAR Adnan Al-Bahar, I read your article titled “Isn’t it time for us to wake up as a nation?” three times. I acknowledge that everything mentioned in it is true and correct. The arrogance and pride in managing development projects is not appreciated in Kuwait, as it is contrary to what people here are accustomed to.

Look at the local scene … Those who are blessed and insightful understand that we are underperforming and falling behind, not just in development but in many areas. Despite discussing and raising concerns about these issues for nearly 50 years, little progress has been made due to a lack of vision and effective, realistic projects.

The reason is that those working on development are either driven by selfishness and self-interest, or lack a clear understanding of what needs to be done, or are getting bogged down in trivial disputes.

For example, phrases such as “this is a Kuwaiti and this is not Kuwaiti” and “this is original and this is fake” are commonly used. An evident of this is the Bedoun issue and the controversies surrounding it. A legal academic has absurdly accused 810,000 Kuwaitis of falsifying their nationalities or certificates, among other baseless claims.

On the other hand, those with the experience and understanding about managing the economic game are either not interested or silent for reasons best known to themselves.

Therefore, things are left to sail rudderless, which is why corrupt ministers and senior employees have been condemned a lot. What then should we expect from such a management?

My friend Adnan Al-Bahar, you are right. How can there be progress if a dedicated expatriate employee is prevented from contributing, despite having an employer willing to collaborate?

And if he reaches the age of 60, he must sell his shares to a Kuwaiti. Additionally, if he dies, his heirs are also restricted from selling their shares to anyone other than a Kuwaiti, and only at the lowest prices, as mandated by the government.

Dear Adnan, you are an economist, and you know what these risks mean to the local market, as well as their negative economic impacts.

Therefore, allow me to share my opinion with you. Kuwait currently has investments worth around a trillion dollars abroad. Many Kuwaitis hold private investments in various countries. Imagine if those countries imposed similar restrictions and told Kuwaitis that they will not be able to transfer their investments abroad or sell their physical assets without first offering them to local citizens?!

A few days ago, the Saudi government introduced a new investment system that treats Saudi investors and foreigners equally, and even offers foreigners advantages that they cannot even dream of in their own countries.

For many years, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have allowed foreigners to own property, granted them golden residencies, and even offered citizenship.

The population in America is not “ancestral” but comprises people from diverse backgrounds and races, who together have built a great civilization.

Dear brother Adnan, it is true that development management in Kuwait is lagging. Another truth is that we often deal with others arrogantly. This is due to some spreading outdated theories and deliberately closing off the country for purely ideological and religious reasons.

They have trapped us between the rock of negative phenomena and the hard place of the population structure, compounded by laws against co-education. This ill-conceived innovation lacks a solid basis, and is shortsighted and unrealistic. Yet, no one acknowledges the mistake or retreats from their error.

How can the population structure be reformed when the population is about four and a half million, and three million of them serve the one and a half million citizens?

The state talks about major projects and great development but at the same time opposes the labor responsible for construction.

Isn’t this backwardness itself? Isn’t this a mistake that they repeat every time, in the same way as Nazi’s Joseph Goebbels?

We are deeply troubled by all of this. When we raise these issues, there is neither acknowledgment of the problem nor any retreat from their errors. For instance, they have imposed the third fingerprint system, which, according to sources, costs about KD 80 million.

This issue is compounded by the fact that officials are unwilling to oversee their subordinates, who often fail to adhere to work timings. Even when the system was introduced, it was discovered in the early hours that some employees were working from neighboring countries.

All of this reflects a lack of understanding of what development entails. Despite allocating approximately KD 120 billion over many years for development projects, it has become evident that the ministers responsible for managing these funds have mismanaged them. This has led to a budget deficit that continues to grow annually.

Brother Adnan Al-Bahar, when a government issues decisions, they must be well-considered, not hasty. If you prevent an expatriate who has reached the age of 60 from renewing his residency, you must provide an alternative.

Have young Kuwaitis been trained to fill this gap? And when linking employment to certification, did the decision-maker consider what to do with those without certificates?

Moreover, how can you pursue major projects that require technical and skilled workers when the state blocks professionals from entering the country?

The Gulf countries and the whole world have worked to make room for all workers, and set easy conditions for them. The result is clear to everyone in terms of development and economic activity, such that Kuwaitis have begun leaving the country to invest in those countries.

Brother Adnan Al-Bahar, our hope remains in the new era that leads a revolution against backward laws. All that the officials have to do is work under the inspiration of the Amiri directives that light the way for them. However, if they neglect to do so, we will still linger on the same spot.

Finally my friend, do not stop giving your opinion … Perhaps one day they will hear your voice.

For many years, we have witnessed more chaos and stagnation than real development. Some claim, “the situation is good”, which is a sentiment often echoed by those benefiting from the status quo, insisting that “Kuwait is blessed, and everything is fine, so ignore the rumors.” For this reason, some may dismiss our concerns as empty talk.

Oh Allah, guide us to the right path.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times