KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: Chairman of the parliamentary Environment, Food and Water Security Committee MP Hamad Al-Matar wondered about the absence of the Ministry of Public Works representatives during the field tour in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. He confirmed that the committee has agreed with the concerned institutions to visit the area to personally see and discuss the deteriorating sanitation conditions and rising pollution level; which threaten the health of almost 400,000 citizens and expatriates in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.

He added that representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Kuwait Municipality and Environment Public Authority (EPA) visited the area; but when he contacted Minister of Public Works Amani Bugamaz, an employee in her office informed him that the ministry has nothing to do with the infrastructure and drainage networks in the area. He pointed out that the absence of representatives of the Ministry of Public Works is deliberate.

He urged HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to instruct Bugamaz to fully cooperate with the National Assembly; otherwise, he will raise the issue and the concerned minister could be subjected to grilling motion. Member of the committee MP Fayez Al-Jomhour stressed that the absence of Public Works Ministry representatives is a manifestation of its carelessness towards the Assembly. He said it is part of the government’s irresponsible attitude towards institutions with only a few exceptions.

He disclosed that the committee will conduct more field tours in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, during which they will meet with the residents to listen to their complaints regarding the horrible sanitation and environmental conditions. He concluded that Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh is an embarrassing spot for Kuwait, considering it is close to Kuwait International Airport and it depicts a negative image of the State. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff