About forty years ago, a representative of the Muslim Brotherhood approached the Minister of Information with a discreet suggestion to ban concerts in hotels and stop piano music on their premises. This led to hotels being required to seek written approval from the Ministry of Information for every musical event.
Eventually, an additional layer of bureaucracy emerged: hotel owners were mandated to obtain approval even for an hour of piano playing in hotel lobbies. These permits were granted monthly, but by December of the first year of this regulation, a peculiar restriction appeared -- the approval only extended from Dec 1 to Dec 23, halting during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. This decision seemed to be a deliberate attempt to suppress festivities.
Media inspectors further exacerbated the issue by intimidating restaurant patrons, forbidding applause for musicians under threat of closure. By chance, Fahd Abu Shaar, a highly capable manager of one of Kuwait’s prominent hotels, brought these challenges to the attention of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Defense. Abu Shaar shared the struggles faced by hotels and their diminishing role in fostering economic activity and tourism. He emphasized that while Kuwait’s hotel industry was small compared to neighboring countries, its occupancy rates were among the lowest in the Gulf.
The First Deputy recognized how facilitating visa issuance during events like the Gulf Cup led to unprecedented hotel occupancy rates and a boom in restaurant and retail business.
This raised the question: why limit such facilitation to special events when it has a clear positive impact on the economy? In a meeting with hotel managers, the First Deputy Prime Minister was urged to eliminate the cumbersome requirement for prior approvals for private events such as weddings, corporate celebrations and musical performances.
Instead, they proposed enforcing penalties only for violations of public morals or instructions. The First Deputy responded positively, instructing government departments to allow New Year’s Eve celebrations and other events to proceed without unnecessary restrictions. He also advocated for easing and expediting visa procedures and promised to coordinate with the Minister of Information to stop deploying inspectors, especially on festive occasions. He emphasized that hotels should be held accountable for their actions, with the government’s role being to facilitate joy and ensure public enjoyment, not to stifle it.
For more than half a century, society has been burdened by excessive restrictions and extremism. The time has come for progress and openness, discarding outdated and illogical decisions. While some may disagree with the recent steps taken by the First Deputy, it is undeniable that he has emerged as a decisive leader seeking to address long-standing grievances. His actions demonstrate a willingness to champion change and challenge forces that have hindered progress for decades. Gratitude is owed to Fahd Abu Shaar for raising these issues and to the First Deputy Prime Minister for his swift, pragmatic response in prioritizing the public interest over fear of regressive forces. The path forward is one of optimism and renewal.
By Ahmad alsarraf
e-mail: [email protected]
