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ALWATAN DAILY
kuwait
SunDAY, april 22, 2012
Cabinet discusses terminated citizens, tenders, Jahra fire Mutairan Al-Shaman Staff Writer
KUWAIT: The Cabinet discussed this afternoon several important issues, which include the fund for Kuwaiti employees who have been terminated from their jobs, a report about Kuwait’s tenders, the tenders law that will be discussed during the National Assembly’s next session, penalty law, a report about the fire in the tires dump yard in Jahra, and the parliamentary committees investigating deposits and overseas transfers. In addition, Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shamali will present a report about the progress accomplished
regarding the draft law concerning insurance against unemployment as well as the Kuwaitis who were terminated from their jobs. Al Watan was told that the government will look into several recommendations regarding terminated employees, such as granting them allowances, opening registration, and granting allowances for those terminated after June 30, 2011. Non-Kuwaitis will be substituted with Kuwaitis who were terminated in the companies owned by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), prioritizing terminated Kuwaitis in the development plan projects, temporarily suspending all legal procedures taken against terminated employees, and referring terminated employees
Majority to decide on Al-Shamali’s interpellation today CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Other issues to be tackled by the bloc involve the decisions of the Parliamentary Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee with regard to lifting the immunity of a number of MPs accused of being involved in the storming of Parliament. The National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun has included the committee’s report in Parliament’s scheduled session for Tuesday to hold a vote on it. It could be recalled that the said committee recommended that the immunity of nine MPs be lifted for their alleged involvement in attacking the Parliament. Reports have indicated that the Parliament is likely to endorse the request, particularly since the MPs in question have agreed to it themselves. They are: Musallam Al-Barrak, Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Jamaan AlHarbash, Falah Al-Sawagh, Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabaie,
Dr. Faisal Al-Mislem, Salem Al-Namlan, Khaled AlTahous and Mubarak Al-Waalan. In another development, MP Musallam Al-Barrak announced that he had received a response from the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled AlSabah regarding his question about the alleged transfer of public funds abroad via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The MP revealed that after a cross-examination of the answers, it transpired that it is made up of 240 pages and that 50 percent of it the content is unrelated to the questions he addressed to the minister. “Although certain aspects contained in the answers are meaningful, there are shortfalls that the minister needs to address,” the outspoken MP said. Al-Barrak added that the incomplete answers raise serious question marks over the minister’s political responsibility in misleading the National Assembly and highlight his attempt to cover up the issue.
Kuwait’s aid for children cancer center in Lebanon appreciated
who had been working over 20 years to retirement. Meanwhile, the Cabinet will discuss a request made by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak to refer all governmental tenders to the Audit Bureau, in order to ensure that all procedures are correct and that there are neither financial nor administrative violations in any project submitted to the committee. Moreover, the Cabinet will also discuss the tenders and penalties draft laws. A source revealed that the Cabinet will not discuss military tenders because this is classified information. The Cabinet will discuss the extent of the cooperation between government authorities and the
Kuwait helps Syrian refugees in Lebanon BEIRUT: Up to 55 Syrian families that have taken up refuge in Lebanon would be provided with funds to cover their expenses for a year, Kuwaiti Al-Rahma Society for Relief and Development said here Saturday. Head of the society Bader Bo-Rhama told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) while delivering relief aid to Syrians that the funds would cover these families’ basic needs for a year-period, adding that Syrian refugees receiving treatment for their wounds they suffered during the conflict in their country would also be checked upon by the society. He called on Kuwaitis to continue to support their Syrian brethren by any means they see fit. Kuwait’s leadership had recently donated five million US dollars to support the relief aid campaign for the Syrian people. Kuwaiti charitable societies are still providing aid for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. -KUNA
parliamentary investigations committee regarding deposits and overseas money transfers; especially that the premier had called for complete cooperation and transparency. Furthermore, the Cabinet will deliberate reports submitted by economy and legal affairs committee regarding the allowances for employees working at Fatwa and Investigations departments, in addition to increases and allowances of the customs and Kuwait Airways. Minister of Communications Salem Al-Othaina will submit a final report about privatization of Kuwait Airways, and the draft law will be deliberated by the parliament during the week.
ICRC, Syrian Red Crescent providing aid to people in need GENEVA: The unrest in Syria continues to cause suffering in several parts of the country, but the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are doing their utmost to help the people affected, an official at the committee said here Saturday. “There is a continuous flow of people leaving their homes in search of a safe haven,” said Alexandre Equey, the ICRC’s deputy head of delegation in Syria in a periodical report on Saturday. “While some have managed to move in with relatives, friends, or even strangers willing to lend a helping hand, others have had no choice but to take refuge in schools, mosques and churches, “ he added. Volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are working round the clock in areas affected by the unrest, such as the governorate of Homs, north of Damascus. With ICRC support, they have distributed food and other essentials to 60,000 people in several governorates over the last two weeks.
“Most of these people left their homes in a hurry, abandoning all their belongings,” said Equey. “They still need food and other essential items.” People will continue to need humanitarian assistance for some time, and the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are working flat out to help them as rapidly as possible. The ICRC and Syrian Arab Red Crescent activities over the past two weeks are eight trucks delivered food parcels for 60,000 people affected by the unrest in the governorates of Homs, Lattakia, Dar’a and Rural Damascus. In Homs, the two organizations also distributed hygiene materials, towels, blankets, mattresses and candles. Work started on upgrading water storage, toilets and showers at 10 public buildings in Homs, including schools, to improve sanitary conditions for 2,000 displaced persons. The ICRC provided the Syrian Arab Red Crescent branches in Damascus, Rural Damascus, Idlib and Homs with enough medical supplies to treat 200 casualties. -KUNA
KFAED helps to fund electricity project in Jordan AMMAN: Three Arab funds, including Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), helped to finance a 191 million US dollars electricity project in Jordan, said Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Jaffar Hassan here on Saturday.
Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Red Crescent Society Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer (third left) with other prominent entrepreneurs and Chairman of the Children Cancer Center of Lebanon Paul Edde during a reception held on occasion of the center 10th anniversary. (KUNA)
BEIRUT: Chairman of the Children Cancer Center of Lebanon Paul Edde has praised the unlimited support for Lebanon in various fields particularly aid for the center that treats and cares for many children suffering from the deadly disease. Edde, in remarks to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on occasion of the center 10th anniversary, expressed deep gratitude to Kuwait, namely His Highness the Amir, the government and people, also hailing individual Kuwaiti donors who have also given contributions to the center that offers free of charge services for children suffering from the disease of various nationalities. He also hailed the Deputy Chairman of Kuwait
Red Crescent Society Dr. Hilal Al-Sayer and the eminent Kuwaiti entrepreneur, Faisal Al-Mutawaa, for their generosity for the center, over the past ten years. Establishment of Abdullah House in Kuwait, which cares for children of serious illness, is a source of pride not only for Kuwait but all other states of the region. For his part, Dr. Al-Sayer, praised tremendous efforts exerted by the center for aiding children with cancer, noting exchange of experience between the center and Kuwait. The center, established in 2002, treats 80 cases per year. -KUNA
Inventor snatches silver medal at Geneva expo GENEVA: Kuwaiti inventor Adel Jumaa Abdine on Saturday was declared winner of the silver medal at the prestigious International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, the most important inventions-related event in the world. Abdine won the silver medal for his invention of a unique system for emergency runway for civil and military aircraft which will help solve many problems which face air planes while landing. “I dedicate this winning to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for their support to me,” Abdine told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Abdine said that his invention provides better communications between the control and rescue rooms in the airport and the plane crew. It also allows rescue teams to operate fireextinguish pumps on both sides of and beneath plane
pavements. The invention also includes a system for heating the pavements during cool times. “This award encourages me to do all in power to help Kuwait become the first country in the world to use this system,” he said. Abdine revealed that he has received two invitations to participate in Geneva civilian aircraft exhibition to be held next month and the military aircraft exhibition to be held here next year. “I hope His Highness the Amir would sponsor my participation in the two exhibitions,” he said. The 40th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, the most important in the world, is a special event, with 46 countries, represented by 789 exhibitors who show 1’000 inventions. The exhibition, which is held between the 18th to the 22nd April 2012 in Hall 7 of Palexpo, attracts more than 60,000 visitors. -KUNA
He told the press that the KFAED had contributed $42 million to fund the project, adding that the steam-powered plant was to produce 150 megawatt of electricity without resorting to gas or fuel, saving up to $50 million on annual basis.
World describes driving in Kuwait as dangerous Mervet Abduldayem Staff Writer
KUWAIT: A number of specialists have stressed the importance of raising the level of public awareness in order to ensure road safety in Kuwait, and fostering cooperation among relevant authorities. They also proposed that no single authority should be solely in charge of ensuring safe driving, explaining that Kuwait is dubbed as dangerous. The remarks were made during a workshop organized by Transport and Traffic Committee in the Kuwait Society for Engineers. The event was attended by Engineering Advisor Lafi Al-Fuhaid who is a member of the US based Safety Society, the Coordinator of the National Traffic Strategy Brigadier Nasser Al-Enzi and Engineer Essa Al-Hajeb, among others. Speaking at the workshop, AlFuhaid said that a number of developed countries considers driving in Kuwait as dangerous and advise their citizens to be cautious when driving on Kuwait’s roads. He cited statistical data showing that about 493 people died in Kuwait from car accidents in 2011, adding that there is no analysis to indicate whether the number of victims has increased or decreased. However, althoughAl-Fuhaid praised
Group photo of Engineering Advisor Lafi Al-Fuhaid, the Coordinator of the National Traffic Strategy Brigadier Nasser Al-Enzi and Engineer Essa Al-Hajeb, among others during a workshop organized by Transport and Traffic Committee in the Kuwait Society for Engineers on Thursday, April 19, 2012. (Al Watan)
the efforts of traffic authorities who impounded about 20,000 vehicles in nine months and issued citations worth 30 million Kuwaiti dinars during the same period, he noted that these efforts do not go far enough. Al-Enzi, for his part, remarked that there is inadvertent ignorance of traffic laws in Kuwait on the
part of motorists, while lamenting slow implementation of relevant procedures. The official called for concerted efforts involving civil society organizations and the official authorities in order to confront the challenges by focusing on things that are considered to be distractive for motorists.
‘Traffic Department must use patrol cars to ensure traffic flow during rush hours’ Jassem Al-Tanneeb Staff Writer
Photo of Kuwaiti inventor Adel Jumaa Abdine (left) receiving his medal on Saturday, April 21, 2012. (KUNA)
The project would increase the electrical capacity in Jordan to 880 megawatts and would cover the growth in demand for power by seven percent. KFAED has provided 25 loans, worth $533 million, to Jordan since the fund’s inception in 1962. -KUNA
KUWAIT: While most main roads in Kuwait witness development and expansion, people are suffering from severe traffic congestions, which have become a chronic issue. It is beyond doubt that expansions are inevitable to ease the traffic congestions in all streets, but it is noticeable that the construction operations that accompany such expansions obstruct the flow of traffic, such as Airport Road, Damascus Road, and Riyadh Road, in addition to many other roads. Kuwait suffers traffic congestions in most times of the day as a result of thousands of cars found in the streets; especially at traffic lights, entrances, exits, and bridges. Such a
situation necessitates that the Traffic Department must use its patrol cars to ensure the flow of traffic during rush hours when people and students are going and coming back from their schools and work. The severity of the issue will force all concerned authorities to shoulder their responsibilities, and police patrol cars are required to be present at points of congestion, in order to avoid any accidents that can make the situation even worse. The traffic congestion prevents emergency cases from being handled properly, such as sick or injured people in ambulances, and fire brigades that find it challenging to reach fire sites as soon as possible. Many bad results could be avoided if the traffic is smooth, and if roads become safe for all people to use.