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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012
LOCAL
KUWAIT: Kuwaiti men greet Essam Al-Houti upon his arrival at the airport in Kuwait City yesterday, a day after he was was freed by gunmen who abducted him last week in eastern Lebanon. Al- Houti said his kidnappers accused him wronglly of being a rebel commander in the Free Syrian Army. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
Court verdict puts election of Municipal Council in jeopardy ‘Lacks justice in voter distribution’ KUWAIT: A Constitutional Court verdict, which finds the electoral system unconstitutional based upon unequal distribution of voters between the state’s five constituencies, would automatically indicate that the distribution of constituencies in the Municipal Council’s elections system is unconstitutional, as well. This was disclosed by constitutional expert Dr Adel Al-Khadhari, who warned that any citizen can appeal the results of the Municipal Council elections scheduled on May 2013 if the present law isn’t adjusted before that. The Cabinet referred the parliamentary electoral system to the Constitutional Court last month in order to verify the constitutionality of the distribution of constituencies, with a verdict expected to be made in late September. If the law is found unconstitutional, sources believe that the government not only would be required to change the parliament’s electoral law, but also the law of the Municipal Council, “which has only seven months left in its term”. The sources, who spoke to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity, explain that the Municipal Council’s electoral law, which divides Kuwait into 10 con-
Abdullah Al-Sharhan
Al-Hareth Al-Hajeri
stituencies, “lacks justice in voter distribution”. For example, the number of voters in the first constituency which represents Al-Sharq is 15,170, while it reaches 58,092 in the fourth constituency representing Hawally. Moreover, the sources indicate that nearly 40,000 people will be left out of voting in the next Municipal Council elections, as they live in 18 areas still to be assigned to any of the existing 10 constituencies. Additionally, there are other areas established after the last elections in 2009, such as the Jaber Al-Ahmad and Sabah Al-Ahmad areas that have yet to be included in voting. Separately, the Majority Bloc, a coalition of oppositionists who dominated the majority seats in the annulled 2012 parliament, have reportedly rejected the idea to allow its members in the 2009 parliament to resign out of the belief that such an action “would justify a call for the 2009 parliament to convene”. The idea was reportedly pitched during a meeting for the bloc at the dewaniya of Mubarak Al-Wa’lan Sunday, and rejected categorically as “a huge mistake that contributes to prolonging the process of dissolving the 2009
Dana Al-Akhwand
parliament”, given that their resignations can be followed by by-elections to fill the vacant seats if they take the opportunity to convene. According to sources with knowledge of the case, the Majority Bloc is expected to release a statement explaining the reasons behind their step not to present written resignations from the 2009 parliament. The statement could be made following a meeting set next Sunday at MP Ali Al-Deqbasi’s diwaniya, during which the bloc plans to evaluate the political developments following Monday’s mass demonstration against challenging the electoral system’s constitutionality. The 2009 parliament was dissolved early December 2011 following allegations of corruption, hitting members from its pro-government majority, which in turn fueled public pressure that led to the Cabinet’s resignation in late November of the same year. It became reinstated last June following a Constitutional Court verdict that found its dissolution process unconstitutional, and subsequently annulled the parliament elected in February 2012. —Al-Rai & Al-Qabas
Lama Bu Sidwa
Saleh Al-Muawsharji
Boubyan Academy ‘new break towards creating young Kuwaiti banking leaders’ KUWAIT: Boubyan Bank’s ITQAN Academy represents a practical model for a new era in training and human resources development as it offers a brand-new model in the Kuwaiti and Arab banking sectors through developing training concepts from the conventional form to a more advanced form represented in granting well-known university bachelor’s and master’s certificates in cooperation with prestigious American and international universities. IQAN Academy’s launch last July has put Boubyan Bank among the top local and Arab financial institutions pursuing the development of their human resources and enhancing the expertise of promising Kuwaiti youth in the banking sector by adopting unconventional ways for developing young Kuwaiti leaders with 15 young cadres selected to be the first seed of the Academy. Presenting the Academy’s work mechanism, Adel Al-Hammad, GM-Human Resources Group at Boubyan Bank said: “ITQAN Academy’s work is based on combining specialized training programs in the banking business with academic programs accredited by prestigious American, international and local universities. Moreover, the Academy’s attainment of the accreditation certificate from UK’s Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) proves its ability to provide leadership training and development programs which could significantly promote operational efficiency and help create more harmonious work environments focused on team work.” The Academy’s trainees satisfying certain conditions will be able to obtain 24 accredited academic credits of the MBA at GUST, representing 53 percent of the program’s total accredited hours, which suits the key work requirements in Boubyan Bank. Trainees will also be given the opportunity to complete the remaining academic credits of the MBA pro-
gram at GUST to obtain the certificate, in case they so desire. Al-Hareth Al-Hajeri (a Boubyan Bank’s staff member joining the Academy) said: “ITQAN Academy represents a dream for any employee as it is the only place where they can achieve their aspirations through work, training, development of professional capabilities and completion of post-graduate studies.” He added that he felt the extent of care given by the bank’s executives to human resources as this is a reality in the bank, not just hollow slogans for media show, and invited Kuwaiti youth recently joining work market to join this program and benefit from its various advantages aiming at creating qualified leaders for the banking business. On his part, Saleh Al-Muawsharji (a joiner of the Academy) said that he decided to join Boubyan Bank for many reasons including the achievements realized by the bank within a short period and that the advantages he came to know about Boubyan ITQAN Academy made him believe that the private sector is both capable and willing to invest in national human resources, indicating “I could not believe that there are banks which are ready to spend on their human resources in this noticeable manner for the development of their capabilities and enhancing their skills in a way combining the practical nature and distinguished academic learning.” Dana Al-Akhwand (another Boubyan staff member joining the Academy) said: “My first impression was that the Academy is the best environment for developing our skills and capabilities in a way that is ultimately reflected on customer service in the best manner and realizes highest returns for the bank, whether in terms of reputation or profitability.” She added that generally speaking, the
Academy is considered the best practical way to upgrade and develop the Kuwaiti banking sector as the development of its human resources is the corner stone for developing the sector in a way that makes it really the best among all economic sectors able to attract Kuwaiti youth, stressing that “joining ITQAN Academy is not just a gate to professional excellence, but to academic excellence as well.” On the other side, Lama Bu Sidwa (a staff member joining the Academy) said that joining the Academy forms the first step on the way towards a different distinguished future in which practical experience is combined with academic frameworks in order to prepare young Kuwaiti leaders to assume their roles in the future for the Kuwait of tomorrow. She added: “At this stage of the Academy’s work, we are 15 promising Kuwaiti young people with different opinions and ideas, and this is an opportunity for exchanging our experience, however limited, but the very exchange and continuous discussions in practical and academic atmospheres will be a great added value for us.” Meanwhile, Abdullah Al-Sharhan (a staff member joining the Academy) noted that ITQAN Academy’s program is considered a valuable opportunity given to me to join Boubyan Bank that I should not waste. And during the early weeks of joining the program, I developed an excellent impression that exceeded my personal expectations due to the materials provided and explained in an advanced and high quality manner which facilitates understanding and grasping information for participants. Concluding his words, he added: “I advice all fresh graduates to join the Academy for a better future and in order to achieve their goals for occupying key positions in the different
fields”, stressing that the testing process is conducted in an accurate and careful manner so as to admit the best people with highest efficiency into the program through the tests made for graduates. Noteworthy is that Boubyan Bank has signed in early June 2012 an agreement for establishment of ITQAN Academy in cooperation with GUST to act as a centre for developing the bank’s human resources in an academic manner by providing latest specialized programs, administrative sciences, and programs accredited by international institutions, in correspondence with work environment in Boubyan Bank and in compliance with the Islamic Shari’h. The Academy provides the bank’s staff with training opportunities throughout a whole year in many fields comprising specialized training programs in financial management, financial statements analysis, business administration, communication skills, human resources development, as well as advanced, distinguished programs in customer service and professional sales of banking products. Boubyan Bank strives to be the employer of choice for Kuwaiti fresh graduates by providing a work environment that encourages the development of young capabilities and gives opportunities for career development to skilled trainees in a carefully thought-out academic way under the supervision of a professional team accredited by international institutions who participated in providing training courses to international companies in North America, Europe and GCC countries. In addition, ITQAN Academy programs are based on Blended Learning Approach which includes training courses, on-job training, rotation among departments, guidance and instruction, elearning and assessment centers.
OFWs raise blood money for Filipino KUWAIT: Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are raising KD 6,000 as ‘blood money’ to save Joseph Urbiztondo, a Filipino jailed for the past 16 years in Kuwait. Half of the amount - KD 3,000 - has been raised so far by different organizations. The amount was turned over to proper authorities by the Catholic Archbishop of Kuwait. Philippine Labor Attaché to Kuwait David Des Dicang witnessed the turnover and counting of the amount. The Filipino community intend to hold another fundraising for Urbiztondo on September 17, hoping that they can send him back to his family before Christmas. In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Urbiztondo said he has been seeking the help of Philippine officials since 1996 when he was brought to jail. However, his request was always denied and was told that death sentence cases had priority in the Philippine government’s funds for blood money. “Kuwait has sentenced five Filipina women including Minerva Tayag who admitted murdering her employer, and May Vecina who slit the throat of the four-year-old son and stabbed the eight-year-old daughter of her employer,” Urbiztondo said. “May Vecina was sent home in 2009 and so was Minerva Tayag last month. The amount paid for were from OUMWA (Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs) and DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the amount was in millions. It would have been better if the court sentenced me to death, so I could have availed the help of these departments,” Urbiztondo said. Urbiztondo urged the DFA and OUMWA to review and consider the cases of OFWs on a caseto-case basis. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison for murdering a Bangladeshi transportation driver. On his death bed, the victim identified Urbiztondo as his attacker. Urbiztondo, however, alleged that he was only forced to admit to the crime after suffering ‘torture.’ “I was forced to admit the crime because local authorities refused to stop torturing me during investigations. I was very afraid and helpless as I was the only Filipino then inside the jail,” Urbiztondo said. — VVP, GMA News
Cabinet slow to fix new budget of Arab Spring pay-out promises KUWAIT: The government is facing a dilemma on meeting budget requirements given the lack of parliament sessions, while an ordinance to approve a new budget cannot be passed before the 2009 parliament is dissolved. In the meantime, the government’s spending is based on the previous general budget that touched KD 19 billion. It estimates the new budget at KD 24 billion. One solution discussed is budget cuts, but this scenario is wrought with problems when the government is required to pay public sector salaries with added pay raises and allowances enforced during the past year. This comes while the opposition bloc resumed preparations for Monday, mass protest, including naming members who will represent them at the Irada Square. “The bloc’s coordination committee ini-
tially agreed with Mubarak Al-Walan, Abdurrahman Al-Anjari, Mohammad AlDallal and Faisal Al-Yahya to represent the bloc at the Iradah Square next Monday,” said member of the annulled 2012 parliament Adel Al-Dahoum. His meeting came following a meeting held with the coordination committee; a coalition of oppositionists who dominated majority seats in the annulled 2012 parliament. The meeting held on Thursday, the first since the committee was assigned late last week to prepare for the bloc’s future steps, focused on organizing the work of the bloc’s media team “which focuses on sending the message of public protest and deflecting accusations,” according to sources. The committee was also scheduled to hold a meeting last night to continue discussing ideas
“including the possibility of broadcasting a TV channel from outside Kuwait to cover public protests,” said sources who spoke to Al-Qabas. Meanwhile, AlDahoum told Al-Qabas that the committee discussed “the framework for establishing the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution,” noting that names of members will be discussed in more detail during the bloc’s next meeting. Ahmad Al-Saadoun, Speaker of the 2012 Parliament released a statement in which he warned the government against “challenging the people’s willpower” by prolonging the dissolution of the 2009 parliament, that was reinstated following a Constitutional Court verdict in June that annulled its dissolution decree. Al-Saadoun also reiterated the necessity to “avoid ignoring the multimillion-dinar deposits, foreign transfers,
diesel fuel smuggling and Shell Oil deal.” These issues were used by the opposition bloc to claim government corruption, which fueled public pressure that ultimately led to the Cabinet’s resignation and the parliament’s dissolution late last year. Hard-line oppositionist lawmaker Musallam Al-Barrak told Al-Jarida daily that “[the opposition] will go as far as it can” in staging public protests if the Constitutional Court renders the current electoral system unconstitutional. “The referral step is clearly the first step of a conspiracy the Cabinet seeks to achieve their goal,” Al-Barrak said, further reiterating claims that the Cabinet plans to use a verdict ruling the current system unconstitutional “in order to issue an emergency decree for new constituencies distribution by which they will be able to control the legislative authority.”
KUWAIT: Items sold by roaming vendors are seen wrapped in large bags at an open space in Hassawi. They are often stored before being sold illegally at later times during the day. Unlicensed trade is one of many illegal activities spreading in the troubled area. Authorities are often criticized for failing to curb them. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh