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SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2011
local
2,000 bedoon servicemen to receive citizenship Plans to hold 8 additional NA sessions
KUWAIT: Members of the Kuwait Teachers Society pose for a group photograph.
KTS holds ‘positive meeting’ with head of NA panel KUWAIT: The head of the Kuwait
Teachers Society (KTS) yesterday acknowledged the "great cooperation" shown by chairman of the parliamentary legislative committee, MP Husain AlHuraiti, over the society's demands for the enforcement of a draft law to amend allowances for teachers at state schools. The bill was submitted to the parliament by MPs Dr Jamaan Al-Harbish, Falah AlSawagh, Dr Walid Al-Tabtabaie, Dr Faisal Al-Mislem and Mohammad Hayef. Mut'ab Al-Otaibi led a team of KTS members in a meeting with Al-Huraiti on Thursday morning, during which the two parties discussed the latest developments in regards to the draft law which would grant teachers larger allowances. In a statement issued to reporters following the meeting, Al-Otaibi indicated that the meeting had been "positive", and that Al-Huraiti "showed a great deal of understanding of the legitimate rights of teachers." He added that Al-Huraiti had promised to refer the draft law to the parliamentary educational committee as
soon as possible for it to be enforced later by the parliament. Noting that the KTS is increasing its efforts to enforce the bill "in light of the of current events which have seen pay rises being enforced for several professional categories," Al-Otaibi criticized the Ministry of Education "for having no activity in discussing the draft law with the Civil Service Commission," noting that the minister Dr. Moudhi Al-Humoud had previously promised the teachers' body that she would support the draft law. Concerning recent demands by expatriate teachers for more financial privileges, Al-Otaibi stressed that the KTS is the main representative body for teachers of all nationalities working in Kuwait, reiterating the society's "keenness on supporting their just demands." He added that the KTS is also studying the option of preparing a plan to increase the salaries of non-Kuwaiti teachers in cooperation with the MOE and the CSC.
False report By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The Medical Emergency room received a call reporting a domestic helper's attempt at committing suicide. However, when the medical team reached the location in Mangaf the maid was found spreading out laundry in the balcony. Car accident In a car accident that took place in
Abdaly near Rawdatain, a 58-year-old citizen fractured his ribs and sustained back pain and internal bleeding. He was rushed to Jahra hospital. Row in office A quarrel broke out in one of the companies located in Sulaibiya. The fight resulted in a 36-year-old Indian suffering injuries to the head. He was admitted to Farwaniya hospital.
KUWAIT: The Ministry of Defense plans to naturalize nearly 2,000 stateless residents who took part in wars in which the Kuwaiti Army was involved. According to officials, the servicemen have already met conditions that make them eligible to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship. This initiative is separate from the government’s announcement that eleven draft laws will provide stateless residents with various civil rights. In separate news, MP Dr Jamaan AlHarbash announced that efforts are currently ongoing to allocate a parliament session to discuss financial allowances to be paid to employees. These were never enforced by the
Civil Service Commission. Al-Harbash further indicated that MPs will discuss as part of March 8 session, the possibility of including the demands of Interior Ministry detectives as well as Fatwa and Legislation Department lawyers’ into the special session. In another development, the Cabinet has made plans to inform the Parliament that it approves holding eight additional parliamentary sessions in order to compensate for those that were not held owing to a lack of quorum. According to officials, the proposal remains as long as no extension can be made to the current term. Moreover, officials indicated that recent developments are going on in favor of
the governmental approach, especially since a recent meeting was held between His Highness the Prime Minister and a number of MPs. A similar meeting will take place this week, during which MPs will lend support to HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah. They will ask him to change a number of ministers to garner more support, reported Al-Rai. The Cabinet has also made plans to enforce several laws in cooperation with the Parliament, adding that achievements made through various interpellation motions, earned the Cabinet more confidence in the Parliament.
KIFCO continues with major oil, gas expo preparations KUWAIT: The Kuwait International Fair Company
(KIFCO) is continuing with its preparations for October's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exhibition at the Mishref Fairground. The event, scheduled to take place from October 18-20, will be patronized by Kuwait's Minister of Oil Sheikh Ahmad AlAbdullah Al-Sabah, who is also the country's information minister. KIFCO's Deputy Chairman and CEO Abdulrahman Al-Nasser said in a press release issued yesterday that the Ministry of Oil (MoO) has already extended official invitations to numerous local and international oil, gas and petrochemical companies, encouraging them to participate in the major international event. Al-Nasser explained that the exhibition aims to shed light on the latest activities in the oil and gas industry and related fields, including geographical studies and field discoveries, production, marketing, environmental protection and employee health and safety. The company CEO added that the exhibition will lift the curtain on many exciting new projects in these fields, as well as on various investment opportunities. He said that the exhibition is particularly relevant during a period when all the region's states are searching for new ways of developing their oil, gas and petrochemical organizations and other firms working in these sectors. Al-Nasser added that the participation of the major international oil companies in the exhibition will enable visitors to get acquainted with the latest, most up-to-date methods being used to tackle oil industry challenges and allow company representatives, experts and other visitors to exchange expertise and knowledge. The senior official said that the major significance
Abdulrahman Al-Nasser
of October's exhibition also comes from Kuwait's status as one of the world's main oil-producing nations, with the organizers' efforts being focused on making the exhibition one of the leading specialist expos in the region. Al-Nasser concluded by expressing hope that the world's leading oil companies and others in related fields would take part in the exhibition, both as sponsors and participants, in order to achieve this objective and to generate further forward-looking scientific dialogue about the future of the oil industry, which is crucial to both Kuwait and the wider Middle East region.
Hi-tech fireboat to sail from Korea to Kuwait KUWAIT: A new high-tech fireboat, commissioned as part of Kuwait's efforts to enhance its national firefighting squads' capabilities, is shortly to set sail from South Korea bound for Kuwait, a journey of 7,000 miles, the head of Kuwait Fire Services Directorate (KFSD) revealed yesterday. The KFSD Director General, Major General Jassem Al-Mansouri, said that a delegation of senior directorate officials are currently in South Korea, arriving there last Thursday evening, for the official launch of the new KD5 million vessel. The high tech 40m x 13m fireboat, with a top speed of 13 knots per hour, is fitted with all the latest equipment, including night vision thermal cameras, engines and pumps to provide both water and foam to tackle different types of blaze, and electronic fire control apparatus, as well as other electronic devices, Maj. Gen. Al-Mansouri revealed. The vessel is expected to dock in Shuwaikh Port later this week. — KUNA