CAN the government execute its programs and projects amid the uncertainty and confusion in the country? How long will the statements of parliamentarians weaken the stand of ministers? The faster the MPs issue statements, the quicker the ministers accept and obey their instructions. This means some ministers in the Cabinet, through the support of their undersecretaries, have been hurrying to carry out the indirect instructions of MPs. This clearly indicates the level of confusion and uncertainty in the government, which seems to be leading the country into another tunnel of political instability, while the parliamentary dictator has continued to flex his muscles.

Disagreements among ministers have further shaken the nation. Ministers have become a threat to Kuwait as they change their decisions frequently. For example, the minister of interior has taken more than one stand on the case of Saudi preacher Mohammed Al-Areefi. Indecisiveness is prevalent not only in the Ministry of Interior but also in other government institutions.

One day the state minister for Cabinet Affairs stressed the need to refer the proposed amendments to the press, publication and audio-visual laws to the Cabinet immediately, only to deny his statement the next day. Everybody knows the government has presented the amendments due to pressure from MPs who had earlier refused to grant an interview to a local television channel - an attempt to gradually kill the media.

On the proposed cancellation of interest on consumer loans, the minister of finance and his other colleagues were among the major disappointments to such an extent that the Cabinet was almost on the verge of division due to the contradictory statements of ministers. Other governments in the world are united in carrying out their daily tasks as reflected in the statements issued by their ministers. However, the situation in Kuwait is totally different as the ministers here issue different statements on a single issue. Even the official statements issued after the weekly Cabinet meetings are full of contradictions.

Citizens have started doubting the government’s ability to implement vital development projects due to its indecisiveness. If the government cannot unite over a simple issue and its daily operations, how can it execute plans aimed at realizing Kuwait’s dream of becoming a financial and commercial hub in the region? How can the government implement its economic development plans if it is mired with confusion?

Management of national affairs should not be left in the hands of ministers who tremble every time the MPs issue a statement or threaten to file a grilling request. If the decisions are right, then there is no reason for the ministers to fear a parliamentary inquest. The future of the citizens should not be kept under the jurisdiction of these ministers and their cohorts in the Parliament, who work only in their own interest rather than that of the public even if they have taken an oath to improve the situation in the country.

Failure of the ministers to stabilize the country and take wise decisions has resulted in confusion and frustration among citizens. Goals to develop the country have been transformed into personal objectives, which have prompted the ministers to blindly obey the indirect instructions of MPs. MPs do not convey their messages directly to the ministers, instead they use the media to give indirect instructions to the ministers. It is common knowledge that stability in the Cabinet strengthens the nation, while confusion hinders efforts to protect public interests and encourages MPs to take on the responsibilities of ministers. How long will the uncertainty and confusion in the government continue?

Email: ahmed@aljarallah.com