KUWAIT CITY, Jan 17: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has issued instructions granting every Kuwaiti citizen KD 1,000 ($3,599) as well as free food rations for 14 months as of next month, a Cabinet statement said Sunday.

The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, said it took note of the Amiri grant which would coincide with Sheikh Sabah’s 5th anniversary.
The Cabinet assigned the ministry of finance to take necessary steps to disperse the grant, which reflected the Amir’s keenness to helping citizens overcome their living conditions, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan said in a statement after the government meeting.

The Amir, he noted, also instructed food rations to be offered for free between Feb 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012.

The grants, he noted, marked the occasion of the 50th independence anniversary, 20th liberation anniversary and 5th anniversary of Sheikh Sabah’s assumption of office, due next month.
The Cabinet, meanwhile, paid tribute to late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-sabah who passed away five years ago.

Several MPs have praised HH the Amir’s decision.
Speaking to reporters, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi said “I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude to HH the Amir and stress the happiness of every citizen on the occasion of the country’s National and Liberation days and 5th year of the Amir’s taking over.” He stressed that the grant is not a new initiative for the Amir and said he hoped Kuwait and its people will continue to enjoy more such grants.  

MP Khalid Al-Adwa commended the Amiri grant decision, saying “HH the Amir has always been supportive of common citizens who are facing economic difficulties of late due to the drastic hike in prices of consumer products.” He asked the government, particularly the Minister of Commerce and Industry, to monitor prices in the market over the next period for fear that some traders would take advantage of the Amiri grant to hike prices.

MP Hussein Al-Mezyad also praised the Amiri grant, stressing that the generosity of HH the Amir is well-known and that he had managed to spread happiness among all Kuwaitis. He also commended the Amir for ordering free distribution of foodstuffs to Kuwaiti families “which indicates his generosity and his concern for his children. We hope the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and municipality will strictly monitor markets to ensure that traders don’t play with prices and the Amiri grant is not wasted.” He also called for quick payment of the grant and suggested it be paid with salaries of February.

MP Dr Rola Dashti also expressed her sincere thanks to HH the Amir and said this is a wise initiative, considering the current living conditions in the wake of the economic crises. She urged the government to find lasting solutions to problems that the society is facing in various fields including education, health, social, and economic fields, and not delay and not rely on temporal decrees which delay the problem and not resolve it permanently.

“Today, Kuwaitis are in dire need of a policy of understanding and openness in the general interest of the country,” she said and urged the executive and legislative authorities to work hand in hand to solve the nation’s problems to reform the country instead of  focusing on the past and false things that only increase destruction and frustration.

MP Musallam Al-Barrak said the Amiri grant was the result of the generosity of HH the Amir and hoped the government will learn from HH the Amir, and minimize the suffering of Kuwait people.

MP Ghanim Al-Mae’a said that the grant reflects unity, love, and interaction between the Amir and his people and hoped there would be stability in the next phase and calm between the executive and legislative authorities. Indicating that there is a long list of priorities and draft laws related to Kuwaiti citizens, he said “we hope the two authorities will focus on them now.”

In a related development, a parliamentary source said Ministry of Commerce and Industry will take strict action against any trader caught taking advantage of the Amiri grant to increase the prices of commodities.