KUWAIT CITY, Oct 24, (KUNA): A national strategist affirms wide-scale development is possible provided the five-year development scheme is implemented and the government given the “full chance” to execute it. Dr Ahmad Al-Bishara, a member of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, said in a statement to KUNA that each article of the strategy was extensively examined. The plan reflects the government serious desire to realize development on a wide scale, Bishara said, adding that it includes several proposals intended to make basic changes, such as participation of the private sector in education, health and housing.

He affirmed that the plan envisages a greater role for the private sector in the national development process, in line with the government approach of transforming Kuwait into an international financial-commercial hub, stressing on the great necessity of resolving the national economic problems. The strategist called for participation of experts in examining and assessing the unprecedented plan, due to be blessed into law by the legislators. The government should be given sufficient time to implement it, he said, indicating that questioning the government performance in this respect should be delayed for two or three years noting that criticism would obstruct the cabinet work and waste precious time.

The plan will be followed with another one to address flaws that may appear in the first one, he said, indicating that the top decision makers foresee the work-out of such schemes throughout the next 25 years. Dr Bishara, who chairs the social and human development committee in the Development Council, noted that the strategy affirms the vital role of education to achieve tangible development. He indicated that the commission is assessing the conditions in this vital sector and preparing recommendations for the executive authorities to resolve some of the problems. The commission is also involved in pin-pointing housing problems, Dr Bishara said. He indicated at certain shortcomings in the performance of the state administrative and supervision authorities, with the inability to penalize civil servants charged with irregularties.