Govt’s cheap charity – 75 liters free for Kuwaitis only – Bill discriminating against expats
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As a Kuwaiti citizen, I am ashamed about this shameful bill that segregates Kuwaiti holders of driving license from expatriates, who have been living with us for years, over just 75 liters of free motor gasoline, which is equivalent to KD 6.375 per month. We are unable to see any benefit behind the cheap way that the government and the parliament agreed to such a charity for Kuwaitis only. |
What can we gain from 75 liters of free gas while the rest of our neighboring Gulf countries increased their water and electricity charges ten months ago without any fuss or cheap charity?
Is this what the government and its puppet parliament really think can balance our annual budget and bring down our yearly deficits of KD5 billion? Is our government serious about its economic reforms while it is just giving away KD 44 million with its 75 liters of charity? Or does the government think this will put an end to the protest against its decision to increase prices last month?
No date or deadline has been set for introducing the law of this cheap charity. No mechanism has yet been allotted for compensating Kuwaiti drivers with monthly compensation of KD 6.375. Will it be using civil identification card or the Kuwaiti driving license? How will the monthly consumption be monitored? Most likely, the cost for setting up such a mechanism will be higher than the total savings, if any.
By introducing this charity law, it seems the government will be free to change the fuel prices regularly, if not on monthly basis. Some people may take advantage of this law by selling their monthly 75 liters of free gas and making some money. This will create a black market which will lead to further increase in gas consumption to fully exploit the government charity.
Our government has failed in handling the issue of fuel price increase. Instead of correcting the situation or compensating the public, it brought about an even more awkward situation by discriminating against our expatriates who are living among us. It has thus created another headache with the human rights organizations by differentiating between consumers of the same gas in the same country, which is the first of its kind in the world.
Since no time limit has been set for introducing the new bill, it will be better for our government to not introduce such cheap charity at all.
email: [email protected]
By Kamel Al-Harami
Independent Oil Analyst
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