MP seeks preservation of Al-Sawaber Complex
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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 29: MP Yousef Al-Fadala has called on the government to stop the demolition of Al-Sawaber Residential Complex as it is part of the Kuwaiti heritage.
In a press conference at the National Assembly Media Center, Al- Fadala announced his intention to raise the issue in the upcoming session, during which he will present details and documented facts to justify his demand. He will also ask the Assembly to instruct the Public Utilities Committee to investigate the issue, taking into consideration that the concerned authorities have been in disagreement over what should be done with the complex.
The contractor received the demolition order on Dec 25, 2018 but the secretary general of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) later sent a letter to the management of State properties in the concerned ministries stating that Al-Sawaber Residential Complex is one of the buildings under the umbrella of NCCAL and it is part of the Kuwaiti heritage.
“The concerned authorities have had a series of meetings and dialogues confirming that the complex should not be demolished, but the opposite is happening in reality,” asserted the MP. He will present records of these dialogues and meetings to the Assembly in order to save such a symbolic structure which Kuwaitis hold dear. He added the citizens are currently campaigning for suspension of the demolition.
Furthermore, MP Ahmed Al- Fadel has urged the government to address the sudden rent increase issue and protect Mubarakiya Market, particularly this time when the national holidays are just around the corner.
The MP proposed a two-fold solution: first is the termination of contracts between shop owners and investors by mutual consent and granting compensation to shop owners; and second is inclusion of the market to the list of heritage buildings under the management and protection of NCCAL.
Apparently, the Assembly warned the government about this issue two years ago as the law and Constitution obligate the government to maintain and protect cultural heritage, monuments and buildings.
In another development, Human Resources Committee Chairman Khaleel Al-Saleh has unveiled his plan to submit a detailed memo to the Assembly Speaker regarding the government’s attitude towards the replacement and employment policy of the State. He said the government submitted inaccurate figures; thereby, hindering the committee’s work in preparing a strategic plan based on these figures. He revealed the concerned governmental bodies submitted “old statistical figures in a new format.”
He added the committee’s patience is wearing thin as the government continues to employ foreigners despite the lack of professionalism among those occupying non-technical positions, especially in the educational sector where unqualified foreigners continue to get employed despite the World Bank’s repeated warnings about the deterioration of this sector.
Therefore, the MP urged the government to comply with the replacement and employment policy, stop employing foreign workers, and submit periodic reports to the Assembly.
By Ahmed Al-Naqeeb Arab Times Staff
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