Parliamentary panel discusses drafts on ‘problems’ of inmates – MP queries on importing e-cigarettes

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KUWAIT CITY, March 10: The parliamentary Human Rights Committee discussed Thursday a number of draft bills on the problems of inmates in correctional institutions, says Committee Chairman MP Jamal Al-Omar.

In a press statement after the committee meeting, Al-Omar disclosed that the panel looked into the proposal on legal isolation, affirming the committee is now preparing a report in this regard for submission to the Parliament.

He said they also deliberated on other bills like the exchange of prisoners and implementation of international conventions regarding the execution of the sentence in the prisoners’ countries of origin. He disclosed the committee considered the possibility of inviting officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior to finalize discussions on these proposals and then present recommendations to sign agreements with the concerned countries and start exchanging prisoners to pave way for the implementation of sentences in their respective nations.

He added they also talked about the conditions of residents, particularly the Syrians, in terms of treatment and education. He revealed the committee will invite representatives of the Interior Ministry to discuss the humanitarian aspect of issues concerning expatriates in Kuwait.

Furthermore, Health Committee member MP Hamdan Al-Azmi confirmed the panel’s approval of new regulations on the allocation for overseas treatment through majority vote.

In a press statement, the lawmaker admitted he does not agree with all the amendments to these regulations and demanded for retention of the current rules on the allocation. He welcomed the suggestion to add cancer and other diseases that require long treatment period, and to stop the allocation upon the patients’ return to Kuwait and then start again once the treatment resumes.

In another development, MP Rakan Al-Nisf has forwarded questions on importing electronic shisha and cigarettes and their flavors to Health Minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi and Finance Minister Anas Al-Saleh. He asked the health minister to provide him with copies of a letter from his ministry (reference number 787 dated Feb 8, 2016) to the General Customs Department on banning the import of the abovementioned items, another letter (reference number 1/193 dated Feb 29, 2016) allowing such import, and a letter from Dr Tawfik Khoja to Director General of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Health Ministers in the Gulf Cooperation Council with reference number 1080 dated March 7, 2016 regarding the news on allowing such import.

He also inquired if a committee was formed to study all aspects of e-shisha and cigarettes, names of committee members, its recommendations, harmful effects of e-shisha and cigarettes on a person’s health, and if the ministry is aware that Kuwait participated in the World Health Organization convention on tobacco control which prohibits the import of electronic cigarettes and e-shisha. Moreover, he asked the finance minister to provide him with copies of customs regulation number 9/2016 issued on Feb 9, 2016 prohibiting the import and sale of electronic cigarettes and shisha, customs regulations number 01/11/2011 issued on Feb 22, 2011 on the confiscation of electronic shisha and cigarettes, and incoming shipment of e-shisha of cigarette flavors from March 3, 2016 till the date of this question along with other information like the quantity and name of the sender (company or institution).

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

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