IT is easy to declare any geographical area with a group of people as a state, but it is difficult to succeed and sustain such a declaration, because this is the task of leaders who defy difficulties and endure hardship to achieve their aspirations, which essentially are the aspirations and ambitions of their people.

In this regard, the American bestselling writer Joel Osteel said, “Do not change your nature to please them, do not change your voice to please them, do not violate your principles to agree with them, and do not pretend to gain their satisfaction.”

There is no doubt that this principle is implemented by leaders with a vision through which they seek to achieve the basic elements of their state’s strength. This requires uniting and mobilizing the people to achieve scientific power in order to direct resources to the productive sectors so that they serve the ultimate goal, which is state leadership.

However, this requires imposing strict standards that qualify officials for this task, starting with approving laws that reinforce unitary social pacts, as there is no distinction between any. Everyone should realize that they are equal in rights and duties, which leads to a clear national identity of the state.

Therefore, the decision-maker’s first task is to take into consideration the obstacles in his country’s development process. If the laws are retrogressive, he should work to amend them and approve modern legislation that is in line with the global developments and serves his people for greater openness in the future. He should also build a solid industrial base that serves the independence of the state and the people, and create a food security system that does not depend on the outside world.

Nonetheless, the most important element in the success of leaders in achieving their ambitions remains the selection of the most qualified individuals in the right positions so that they do not become a stumbling block in the institution. It is known that bad currency drives out good currency, and the infection of corruption spreads quickly in institutions.

If there is no accountability and belief that the job is a national mission, not an honor, and if the job is assigned to an inappropriate person as a result of favoritism and “wasta”, which has been happening in Kuwait for over the past decades, then this leads to the failure of institutions.

Likewise, to achieve renaissance, leaders must look at the countries that preceded theirs, learn from them, take what is good, and work to develop it.

Unfortunately, this did not happen in our country. Instead, an appointment rule was adopted for flooding institutions with a huge number of counterfeiters, and granting them social and financial privileges in exchange for certificates that experience has proven that they obtained through bribery. Also, their technical qualifications were not investigated, which led to an uncommon phenomenon in the world, which is the prevalence of forgery of even the simplest matters.

This is why the medical sector, for example, as well as the education and services sectors, failed, and the projects turned into a gateway for personal gain and plunder.

On the other hand, some leaders of the countries of this region were more aware of these scourges, and decided to put in place strict legislation regarding those who hold any task or position so that they would not fall into its trap because they were determined to reach the forefront through constant work to achieve the renaissance of their countries that were below zero. Today, they occupy the highest ranks in all indicators.

These people had aspirations and determination, and did not violate their principles to suit the whims of groups, blocs, parliamentarians, or even social components.

What Kuwait wants is not only aspirations, as dreams alone do not build a nation, but it is the determination to achieve the leading edge, which is not difficult if the intentions are sincere.

The officials should get rid of favoritism, quotas, and compromises that have made our country one of the bottom countries. Everyone must realize that history is a merciless judge.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times