Bill aims to expand support to farmers

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 27: MP Faisal Al-Kandari has proposed adding articles to Law No. 94/1983 on the establishment of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR). Al-Kandari clarified that his bill aims to expand support for Kuwaiti farmers, as well as to stop the traders and expatriate mediators from monopolizing the markets. One of the proposed articles states that food auctions should be conducted in all sales outlets at the same time, while the prices in such auctions should match those specified by PAAAFR and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Another article bans expatriates from auctions allocated for cooperative societies. The representatives of companies, who hold special identification cards, are allowed to attend auctions scheduled after those allotted for cooperatives. The third article states that in case it is proven later that the organizers of the auction and the winning company have a relationship, the erring employee will be punished and the winner will be suspended.

Al-Kandari revealed that he received complaints from Kuwaiti farmers about the huge discrepancy between the prices they obtain for their products, and those applied in the markets and cooperative societies. He then stressed the need to limit the role of expatriate mediators; indicating that Egyptians control the fish market, Syrians control the car repair market, Bangladeshis control the sheep market, and the Lebanese control the agricultural market. He went on to say that at present, only one company is authorized to buy crops from national farmers; hence, the company controls the prices. He added a farmer informed him that he sold his produce — lettuce — for 60 fils per box only to find out later that a cooperative sold it for KD1.100 per box.

Proposed
In addition, MPs Majed Al-Mutairi, Shuaib Al Muwaizri, Khalid Al-Tamar Al-Omaira, Faisal Al-Kandari and Fares Al- Otaibi have proposed the abolition of the Public Authority for Roads and Transportation (PART); which was established as per Law No. 115/2014. They submitted the proposal due to the losses that PART has incurred so far — a total of KD3.275 million according to the 13th report of the Budgets and Final Accounts Committee. Following is a breakdown of these losses: KD415,000 for fiscal 2015/2016; KD595;000 for fiscal 2016/2017; KD 446,000 for fiscal 2017/ 2018; KD847,000 for fiscal 2018/2019 and KD970,000 for fiscal 2019/ 2020. Al-Mutairi suggested that the Ministry of Public Works and other concerned institutions will handle the tasks of PART once the proposed abolition is approved. Meanwhile, Values and Negative Phenomena Committee Rapporteur MP Hamad Al-Obaid said they met with the heads of Kuwait General Administration of Customs (KGAC), Coast Guard and Drug Control General Department (DCGD) at Ministry of Interior on Sunday.

He said the Coast Guard conducted a presentation on the regulations and procedures for foiling attempts to smuggle drugs, indicating the committee presented queries and the Coast Guard will submit its response in the next meeting. He added the committee discussed with KGAC the regulations on inspecting arrivals at Kuwait International Airport and shipments entering the country through the marine borders. He continued saying that the committee discussed the regulations laid down by DCGD to curb the spread of drugs. He praised the efforts exerted by the Interior Ministry in arresting a number of drug smugglers and confiscating a huge quantity of drugs.

On the other hand, MP Khalil Abul asked Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research Ahmed Abdulwahab Al-Adwani to provide him with a copy of the most recent academic staff recruitment advertisement published by the College of Basic Education at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), recruitment criteria, list of applicants including their work experience and qualifications, list of applicants who passed the written exam and those who failed, list of the members of committees tasked to interview the applicants in every department, copies of decisions taken by the concerned committee in the Department of Education Technology to choose two courses — film making and animation — without consulting the concerned department at PAAET, and number of petitions submitted to PAAET regarding the recruitment process in this department. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff

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