Dashti bids to prioritize discrimination law; Al-Jeeran wants more MPs, ministers

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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 5: MP Abdulhamid Dashti wants the anti-racial discrimination law which he had submitted in January 2014 to be one of the priorities for discussion during the next legislative term to help the government activate the National Commission for Human Rights law.

He also wants the Bedoun issue to be discussed during the next term, look at the issue from the humanitarian point of view and naturalize those who deserve to be. He said prolonging the solution to the issue is annoying. Dashti meanwhile warned of the repercussions of the drop in oil prices and the decline in state revenue and to add insult to injury, he said, we have to put with continued waste and corruption which is deeprooted in several state institutions which must be addressed by all possible means.

Meanwhile, MP Abdulrahman Al-Jeeran said he plans to submit an amendment to the Constitution to increase the number of MPs and ministers since there is need to form independent and separate ministries such as one for higher education and another for youth and development. He added this amendment is commensurate with the increase in population which has more than doubled since the Constitution was established. He said he also wants to seek an amendment to the electoral system so that only those who hold doctorate degrees can contest elections to help MPs legislate scientific laws since we are living in an advanced era.

Al-Jeeran said he knows there are ‘those’ who are critical of him because of this proposal because it is not in the interest of some to approve this amendment, but the country’s interest is greater than everyone. On another issue, MP Khalil Abdullah Abdullah has forwarded a query to the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development Hind Al-Subaih on the background of a decision to demolish the Planning Council Secretariat building which was renovated at the cost of KD 3 million.

He said according to a report, the work of renovating the existing Secretariat of Planning and Development building is nearing completion and at the same time approval has been given by the concerned authorities to demolish the building and rebuild it.

At the moment there is coordination to transfer the Secretariat staff to a rented building until the completion of the demolition and re-construction of the new building.

The lawmaker wants answers for the following questions: A copy of the renovation contract with explanation to the financial cost since the start of the work on the tender for renovation and completion of work. He wants to know if there are contracts or other tenders signed on the current Secretariat building such as decoration works or furnishing assumed after the end of the renovation works and has it been canceled or is still going on? Is it true that approvals were actually taken from the concerned authorities to launch a tender for the demolition of the building which is being renovated and rebuilding a new building? If yes, please provide me copies of all documents and correspondences in this regard.

Is the Secretariat for Planning and Development currently taking approvals to rent a building for temporarily work from the date of demolition and rebuilding it? If yes, please provide me copies of approvals and correspondences in this regard, and provide me the value of the temporary lease of the building or the estimated value expected to hire a temporary building and expected duration until the completion of the demolition of the existing building and construction of a new one.

How much is the estimated value projected for demolition and reconstruction including engineering, construction, furniture and decorations costs? Are these procedures consistent with state policy and with the planning and development studies which are supposed to reduce waste of public money and reduce spending and rationalization as sought by the Council of Ministers? Who is responsible for the approval of the current renovation work of the building? Who is responsible for approving the demolition and reconstruction works? What is the purpose and benefit of continuing to implement the renovation work project when there is an approval for demolishing and reconstruction and renting a building for the staff for temporary use?

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff

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