Holding senior government administrative positions is not a privilege, but a continuous responsibility, especially when the work directly impacts people’s lives. For this reason, the role of an official spokesperson is essential to provide clarity and counter misinformation and rumors, if any.
In advanced countries, every ministry has an official spokesperson because public institutions serve the people, who have the right to be informed. These nations reject the “one-man show” approach, recognizing that responsibilities differ across institutions.
Therefore, the media representative of any public body must be well-versed in the institution’s operations and fully informed of its details. When necessary, they should hold daily press conferences to keep the media, and through them, the public, updated on all developments, rather than relying on occasional brief statements. The Council of Ministers and ministers in Kuwait lack official spokespersons, despite the existence of public relations and media departments.
However, their role appears to be limited to filling the free time of employees appointed under the Kuwaitization policy in the public sector. On this basis, a closed-door policy has become entrenched, contrary to the political leadership’s directives, which urge all officials to open their doors to the public.
It seems that laziness has spread to the point where even media officials make no effort to refute rumors or uncover the facts, even when a rumor spreads widely and becomes a trend.
It is as if those officials see themselves as above the people, simply because they are public sector employees. This situation hinders the activities of ministries, especially when fake stories and rumors flood the online space accessible to everyone daily, sometimes even influencing the decisions of government agencies. The impact of the online space is so significant that it occasionally leads to the cancellation or postponement of some decisions “for further study.”
In this ambiguous environment, some opportunists actively turn rumors into facts that become difficult to refute later. This worries citizens, who need clarification from the relevant authorities, not through brief statements, but through detailed explanations of the facts.
In countries around the world, when rumors spread, even about something as simple as the weather, the official spokesperson steps forward to reveal the truth, reassure the public, or warn of possible consequences. Third world and developing countries often adopt a policy of silence, despite the Arab proverb that says, “Negligence is as painful as death.” This has a negative impact, making officials appear weak as if they are unfit for their roles due to their complete disregard for responding to inquiries. Some senior officials even deliberately avoid answering phone calls, even when they know who is calling.
Therefore, it is clear that the government administration is either deficient or unwilling to explain its decisions to the public. The official spokesperson is the vital link between official bodies and public opinion. As such, they must possess various skills that enable them to effectively present the plans and decisions of the institution they represent, and most importantly, the ability to persuade and reveal the truth.
Your Excellency the Prime Minister, I say this with all respect - most ministers close their car windows (and doors) to both the media and the people.
