Building on the conclusions of the editorial by our esteemed colleague Jassim Boodai yesterday, it is evident that Kuwait possesses a wealth of genuine statesmen. The time has come to actively seek them out and abandon the outdated selection methods used for decades. The Gulf region, including Kuwait, is facing considerable risks that affect the stability of all our nations. To overcome such challenges, we need ministers with exceptional political acumen and administrative prowess—true statesmen like those highlighted in your column. We have lived through turbulent parliamentary periods when cabinet members were appointed one evening only to be relieved of their duties the next morning.
There were even reports—or prevailing rumors at the time—suggesting that a clerical error in a name was enough to secure a ministerial appointment. My dear friend Abu Marzouq, throughout the globe, particularly within advanced democracies, specialized bodies affiliated with top-tier leadership are tasked with vetting candidates and rigorously evaluating their credentials. As observed time and again, high achievers are identified and vetted starting in high school, and even their social behavior is under continuous observation. These appointments are far from random, which explains why so many ministers perform exceptionally in their positions.
Moreover, should any stain mar their professional record, they step down without delay, much like the former Swedish Deputy Prime Minister, who resigned immediately after it was revealed that she bought a candy bar using an official government card. Holding public office is far more than a prestigious title, it is defined by executive integrity and conduct. It demands figures driven by vision, initiative and vitality—leaders who remain conscious of their responsibility to the public and the press long before formal investigations occur. My dear colleague, Kuwait is undoubtedly home to extraordinary homegrown talent, with many achieving great success in their respective fields. However, these capable individuals rarely solicit high posts.
Historically, as it is widely known, ministerial appointments were frequently avoided, a smear campaign would be routinely mobilized to tarnish an individual’s political and social reputation, simply because he refused to comply with a demand that violated his conscience or the law. Historically, ministerial appointments were usually shunned. A political smear campaign is often launched to ‘assassinate’ an individual’s standing—both politically and socially, just because he stood by his conscience and rejected requests that violated the law, a phenomenon supported by numerous documented cases. Meanwhile, major international corporations closely track the wealth of Kuwaiti and Gulf talent studying overseas.
Upon graduation, the firms in the host countries quickly recruit them, offering them lucrative incentives. On the contrary, our domestic institutions fail to capitalize on these minds. Instead, tribal, social, sectarian loyalties and nepotism (‘al-izwa’) take precedence over the public good and service to the nation. Overhauling the selection criteria has become an urgent necessity. As noted, my colleague, this reform must extend to undersecretaries as well, since they ensure institutional continuity, while a minister’s tenure remains inherently temporary. The ongoing decline in public sector performance originated years ago from the entrenchment of currying favor and entreaties like, “Excuse me, he is our own.” True reform remains unattainable as long as flaws continue in the operational machinery of our institutions. Kuwait must identify and swiftly address this flaw, without resorting to hasty measures.
Jassem Boodai, Kuwait is now guided by a new leadership with grand ambitions to modernize the state, serve its people, and navigate the aftermath of the recent war with minimal fallout, or even convert threats into avenues for national progress in every sector. Nevertheless, one hand cannot clap alone, so every citizen must fulfill their duty from their respective stations. In this endeavor, the press and media hold a vital responsibility. They must present fair, constructive and viable proposals to the decision-makers.
Through such collective dedication, Kuwait can evolve into a country supported by advanced industry, excellent services and sustainable food security. This transformation will reinstate its trailblazing position within the Gulf, the Arab region and the world, while cementing vital international alliances and strategic leverage. The public, particularly the youths, must rise to fulfill their obligations. Rather than squandering potential on reckless behavior, such as hazardous stunt driving and traffic offenses, and subsequently lamenting fuel costs or drifting into illicit pursuits, young people ought to direct their capabilities toward productive and meaningful endeavors.
