‘Kuwait ours despite all ills’ – ‘Temptations meaningless’

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Kuwaitis over the past three decades have not stopped comparing their status with the citizens of Dubai in particular and in a subsequent period, with Qatar and others.

The Economist, the discreet British newspaper published a report on Dec 3, saying these constant comparisons and criticism have created a kind of inferiority complex among the Kuwaitis — a situation that is difficult to escape from, although they enjoy the highest per capital income in the region, and the fourth highest income in the world, but it is the government that has often lacked the dynamism enjoyed by the sisterly GCC states.

The business climate in Kuwait is not attractive to international investments at a time when even the most conservative countries in the region have become more attractive for investments, easier to sign projects and business deals, and more attractive to foreign companies.

Although Kuwaitis seem happy with their political system which is closest to democracy compared to other political systems of the region, there are some cases where the freedom of expression has been limited, and control over a majority of the vital appointments in the ministry and other government establishments.

It could be argued that the National Assembly which is made up of 50 members elected by the people, including one female MP, would have a voice in the course of upcoming events, but there are those who oppose, overtly or covertly, or even hostile to the democratic system, and believe that this system is the main reason for impeding development and lagging behind other GCC states.

They also feel that the Parliament had a role to play and block the approval of a lot of huge vital projects, such as the North Oilfield and the Dow Chemical project, not to mention the mechanism and almost random grilling of ministers, particularly ministers who are known to be powerful and honest. This became a crucial reason why so many ministers have refused to wear the shoes of a minister in terms of self-esteem.

The Economist and the other external sources have clearly reported that there is an influential category that tends to put the responsibility for delay on the State, and the deterioration of our development in the area of education, on our system democratic. However, this does not hold water.

But the truth is that, the governments have enjoyed periods of peaceful parliamentary atmosphere, particularly over the past three years and has been acting as if there is no parliament that can hold it accountable and watch their work. However, those were three lean years, filled with lack of achievement and a repeat failure!

In spite of all that, I think if the Kuwaitis have a choice — and I am not talking about the dual nationality although there are many of them — between continuation of living in this country with all its disadvantages, the unhappiness, the destruction of its airport, and the weakness of some of the ministers, poor traffic system and, poor services, Kuwaitis will inevitably chose to live in their homeland, without hesitation.

The claim to suspend democracy is like putting that smart Bedouin boy, who was offered a thousand dinars for his mind, refused the tempting offer, saying he was afraid of losing his mind for a few thousand dinars because he would anyways lose both but the important thing is he would lose his mind.

Thus we are satisfied with our situation, and likeness of our democracy, and the inability of our government, we do not want to lose our freedoms, and our situation and our incomplete democracy and the weakness of our government.

We do not want to lose our freedoms, so as not to remain without development, and neither progress nor democracy or freedom.

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By Ahmad Al-Sarraf

This news has been read 7732 times!