MPs discuss setting of priorities
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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 30: The chairpersons of parliamentary committees discussed Monday the mechanism to determine priorities for the current legislative term, says Priorities Committee Chairman MP Yusuf Al-Zalzalah. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- Ghanim called for a meeting between the chairpersons of parliamentary committees to talk about the priorities but he was absent for health reasons. He then instructed Al-Zalzalah to preside over the meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Al- Zalzalah disclosed that resentment towards the government was evident during the debate between the chairpersons of parliamentary committees due to its failure to implement laws passed in the previous legislative rounds. He pointed out the Priorities Committee has been keen on setting clear priorities but the government is not doing its part, so the chairpersons agreed that the committee should summon the ministers individually to determine the reasons behind the non-implementation of laws ratified in previous legislative rounds.
He added they also agreed on the need to submit a comprehensive report which will be discussed in a special parliamentary session in order to hold the erring ministers responsible. He asserted the lawmakers must play their legislative and supervisory roles but they are currently focusing on their legislative role in order to push for the implementation of the ratified laws, especially those needed by the government to guarantee the successful execution of its development plan. He said the ministers should explain to the Priorities Committee the obstacles they are facing in implementing the laws. “If the government members continue to ignore invitations to committee meetings, it entails lack of cooperation on their part and this is a violation of the Constitution,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the Handicapped Affairs Committee is looking into the possibility of adding people with learning disabilities on the list of beneficiaries in the Public Authority for Handicapped Affairs (PAHA) and covered by the Handicapped Law. Committee Chairman MP Madhi Al- Hajri revealed they discussed the proposal of MP Nabil Al-Fadel on the inclusion of people with learning disabilities with representatives of the ministries of Education and Finance. He said the Ministry of Education welcomed the idea but the Ministry of Finance and PAHA had reservations due to the financial cost and ambiguities in the concept.
He added the committee thinks it is necessary to provide the authority with a clear vision regarding people with learning disabilities and to define this category scientifically prior to their inclusion on the list of beneficiaries. In another development, MP Mohammed Al-Hadiya has expressed objection to any government action deemed harmful to citizens with low income; affirming the authority has other options in terms of addressing the budget deficit issue. Commenting on the alleged plan of the government to cancel subsidies and ration cards granted to citizens whose monthly salary exceeds KD 1,300; Al- Hadiya stressed he will stand with his colleagues against such a proposal or governmental plans which will negatively affect low-income earners. He argued that diversification of national income sources and the implementation of economic reforms are just two of many appropriate ways to solve the budget deficit.
By Abubakar A. Ibrahim Arab Times Staff
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