ALMOST everyone is certain that the country is being plundered. Therefore, firm measures must be taken to stop the depletion of national wealth, and start an earthquake that would topple all those who worked and are still working to milk Kuwait either through major projects, or arms deals, or even services, and various other ways and means for tampering with the public money. Yes, there are good intentions, but they cannot be relied upon if they are not interpreted by holding the seniors accountable before the juniors, because time passes and does not wait for anyone. Therefore, the statements issued by more than one party stay as words until they go hand-in-hand with actions.

These statements can be from the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad, who put his finger on the wound and pulled the pus out of it, or the statements of other officials regarding the reform that was expected for several governments but it passed in the history of Kuwait, and nothing was done with regard to its slogans for the advancement of the country. If the arms deals and warplanes once represented the wonders of wonders, the same saying also applies to other major projects, but with the difference that none of the corrupt went to prison, and the looted money was not recovered. This is a serious indication that accountability is optional. What the Ministry of Defense was subjected to previously affected the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, Kuwait Municipality, and other ministries and institutions.

This situation is not healthy at all, as corruption has affected all institutions, causing them to suffer from great paralysis. That is why it is important to follow the closure of the shops of public relations companies and representative offices in Switzerland and other countries, which award tenders through a game that has become exposed. A tender, or rather a project, which is worth about KD 300 million is sold at a hundred and fifty million to foreign companies that have to pay fees and guarantees, and secure employment and implementation that does not exist. It will be in accordance with the conditions set in the tender book, and then the journey of executive orders and corruption in the specifications begins.

Well, there is a proposal to cancel the concept of local agent, but according to the data, it will not be on the agenda of the National Assembly in the near future. This is because the parliamentary priorities differed under the pressure of the desires of the influential, so proposals were submitted that could be postponed, while other important ones were delayed. That is why it is expected that the systematic looting will continue, and by law, until time comes to pass. In neighboring countries, all this tampering was stopped by order of the state’s leadership, the countries recovered huge sums of money, and the projects were implemented on time. There were no longer arms deals that were more like “Ali Baba’s Adventure and the Hundred Thieves,” and most of them were influential, sheikhs and princes.

In all of this, the government can agree with foreign companies and factories directly with regard to weapons, equipment and supplies of all security services, as well as through the “B.O.T” (Build Operate Transfer) system, and within a period to be agreed upon, whether in housing cities, major projects such as the metro and railway, the development of islands, or the Silk City, and others, while the role of the state is supervision and follow-up.

In all of this, there must be a decision and determination to implement it. An official should not fall under any pressure from an influential person, even if it is an MP or a minister. The interest of Kuwait and the continuity of its wealth and development are much more important than people, because future generations will hold the present generations accountable for everything they have done. History is a merciless judge. Email: [email protected] Follow me on: [email protected]

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times