publish time

06/03/2023

author name Arab Times

publish time

06/03/2023

KUWAIT CITY, March 6: MP Adel Al-Damkhi said the parliamentary committee tasked to investigate the contracts on procuring Eurofighter aircraft and Caracal helicopters held its 19th meeting on Monday, with representatives of the State Audit Bureau (SAB) in attendance. He disclosed the committee will meet with other concerned entities soon, including the Legal Advice and Legislation Department. He added the committee is currently studying the legalities of inviting the representatives of the manufacturers of Eurofighter aircraft and Caracal helicopters, as well as the mediators who could be the reason behind the termination of the Caracal contract.

He also confirmed that the Budgets and Final Accounts Committee discussed the accounting system for the oil and gas production of Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation (KNPC) with representatives of the joint committee between KNPC and the ministries of Oil and Finance. He said the committee will soon complete its report, including the opinions of the concerned parties. He stressed the importance of this issue due to the dire financial consequences, clarifying the meetings are aimed at preventing KNPC from turning into a ‘financial entity’, as it seems keen on keeping revenues while transferring any amount to the State according to its wishes.

In another development, Al- Damkhi congratulated His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for once again obtaining the trust of the political leadership to form the new government. He urged the premier to expedite the appointment of new ministers who should have the ability to bear their responsibilities and cooperate with the Assembly.

He said the premier should ask for the reform visions of those he intends to appoint as members of the next government. He asserted the citizens are fed up with the disruption work in their interest, warning that going back to square one will be very costly for the country. Meanwhile, MP Thamer Al- Suwait asked Minister of Interior Sheikh Talal Khalid Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah about an individual who fled from the country after being caught red-handed smuggling about 18 kilograms of drugs through a land border checkpoint.

He wants to know if the responsible securitymen have been suspended and investigated, if the Ministry of Interior filed a case at the Public Prosecution to pave way for coordination with the Interpol, and if there has been coordination between the air borders, land borders, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Kuwait General Administration of Customs (KGAC) to arrest such fugitives. Moreover, MP Soud Al-Asfor submitted a proposal to require senior officials nominated for the undersecretary position to present their vision to the Assembly or the concerned parliamentary committee prior to the appointment. MP Ahmed Lari submitted a proposal for the Ministry of Higher Education to specify the overseas and local scholarship quota for public schools. He said it has been noticed that foreign and private schools usually obtain a large percentage of scholarships for secondary stage graduates, particularly in the scientific institutes and colleges; asserting this is unfair. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff