KUWAIT CITY, May 7

The Finance and Economic Affairs Committee agreed on Tuesday to raise housing loans for citizens from KD 70,000 to KD 100,000 as well as to increase rent allowance from KD 150 to KD 250.

Committee Chairman MP Yusuf Al-Zalzalah said the Credit and Savings Bank is obligated to give out the increases to counter the high rate of inflation. He added the government does not object to the increase and is also obligated to monitor the rent prices to prevent greed by real estate owners and ensure inflation standards are followed.

Meanwhile, MP Abdulrahman Al-Jeeran stated that the 33 laws approved this legislative round cannot be described as an accomplishment if they are not practically implemented. Therefore, the executive authority is requested to put into effect the executive mechanisms of the passed bills.

Chairman of the Budgets Committee MP Adnan Abdulsamad said his committee discussed the 2013/2014 budget of the Public Authority for Assessment of Compensation. He said the authority's director revealed the total compensation estimated by the UN is $41 billion, of which $29 billion has been received and $11 billion remains which will be received by 2015. 

Abdulsamad added $3 billion is for environmental compensation which was received in full by a committee for that regard but was not monitored by the Audit Bureau. The environmental compensation committee is separate from the general compensation committee and the Audit Bureau was requested by the Budgets Committee to monitor all the compensation committees.

 The environmental compensation was given to the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) to invest until they are allocated for environmental reforms, continued Abdulsamad.

The environmental committee has also taken administrative allowance amounting to three percent of the $3 billion or $41 million. Of that $16 million was disbursed. The Audit Bureau was also requested to monitor the money that has been spent and report to the Budgets Committee.

In another development, the Parliament Secretary MP Kamel Al-Awadhi has called on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah to work with the British authority to make it easy for Kuwaiti citizens to obtain entry visa to Britain especially since Kuwait was among the first countries that allowed British citizens to obtain entry visa into the country for 90 days stay without fees.
He added many Kuwaitis who want to go to Britain suffer due to delay in granting entry visas in addition to exorbitant cost of visa fee especially the patients and their companions and the students studying in UK universities.

He said, "The State of Kuwait has deep-rooted relations with the United Kingdom from time immemorial due to security treaties, mutual agreements and distinguished relations between the two governments and their peoples."

He hinted Britain has allowed some citizens of other Gulf countries to obtain entry visas upon arrival in spite of the Kuwaiti-British relations being the oldest among the countries of the region.

He requested the Interior Minister to ask the British authorities to adopt the "principle of reciprocity" and end the suffering of Kuwaitis and the patients "especially since Kuwait sends most of its citizens for medical treatment and further studies to Britain."

MP Saad Al-Bous has called on the government to be serious with tree plantation instead of engaging only in gardening around the roundabouts in light of great desert hinterland that surrounds the Kuwaiti urban areas and the high rate of pollution and the successive waves that requires planting belt of trees around.

In a press statement, Al-Bous said the statistics issued by the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) and published recently by local newspapers have revealed a serious environmental disaster. He added various authorities have embarked on horticulture that does not have any positive effect on the environment.

He said according to the statistics the total area for the public and typical gardens in various areas is equivalent only to the total area of the roundabouts and the intersections that enjoy gardening under the supervision of PAAAFR.

He asked PAAAFR to announce a time table for implementing its proposed plan which includes developing the existing gardens, establishing 39 new gardens, 38 multi-purpose playgrounds covered with artificial turf and 38 fully-grassed playgrounds equipped with modern educational plays for children. He stressed the need for the concerned authorities in Kuwait to unite their efforts and in tree plantation projects.

On another issue, MPs Yousef Al-Zalzalah, Faisal Al-Kandari, Ahmed Lari, Nasser Al-Murri and Mohammed Al-Jabri have presented a draft proposal to establishing a public stock company for manufacturing and importing building materials and selling them to citizens at low prices or on installments with low-interest.

According to the lawmakers, if this proposal is passed it will stop the hike in price of building materials and some greedy traders who take advantage of the citizens. They said it will also contribute to stability in the family and provide housing care for all citizens.

Separately, MP Faisal Al-Kandari has submitted a draft proposal calling for granting farmers interest-free loans to enable them develop their agricultural projects since this will benefit the economy and serve as a support for agricultural products.

© Arab Times 2013