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Iraqi parliament launches investigation into KEC land deal

By By A. Saleh KUWAIT: The Iraqi Parliament has launched an investigation into a deal in which Iraqi land estimated to measure more than 280,000 dunams (one dunam = approximately 2,500 m�) in the Southern Seeba area to the south of Basra was sold to a Kuwaiti company. Spokesman of the Oil and Energy Committee Udai Awwad said, "We discovered a deal to sell Iraqi land with an estimated area of 280,000 dunams as part of an investment contract in Seeba fields with the Kuwait Energy Company ( KEC ). He said the investment contract is within a certain period of time and cannot be sold to a non-Iraqi company.

Awwad specifically held Iraq's Deputy Premier for energy affairs Hussain Al-Shaharstani responsible for signing the contract, which he warned would have negative effects on Iraq's future, adding that he will submit the issue to the Parliament for discussion, along with documents proving the deal took place.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti MP Ali Al-Omair has threatened to grill Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah over a new issue, saying, "We will not allow the continuation of this dalliance and we will ask him about the announcement made in Moscow about Russia's ratification of a treaty with the Kuwait Government on cooperation in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Al-Omairi said that this policy a continuation of the government's policy of squandering money for no obvious return, adding that the "minister describes the Iranian file as dangerous and worrisome." On a separate issue, MP Daifallah Buramya warned the education minister not to go too far in approving projects conducted under direct contracts, as they raise suspicions about the squandering of public funds. "The education minister has launched a new era of profiteering and buying political loyalties by turning a blind eye to what is happening in those contracts and the suspicions around them.

As a man of law, he said, the minister Ahmad Al-Mulaifi should know the legal frameworks followed in such contracts very well, and if he is serious in his work, he should stop those suspicious contracts, and submit them to the Central Tenders Committee (CTC). He claimed that the education ministry has signed a number of construction and maintenance contracts, most of which are conducted through direct contracts without being passed by the CTC.

We were surprised that the situation is the same, and that more contracts have been added, such as the artificial turf to be installed in some Kuwaiti schools; then matters escalated to rubber [mats for] running tracks, then special floors for basketball and volleyball and finally an outrageous contract for electrical work to serve these playgrounds, and this means opening a door to squandering people's money even if it meant to serve the society - why is it not going through the CTC?

On another issue, it's been reported that the cabinet is expected to discuss the progress of some proposals it has already approved during its first meeting after the current formation, which takes place today, in order to submit them to the National Assembly. It will also discuss the report by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah about his brief tour of Gulf nations, which concluded yesterday.

The sources said the cabinet will discuss the proposed law to establish a stock market supervisory authority, with commerce and industry minister Amani Buresli set to present a report on it. "The mechanism of banks financing development projects are almost ready and will be discussed in the presence of the new development minister Abdulwahab Al-Haroun, soon after he takes the oath of office in front of His Highness the Amir," explained an insider.

© Kuwait Times 2011