Licensing, Food Authority Pass
KUWAIT CITY, April 30
MP Khalid Al-Shatti has called on the government not to overreact against expatriates but rather clarify the situation so that people can know its strategy about deporting 100,000 expatriates annually.
He said he strongly supports addressing the defects in the demographic structure, deporting marginal workers and combating human trafficking as well as applying the law on anybody who violates international laws. However, Al-Shatti said he is against suppressing the expatriates in an abusive manner.
He also strongly expressed his objection to undermining the dignity of any expatriate during the process of deportation "because the law must be applied in accordance with the human rights and international and humanitarian criteria."
Directing his statement at the government Al-Shatti said, "Yes to reducing the number of expatriates especially the marginal workers who actually don't have work in Kuwait, but that should be done in a legal and civilized way."
He added expatriates have played an outstanding role and they have the ability in all fields in Kuwait and hope the strategy of deporting 100,000 annually in an abusive manner should not be a black dot in the human rights' record of Kuwait.
He expressed dismay over deporting an expatriate just because of violating the traffic law. He stressed this matter will open door for favoritism and use of influence and would violate 'principles' of human rights.
He urged the government to work in accordance with a well-organized strategy and transparency to correct the demographic structure in a legal framework without any abuse.
Meanwhile, MP Mohammed Al-Barrak presented a draft proposal calling on the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources to grant financial support to camel, sheep and goat breeders just like the support given to cattle breeders.
Al-Barrak pointed out the proposal is needed due to the importance of animal resource in the country and the increasing demand of local meat as well as the hike in prices of meat and to encourage citizens to breed animal resource.
Al-Barrak stressed supporting animal resource breeders would contribute in providing food security especially the red meat "because red meat has drastically increased recently which threatens those with low-income and breeders to abandon the breeding of their livestock due to the rise in prices of fodder and medicines as well as the cost in breeding animals."
Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed two bills in their second deliberation on Tuesday, referring them to the government for implementation.
The Assembly passed a bill pertaining to the provision of commercial licenses and another on the formation of a public authority for food and nutrition.
Article 12 of the food authority bill prohibits the sale and trade of imported food products before they are deemed suitable for consumption by the authority. Article 13 stipulates the penalties on the selling of food products that are unfit for human consumption, penalties that could reach to 10 years
imprisonment.
It authorized the closure of outlets for a temporary period not exceeding three months, a halt in the trading process, or the withdrawal of trading licenses for repeat violations.
Article 14 stipulates on the court to order the publication of cases that were met with convictions in the state's official gazette and two local dailies, at the expense of the convicted. The bill was approved by the 44 present lawmakers.
On the Commercial Licenses bill, Minister of Commerce and Industry Anas Al-Saleh that the new amendment will hasten the issuing of commercial licenses, improve the business sector environment and will enable businesspersons from obtaining a license on the same day of application.
"The law will reduce bureaucracy in the issuing of licenses," he stated, noting that the regulations on the law will take three months to form according to the law.
According to the bill, the Minister of Commerce and Industry will be responsible is making the decision on the various trades that need to be exercised in the country, based on the economic requirements. Temporary licenses are issued to applicants who meet the criteria until permanent or extended licenses are given.
Meanwhile, MP Saadoun Hamad revealed during Tuesday's session that "the Minister of Oil, Hani Hussein, informed him that revenue of selling alcohol at Kuwaiti gas stations abroad was KD 300,000 and that the selling of alcohol was halted on March 15." The minister was responding to an inquiry from Al-Saadoun in that regard. Al-Saadoun denied that "the selling of alcohol was halted in the 5,000 Kuwaiti-owned gas station". The minister then affirmed that alcohol was being sold through the government owned stations.
© Arab Times 2013
