ShareKUWAIT: Political analyst Rima Al-Odheeb stressed the need for all parliamentary elections candidates to undergo medical tests, adding that such a decision has been delayed for too long and should have been put into practice years ago. She noted many Arab countries have made such tests mandatory to run. Odheeb said medical examination of candidates is a major step towards having parliamentarians with good health that would be positively echoed in their opinions and role in legislation and monitoring. "MPs must be physically and mentally fit to perform well," she said. Odheeb said a survey on her Twitter account to probe public opinion found that 88 percent of participants agreed, while only 12 percent rejected the proposal.
Health cooperation
Health minister Dr Ali Al-Obaidi yesterday signed a contract of cooperation between Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations (KIMS) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPS) of Canada. KIMS Secretary General Dr Ibrahim Hadi announced implementing the cooperation agreement for three years with the aim of developing the institute's training courses and ensure training doctors according to highest international medical training standards. Hadi added that the agreement was approved by KIMS head of the board of trustees and health minister Obaidi to train the institute's training staff on latest clinical training and means of assessing trainees. He added that the agreement includes having RCPS supervise the Kuwaiti board examinations.
Municipal Council elections
Municipal Council Chairman Muhalhel Al-Khaled said the council's supplementary elections would be held according to the earlier constituencies' system and that new areas would be added as per the new municipality law 33/2016. Khaled said MoI will announce the new lists of voters residing in new areas who had been deprived of voting in previous municipal council elections according to the old law 5/2005. Khaled explained that supplementary elections would be held in five constituencies - the fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth - after members Abdullah Al-Kandari, Ahmed Al-Bughaili, Nayef Al-Sour, Meshari Al-Mutoutah and Mane Al-Ajmi resigned.
Renewable energy
Minister of Electricity and Water and Acting Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Al-Jassar yesterday launched a project to install photoelectric cells at the Bayan water reservoirs. A statement issued by the ministry said the project is part of its keenness on adopting the latest in the field of renewable energy as well as reach the ultimate goal of covering 15 percent of the energy Kuwait needs by 2030 by renewable energy. The statement added that the project was launched in collaboration with the Environment Friends Company; the sole representative of S-Energy Company of Korea. The project includes installing solar panels, including 492 photoelectric cells, over an area of 2,000 sq m to produce 120 kilowatts of electricity and link them to the main grid. The statement added that the cells used were especially designed to work in extreme heat of up to 95 degrees. The ministry added that a special polyethylene cleaning technology would be used instead of water to ensure the cells' durability. The ministry added that the project is supervised by a group of Kuwaiti engineers and technicians working for the ministry.
By Meshaal Al-Enezi
