Constitutional court says law fails to explain where conflict of interest occurs

KUWAIT: Kuwait's Public Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) said it followed the ruling of the constitutional court issued yesterday in appeal no. 7 for 2018, which said law 13/2018 with regards to banning conflict of interest is unconstitutional, saying that it totally respects and appreciates the ruling.

The constitutional court had yesterday ruled unconstitutional a law that bans conflict of interest, which the parliament had passed in March 2018. The court explained that the law's executive regulations, which Nazaha had released in October the same year, fails to provide a clear explanation of where conflict of interest occurs to warrant the ban, which renders the law unconstitutional.

Nazaha said its interest in following this ruling comes out of its specialization in looking into all affairs of fighting corruption, especially with regards to reviewing and improving legislations related to fighting corruption, of which the law banning conflicts of interest was part of its components.

Meanwhile, Nazaha said the issue of banning conflict of interest is one of the legislative requirements in the field of fighting corruption, according to the UN treaty to fight corruption, which represents the general framework organizing all efforts of fighting corruption, both procedural and legislative. Nazaha said it will study the constitutional court ruling to find the reasons that led to the ruling, and will work towards a speedy issuance of a new law that organizes the issue of conflicts of interest.

Health violations

The supplies department at the commerce and industry ministry said dispensing ration items at Andalus and Riggae and Naeem co-ops has been stopped. The supplies in Andalus and Reiggae Co-op were stopped because of health violations and not complying with general hygiene and safety. It also stopped supplies from Naeem co-op branch at the request of the co-op administration in order to renovate the branch for better service.

Water bottle caps

Head of technicians at the prostheses center Khalid Al-Kandari denied rumors that the center planned to receive water bottle caps in order to recycle and use them in making prostheses, noting that the health ministry does not spare any effort to supply all raw materials for the manufacturing of artificial limbs.

Comprehensive plan

Secretary general of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development Khaled Mahdi stressed that Kuwait's 2035 vision is a deep one with comprehensive objectives that will help achieve turning Kuwait into an international financial and commercial hub. Speaking at a workshop held at the Kuwait Economic Society, Mahdi explained that Kuwait's vision that was launched by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah aims at turning the government from an operator to only a monitor of the economy, as well as having the private sector play a major role in the process.

Mutlaa project

The Chinese contractor building the infrastructure of 12,177 units in the first phase of the Mutlaa project recently asked to extend its contract due to end by October, said informed sources at the housing authority. The sources added that the housing authority is currently studying the request but no decision has been yet made. However, the sources excluded the possibility of withdrawing the project despite the delay and the fact that the contractor had received a warning notice in January.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi and A Saleh