KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (left) and National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem are seen during a meeting yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: The government yesterday agreed to consider demands by MPs to compensate Kuwaiti citizens after a hike in petrol prices due to take effect next month. This came during a meeting attended by HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, four ministers and about 17 MPs to discuss ways to compensate citizens for the petrol hike. National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said the meeting was positive and MPs insisted that the best solution to the problem is for the government to implement the study of the Assembly's financial and economic affairs committee, which calls for compensating citizens financially for the hike.

Ghanem said that the Assembly is insisting to implement the financial committee's study, which agrees to liberalize petrol prices but compensating citizens. He said the government and the Assembly agree on the main goals of the price hike but differ on the mechanisms, adding that the Assembly is prepared to face the economic situation but not at the cost of citizens. The speaker said that no time limit was given for the government to respond to the Assembly's proposals, but added that the Assembly will study the matter in the next term starting early October.

State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah said the government team explained to MPs the reasons for the decision and the expected results, but insisted it will not allow any harm on citizens. He said the government told MPs that it was time for Kuwait to follow the steps taken by other Gulf states, because Kuwait is the last member of the six GCC states to take the petrol hike decision, while other states took it several months ago.

The minister said the government heard proposals by MPs, particularly the financial committee proposal, to an amount of fuel free of charge and another amount at subsidized prices to citizens, adding that the government is keen to cooperate with the Assembly regarding the issue. He however stated that the government would go ahead with the new price rises.

MP Abdullah Maayouf said lawmakers presented proposals to the government, mainly the financial committee's study, which can achieve reforms, rationalization and not harm citizens. He said the lawmakers told the government that the hike decision represents an embarrassment for them and the Assembly before the Kuwaiti voters. MP Humoud Al-Hamdan said lawmakers urged the government to prevent any increase in the prices of commodities as a result of the petrol price hike, and the government team said they will prevent any price rises. He expected that the government will respond to proposals by MPs before the hike decision becomes effective on Sept 1.

By B Izzak