Abdulhameed Dashti

KUWAIT: The public prosecution placed the name of MP Abdelhameed Dashti on the wanted list through the Interpol, to be arrested and handed to Kuwait. Sources said the verdict against Dashti must be implemented even if it was of first instance. The criminal court sentenced Dashti in absentia to 14 years and six months for insulting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and calling for joining Hezbollah.

Shaab tour

Minister of Public Works and State Minister for National Assembly Affairs Ali Al-Omair, Assistant Undersecretary Mohammad bin Nikhi and MP Kamel Al-Awadhi toured Shaab to check on the needs of citizens yesterday morning. He said the ministry is interested in developing and renewing the infrastructure of various areas in the state. Nikhi said the ministry has an ambitious plan for total maintenance for all roads, adding the plan needs a much bigger budget than allocated by the finance ministry. He said citizens stressed that the Shaab co-op parking lot needs development along with other concerns.

Fishermen's concerns

The issue of closing Doha port for Kuwaiti fishing boats is still irking fishermen, but Chairman of the Kuwait Fishermen Union Thaher Al-Suwayan said the union continuously cooperates with the coastguard and related government authorities, and appreciated efforts of interior ministry leaders headed by Assistant Undersecretary Maj Gen Zuhair Al-Nasrallah.

Suwayan said the union discussed with coastguard the issue of the Um Al-Maradem outlet last week in its first meeting held in the presence of Nasrallah, Director General of the Coastguard Brig Mubarak Al-Ameeri and fishermen board members. The meeting aimed at resolving some of the negative aspects during the entry and exit of Kuwaiti boats to shrimp in international waters from Um Al-Maradem center.

He said that the meeting discussed some difficulties such as the long distance for boats from Shamlan Marina and the long wait because the center can accommodate three boats only, and this wastes time and increases cost. He said fishermen must also carry their passports so they can get the exit and entry stamps, and this is the major problem since the start of the shrimping season, especially for fishermen who have temporary residency permits (article 14), which means the residency will be cancelled as soon they leave and they will not be allowed to reenter the country. Suwayan said Nasrallah promised to resolve the problem in cooperation with concerned authorities and to find an alternative place other than Um Al-Maradem for boats of Shamlan Marina.

By Meshaal Al-Enezi