Sheikh Mohammad likely to be reinstated as cabinet affairs, oil minister

Sheikh Mohammad Al- Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: A parliamentary delegation asked His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to avoid including cabinet affairs minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah in the new Cabinet, which is expected to be declared by early next week. The MPs had noticed that Sheikh Mohammad participated in the GCC Summit and also attended a meeting held two days earlier between foreign minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and the US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. "This likely confirms that Sheikh Mohammad is returning to office," said sources familiar with the situation, quoting the MPs as saying.

The Cabinet resigned last month in the aftermath of a grilling motion against Sheikh Mohammad which ended with a request for a vote of confidence that was heavily expected to oust the minister out of office. According to the sources, over 30 MPs are opposed to his reappointment even in a different position. The sources added that reinstating him will be a challenge to lawmakers and might lead to more confrontations between the government and the parliament.

The sources confirmed that Sheikh Mohammad will be appointed in the same position in the new Cabinet and that he might be appointed oil minister as well. The new Cabinet will likely take the constitutional oath before His Highness the Amir on Sunday or Monday and attend the parliament session on Tuesday, the sources added.

Camps

Well-informed sources at Kuwait Municipality said relevant municipality bodies had licensed around 1,000 camps since Nov 15 in various camping areas, and stressed that license issuance is still open. The sources added that KD 350,000 had been collected so far in fees, including KD 50,000 in deposits that would be refunded to campers once the season is over and the camping site is handed over in good condition.

By A Saleh