KUWAIT: Speaker of the National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanem speaks during the conference. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The Municipality of the Palestinian city of Salfit recently named a street running in parallel to a settlement after Kuwait's National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem. A statement issued by the municipality yesterday said that the decision was made in appreciation for Ghanem's courageous stances towards the Palestinian cause. Notably, Ghanem had criticized the head of Israel's delegation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference in Russia in October.

Leading positions

The Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) Secretary General Fauzi Al-Majdali stressed that the program follows all possible procedures to meet the call made by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to focus on human resources' development as a tool of comprehensive economic development. Speaking at a meeting held at the MGRP headquarters to set a strategy to develop manpower in over 40 private sector establishments with the aim of appointing Kuwaiti youth in leading positions, Majdali stressed that following up the implementation of the strategy was at the top of MGRP's priorities.

Majdali added that MGRP also seeks to empower women through creating proper working environments and providing special training programs to qualify women for leading positions in various private sector establishments. Meanwhile, manager of MGRP's manpower development department Iman Al-Ansari said the program aims at building a medium term strategy that will create a comprehensive social revival based on three basic elements - restructuring the private sector labor market, setting a comprehensive plan to develop the private sector's national manpower and setting a plan to empower nationals.

Investigations

Kuwai Municipality Director Ahmed Al-Manfouhi referred three officials for investigations for failing to do their job duties properly. Manfouhi explained that the three officials included Ahmadi and Jahra cleaning department officials and the Ahmadi constructions manager. He added that penalties may go as far as termination if the violations were repeated, and stressed that lenience will not be tolerated.

Public funds

Ministry of Health's assistant undersecretary for financial affairs Mohammed Al-Azmi stressed that despite the circumstances the ministry had gone through during the fiscal years of 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, the ministry is keen on cooperating with all supervisory and monitoring bodies to protect public funds. Azmi added these circumstances helped reveal various financial and contracting violations involving public funds that were later referred to the public prosecution and the anti-corruption authority, where they are still being investigated. Azmi explained that violations included signing contracts without his department's approval. He also expressed amazement at listing his and others' names in the ministry's investigation committee recommendations to refer some officials to the anti-corruption authority despite his and his department's reputation for protecting public funds.

Hajj season

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has started early preparations for this year's hajj season, said Undersecretary Fareed Emadi, noting that he is heading the ministry's hajj mission that left for Saudi Arabia yesterday to discuss preparations with the Saudi side. Emadi added discussions will include timings, the registration deadline and Kuwaiti convoys' locations in Mina and Mt Arafat. He added that the mission will look for a new headquarters for the mission after the previous one's 11-year lease expired. Emadi added that the mission will discuss the possibility of increasing the number of Kuwaiti pilgrims. Commenting on measures to be taken against violating hajj convoys, Emadi stressed that prices will be closely monitored to make sure they actually match the services provided, noting that violators who operate unlicensed convoys will be subject to severe penalties of up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of KD 50,000.

By A Saleh