KUWAIT: Two
Egyptian fishermen were deported due to violations at the fish market, informed
sources said. They were also refusing to go to sea, and urged other fishermen
not to fish in protest against the commerce ministry's decisions with regards
to organizing fish auctions, the sources added. The commerce ministry sought
the help of the interior ministry to deport the fishermen, and provided names
of another group of fishermen, who are awaiting deportation, the sources
further indicated.

The sources said
the commerce ministry coordinated with the Public Authority for Agricultural
Affairs and Fish Resources and the Public Authority for Manpower to check
violations by expat workers as well as fishermen at the fish market. They said
names of all fishermen are accounted for and registered at the three government
entities. Meanwhile, the agriculture authority is contemplating granting new
fishing licenses to Kuwaitis, which is expected to be announced within two
months. They said the plan is to accept National Assembly proposals to issue
the licenses to Kuwaiti youth under the umbrella of supporting small business
projects.

Kuwait
Competition Protection Agency had said Thursday it was investigating alleged
practices harmful to competition in the fish market, which were reported by
newspapers and social media. The agency sent a team to monitor alleged illegal
practices and to take action accordingly, the agency's Executive Director Dr
Abdullah Al-Uwaisi said in a statement. He asserted the agency was pursuing all
measures to address monopoly in order to guarantee fair prices for all
consumers. Uwaisi officially asked the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for
documents related to the alleged violations monitored by the ministry's
inspectors at the fish market. The agency is a government department tasked
with monitoring competition in markets in Kuwait.

The commerce
ministry's new circular released last week helped drop prices before a reported
fishermen strike caused prices to soar back to their original high rates.
Ministry inspectors were present at the daily auction to monitor the
implementation of the new circular, which was imposed with hopes of preventing
alleged manipulation of prices. The circular had been released in response to
complaints that auctioneers, who are mostly expatriates, allegedly raise the
prices to increase their profits. The circular stipulates that expatriates are
not allowed to enter fish auctions unless authorized.

In other news,
Director of Public Relations at the Social Affairs Ministry Abdullah Al-Hamdan
said there is joint cooperation between his ministry and the interior ministry
with regards to checking donation collecting violations. He said in case any
person is found collecting donations personally, he will face consequences. He
said the social affairs ministry received applications for donation collection
for the udhiya (sacrifice) project in April, and the number of participating
charitable societies reached 37 for projects outside Kuwait and 22 for udhiya
inside the country.

By A Saleh