Compensation for rain damage soon - MP asks about complaints by embassies

KUWAIT: The National Assembly's legal and legislative committee yesterday approved a draft law to declare Ashoura as a public holiday for both the private and public sectors, MP Khalil Abul said. To become effective, the bill has to be approved by the National Assembly when it resumes its sessions in late October. Assembly panels in the past have rejected such proposals.

Ashoura falls on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Muslim lunar calendar, when Shiites commemorate the killing of Imam Al-Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who is highly revered by Shiites as their third imam.

Abul said the committee also discussed the grilling filed by MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari against the prime minister after the Assembly asked the committee to establish if the grilling was in line with the constitution. The panel postponed any decision until a further meeting after getting the legal response of the government. Kandari has declined an invitation by the panel to attend its meetings.

Head of the Assembly committee studying damage caused by last year's floods MP Adel Al-Damkhi said yesterday the government is expected to start paying compensation for huge damages in the next few weeks. Damkhi said the government had already paid compensation for damages to vehicles worth less than KD 3,000 and has almost completed compiling larger damages for vehicles and houses.

He said the lists are almost ready and Minister of Public Works Jenan Bushehri has said payments will start in the coming few weeks. Floods resulting from torrential rains lashed several areas of Kuwait last November, causing heavy damage to properties. Damkhi also said that the committee called on the ministry of public works to penalize companies that were involved in faulty projects and roads.

MP Omar Al-Tabtabaei yesterday sent a series of questions to Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah over complaints received by the ministry from foreign embassies and consulates against social media activists, newspapers and other local media. He inquired about the number of complaints received from foreign missions in the country and then referred by the ministry to legal authorities for action. The lawmaker asked for the number of such complaints against tweeters, local publications and television channels and a copy of each complaint. He also inquired about the number of complaints filed by Kuwaiti embassies abroad.

By B Izzak