Ministry considers allowing private addiction treatment centers

Minister Hossam Al-Roumiexpa

KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Municipal Affairs Hossam Al-Roumi said measures taken against renting houses to 'bachelors' in private residential areas (government housing) include power disconnections as an initial step, to be followed by mandatory evictions. Responding to an inquiry filed by MP Ali Al-Deqbasi, Roumi explained that a complaint has to be filed at the area's mayor office or the concerned municipality office before it is transferred to the concerned emergency team for further measures starting with warning notices, followed by Interior Ministry investigations, then filing citations against landlords, contacting the Ministry of Electricity and Water to disconnect power, and finally resorting to compulsory eviction. Local authorities have recently been increasing efforts to fight the illegal practice committed by owners of government homes who offer places for rent to single expatriate men. Those efforts came in response to grievances made by area residents who complain about the increased social and security risks that they say are brought by the presence of 'bachelors' in their areas.

Separately, an inspection campaign was held by the government's tripartite committee at the Wafer market in Suliabiya, said Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor's (MSAL) assistant undersecretary for cooperation affairs Abdul Aziz Shuaib. He said the campaign resulted in issuing several citations including residency visa violations, working for other parties instead of sponsors, commercial fraud, using unequipped vehicles to transport fruits and vegetables and using fake bills. Shuaib added that 13 co-ops were fined for several violations. The tripartite committee includes members from MSAL, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and the Public Authority for Manpower.

Addiction treatment

Responding to an inquiry by MP Saleh Ashour about addiction treatment centers, Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah said the current public center is working efficiently and is capable of receiving patients from Kuwait as well as from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. He added that MoH is currently considering allowing the private sector to build private addiction treatment centers.

New houses

Minister of Housing and Minister of State for Services Affairs Jenan Bushehri announced that 2,027 citizens have applied to get new government houses after previously selling their own. Responding to an inquiry by MP Saadoun Hammad, Bushehri added that the Public Authority for Housing Welfare is currently studying the applications to make sure they match all needed conditions as per law number 2/2015.

Cost cuts

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) approved a request by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) to cancel its security and administrative services department and turn it into two sections in a bid to downsize the ministry's organizational structure and cut expenses, said informed sources at MSAL.

By A Saleh and Meshaal Al-Enezi