Kuwaitis detained in Cyprus to return back home today

KUWAIT: Minister of State for Economic Affairs and head of the supreme committee to handle demographic imbalance Mariam Al-Aqeel issued resolution number 7/2019 on forming a special committee to follow up the complaints of owners of licenses issued to stores that were closed in a bid to fight visa trafficking. Aqeel stressed that the resolution aims at fighting visa trafficking and workers sponsored through idle and inactive licenses, which eventually demographically affects Kuwait.

Aqeel added that according to the licenses law, a license will be cancelled in case of not being renewed for a year after expiry or if the business premises is closed for six consecutive months. In addition, Aqeel urged the owners of the shuttered stores to legalize their status to avoid legal accountability in case of any related violation.

Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Manpower yesterday launched an inspection campaign at labor residences in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh to ensure they meet international hygienic and professional safety measures.

Detained Kuwaitis to return
Kuwaiti citizens who have been detained in Cyprus said their problem has come to an end and that they received their passports pending returning home today at 7:00 pm. Mohammed Al-Hajji, one of the detainees, said they received their passports from the court yesterday morning after their 45-day travel ban was lifted. Hajji added that Kuwait's foreign ministry provided them with air tickets to return to Kuwait.

Waste management committee
The Municipal Council's environmental affairs committee called for urging the Cabinet to form a supreme committee comprising of elements from relevant bodies such as the Municipal Council, Kuwait Municipality, the Environment Public Authority (EPA) and the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) to manage the issue of waste, look into building collection points in governorates and empower and enroll the private sector in launching awareness campaigns. Speaking after a workshop held for this purpose, the committee's chairperson Maha Al-Baghli said Kuwait is part of the international community and has its own commitments towards improving environmental situations. "Unless solutions are found now, the cost will too high for future generations," she stressed.

Heritage village project
Municipal Council Chairman Osama Al-Otaibi said the legal department at Kuwait Municipality agreed to reoffer the heritage village project to entrepreneurs through the SME fund. The Municipality's legal affairs department manager Rajan Al-Ghareeb stressed that there is no legal objection to reoffer the project in Sharq to be utilized by entrepreneurs through the SME fund, especially since there are no legal disputes about it.

By A Saleh and Meshaal Al-Enezi