KUWAIT: Companies that carried out projects for the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) plan to meet soon to discuss submitting complaints against the ministry if it does not implement its decision to reinstate them and allow them to participate in tenders. This comes nearly two weeks after a government petitions panel decision which acquitted several local companies that were suspended by the public works ministry over contractual flaws in rain-hit projects. The companies were excluded and banned from submitting their offers for any tender, based on the state of the projects of these companies during the rain crisis in November.
The sources said these companies justified their not guilty plea by saying that they received a certificate for their projects' sound execution from MPW when the project were completed, and this is a certificate the ministry does not give to anyone except after making sure that what was agreed upon was done. They also said the investigation committee that the Cabinet formed to probe the rain crisis proved the companies did not commit any violations while carrying out their projects, and allowed the companies to return to tendering.
Parliamentary sources said Minister of Public Works and State Minister of Housing Affairs Jenan Bushehri is expected to be grilled over the matter during the upcoming parliamentary term. They said the minister will face a double grilling as some aspects will cover MPW and others the housing ministry, because MPs accuse her of negligence in building the infrastructure of Sabah Al-Ahmad City and repeating the same mistake in South Abdullah Al-Mubarak City. Sources expected the minister's grilling can gather parliamentary support and of 10 MPs to submit a no-confidence motion.
Firearms use
In other news, Deputy Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah issued a decision with regards to police using firearms. The decision, issued with immediate effect, considers firearms as rifles and pistols of all types, automatic weapons, launchers and grenades of all types that may kill or injure those against whom they are used. The decision also alluded to stun guns as means of enabling members of the police force to carry out their mission to arrest and control wanted and dangerous persons. It gave detailed rules and descriptions of when and how weapons should be used, and how police should act with crowds.
Medical teams
Separately, Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel Al-Sabah issued a decision to organize the hajj medical services team, and the decision will be in effect for the next Hijri year 1441 corresponding to 2020. The decision called for naming the head of the team from clinical consultants of hospitals and specialized centers for two consecutive years only, while the deputy head will to be named from administrative employees who serve in supervisory jobs. The team should comprise of 24 doctors, 26 nurses, 16 pharmacists, six from preventive health, six from medical emergencies, six from medical supplies, 20 administrators and six workers.
By A Saleh