Cabinet wants to end bedoons' suffering

Cabinet wants to end bedoons' suffering

Published Date: January 10, 2010

Kuwait Times

KUWAIT: Although the government continues to oppose introducing new legislation on bedoon (stateless) residents' rights, it is determined to introduce rulings that will help to resolve the humanitarian and social problems they face, according to State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Roudhan Al-Roudhan.

Speaking after the latest fruitless parliamentary session to discuss the subject, the minister said that the cabinet is set to meet with the National Assembly committee on bedoon issues to discuss the matter shortly, during which the cabinet will explain its ideas to resolve the problems.

Al-Roudhan also spoke about the government's development plan, following the revelation that the National Assembly's Secretariat General has received a request signed by 14 MPs to allocate the January 12 parliamentary session for discussion of the issue.

The cabinet affairs minister voiced hope that the government and parliament could work together on implementing the measures outlined in the plan, also expressing a wish that the 14 MPs would coordinate with the cabinet, which he said is ready and willing to discuss this critically important subject.

Al-Roudhan stressed his own confidence in the ability of the parliament and cabinet to reach agreement on the development process, reported Al-Qabas.

On the issue of developments concerning the grilling motion presented by MPs Musallam Al-Barrak and Dr. Faisal Al-Mislem against information minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Al-Roudhan said that the general mood is against the motion after the two MPs recent unsuccessful motions against His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah and three other ministers.

The minister for cabinet affairs suggested that MPs Walid Al-Tabtabae and Dr. Jamaan Al-Harbish are unlikely to support this motion after their previous failed motion against the minister. Al-Roudhan said that it therefore improbable that an MP can be found to be present the grilling itself since the interpellator would have to be chosen from a list of MPs who have not previously taken part in a grilling session.