There is an obsessive fixation in Kuwait concerning ‘Ministers’ and ‘Portfolios.’
When is this society and its decision-making components (Parliament, Council of Ministers) realize that true change and reform comes not with a new minister but by eradicating or overhauling the apparatus within the ministries themselves: Under-Secretaries, Assistant Under-Secretaries, Directors/Managers of Departments, and so forth. By and large, they are the ones who have been in power for decades and know the nooks and crannies of their ministries and how to exploit the system. Ministers can be replaced left and right but it means nothing without a complete overhaul of ministerial human resources and systems: elimination of bureacracy and corruption via an effective e-government system, succession planning and grooming the next generation, eradication of unproductive employees and managers, firing and prosecuting individuals found guilty of abusing their positions for financial gain or otherwise…the list goes on.
Everyone knows that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, expecting different results. Both the Parliament and the Council of Ministers are guilty of that behavior.
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
Discuss.
I have been thinking this for a while now! They need to be overhauled and thrown out! And people need to be put in jail for stealing for sure!
To quote a line from an old movie, “This town needs an Enema!”!!
It’s not just ministries and political leaders. If you ask me, the best solution is for the Kuwaiti government to realize that what happens at the parliament is NOT ALWAYS what the general public is asking for! While the MP’s are chosen by the people, it’s not always the ‘right’ people, nor even close to ‘all’ the people!
For a Population of just over 1.2 million Kuwaitis, just under 30% are eligible to vote. Statistically, this means that only a third of Kuwait is represented in the Kuwaiti Parliament! Moreover, the main political block with the most MP’s in it’s membership happens to be anti-demicocratic!
The Government, knowing these statistics, still consider the MP’s as representatives of the people, and that, by itself, is a major folly! Throw in the ‘partial’ independance of the recently-introduced Female vote, the under-handed activities of the tribes, sectarian devotion (encouraged or otherwise) and the political blackmailing between the powerful and the powerfully backed up, and you’ve got yourselves a very ripe state to hijack!
And don’t get me started on this thing with ministers holding two or more portfolios! Imagine; the external AND internal protection of the state in one man’s hands, who must – by decree and law – be a member of the ruling family….what does that sound like to you?
Institutions needs to be overhauled a lot, bureacracy must be eliminated, there needs to be quality control and trasnparency to everything yes, but it is doubtful we have the ‘minds’ or the ‘will’ that can execute those changes.
It it also stupid to have one minister with two important ministries under his control, like Agg says.The country needs fresh, young blood in everything like UAE.
Marzouq, Aggressor – Agree with you, especially the points concerning the National Assembly not being a true represantation of people’s aspirations and wishes.
Julai3 – If you see today’s new cabinet listing, you will realize that nothing changes and several portfolios are still under one individual.
Zaydoun – Your hopeful, positive outlook is absolutely infectious!