نبارك للسيد/خالد الفضالة التزكية التي حظى بها بتنصيبه أمينا عاما للتحالف الوطني، كما نبارك لمن تم انتخابهم بالمكتب التنفيذي أيضا ونتمنى لهم كل التوفيق …ولكن..يجب أن تكون هذه الدورة والتي تمتد مدتها لسنتين أن تتصافى النفوس وأن يكون الهدف المنشود تجميع الرموز والشباب الوطنيين تحت مظلة هذا التحالف وأن لا يكون الغرض منه فقط الدفاع لأناس أهدافهم كانت شخصية نوعا ما…كما يجب ان يسود عملهم القادم الشفافية أكرر الشفافية وبعيدا عن الغموض الذي كان يدار به التحالف بالسابق
والله ولي التوفيق

Who says Kuwait isn’t a vanguard of development and progress anymore? World’s Longest Shish Tawouk Cooked In Kuwait.

Now if we could only cook up ‘Jaber Hospital’ for starters (I think the project has been in the ‘marinating’ stage for three years).

تعرض النائب/صالح الملا لجلطة قلبية أدت إلى ادخاله مستشفى الأميري ولله الحمد حالته مستقرة. نتمنى لصالح الشفاء العاجل حيث أن الكويت بحاجة لأمثاله..
ألف لا باس عليك يا بومحمد وما تشوف شر

This latest news report about nationalizing Oil Contracts in order to create 10,000 jobs for Kuwaiti nationals shows just how ignorant these MPs are with regards to the needs of the country! And while I don’t mean ‘ignorant’ in a derogatory way, I mean it factually, as in ‘they don’t know what the hell it’s all about!’

It’s not simply a matter of enforcing legislation and hoping it’ll work out to solve the unemployment issue, there are a lot of things to consider, like experience, qualifications, career development, training, the list goes on!

Yes, there is legislation to financially support Kuwaitis in the Private sector, offering incentives to both employer and employee and so forth, however, the former looks for more than money; they demand skill-set enhancements, personal productivity, job stability, career development, personal development, things that money cannot buy, since they come from the employer’s need to satisfy his employees in order to produce and develop a new generation of producers.

There’s a reason why many jobs are filled by expatriates; they’re cheaper to payroll and more productive! The Kuwaiti entrepreneur will more likely that not choose an Asian accountant or IT Administrator over a Kuwaiti one, simply because a Kuwaiti’s minimum wage is supported by incentives and allowances that are in turn mandated by law (the end of term indemnity clause in the Kuwait Private Sector’s legislation alone is sufficient proof). Jobs for Kuwaitis need more than ‘nationalizing’ contracts or ‘Kuwaitization’ laws, they need a sound strategic Human Resources Development and Sustainability plan that coincides with legislation to support it, and I don’t see anyone from Hadas talking about this critical need.

In fact, I don’t see anyone talking about this need at all – even though it’s a textbook example of a critical business need; all I see are people asking for more and more incentives and allowances, with groups like Hadas singing their tunes.

Suspiciously, however, this report comes amidst a blizzard of political turmoil in Kuwait, preceded by an equally suspiciously timed report by MP Waleed Al-Tabtebai about ‘fixing up’ Jabriya…all within the political turmoil, when people are seeking to find a solution to the question of dissolution.

It’s all a game to these people, once they’re elected, they shout, bicker and threaten the government in order to cover up and pursue their own agendas, but by the time their term is up, they revert back to their initial promises during the elections periods…just like a child’s game! I have occassionally highlighted this on my blog, and am currently researching it further, but it’s clearly a game to these people. And it’s high time we voters quit playing and start acting.

Right now, in fact, I’m guessing someone is examining his notebook, deciding it’s time to keep true to his campaign promises to the hapless voters, especially since new elections on the horizon seem to be a sad reality.

What remains to be seen is whether we voters learn from our mistakes or not the next time around!

We’ve had great new mileage out of the blog’s ‘Diwaniya’ concept so far, the ‘Guest Contributors’ have done a stellar job: an entertaining piece by Don Veto (‘Things People Carry As ‘Baggage’ When Travelling’), a politically passionate one by Intlxpatr (‘Smile For Me Baby – Let Me See Your Grill’) – the next few weeks and months expect appearances by some of the brightest bloggers in our stratosphere; they’ll also get their own permanent category slot on the blog (for a hint of things to come check out the right side-bar). If you haven’t been contacted yet, you probably will be. It’s about community; having fun and making a difference.

Next up on the horizon is a new writer called فتح الخير who will blog in Arabic (a ‘Hilaliya’ first).

Can Anyone Fill The ‘Bisht’ Here?

Fancy titles; everyone pursues them in Arab cultures where it is a sign of ‘honor’ and ‘prestige.’ Ministries, companies, governments, even volunteering and social organizations; they their love titles; it fuels their ego even if they perform piss-poorly at their menial tasks. The Minister of this. The 4th Deputy Premier of that. The Vice-President in charge of this. Assistant Under-Secretary in charge of that. Whatever.

They are in denial – they get superficial respect, but are mocked behind their backs – people resent them. Why? Because they don’t deliver the goods; yet these prima donnas have the chutzpah to pick and choose Constitutional elements to further their own self-serving needs. Niccolo Machiavelli (‘The Prince’) said it best, “It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.”

I admit it, I try to stay neutral, but I can’t. I know I am not Kuwaiti. It’s your country. And yet I live here, and the decisions and choices you make affect me, so now and then, even though I bite my tongue, something squeaks out.

I’m fussy about words. I hate the word “grill”, I hate the way it is used by politicians, I hate the way it is used by all the newspapers. To me, “grilling someone” has a disrespectful connotation. I hear “grill” and I see a group of porky pols dancing with glee while their intended victim is trussed and spitted, with a big red apple in his/her mouth, being turned over a roaring fire. It is an ugly picture. It is disrespectful.

Have some dignity. The people voted for you, Mr. Minister of Parliament, they put their trust in you. Here is what people need: They need housing. They need reliable sources of food. They need reliable electricity and water, they need reliable roads on which they can get to work. They need sensible laws which are approved by a majority, while keeping in mind the protection of the minorities. They need laws that benefit the majority, and they need those laws enforced equitably. They need government without the necessity of bribes, or knowing the right person to get the visa, work permit, import permit, stamp, etc. They need respect, and they expect YOU to set the example.

The people, Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti, need respect. Respect is not alleviating people of their debts; they were grown ups and signed the papers. Respect is looking to the future, preparing for the day when the oil no longer flows.

Disrespect for the people is posturing and making ridiculous accusations, rushing to buy the newspaper when it comes out to see if your accusation made the headlines.

Disrespect is calling for the resignation of the Education Minister when a deranged former prisoner streaks naked through a classroom, when that minister is trying to upgrade a seriously degraded education system.

Disrespect is making promises to people that you can’t keep, and promises that treat the citizens like welfare recipients and not people of a long and proud merchant and trading tradition.

Disrespect is making laws that “protect” women, while putting barriers in their way, preventing their ability to compete equally for jobs and pay and citizenship for their children.

Here is the way grown-ups solve problems: they negotiate. They ask questions. And after they have asked a question, they listen to the answer. Good government by the people involves a lot of give and take, it involves flexibility, it involves respect for your neighbor and his or her beliefs. It requires looking for inclusive solutions.

The current buzz is that Parliament will once again be dissolved. I can only imagine that the Emir would choose to do that only as a very last resort, and with a sickened heart; sick that elected officials cannot get on with the work of government and must be sent to “time out” like a group of naughty children.

Put away your grills. Dig deep, dig up the manners you were taught as proud Kuwaitis. Man up. Kuwait needs ministerial leadership willing to make the tough calls to get them through the current crisis and to plan for a long and abundant future.

I am not Kuwaiti – and living here, I have met some of the most amazing and wonderful Kuwaitis, people in whom I have the utmost confidence Kuwait has a promising future. I meet people who care about Kuwait passionately, who are raising their own children with care and attention, and who are looking at the big picture.

Change can happen. Change can truly happen in Kuwait. It can only happen if people of good will meet together, listen to one another, and break this gridlock, break this stalemate. To move forward will require new thinking, new faith in one another and in the transparent processes. It can be done. 🙂 Yes, it can.

I have travelled all over, and seen different places. I have been to museums, churches and even historical Roman sites. It was nice, in a tedious sort of way. When you travel to a place that has some history, it is almost a prerequisite to go there.

What I really enjoy during my travels is witnessing the strange behavior of people as they globetrot. I have seen Kuwaiti families load crates of frozen fish, sacs of rice and tomato paste while on their way to London.

I realize we are in a banking crisis right now, but I don’t recall reading anywhere that there was a famine in London.

Anyway, I digress. What I saw recently really made me laugh, someone loaded a ….just have a look.