Kuwait Cabinet holds weekly session

The Cabinet held its weekly meeting, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, via teleconference on Monday, and urged the public to comply with health instructions to facilitate gradual return to normal life. After the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh stated the following: Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah briefed ministers on his visit to Iraq yesterday, representing His Highness the Amir, which aimed to deliver a handwritten message to the newly-appointed Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi. The message focused on the close bond between the two neighbourly countries, means to promote and develop relations under various spectrums and several matters of mutual concern. Health minister Sheikh Dr. Bassel Al-Sabah then outlined the health situation in the country amid the spread of coronavirus, including statistics on the numbers of cases, recoveries and deaths across the country. The figures showed an increase in the number of recoveries by more than 75 percent compared to the increase of infection cases in some non-isolated areas. The Cabinet reiterated its call on nationals and residents to comply with health requirements in order to achieve the criteria enabling a move forward to the second phase of the restart plan. Furthermore, ministers reviewed the precautionary and logistic services in relation to the nationwide efforts to combat the virus spread, and decided the following: Firstly; the Cabinet was briefed about the Foreign Ministrys request for the return to the country of diplomatic mission members and their families stranded abroad. Secondly, tasking the Public Authority for Manpower, in coordination with Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Finance Ministry, to determine the costs pertaining to each expatriate worker, whose contracts ended, were found in violation of the residency law and those evacuated from the shelters, and ensuring the commitment of employers to pay the costs of their travel tickets. Thirdly, the adoption of two brochures, including guidelines for the reopening and restart of activities in the second and third phases respectively. Fourthly, the approval of the return to sports training only, with the adherence to health requirements and daily deadlines, in accordance with the restart stages. Separately, the Cabinet approved a decree and raised it to His Highness the Amir, appointing the president, vice president and board members of the Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority as follows; 1. Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim (president). 2. Nawaf Al-Mehmal (vice president). 3. Khaled Al-Khaled (member). 4. Mashael Al-Hajeri (member). 5. Husam Behbehani (member). 6. Nawaf Al-Bader (member). 7. Abdulaziz Al-Mansour (member). Also, the Cabinet examined the recommendations of the Public Services Committee, regarding the re-planning of traffic close to the southern entrance of the Ministries Complex building in Al-Mirqab, deciding the following; Instructing the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, in coordination with relevant authorities, to swiftly implement urgent solutions to tackle the matter, informing the Cabinet of any obstacles that may hinder these plans. The Cabinet also discussed the upcoming National Assembly sessions, scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday, to discuss the grilling submitted to the Minister of Education and the Minister of Higher Education and the Minister of Finance and coronavirus developments. Ministers, in this regard, reviewed His Highness the Prime Ministers message to the National Assembly speaker on the need for government presence, at a minimum level, in order to secure the quorum necessary to hold the session. It also urged compliance with health requirements, like social distancing and the completion of health and safety measures ahead of the session. Furthermore, the Cabinet mourned the loss of former finance minister and Amiri Diwan advisor Abdulrahman Al-Ateeqi, who passed away on Friday, recalling with appreciation his sincere efforts and contributions on the national scale in the various posts he held.