Kuwait- 'Draft law on agencies aims to serve interest of certain group'
Date
1/13/2016 2:20:54 AM
(MENAFN- Arab Times) The 11/11 Bloc organized a seminar titled 'Parliament between commercial monopoly and good of citizens' on Sunday, Jan 10 for discussing the draft law on agency.
A number of former ministers and lawmakers attended the seminar, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Secretary General of the bloc Nasser Al-Shlaimi said, "We are not against traders in general but we are against the greedy ones. It is unfortunate that some traders secretly play the role of the hidden government.
These traders control legislation, which in turn has created a state of resentment among the citizens of this country".
Meanwhile, former minister Jassem Al-Oun insisted that the draft law on agency is aimed to serve the interests of a certain group and that this draft law is different from those submitted previously in this regard. Furthermore, MP Mohammed Tana explained that the parliament's Finance Committee canceled an article in the draft law with the aim of increasing the number of agents and to ensure an atmosphere of competition for increasing competency.
However, after it canceled the article, it became apparent that the draft law is aimed to meet certain agendas. Also, representative of Civil Society for Consumer Protection Mohammad Al-Ali stressed that the country seems to focus on reducing the governmental subsidy provided to the nation, but there must be fair competency and low prices because "monopoly of commodities will never lead to reduction in prices". He insisted that there is no justification for the increase in prices particularly since the oil prices are low.
"Therefore, if the government is serious about its intention to control the prices, reinforce competency and then reduce the governmental subsidy, it has to first eliminate monopoly, not let any group of traders control the market and then increase the prices", Al- Ali added. In addition, former minister Ahmad Baqer said the Kuwaiti market is not very active compared to the markets of the neighboring countries in the region, indicating that the law of competency has not been applied so far even though it was approved in February 2007.
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