KUWAIT, Aug 9 (KUNA) -- National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim described as good and positive Tuesday's meeting that grouped Government officials and the legislators, examining the issue of benzene prices.
However, he noted that the MPs, during the meeting, "insisted that views of the (parliamentary) financial committee regarding the fuel prices be adopted." He was speaking after the meeting, attended by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, ministers and a number of members of the National Assembly (Parliament).
Elaborating, the Parliament Speaker Al-Ghanim stated, "The MPs insist on maintaining the accord that had been reached at the level of the parliamentary financial affairs commission on liberalizing the benzene prices, along with subsidizing the citizen.
"The Government side pledged to examine views of the committee and finish the task as soon as possible."
The Government and the Parliament are in consensus on "the objectives however they differ on the mechanisms," he said, pledging anew to face the economic challenges, with effectiveness and integrity, in a fashion that this would not be at expense of the citizens." Asked on the Government affirmation that the decision to "rationalize the fuel prices" would be effective as of September, the Parliament Speaker said, "This is their decision; as to implementation and as far as we are concerned; we have time till the next (legislative) term to examine the Government reply to the committee proposal and we adhere to what we have demanded." The crucial meeting was attended by 18 MPs, Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Acting Oil Minister Dr. Anas Al-Saleh, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Minister of Public Labor and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Dr. Ali Al-Omair.
The Cabinet, last week, decided to lift the fuel prices effective early September. (end) hrz.nma.rk