Kuwaiti Cabinet demands probe into suspicion of corruption in tenders

KUWAIT, July 16 (KUNA) -- The Cabinet on on Monday asked Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Services Affairs to open an investigation into suspicions of corruption in tenders in the Ministry of Communication.
This came after Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh briefed the ministers on a memo submitted by Central Agency for Public Tenders on this matter.
Al-Saleh also appraised the Cabinet of the Ministry of Information's inaction to sign a contract regarding a tender, so the Cabinet assigned Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs to probe this case.
The Cabinet asked the Minister to refer the file to the Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) in case corruption is confirmed.
As part of its much attention to promote efforts by Nazaha and in light of the positive and serious cooperation with the specialized parliamentary committees, the council of ministers reviewed a report by the authority covering efforts exerted in implementation of the decisions made by the government in this regard.
The Cabinet asked the authority to analyze and study output of the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), and bases and criteria on which its ratings are made.
The council of ministers studied proposals included in the report aiming to accelerate action and practical steps to achieve the desired goals.
The council assigned Nazaha to follow up strenuous efforts so as to improve Kuwait's ratings in the CPI and to coordinate with the national bodies as well as promote contact with the Transparency International (TI).
It asked the authority also to inform the TI that the country is not satisfied as its ratings in CPI is inconsistent with its regulatory institutions, regulations and disciplines which should guarantee state's deserved status.
The council ordered Nazaha to ask the TI about bases and criteria on which it determines countries' ratings in CPI.
The ministers instructed the authority to continue its cooperation with all concerned bodies to draw up national strategies to fight corruption, lauding its good efforts in this regard.
Meanwhile, the cabinet assigned government departments to work on transforming transactions into electronic services. (end) hm