أرشيف الوسم: history

Let the year 2018 be the open human year toward the context, the environment and toward other fellow human beings. We have an extraordinary chance, so let’s utilize it wisely.

Kuwait has a relatively small population. This limited population and thereby permitting a good government to rule and manage it efficiently and solves most of its problems. At the same time, Kuwait enjoys high revenues, and per capita. The Kuwait GDP is among the top ten in the world. The Kuwaitis are known to be highly educated, open and exposed to international trends and practices.   Kuwaitis possess high creative spirits and ability to innovates and create commercial ventures and markets; once the suitable environment is in place.

In 2018 we look to have an open, business-friendly environment.  We don’t need new cities or mega projects. What we need first is to improve the business climate that is easier and more flexible. We need to simplify the bureaucrat procedures and make it easy for small and large enterprises to practice. The government has to empower small businesses to start and grow, which include Start-ups needs, financial loans, land, and lower rents. The government has to work to ensure that public tenders are distributed equitably to all scales.

In 2018, we hope to see a humanistic urban milieu.  Instead of focusing on large projects, let’s think of smaller solutions where the individual can directly benefit. Let us take care of the pedestrians and crossing points and bus stops. Let’s aim to have cleaner air, beaches, and deserts. Let us have practical plans for more vegetation and shading. We need more public benches, drinking fountains and public plazas. We should care more about urban design and beautification. The city is our home, and if its clean, it will make us happier and motivate us to work and be more productive.

One of the essential factors of prosperous cities is their ease of circulation, in 2018, let us work to improve traffic and public transport. We can achieve excellent results by the implementation of modern scientific methods. We should aim to lower the time spent in congestions, searching for parking spots. Why don’t we strive to bring closer places of living and work; or why don’t we have more mixed uses. In 2018 we would like to see plans to create high-quality public transport systems that the public can depend on. Time is the most valuable resource and the efficacy of using time will determine our future.

In 2018, we would like to see more openness and social diversification in Kuwait. We would like to preserve one of the traits of Kuwait that we know that is free Kuwait. Undoubtedly political and individual liberties lead to many successes in all aspects of life, cultural, political and commercial. We need to remind ourselves that the secret of Kuwait’s success in the past was its openness and that we cannot regain that status in the region without re-establishing tolerance and acceptance.  Kuwait was known to be hospitable where all expatriates felt at home. We would like to resist all sorts of discriminatory practices and to establish a friendly environment that encourages all residents to prosper and contribute to society.

The Neom Project was announced by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, H.H Mohammad Bin Salman, during a big event last week that was attended by some of the world’s biggest names in finance and business. The prince declared that the Kingdom has assigned more than 500 million dollars for the project. An economic zone of 26,000 square kilometers on the north western border of Saudi Arabia has been allocated for this purpose.

The project will create a modern, smart, unconventional city that houses the latest urban technologies and become a hub for the development of nine investment sectors such as energy, transportation, bioengineering, robotics, water, food, digital technology, science and media.

The government of Saudi Arabia marketed the project through a huge media campaign that attracted a lot of attention. Despite the preliminary information that was released about it, there are other major and obvious advantages. Yet, like any other venture, it entails risks and has some concerns that should be taken into consideration.

Here is a list of a few advantages of the project:

– The project presents creative and unconventional thinking.

– It calls for partnership with neighboring countries, which strengthen capabilities and benefit from economic integration with Egypt and Jordan.

– The project is located on the north western border of Saudi Arabia, an area that did not get its equal share of development.

– The project was presented, along with a team of major international financial and business leaders, which reinforces the project and enhances investors’ confidence.

– The announcement that 500 million dollars will be invested by the government will be the basis to attract further international investments.

– The head of the project is the prince himself; he marketed it directly and exhibited good knowledge about the details thereof. His enthusiasm will increase public confidence in the project.

– It is one of the products of Saudi vision 2030, which illustrate commitment to the plan and dedication to pursue its outlined goals.

– While the project is mainly economic, it is also coupled with social and cultural transformations that are necessary to achieve the goals of the project.

– The project seeks to utilize the geographic location of Saudi Arabia and illustrates its ability to become a global commercial hub.

However, there are also some disadvantages. They include:

• – Most major decisions in the Arab world are taken by individuals and steam from the vision of leadership. This is definitely a negative aspect. Such major economic decisions should be based on wide public participation. Utilizing point of views and local expertise as well as gaining the necessary public support is needed to ensure the success of the project. Money alone cannot guarantee the establishment of great cities; a great city needs social and cultural structures that are based on justice, equality, political participation and freedom of expression.

• – One of the negative aspects of the project is that it will be built on virgin land. This is not a sustainable approach. Many political leaders wrongfully think that the solution is to escape from existing urban centres and their problems.

• – Prince Mohamad Bin Salman announced that this is a capitalistic project and that it will become the first city where its regulations are written by businessmen – despite the advantages that this approach may bring. We need to understand that urban planning is a critical activity and the state must play a major role to oversee it in order to protect the interests of the general public as well as protecting land and the environment. Leaving this task to major cross-continents corporations could jeopardize the city and its inhabitants.

• – Reading the project brief, one can see that it is a “Globalized” project and it lacks the Saudi spirit, which possesses many rich characteristics that could have a positive influence on the project.

• – Finally, although the Saudi society is rich with creative individuals and outstanding businessmen, the initial presentation of the project did not present Saudi faces. Including national individuals could strengthen the project and give the Arab Saudi citizens a chance to proof themselves.

Today we look forward to follow the progress of this huge dream project. We hope that it will be successful and that it will be beneficial to the entire region. However, we find ourselves somewhat sceptical with a project of such a scale, where huge investment is allocated at difficult times, such as when oil prices are low, many countries are facing financial deficits, and we are surrounded by political challenges. We hope that it will not be a repeat of other urban schemes where new cities were going to be established, which are yet to  see the light, like Silk City in Kuwait, The New Capital in Egypt and King Abdullah City in Jeddah.

حديث ولي العهد السعودي حول مشروع نيوم
Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad Bin Salman talks about Neum Project

نقلت الصُحف الكُويتية خبرَ نِية الحُكومة تثمين منطقة “جليب الشُيوخ” لكي يتم إِعادة تنظيمها، وتوزيع قَسائمها على المُواطنين المستحقين للرعاية السَكنية.

ويسكُن اليوم في منطقة ” جليب الشُيوخ” قُرابة مائتان و خمسون ألف نسمة، غالبيتهم من الوافدين، والعمالة المتدنية الدخل، والعزّاب من الذكور. وبعد أن غضّت الحُكومة العَينَ عن المنطقة، وأتاحت لمُلاك القَسائم أن يقوموا بالتأجير للعمال، أصبحت المنطقة مُكتظة، تسودها الفوضى العارمة.

وقد صاحب هذا الوضع بُروز العَديدِ من الظواهر السلبية والجرائم، وأصبحت المنطقة ملاذاً لمخالفي الإقامة، والهاربين، وغدت عَصية على رِجال الأمن.

ومع ذلك، ولكي نتمكن من الحُكم على القَضية بِموضوعية، علينا أن ندركَ أن هناك خللٌ في التركيبة السُكانية في دولة الكُويت، حيثُ تبلغ نِسبة الوافدين ما نسبته 70% من السكّان. وعلاوة على ذلك، تبلغ نِسبة الوافدين من الذكور70% تقريباً ، وهي نسب عالية، وغير طبيعية.

ومن المعلوم فإن الغالبية العظمى من هؤلاء الوافدين يعملون في وظائف محدودة الدخل، لا يشغلها المواطنون الكويتيون، ناهيك عن ما يعانيه الكثير منهم من قوانين العمل، وجشع تجّار الإقامات!

بالإضافة إلى ذلك، أَغفلت السِياساتُ التَخطِيطِيةُ في دولة الكُويت هذه الفئة، ولم تُوليها الاهتمام اللازم. لذلك، تُواجه هذه الفئة صُعوبة كبيرة في إيجاد سكنٍ ملائم، ناهيك عن رفض المناطق السكنية الخاصة تأجير هؤلاء المواطنين، وترفضهم مَناطق السَكن الاستثماري، حيث يسُكن الوافدون وعائلاتُهم من ذوي الدخل المتوسط، أيضا.

ومنذ عشرة سنوات ماضية، باءت مُحاولات الحُكومة في طرح المُدن العُمّالية كُلها بِالفشل ، على ما فيها من عُيوب، وما لنا عليها من تحفُظات.

إنني أكتب هذا المَقال، وأرى رُوح الكُويتي تتغير، لاسِيما في الفَترة القَريبة المَاضية، وتَحت الظُروف الاقتصادية الصعبة، تعالت أصواتُ البعض بإلقاء اللومِ على الوافدين، وتحميلهم وِزر كل جوانب القُصور في البلد.

نعم، نحن نُدرك حَجم مُشكلة السكن، ونعي ما تعانيه الأُسر الكُويتية من جراء ارتفاع أسعار العقارات والإيجارات، وطُول مدة انتظار استلام المنزل الحكومي. ولكن، يجب أن ندركَ أن الوافدين شركاؤنا في الوطن، ونحن دعوناهم للعيش بيننا، ونحن بلا شك بحاجة ماسة إليهم. فكون البعض منهم ضعفاء، ويفتقرون للتمثيل، والأنظمة التشريعية لا تمنحهم صوتا، فهذا لا يعني أن تُهملَ حُقوقُهم أو أن يُستهان بكرامتهم.

فليس من مصلحتنا كمُجتمع أن نهز أركان السُلم الاجتماعي الذي عرفت به الكُويت، ففي هذه الأيام حيث تتعالى فيه أصوات غاضبة على الوافدين، استذكر ذلك الخِطاب التاريخي الذي ألقاه صاحب السُمو الراحل الشيخ جابر الأحمد الصُباح – رحمه الله – في الهيئة العامة للأمم المتحدة بتاريخ 27/9/1990م أثناء فترة الغزو الغاشم، والذي قال فيه، وعيناه تدمعان:

“سنعود إلى كُويتنا كما عهدناها دار أمنٍ وأمان وواحة أصيلةٍ وارفة الظلال، يستظل بها كل الطيبين والشرفاء من الكُويتيين وإخوانهم المُقيمين، يعملون بِيد واحدة من أجل الخير والبناء”.

فهل نقبل بعد ذلك أن نتحولَ إلى مُجتمع مُتطرف وانتقائي يسعى لرفاهية أبناءه بينما يُعاني جِيرانه وشركاءه صُعوبات الحياة !!!

ومن الناحية التخطيطية، يجب أن ندركَ أن مُشكلةَ السكن العشوائي لن تُحل بتثمين منطقة “جليب الشيوخ”، مهما رُصدت لها من مِيزانيات، وإن هذا القرار لا يختلف عن ذلك الذي يكنس القاذورات تحت السجّادة ظنّاً منه أنه أنهى المُشكلة طالما أنه لا يراها. ثقوا أننا إذا أخرجنا العمالة من “منطقة الجليب”، فإنهم بطبيعة الحال سينتقلون إلى منطقة أخرى، وسيعيدون إنشاء نموذج “الجليب” بمكانٍ آخر.

أرجو أن ندرس المُشكلة بِتأني، وأن ندركَ أبعادها، وإنني على ثِقة أننا قادرون عل إيجاد حُلول تَخطيطية تُوفر مساكن ملائمة للمواطنين والمقيمين بكل فِئاتهم، وعلينا أن نُحافظ على وطن مُتنوع يعيش فيه الجميعُ بأمنٍ وأمان واستقرار.

ويجب أن تُبنى السياسات التخطيطية على رؤية واضحة، وأن تنبعَ من أسسٍ إنسانية وأخلاقية في المقام  الأول.