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FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 18365 RAJAB 7, 1442 AH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 Travel restrictions lifted with 14-day quarantine No visit visas • No lockdown See Page 2 2 Friday Local Friday, February 19, 2021 By B Izzak As for flights from other countries, pas- sequences of the COVID-19 are on the table lowing day the government boycotted the sengers must be quarantined for seven of the health authorities,” government assembly session after three opposition law- KUWAIT: Kuwait’s civil aviation agency said days at one of the hotels and undergo a spokesman Tareq Al-Mazrem said on his makers filed to grill the prime minister. yesterday that a five-month ban on the entry PCR test on the sixth day. If the test result is Twitter account. He called on all to comply Twelve opposition MPs issued a joint of flights from 35 countries will be lifted from negative, they will be quarantined at home with health measures and to stay away from statement in which they bluntly blamed the February 21 but arrivals must be quaran- for another seven days, according to the rumors. No mention of any change in the prime minister and assembly speaker tined at local hotels for 14 days. Those announcement. suspension of visit visas. The issuance of Marzouq Al-Ghanem of attempting to countries include India, Egypt, Philippines, The announcement said that airlines new visit visas has been suspended since “undermine the constitution and forge the Pakistan and Bangladesh whose citizens operating to Kuwait must not accept any March 2020. popular will” and insisted they are the main make up the majority of expats living in passenger without registering at ‘Kuwait Lawmakers, meanwhile, yesterday reason for the current crisis. Kuwait. They were banned as part of meas- Mosafer’ platform through link acknowledged that the suspension of the ures to contain the spread of the coron- https://Kuwaitmosafer.gov.kw. Passengers assembly sessions for one month is the avirus pandemic. must pay the cost of two PCR tests through unquestionable constitutional right of the The Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s ‘Kuwait Mosafer’ application or through Amir, but they blamed Prime Minister His announcement means that a 14-day total coordination with the airlines. Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah ban on the entry of all expats into the coun- for the political stalemate in the country. try will also be lifted. The announcement No lockdown His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- said that arrivals from those banned coun- In the meantime, the government yester- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Wednesday tries must first register through the ‘Kuwait day quashed rumors that a decision to issued a decree ordering the suspension of Mosafer’ application and select one of the impose a lockdown to contain the spread of the assembly sessions for one month start- local hotels authorized by the government. the coronavirus pandemic. “No decision has ing from February 18, based on an article in Stay at the hotels is at the expense of been issued to impose a partial or total lock- the constitution. The last regular session the arrivals. down. However, all options to face the con- assembly held was on January 5. The fol- The statement stressed the way out of this political crisis is through respecting the constitution, allowing MPs to exercise their constitutional rights and separating between the powers of the three authorities. The statement called for sparing the Kuwaiti judi- ciary from being involved in political dis- putes. They pledged to continue their relent- less campaign against forces of corruption. MPs who signed the statement include Mohammad Al-Mutair, Abdulkarim Al- Kundari, Bader Al-Dahoum, Mubarak Al- Hajraf, Musaed Al-Mutairi, Shuaib Al- Muwaizri, Thamer Al-Suwait, Marzouk Al- Khalifa, Khaled Al-Oteibi, Fares Al-Oteibi and Saifi Al-Saifi. Later, MP Muwaizri said that the best solution to the crisis is through the resigna- tion of Ghanem and His Highness Sheikh Sabah. MP Osama Al-Munawer said he will carry out his threat and file to grill the prime minister for delaying the formation of the new cabinet. MP Dahoum welcomed the possibility that the assembly may be dissolved as a result of the ongoing crisis “because this will end the era of Ghanem and Sheikh Sabah,” adding that the Kuwaiti people will elect a stronger assembly. KUWAIT: An archive photo showing the interior of Kuwait International Airport. 4 Friday Local Friday, February 19, 2021 elebrations marking Kuwait’s national and libera- tion day holidays have been cancelled due to the Ccoronavirus pandemic but across the country people and businesses honor the nation by draping flags and showing love for Kuwait. Friday 5 Local Friday, February 19, 2021 — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat and Fouad Al-Shaikh 6 Friday Local Friday, February 19, 2021 By Ben Garcia “Many of us are elderly. We have volun- is likely the most photographed icon in teered to be part of this national heritage Kuwait. It is a symbol of Kuwaiti culture and o preserve the national heritage and preservation to leave an indelible legacy heritage. Dhows come in various shapes Tlegacy of dhows in Kuwait, a group of that lasts. We organize workshops for youth, and sizes and usages. The Soffar for exam- Kuwaiti artisans makes miniature but because of the pandemic, this has ple was the main source of transportation dhows for government bodies and as gifts stopped. But we are ready to again wel- for people who wanted to travel outside for individuals and companies. The objec- come anyone who wants to learn to build Kuwait. Prior to World War I, according to tive is to preserve and impart the legacy of dhows soon,” said 60-year-old Sadique Al- Qallaf, Kuwait had around 800 boats, which dhows for generations to come. These arti- Qallaf, a volunteer worker at Diwaniya Al- increased to 1,200 vessels in the early sans are striving to share and impart their Qallaleef in Sharq near the fish market. The 1900s. skills as they approach the twilight of their diwaniya has around 350 members. “Ships at that time were as important as lives. “This is a very important part of Kuwait’s aircraft now. They were built according to history, so we don’t want it to be forgotten international maritime standards and were a by our young people. In order to preserve means of transportation for many to go from our national heritage, we have to contribute one place to another in the pre-oil era. This something. We do this while we are still was how we were able to visit India and capable of working,” he told Kuwait Times. neighboring countries in the Arab world,” Qallaf said this work helps the artisans to Qallaf said. reconnect and bond with longtime friends. “In 1917, the ‘Muhammedi’ was the “Most people making model dhows are eld- biggest dhow (boom) built for Kuwaiti mer- erly, but there are some youngsters who chant Mohammed Marafi by Al-Estad have an interest in preserving this heritage. Humoud bin Hassan. In 1937, Al-Mohallab and have long defined Kuwait’s identity Instead of just sitting at home doing noth- dhow was made for Thunayan Al-Ghanim since its early existence. The miniature ing, this work is reuniting us here. We come by Al-Estad Muhammad Al-Abdullah. It was dhows are normally ordered by ministries here almost daily and we are happy,” he almost the last ship left in Kuwait at the and schools to be used for display or as added. National Museum, which was burned down decor. The money collected from the sales “I just want to spend my remaining time by Iraqi soldiers during the invasion,” he of miniature dhows is the main source of on earth productively and help the govern- added. funding for the diwaniya and the training ment preserve the most precious part of our Al-Batil and Al-Ghawas were other types workshops conducted by the group. heritage - making dhows. Without this treas- of dhows used for pearl diving, while Al- A miniature dhow takes at least a month ure, we were not able to reach the status of Baghlah and Boom Khattah were popular to make, depending on its size. Most of the a nation state. I love Kuwait and my love for for transporting goods. “These kinds of wooden materials used are sourced from this country is eternal. Because of these dhows were made to stand tall against the wood stores in Shuwaikh. “The most impor- dhows, many of us Kuwaitis survived and strongest winds in the Arabian Gulf and tant thing is the preservation of national her- managed to achieve our ambitions and roughest waves at sea. These types of itage and sharing of expertise with the new goals. Our forefathers sacrificed and pro- dhows were the favorites of many because generations,” Qallaf concluded. tected us during a time when we had noth- of their style and coolness,” Qallaf told ing but the sea and sand. Thank you dhows Kuwait Times. There were special dhows for for bridging us with the past!” he fetching freshwater (Al-Ma’a) from neigh- exclaimed. boring countries as well. Along with the Kuwait Towers, the dhow Dhows were used for trading and fishing 8 Friday Local Friday, February 19, 2021 Defense Minister visits military college, authority Sheikh Hamad recalls sacrifices on liberation anniversary KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah in a group photo during his visit to the Mubarak Al-Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College.— Defense Ministry photos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah is seen Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah in a group photo during his visit to the Military Education Authority.

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