SUBSCRIPTION MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016 JAMADA ALTHANI 26, 1437 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Flights resume India, Saudis Rosberg wins Windies beat at Brussels to strengthen Bahrain GP, England to win Airport under ‘anti-terrorism’ Hamilton 3rd World Twenty20 tighter 7security cooperation13 after20 collision final20 thriller Lower power tariffs sought Min 13º for citizens, not for expats Max 29º High Tide 10:01 & 19:03 Panel rejects govt bill, demands quick response Low Tide 03:22 & 15:18 40 PAGES NO: 16834 150 FILS By B Izzak Amir urges closer Assembly-govt cooperation KUWAIT: The National Assembly’s financial and eco- nomic affairs committee yesterday rejected a govern- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- ment bill to raise electricity and water charges and Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday made a proposal of its own to make the increases much advised leading legislators to seek to bol- lower for citizens. The committee however did not pro- ster cooperation between the legislative pose any changes for expatriates, leaving the proposed and executive authorities. HH the Amir, high tariffs unchanged. Head of the committee MP during his reception of the lawmakers, Faisal Al-Shaye said the committee gave the govern- advised them to exert greater efforts and ment until Wednesday to respond to its proposals. work hard for realizing citizens’ aspirations The government’s bill proposes to raise power and ambitions in a fashion that will con- charges from the current 2 fils per kilowatt for all pur- tribute to beefing up development poses. For private houses, a term normally referring to through cooperation between the legisla- Kuwaiti citizens, the government bill proposed a price tive and executive authorities. of 5 fils per kilowatt for the first 3,000 kilowatts, 8 fils for Sheikh Sabah gave the guidelines dur- between 3,000 and 6,000 kW, 10 fils for between 6,000 ing a reception at Seif Palace for National and 9,000 kW, and 15 fils for above 9,000 kW. Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al- For apartments, a term normally referring to expatri- Ghanem and chairman of the committee ates, the government proposed a price of 5 fils for up to tasked with replying to the Amiri address 1,000 kW, 10 fils for between 1,000 and 2,000 kW and 15 MP Odah Al-Rowaiee and committee fils for above 2,000 kW. Shaye said the committee pro- members MP Abdullah Al-Maayouf, posed that the price should remain 2 fils per kilowatt for Humoud Al-Hamdan and Abdullah Al- consumption of up to 6,000 kW and then 5 fils per kilo- Turaiji. They submitted to HH the Amir a watt above that for private houses, or citizens. The com- report about the commission’s response mittee did not propose any changes for apartments, to the Amiri address for the fourth session which means it will remain the same as proposed by the of the 14th legislative term. Ghanem government. assured the Amir that he and his col- Shaye said the committee’s proposal will save a leagues in the parliament would adhere majority of low and middle income citizens from the to his guidelines for the welfare of the citi- KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al- increases, since according to official figures, a majority of zens and the homeland. — KUNA Ghanem and MPs at Seif Palace yesterday. — KUNA private houses consume less than 6,000 kW per month. Continued on Page 13 MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016 LOCAL KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Sudanese His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with Chairman of the Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ahmad Ghandour. — Amiri Diwan and KUNA photos Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Jan Hamacek. Amir receives Sudanese FM, Czech Speaker KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Seif Palace Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al- yesterday First Deputy Prime Minister and Sabah. Meanwhile, His Highness the Crown Prince Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al- received Ghanem, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al- Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, accompanied by Mubarak, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, and Deputy Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ahmad Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ghandour and his accompanying delegation on Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. the occasion of his visit to the country. He also received Deputy Prime Minister and Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir received Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al- National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al- Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister Ghanem and Chairman of the Chamber of and Acting Oil Minister Anas Khaled Al-Saleh and Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Minister of Information and Minister of State for Jan Hamacek. Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al- Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah attended both Humoud Al-Sabah. Furthermore, His Highness meetings. the Crown Prince met MPs Auda Al-Ruwaei, Earlier, His Highness the Amir also received His Abdullah Al-Maayouf, Humoud Al-Hamdan and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets with MPs Auda Al- Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al- Abdullah Al-Turaiji. — KUNA Ruwaei, Abdullah Al-Maayouf, Humoud Al-Hamdan and Abdullah Al-Turaiji. Kuwait, Sudan sign visa exemption pact for diplomatic passport holders KUWAIT: Kuwait and Sudan yesterday signed a visa exemption agreement for bearers of diplomatic and special passports, in addition to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Saud Al-Nasser Al-Sabah Diplomatic Institute and a Sudanese diplomatic research center. First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah signed the agreement and MoU with Sudanese Foreign Minister Professor Ibrahim Ghandour, as part of efforts to bolster bilateral ties. The proceedings were attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Khaled Suleiman Al- Jarallah, Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister at the Arab Affairs department KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al- Ambassador Aziz Al-Daihani, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Sabah meets with Egyptian Commander in Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Osama Sudan Talal Al-Hajri and Sudanese ambassador to Munir Rabie. — KUNA Kuwait Mohi Al-Deen Salim Ahmed. Sheikh Sabah Al- Khaled and his Sudanese counterpart had held talks Kuwait, Egypt discuss military matters earlier tackled boosting bilateral ties and discussed the recent regional and international development. KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and ties, Defense Ministry’s Public Relations and Meanwhile, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled met with Czech Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Moral Guidance said in a statement yester- Republic’s Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament chair- Al-Sabah discussed with Egyptian day. The meeting was attended by high man Jan Hamacek. Head of the Kuwaiti-Czech parlia- Commander in Chief of the Navy Vice officers in the Kuwaiti Army. Moreover, mentary friendship committee Mubarak Al-Khurainij, Admiral Osama Munir Rabie military mat- Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah discussed military Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Czech Aymen Al-Adsani, KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and his ters of common interest. The meeting also issues with Saudi military attache in Kuwait Czech Ambassador to Kuwait Martin Vitek and other Sudanese counterpart Ibrahim Ghandour sign a visa exemption agreement for bear- tackled means of boosting these military Saud bin Radman.— KUNA officials attended the meeting. — KUNA ers of diplomatic and special passports. —KUNA Amiri Diwan Minister sponsors Orphans Forum KUWAIT: The 7th Orphans Forum was held under the patronage of Minister of Amiri Diwan Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday. The forum was held at Sheikh Nasser’s farm in Sulaibiya. The event is held to honor excellent students and memorizers of the Holy Quran who are being sponsored by Zakat House. The function also honored supervisor and officials at Zakat House. — KUNA MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2016 LOCAL Panel discusses ways to remove housing projects’ obstacles By Meshaal Al-Enezi KUWAIT: The Municipal Council’s reform and development committee recommended form- ing a team including elements from the council, Kuwait Municipality and relevant government bodies to accelerate the execution and han- dover of government housing projects, study various impediments and report on them so that proper solutions could be made. During a workshop on housing projects and procedural municipal obstacles held yesterday in the presence of the Director of the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) Bader Al- Weqayyan, Kuwait Municipality Director Ahmad Al-Manfouhi and other officials, the committee KUWAIT: Palestinian Ambassador to Kuwait Rami Tahboub visited Kuwait Times yes- discussed how to overcome such obstacles. terday, where he met with Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan and discussed Weqayyan said that there was a time limit for with him matters of mutual concern. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat contractors to commence working on any proj- ect after signing the contract. He also stressed that contractors usually refuse taking responsi- Head of illegal residents’ bility for any projects until all obstacles are removed and overcome. agency receives US official He added that upon Central Tenders KUWAIT: A scene from yesterday’s meeting of the Municipal Council’s reform and development Committee (CTC) recommendations, bids for committee. Mutlaa City, which is a comprehensive one ties. “The municipality scrap area will be ‘8,000 adjust status in past five years’ including road, rain, sewage, water, treated removed by the beginning of 2017,” he under- Notary publics water and telephone grids, would be opened on lined, noting that the project would provide Seventy-three notary publics were yesterday KUWAIT: Executive Chairman of the lution number 409/2011, the release April 24.