Everything is possible in this country

The individuals who create political problems in the country include members of the trading class, be it those involved in political dealings, the money lenders or even the merchants. Those living in the ‘Shahbander chamber’ can construct buildings on land, which they are able to acquire free of cost, and their main concern revolves around how much they can extract from their sizable incomes generated from the oil business.

They are the one who manipulate MPs, they are the one who control and drive up the prices of foodstuffs, which have appreciated more than 30 percent in the last few months. These slaves of money have managed to halt growth in this country, and any project proposed by the government that is aimed at achieving growth is hijacked by such individuals, who end up dividing the gains amongst themselves, while the project is ruined and laid to rest at the Sulaibikhat graveyard.

These merchants of the ‘Shahbandar chamber’ charge a fee and a percentage of the commission earned from every tender, claiming that they are the ones who have built this country from scratch. Therefore, no government or party can dare to visit their building and make them aware of the violations they have committed. That is because this is the building from where the actual business of the government is conducted.

The members of this group are the real ministers and they hold the power to appoint the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Commerce, along with placing their consultants in every council of ministers and in close proximity with every important position of power in this country.

The actual MPs end up creating a crisis and are unable to stabilize the country, while the political wheelers and dealers, which include some bank owners, who control the rate of interests applicable to loans, decide as per their whims how the country should be run. All of them are members of Ali Baba’s cave, including one trader, who trades in everything, even the blood of people, and is known as an arms dealer in the Middle East. It is said that one day, while he was in his deewan, he challenged his audience by saying, “Do you see that Iranian who works as a blacksmith?” When they replied in the affirmative, he said that by next year the Iranian would be a Kuwaiti citizen. Members of the group refused to believe him, but indeed after a year the Iranian was found wearing a ‘dishdasha’ and sitting as a mute spectator in the deewan. When the ‘Shahbandari’ man asked if anyone recognized him, everyone in the audience said no.

He then pointed out that the Iranian blacksmith was now a Kuwaiti citizen. The audience was shocked and asked him how he had managed to pull it off? To which he replied that everything is possible in this country. Today, this Iranian’s sons are Kuwaitis and his daughter is working as a secretary for a female MP.

Unfortunately, every one in Kuwait realizes that the real political crisis stem not from the lack of protection lent to the constitution, or imparting social justice, but from the widespread financial corruption rampant in the country.. I don’t blame them. I blame the unusual kindness extended to these individuals by our sheikhs and the government. — Al-Shahed

By Mohammad Ahmad Al-Mulla

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