No Release, No Travel, reports Darwish
In today’s Kuwait Times, Badria Darwish informs us that:
“the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has decided to ask all expatriates before exiting the country – whether on holiday or permanently – to obtain a certificate of clearance from the ministry. The certificate is only valid for one month. If the expat doesn’t have it, he will be returning from the airport the same day . . . “
On page 2, a news article confirms her report.
“The Ministry of Electricity and Water announced it is in the process of issuing a legislation. It said it instructed the Assistant Undersecretary Jassim Al-Linqawi, in charge of consumer affairs at the ministry, to coordinate with the Interior Ministry to enforce the legislation. The legislation, it added, will mandate all expatriates planning to proceed on vacation to obtain a clearance document from the Ministry of Electricity and Water that they are clear of all pending bills. All expatriates having arrears will not be permitted to travel either through the airport or the various surface borders around the country. The legislation is expected to be enforced soon . . .
The Ministry of Electricity also instructed the Interior Ministry to empower their employees, who collect electricity dues, to force their way into the residences of all those residences of al those residents who refuse to let them check the electricity meters. . . . “
Oh! Those pesky expats, running red lights and neglecting to pay their electricity and water bills. Yeh. Right.
This does present the bureaucracy with a fascinating challenge. First, to immediately construct a way in which all consumers can receive bills, like through a postal system. Second, to collect the accurate information for each customer, making sure that “no one is above the law.” Third, to bill consumers in a way that they know that they have been billed, and to have a follow up procedure – you know, like warnings, and a way to turn off the service? Fourth, a way to follow all this by computer – accurately. Oh, yes, and co-ordinating between the MEW and the MOI. And have it ready to be enforced “soon.”
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aah womderful,, stick them with a 700 KD bill just in time for the summer vacation. Can’t force the Kuwaitis to follow the laws so why not bully the expats? Way to go, MOC & MEW. I wonder which ministry is next.
Enigma, I am sorry, but this one got me laughing. It is going to be a nightmare for everyone. A change like this takes a lot of preparation to make it work – and it sounds to me like there hasn’t been any preparation for this one. It is going to cause such havok!
Pearls – whatever you say, dear one! I don’t know what that means!
[…] No Release, No Travel, reports DarwishIn today’s Kuwait Times, Badria Darwish informs us that:. “the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has decided to ask all expatriates before exiting the country – whether on holiday or permanently – to obtain a certificate of … […]
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And just in time for summer vacations! Last night at 10:00 p.m. an Egyptian showed up from MEW at our villa with a handfull of various bills none that we could determine were the right one so I hooked him up by phone to the owner of our villa who is a very nice man and he sent this guy away and apologized to me for them coming at such a late hour!
Ian, no kidding! What an experience!
Pearls said “this is so embarrassing”.. and i totally agree with her!