KUWAIT: Well-informed real estate sources have observed an unusual spike in real estate sales in Jahra, Ahmadi and Farwaniya governorates over the past three months. The sources deduced that the reason behind such sales might be the owners’ fears of being forced to undergo mandatory DNA tests to get the new electronic passports. They added that many of them will not undergo the test in order to avoid being exposed that they obtained Kuwaiti citizenship through forgery and by providing false data.
Moreover, the sources said that many owners in these three governorates are offering their houses for sale for much less than their actual prices. “It is as if they want to get rid of the houses as soon as possible,” added the sources, noting that these owners fear they would be exposed and want to leave Kuwait immediately. The sources also noted that the interior ministry expects that over 250,000 Kuwaitis will not undergo DNA tests, although the ministry has warned citizens that they will not get the new electronic passports unless they do so, and that those who fail to do so will also lose their citizenships, jobs, housing and all other privileges citizens get.
The government passed the DNA testing law in July 2015. The DNA samples – obtained from saliva or blood – will be stored in a lab at the General Department of Criminal Evidence in Dajeej. The bill was passed with national security in mind, a senior official told Kuwait Times earlier this year. Expats and visitors to Kuwait will also have to provide DNA samples to the government.
A recent report by Al-Shahed daily quoted security sources as saying that Kuwait’s population suddenly saw a sharp increase after the liberation of the state in Feb 1991, as a result of which demand for marriage and housing loans increased. Authorities believe many people got Kuwaiti citizenship fraudulently in an organized manner during this period, taking advantage of the chaos, resulting in the Kuwaiti population rising from a mere 650,000 before the invasion to 1,300,000 at present.
By A Saleh
----One would think they would have started this 15 years ago before they were running out of money and the population was much smaller, they would have better control over it. They should take their homes and give to the people who have been waiting for years to get their house!
They are not running out of money.
ReplyDeleteThis law has been hyped up a lot. I wonder what will happen if the Constitutional Court repeals it.
Not running out of money? Yet there is a budget deficit.
Delete"The shortfall for the 2016-17 fiscal year is estimated at 11.5 billion dinars ($38 billion) or a massive 30 percent of gross domestic product"
A budget deficit does not equate to running out of money. They government is generating less money than it usually does.
DeleteHas any major, or even minor, public project been suspended, delayed or cancelled? Did loans and grants to foreign nations stop?
In monetary terms they are not getting the same price for oil as they did previously sending everyone into budget cut mode. Anyways, not my country I'm not going into a debate.
DeleteGee, I guess factors like rising pollution in those areas don't factor in to house sales. Or constant construction (major projects) on the roads. Or higher cost of living/downsizing. Or the fact that Government houses aren't maintained.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot more factors for the housing market than people being "fraudulent" about their nationality.
All Bidoons were mandated to take DNA testing about a decade ago - at the cost of 85KD per man/woman/child/infant. That is a LOT of money for people who can't get papers to work, to marry, to drive... So, they took the tests. Where are the results??
My personal belief is that things are getting so restrictive and the cost of living is becoming so high that people are selling at profit so that they can move elsewhere (in the country or outside). The areas mentioned have a high Bedouin population. Bedouins usually have very large families. It might be that the children are grown and they are trying to find smaller homes.
So, let's talk about the "fraudulent" side of things: What is DNA testing going to do? Where are most Kuwaitis from? They didn't just pop out of the Earth. The majority of Kuwaiti families originate from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran. There is no such thing as a "pure" Kuwaiti. "Pure" Kuwaitis were nomadic and/or fishermen. So? They had to come from somewhere else. What good is a DNA test?
Yeah... but let's just continue the blame game so that other issues are overlooked. That usually works.