Kuwait Times

Published Date: April 03, 2008
By Ben Garcia, Staff writer

KUWAIT: Thousands of citizens voted in Kuwait's powerful Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) board elections yesterday. Two lists, one of incumbents that included outgoing Chamber chairman Ali Thunayan Al-Ghanim and one of newcomers, competed for votes with a third list of independents. More than 16,000 KCCI members had voted by mid afternoon yesterday, with polls open until 8 pm.

Things went very well without any problem..."said election committee chairman Abdulrahman Al-Houti, who described the elections as "calm." The well organized elections included a large staff of Chamber employees and campaigners to help voters with paper work and check civil IDs.

But a few problems were noted. A verbal exchange occurred between candidate Abdallah Al-Buaijan, and sons of the chamber's outgoing chairman Al-Ghanim, namely Marzouq and Khalid, prompting Al-Buaijan to lodge a threat complaint against both. Another voter claimed interference by the Chamber's director general, who was at the elections. Only one female candidate, Maasouma Abdullah, ran. She campaigned on a platform of change and asked voters to "Vote for me and see the progress and changes at the Chamber a
nd Kuwait's economy as a whole.

Out of about 20,000 eligible voters, 14,500 members signed up for balloting and the number is expected to increase to 16,000. The board include 12 seats elected for a two-year term.

Change was the key message for all of the candidates. The two lists grouped themselves under titles like the Chamber/Change Group and the Family/Economy Group. The Chamber Group promised to keep the Chamber for the private sector but to promote growth and change.

The Economy Group assured voters to respect the pioneers program but open for change. An independent candidate when elected promised to form a working team that will represent Kuwait in the world economic sphere and push for better commercial growth.

I voted for the economy group. For a long period of time we know they are the genuine businessmen in Kuwait. I put my trust in them as we know they can be a real force for change and open up the country to foreign investors," said Othman Al-Abdulhadi.

Another voter commented, "Petrol will not stay forever so I choose the group who can pursue changes and fuel the economy industrially. Family Group are the real people who can help us. I think they will win as we believe they have a very strong support from businessmen," he said.

But change drove the votes of those backing the Chamber group too. "I choose three good people among the Chamber's Group because they have a sort of younger breed. We want better change in our Chamber. I want this time young blood, people who have fresh ideas and platforms. People who have studied in the higher education and have an idea of providing new programs for the economy," Abdulhamid Al-Awadi noted. (A Saleh contributed to this report)