We are solicitous of sympathy (1)

I have not been to Bahrain for more than ten years. A few days ago, I took my daughter and grandson Adnan for a two-day visit to Bahrain, during which we attended a jewelry exhibition. I fully remember that their exhibition center is not far away, but I was surprised that we reached Fahd Bridge and were heading to Al Sakhir area, so I told the driver, "Where are you going?" There is only an empty desert area and the Formula 1 racing circuit. Our Asian driver smiled and said, in his accent, "Papa, you haven't come for a long time." It turned out that our Bahraini brothers have established an international exhibition center on a land area of 280,000 square meters, consisting of ten halls, restaurants, and shops.

Frankly, this center is exceptionally beautiful, and the best thing about it is that work on this project began in 2020 and ended in 2022, meaning that within two years, an architectural masterpiece was built. I will tell you more about this area, which will host the Bahrain International Sports City, and I believe that it will be completed before the Ministry of Public Works in Kuwait finishes repairing the Darwaza Abdul Razzaq Tunnel. This is the tunnel to which the Egyptian proverb applies: "It drowned in a drop of water."  In general, the exhibition was successful, although it was flawed by some unsuccessful organizational procedures at the entry gates for visitors. In addition, there were no places for prayer, and if there were any, their locations were not clear, but this is normal because the project is new.

Let me tell you a little about Bahrain's new airport, as it is very beautiful, large, tidy, and equipped with the latest equipment and decorations. The new airport was scheduled to open in January 2020, but due to the effects of the Corona pandemic, only the new passenger terminal opened. The total cost of the new airport was $1.1 billion, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Finance. Look at how these people operate in a small kingdom in area and financial resources but a large one in their will, so it borrows, builds its economy, and works tirelessly. As for us, we are solicitous of sympathy.

Apart from their development projects, let us talk about a simpler and more obvious matter that requires no creativity, and I believe that it concerns us as citizens, and for us, if we were able to do it, it would be considered an achievement and a marvel to be added to the seven wonders of the world, so that they become eight instead of seven, which is the beauty and splendor of their streets. They are neat and clean, and there are no pits or flying gravel, and their bumps are disciplined. Not to mention the aesthetically planted places along the roadsides, in contrast to our green areas, where the grass died of thirst due to a lack of irrigation, to the point of instructing the fire brigade to water the rest of it. Other than that, I have not seen ugly car covers on the sidewalks of houses and buildings. We are really solicitous of sympathy.

While we were on our way, my daughter asked me: "What is the difference between their asphalt mixture and ours, which melts like "sugar" as soon as it is touched by drops of rain?" I replied to her: "Billions have been spent on the streets, and until now it remains bad and makes anyone feel ashamed of it." It seems that we, the National Assembly, and our government have become accustomed to it; it has become a part of our heritage, and in the future, it can become a tourist destination. People will visit Kuwait to see the ugliness of our unique streets and bumps. Sometimes I wonder where the ministers live. Especially the public works minister? Are the streets opposite their homes different from ours? I jokingly continued: It seems that the Bahrainis have a secret that we Kuwaitis do not know about the asphalt mixture. They could add to this mixture pollen water, Marjoram water, some Matai (Bahraini snack), and delicious Shwaiter sweets, with commitment and professionalism, so that their mixture looks as perfect as their streets. It seems that we add sewage water to our mixture sometimes, mixed with cheating, a lack of management, and a lack of understanding; otherwise, I have no explanation, but what I am sure of is that we are really solicitous of sympathy.

Stay Safe.