Comments on: Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

By: Canadian Montie

Canadian Montie — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:25:15 +0000

Guys this totally looks like a Warzone,,,just because Sympathy, Better Judgement, Ignorance and Lack of Knowledge all play a key role. ITs so very easy to blow the trumpet and yak yak the full day without lending a helping hand or accusing or mercilously slandering or even thinking for a fellow Human. Indeed Kuwait is not what it used to be before Invasion—turns out its become as racially bad as it was before. Remember Kuwait also would not be KUWAIT (not only in oil but all round development) the rich country without Expats who helped towards progress along with the kuwaiti people to a better Kuwait. Why go to Zakat house , Money donations , Charities etc…Dont give any money to beggars….Just only GO to JALEEB AL SHYOUKH and have a walk…u guys say its not safe there…well dont live by rumour and hear say go there and see how it is……that the best donation u can give to these areas…Why do the Majorities of Kuwaitis go to the US for further studies when there are better colleges in Asia Itself…its just a Question they cannot answer..similarly any Expat who comes here comes thinking they can do their bit earn a little for their family and leave a happy man…But sad to say so its been downhill and not the Q8 any Expat would think of.. Nevertheless i am working with a good managment and the Kuwaitis there are simply remarkable and i am proud to work for them.. So the same goes to all those good hearted Kuwaitis…Well on that note if u come across a guy whos suffering , notice it he’ll be thankful for that and help him atleast with what u can…I know i am doing the same

By: pearls

pearls — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:41:19 +0000

it’s sad. you should see how sulaibiya looks like, as well as other areas in Jahra, Salmiya and Hawalli too. Some people still live in mud houses with no roofs. I know that KRCS gives out food to poor people in Kuwait on a monthly basis so they’re not forgotten like some might think. Anyone can donate their items to KRCS, be it clothing, money, blood etc.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:50:10 +0000

Gee, I never thought the Kuwaitis would give Bangladeshis the fiat to develop Jleeb into a “Bricklane meets Pattaya”, sort of township on a BOT basis.

By: Britchick

Britchick — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:05:31 +0000

Laila- sounds like you have no idea! You have contradicted yourself so much. Go over to jleeb and spend a few nights there and maybe you will learn to feel some empathy for others. Your attitude stinks.

By: Laila

Laila — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:09:13 +0000

Dave, you have a point :) I don’t want to attack you or anything and I apologize if I sounded rude. I may have been subjective in my attack so I apologize again. I’m not rich, I’m engaged to a non-Kuwaiti, and I think that one day I’ll probably have the sympathy, or rather empathy, that would make me a more compassionate being.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:15:20 +0000

@ Laila
I’m not envious. I have a decent job and make reasonable money, but that doesn’t mean I have lost all sense of social responsibility. There is nothing pompous about it. And your attack on Indians and Bengalis in the UK is based on what exactly? I’m British and I’ve not experienced what you say, though I’m sure many Bengalis and Indians in England can testify to being on the receiving end of racism. Individuals can be rude, racist, and pompous, but why paint a whole community in such a way? What are you trying to prove?

Many Kuwaitis may well be in debt, but some of that is down to personal choices – large families, expensive cars etc. etc. Am I supposed to feel sympathy that some Kuwaitis spend more than they make if what they make is generally considered a good wage? Most still live a very nice life. As for those Kuwaitis actually in poverty, well, my sympathy goes out to them, but they do have a social safety net that isn’t available to foreign workers, so I would hope their position is a little better. And your comment about making less than Benagali beggars is just ridiculous.

I poorly phrased my point about Arab-Indian work – what I meant was that a lot of the wealth from trade was in the opposite direction in the past – many people had to trade and work out of this region in order to make a living. There wasn’t the disparity of wealth that has become very transparent in the years since the discovery of oil – a disparity that has been underscored by the bringing in of huge numbers of very low paid workers. The wealth from oil has made it too easy for some people to look down on people who are brought over to do more menial work. When the poor treatment becomes institutionalized, then it is a real problem.

This is not an anti-Kuwait rant, so there is no need to get defensive. There’s a great deal wrong in my country, England, and I’m quite willing to accept that, but that doesn’t somehow make the things that are wrong in Kuwait better. If things are wrong, then they are wrong wherever they may be. Kuwait has the money to greatly improve conditions and offer a living wage to the poorer expat workers. What would be so wrong with that?

By: DJ Hamster

DJ Hamster — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:02:00 +0000

Laila…”trade” is “work”. It is a job. You get paid for it.And as you mentioned, the bangladeshis begging at the traffic light may make more than you, so that means he isnt poor, yet he begs. He uses his “brains” to do that. I dont condone it, but that is what he is doing to make money. So according to your allegations, he is working even though he isnt poor. Same might be true for your uncles situation. And count your blessings. Once the oil runs out, you may have to go back to the oceans to dive for pearls, while avoid the sharks biting your arse; which you seem to be wearing as a hat.

Dont hate! :)

By: Laila

Laila — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:25:56 +0000

Lol @ the Kuwaiti bashers. Keep bashing, it’s not going to change anything. Dave, those “people” you talk about, if they had money, they’ll be just as racist as we are. Check out the Bengalis and Indians in England. Pompous, racist and rude.
Our country is generous, Dave. Get your head out of your arse. We do help a lot of people. These people happen to be unfortunate. Don’t be envious of what we have. There are a lot of Kuwaitis struggling with debts. Have you seen the Bengalis begging at the traffic light? They make more money that I do. They can get by, if they need to. They just need brains.

Btw, this is not America with its American Dream. Oh and get your facts straight, people went to India for trade. My family has been in this business for centuries. We were never “poor” and my uncles never went to India to “work”. Do your research before you make your pompous claims.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:18:02 +0000

@ Jewaira
It’s not harping. If employment conditions amount to little better than slavery, then that should be highlighted and dealt with. What is the point of raising examples from other countries? That doesn’t mitigate what is happening here. It’s wrong wherever it happens and just because it’s not as uncommon as people may think around the world doesn’t make it any less appalling for it to be happening in this country.
And who do you think is going to crack down on those people taking advantage of the workers? They’re not going to crack down on themselves. Who does that leave? Yes, the government and relevant agencies. At the end of the day, it is the government’s responsibility. That doesn’t have to mean handouts (we’ll leave that for Kuwaiti citizens), but it should mean making sure people get a livable wage, have acceptable work conditions, and that the rule of law is paramount, not wasta. Some hope.

By: fix-you

fix-you — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:29:50 +0000

once i started this post http://248am.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4987

and i was bashed why well i dont know either people here dont know about the dirt that lies under the shine of kuwait i have been there myself i have felt their pain that they go throw everyday.plz people stick ur head out of the window and look at these face which expect something of u people .there are people who drive cars worth 1000s but would not give half kd to a poor kid those real bastards i must say.and there are heavenly people who cares about human kind not just themselfs or their familes allah bless them all.

By: jewaira

jewaira — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:22:07 +0000

For those harping on the issue of “slavery”, it is not confined to Kuwait nor only the Gulf region. Mistreatment of foreign workers happens everywhere including the US and Europe.

Read here http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Modern-heroes-modern-slaves about the plight of Filipina nurses in the UK.

And there are many more examples and cases to be found like that and worse.

And I’ve seen horrible cheap rentals in Ireland that make those first three photos look like luxury accommodation by comparison.

The issue here is not for the Kuwaiti government to take care of these people living in Jleeb but to crack down on all those who have real estate in those areas who are taking advantage of people.
It’s time to force contracted companies to provide adequate housing and facilities for their employees or else their contracts will not be renewed. It’s time to crack down on those making money off of illegal residencies.

And it is not going to happen soon because too many people are benefiting from the situation as it is.

By: Mindless banter

Mindless banter — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:00:10 +0000

Im sorry I thought these were pictures of Kuwait in 2008 if someone hadnt invented modern machinery and cars, come along and explained what oil is, then got it out of the ground and then helped sell it.

I guess the world is all about luck and should Sri Lanka have been awash with oil and they were shipping in Kuwaitis to work for KD30 a month in what is little more than human trafficking it all would have been different.