JEDDAH, 15 November 2002 — Interior Minister Prince Naif has said that the decision on Saudizing the taxi sector is final.
He clarified the government’s stand to reporters while attending a function to honor outstanding students of Riyadh region on Wednesday.
“All should know that the decision to Saudize the taxi sector is final and definite but we should give sufficient time to implement it successfully,” Prince Naif said. He is currently studying the methodology and timing for implementing the program in collaboration with the ministries of communication and labor and social affairs.
The findings of the study will be submitted to the higher authorities and their decisions will be implemented with due consideration to the interests of all parties concerned such as limousine companies and Saudi drivers. The grace period allowed for the switchover will not be long, he said
Asked about the possibility of setting up automobile clubs, the prince said it was in the domain of the Ministry of Youth Welfare. However, the clubs will not be commercial in nature, he added.
The prince also assured students that he would try to set up youth clubs where youngsters could spend their leisure time. He would request Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, to instruct the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to establish the clubs with private sector participation.
Prince Naif also said women’s clubs run by women would also be established.
He said the increasing traffic accidents are not an excuse for unscientific transfer of women teachers. If all the teachers are permitted to work near their homes the children at remote towns and villages will remain illiterate, the minister pointed out.
“I am aware that officials of the Girls Education Department are trying their best to minimize the causes that lead to such accidents.”
Asked about Saudis under detention in the United States on charges of links with Al-Qaeda, the prince said: “Saudi officials have visited, met and identified them and then informed their relatives about their conditions. We are keenly following up their issues and hope that we will be able to persuade the American authorities to hand them over to us.”
On the issue of several Saudis being exposed to various kinds of harassments and other difficulties in the wake of the last year’s terror attacks in New York and Washington the prince said the government has entrusted the Saudi Embassy in Washington to take up the issue with the US authorities and universities and hope that all difficulties will be solved shortly.
The minister also denied reports that the Ministry of Finance and National Economy owed money to the man who ran amuck recently at the Saudi Monetary Agency building in Riyadh. “It is not correct and what is correct is that he was abnormal.”
The prince also said efforts are under way to harmonize the functions of the pension fund and social insurance and hoped that it would materialize soon.
