Many shops and baqalas in the Hasawi area of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, particularly in blocks one, two and three, are deemed closed but they are operating and doing business as usual.

They are operating in such a peculiar manner that some people there describe the environment as very ‘creative, secretive but worrisome’. The situation which has been there for quite some time is indeed strange, as you witness many shops closed but see them operating through a small door opening.

Many shop owners in question told this reporter it was merely about the license, another said they were given only until the end of May to operate and that portion of Hasawi will soon be demolished. Neither of these two pieces of information were verified, as telephone calls to the Municipality remained unanswered at press time.

“Many shops here are operating allegedly without a license. Many are expired (license) so they are afraid and are avoiding police patrolling the area.

They (shops and baqalas) appear to be closed from the outside, but they are virtually operating,” the Kuwait Times source told this reporter.

Some shops that Kuwait Times noticed were covered with black fabric over their windows, others are covered with black garbage bags in front appearing to be closed, but customers are going in and out of the shops.

The Kuwait Times source, who lives nearby, said the unusual event started just a few days ago. In fact he noted that usually that part of Hasawi is normally crowded at seven o’clock in the evening. People are doing their usual business, cars and busses are usually crowding the place, but not any more.

“The businesses here close at 11pm. But for the last several days now, the scene has changed.

The shops, especially in block one, are closed but operating secretly as you see. In block two and three, some baqalas are closed, but they are also operating secretly,” the source added.

At least one street in block one is also in total darkness. There were no lights on in the street, except for some brightness emanating from the vehicles passing by.

“Crimes could take place in such dark places. The Municipality should at least do something and not to wait for such an incident to happen. We live here and you see the darkness is engulfing the street.

It’s really dangerous. Cars cannot see the people walking, besides the damaged roads/drainage system are really irritating. Are we on another planet or still part of Kuwait?” one resident asked.

One of the strange people, awaiting for customers from afar, said his shop is closed because the license was not renewed.

“We closed our shop because we don’t have a valid license now. But we have customers so, even if we are closed, we are getting some customers to transact with. The Municipality won’t give us a license because they said they are going to demolish this place,” a shop owner told this reporter.