Encourage farmers
Food prices are going up due to a shortage in supplies ("Food crisis can undo years of anti-poverty work", Gulf News, April 16). The increase in food prices is still bearable when compared to the price of gold, cement, steel or oil. The farmers are probably not cultivating as many crops as there is hardly any profit generated. If a fair price was guaranteed, I think poor farmers would be encouraged to produce more crops.
From Mr Rajan Jacob
Abu Dhabi
Picture perfect
It's undoubtedly impressive how developments shape up. The UAE is well equipped with progressive plans and people-friendly systems to make life better. This time it's the air-conditioned bus shelters, which will go a long way in giving relief to people in the summer heat. The one thing anyone can complain about is the absolute impossibility of catching a taxi or bus on time. If the traffic and transportation issues were taken care of, it would be picture perfect.
From Ms J. R. Matthew
Dubai
Old were better
I am a woman living and working in Abu Dhabi who is very happy with the old taxis! I have never had a problem and I take taxis daily to and from work. The new taxis are 50 per cent more expensive - far more than what we were promised when they were introduced - and the drivers are not familiar with the city. You have to direct them where to go.
From Ms Jan Newton
Abu Dhabi
Simple steps
It was nice to see prominent personalities in Mumbai, India, sticking posters on their cars that read, "No Honking", during the environment protection day which was marked recently. This in a country where more than 90 per cent of trucks have a "Horn OK Please" sign at the back. The actual need of the hour is to create awareness among people about road safety - changing lanes, rash overtaking, giving proper indications and discouraging pedestrians to cross the road in heavy traffic. If people follow these simple steps, they would automatically reduce the use of horns.
From Mr Mohammad Arshad
Abu Dhabi
Help me explain
I urge Gulf News to launch a global campaign that would help abolish import costs on all forms of rice in order to control prices and provide benefits to local rice producers. I have two young children aged two and four who eat rice every day. How do I explain to them why I can't feed them rice any more?
From Mr Sachin G.
Dubai
Eye-opener
Instead of spending huge sums of money on sponsoring non-productive events, why can't more organisations sponsor a few welfare activities? ("Investing in social businesses could put an end to poverty says Yunus", Gulf News, April 13). If large organisations took up the responsibility of sponsoring creative and welfare activities for a few years, poverty could actually be eliminated.
From Mr Majeed K. M.
Abu Dhabi
Test monitoring
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) should take measures to reduce the waiting time in getting a retest date when people apply for a driving licence ("Dubai slashes driving licences by 43%", Gulf News, April 16). In the same manner, there should be a close monitoring of the conduct of driving institutes.
Some have increased their fees and dictate their own waiting periods while cashing in on the current situation. Even if one attends the driving classes, one has to wait another month before a retest. The RTA should either revert to the weekly test system or at least arrange to give the weekly retest for those who have given more than three tests.
From Mr B. Narayan
Dubai
Wrong spirit
I feel this is not in the right spirit ("Airline refunds Dubai-bound passenger charged for being overweight", Gulf News, April 14). An airline always has the right to accept a passenger based on genuine situations and, in this case, they did not stop the passenger from boarding but offered him an additional seat for Dh800. This is a nice gesture on the part of the airline, considering the higher revenue it would have earned if sold otherwise.
From Mr Daniel
Abu Dhabi
Full name withheld by request
Support it
I fully support the airline that makes large passengers travel business class. There is nothing worse than to be seated next to an overweight person in economy as they spill over into your seat. What gives anyone the right to use the space of a fellow traveller? The alternative is for the person to purchase two economy seats.
From Mr Richard Charles S. M.
UAE
Hazardous
I have seen quite a few hair salons that operate next to cafeterias. Is this not hazardous to the health of people? I suggest the authorities look into this matter as hair might fly into uncovered food.
From Mr Mathew Inas
Dubai
Ignorance
As a daily commuter shuttling between Abu Dhabi and Dubai for more than four years, I have noticed and experienced many accidents. Based on this, I can say that it's not just speeding that causes accidents but an ignorance of basic rules that adds to it as well. There have been many occasions when I've seen motorists who do not use the indicator while changing lanes. In one such case, I ended up losing a side mirror. It could have been worse.
From Ms Andrea Jurcikova
UAE
Happens everywhere
Misbehaving taxi drivers is a phenomenon that is not just restricted to Abu Dhabi but is quite rampant in Dubai as well. I know of a few cases wherein women have been shabbily treated. In certain other instances, one has to wait for hours before a taxi stops to pick one up. Unfortunately, taxi drivers shying away from duty regularly use shift change as an excuse.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
