Good work
Recently, my friend and I were commuting to Dubai from Mamzar area in Sharjah. On approaching Al Ittihad Road, we tried to cross over a service road, but ended up stuck in the loose sand. We were helpless and thought we would be extremely late for work. Fortunately, two very generous Sharjah Police officers saw us and immediately helped move the car out of the sandy area. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the police officers and truly appreciate their good work. They made our day.
From Ms Kulen Ebrahim
Dubai
Horrible traffic
I read Gulf News's report on the closure of Al Wahda Street for two years ("Reactions mixed as residents brace for Al Wahda closure", Gulf News, August 11). I thought the closure would not affect me as I stay in Al Nahda, but I definitely feel the congestion in the emirate is much worse than in other emirates in the UAE. For instance, the bridge after Sahara Centre has only one lane. During the morning rush hour, the roads are completely blocked and there is neither any police presence, nor are there any signals to control traffic in the morning.
From Ms Seema Kumar
Dubai
Not accurate
Nina Muslim's report on the comatose Finnish woman was not completely accurate ("Tragic situation", Gulf News, August 10). She should have researched on the laws of the Finnish government before bringing in Finland into her report. It is very clear that if someone from Finland moves overseas permanently, he or she loses all social benefits. Additionally, if someone travels, he or she must have private insurance to covers all medical bills. Only the husband and children are responsible for the Finnish woman.
From Ms Minna Virtanen
Dubai
More deserving
With the conclusion of two Tests in the Idea Cup 2008 held in Sri Lanka, the major concern for India at the moment is the middle order batsmen. Good technique, accurate judgment and quick reflexes are essential for any batsman. Currently, I think Indian cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly lack all these requirements. This is the right time for all three of them to retire gracefully, rather than playing to beat world records and make money. Other players such as Yuvraj Singh, Ishant Sharma and Suresh Raina are much more deserving.
From Mr Sanjay Bhadkamkar
Dubai
Very inconvenient
People often park their vehicles on the main roads around Abu Shagara Park in Sharjah which leads to traffic congestion, especially in the mornings. As such, school bus and minibus drivers find it difficult to turn their vehicles. Sometimes, people even move the garbage cans to the main road and park their vehicles in place of the bins. It is difficult to manoeuvre in the area, and I urge the authorities to fine violators.
From Mr Abdul Wahab Moopan
Dubai
Credit card trap
Credit cards have become a necessary evil in today's times, even though they are a huge burden for residents. I think the craze for credit cards will not vanish easily. It is in fact the forte of bankers to discover ingenious ways to attract new customers to take credit cards.
Banks have been taking their clients for a ride through irresistible sugarcoated offers. They often leave out the terms and conditions that are unfamiliar even to the highly educated public, let alone the average man on the street.
From Mr Nanjil
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Big difference
I suggest that all restaurants in the UAE allow customers to see their daily rate lists. Prices differ from restaurant to restaurant, even though portions and menu listings are similar. Many restaurants have increased their prices drastically on the pretext of inflation. I think the concerned authorities should carry out constant checks on such restaurants.
From Mr Saeed Khan
UAE
Once a hero
My sincere advice to the politicians of Pakistan is that a disgraceful situation similar to present may await them as well if they do not read the writing on the wall ("Decision time in Pakistan on domestic policies", Gulf News, August 14). Proponents of the move for the impeachment of president Pervez Musharraf have forgotten that they were once the villains in the minds of Pakistanis and Musharraf was a hero.
From Mr Dawoodi Morkas
Pakistan
ConsiderTthis
As a pupil, I believe the idea to postpone the opening of schools until after Ramadan has its merits, and the requests of parents are worth considering. As Ramadan falls during summer, the heat will undoubtedly affect pupils who fast. Tired and dehydrated, they will not be able to concentrate on their studies during the day and I believe their performance will suffer. Additionally, during Ramadan, some families go for pilgrimage and their children would not only miss out on their syllabus but their school attendance will also drop. The authorities should consider all these factors before reopening schools next month.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Needs Improvement
An efficient public transport system is the best way to reduce traffic congestion in any city ("Abu Dhabi bus service is route to beating traffic woes", Gulf News, June 26). New York, London and Singapore have some of the best public transport systems in the world. An effective bus system would definitely make a big difference in my life, since I travel frequently by bus. Encouraging people to use public transport is not easy as it does not help them save a lot of money. A person who uses the bus will have to take a taxi from the bus stop to his or her house. If people use their own cars, it would cost them nearly the same amount, since petrol in the UAE is not very expensive. Additionally, waiting for public transport consumes a lot of time. In the case of consultants like me, cost is less important than time. If the cost of a car and petrol increases, it would motivate people to take alternatives such as buses. Moreover, increasing public transport efficiency will make people use it more often.
From Mr Ravi Kumar
UAE
All in the name
I wish to express two important suggestions to encourage passengers to use the public transportation system in the UAE. Many passengers and tourists do not know where buses are plying. To avoid such confusion, operators should affix a small board inside buses, in English and Arabic, outlining the names of destinations. The numbers provided on the buses help only regular passengers who are able to identify the routes. The other passengers do not know much about these buses and where they are going. My second suggestion is to attach a small board on each bus stop showing the timings of buses as well. If the authorities would consider these two suggestions, I think the system would run more smoothly.
From Mr John V. Thomas
UAE
No discrimination
Call it racism or discrimination, but I believe these concepts are non-existent in this part of the world. Arabs, Europeans, Americans and Asians live side by side in harmony. If the Middle East can be a prime example of such brotherhood, why doesn't the world wake up to it as well? Racism is only a mindset and if you are weak in recognising yourself, you are definitely giving the other person all the more reason to doubt your capabilities too.
From Ms Sanjana Varma
Abu Dhabi
Languished Language
The issue that has to be understood is that introduction of a foreign language will not truly destroy the local language ("Efforts to empower UAE nationals", Gulf News, July 27). It is neglect that brings about the downfall of the local language. A long-lasting remedy is to encourage nationals and non-Arab expatriates to learn the language and be constructive. This can be accomplished through the encouragement of literary competitions, financial support to stories and dramas in Arabic, free Arabic language classes and so on. This would work better than bringing about a compulsory rule on using Arabic. Importing an Arabic-speaking workforce is not the only solution.
From Mr K.Thiyagarajan
Abu Dhabi
Raise prices
Following the techniques of European countries will not help Dubai reduce traffic congestion ("Dh1.29b project in Dubai will create new traffic corridor, says RTA", Gulf News, July 20). Salik is not an option to reduce congestion during peak hours. Only an increase in petrol prices can reduce traffic. This is a proven fact, as a rise in fuel costs helps the authorities reduce traffic and increases dependency on public transport, especially during peak hours. In the UK for example, the price of fuel is higher and public transport is the main mode of travel for commuters.
From Mr Aijaz Yousuf Awan
Dubai
Schools Duty
While I agree that an unstable family environment and parents negative attitude can influence a childs performance at school, I also believe that schools have a hand in developing the skills of pupils ("Speak your mind: In school", Gulf News, June 6). One of the current phenomena people are grappling with is the notion of learning and acquiring knowledge. With a schools reputation on the line, one might find institutions sacrificing pupils who are deemed somewhat problematic, by filtering them out of their programmes. This form of quality control guards against lowered ratings for the school and reflects — on the surface at least — a place in which learning takes place. If a pupil is removed from such an environment, the effect it could have a negative effect on his or her academic potential. In order for students to be successful learners, schools must create learning communities that include the active and equal participation of school officials, teachers, parents and pupils. Otherwise, it will only prove to be a disservice.
From Mr David Ribott-Bracero
Abu Dhabi
Extreme costs
The cost of living is steadily going through the roof ("Transporters expect Dubai retailers to lower diesel prices", Gulf News, July 28). Even though many measures have been taken, the situation remains as it is. One particular issue that has not caught the fancy of analysts is diesel prices. After having started its upward journey for sometime now, diesel prices have skyrocketed. The picture gets bleaker as petrol stations go dry and black marketers are believed to be having a field day.
From Mr Shajid Hamza
Umm Al Quwain
