Success story
Congratulations to Gulf News for celebrating its 30th anniversary ('Becoming the best', September 30). I would like to thank the newspaper for making all its readers feel right at home with its extensive coverage. Hats off to this story of success.
From Mr Nagarajan Natarajan
UAE
No wonder
I am a regular reader of Gulf News and truly love everything about the newspaper. It is no wonder that we eagerly wait for it every morning. My best wishes to Gulf News and happy birthday!
From Ms Nhiranjana Velavan
Abu Dhabi
Enjoyable reading
When my family and I resided in Abu Dhabi, we loved reading Gulf News every day. We would like to congratulate the newspaper on its 30th anniversary. It has undoubtedly been our favourite, since it gave us all the information we required in a very simple manner. Additionally, the language used in the newspaper is easy to read and comprehend. Moreover, all the reports are impartial. Reading Gulf News was a satisfying and enjoyable experience. I believe it will definitely reach new heights in the future.
From Mr K. K. Save
Maharashtra, India
Playing politics
I believe US Republican Presidential candidate John McCain took another great leap backward in his quest for leadership when he blamed Democrat nominee Barack Obama for failing to pass the bailout plan ('Presidential race turns nasty as crisis deepens', October 1). Additionally, McCain said he was disappointed by both sides for not reaching a bipartisan solution. However, the Democrats voted for the bill by at least 60 per cent, while more than two-thirds of Republicans voted against it. So isn't McCain the one playing the political game and not Obama?
From A Reader
Sharjah
Name withheld on request
Better monitoring
I think the authorities should pass a new law, requiring all sewage tankers to install global positioning systems (GPS), so that they can monitor their movements ('Truck seen dumping sewage in Jebel Ali', September 30). Additionally, the companies that own these vehicles should also require their drivers to maintain a log of all their trips.
From Mr Fred Chambers
Ontario, Canada
Unsafe waters
I have been following Gulf News's reports on tankers dumping sewage illegally in areas such as beaches and storm water drains. I urge the authorities to inform the public whether it is safe for residents to swim in public beaches.
From Ms Heather Bacon
Dubai
Not affordable
This is in response to Mr Manoj Mathews's letter to Gulf News, stating that paid parking was a welcome move ('Cost of relief', September 30). Not all residents can afford to pay for parking every single day. Additionally, Mr Mathews is not the only one who is inconvenienced when motorists double-park. Motorists double-park only because they want to avoid paid parking.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld on request
Cause and effect
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of accidents in Fujairah. This is because of three main reasons. Firstly, collisions occur because of jaywalkers. Secondly, motorists park their cars on the road, instead of parking spaces. Lastly, the reason for most accidents is usually reckless driving.
From Mr Hari Pada Roy
Fujairah
False claims
Banks led individual investors in the UAE to believe that their investments were guaranteed ('UAE stocks buck bearish trend in Asian markets, September 30). Many banks even sold investments and offered multiple loans. As a consequence, losses for investors and claims against banks will run into billions of dollars. Let us hope the banks will not be aggressive in recovering loans from small investors who have lost a bulk of their life's savings.
From Mr M. Chatur
Dubai
Direct access
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is doing its best to ensure a comfortable public transport system. Buses are becoming more efficient and covering a greater number of areas than before. However, there is no direct bus service between Karama and Naif Road, forcing commuters to change buses at least once. I also urge the RTA to ensure that males do not occupy the female-only seats in buses.
From Mr T. Balaram
Dubai
Rising prices
Nowadays, the increase in school fees is quite alarming. I think private schools ought to have pre-approved plans for fee structuring. Additionally, any revision in tuition fees must be made in keeping with appropriate guidelines. Apart from school fees, there has also been a rise in the cost of school supplies. Middle-income expatriates are facing a hard time, especially since primary requirements such as food, shelter, health and education have all become very expensive.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
UAE
Surprise visits
It is a nightmare to use public transport in Dubai. That is what I concluded after waiting for a bus for more than an hour recently. People are often made to wait in scorching heat at bus stops. Earlier, the authorities used to monitor bus schedules and appoint supervisors to question bus drivers in case of a delay. These supervisors would make surprise visits to a bus station and check if the schedule was being followed. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) needs to continue with the system. At times, certain drivers cancel trips without any prior information. We can understand traffic issues, but such incidents have now become a regular occurrence.
From Mr Abdul Q. M. S.
Dubai
Exempt motorcycles
I fail to understand why motorcycles are being charged for crossing Salik tollgates. They do not contribute to traffic congestion. They also cause less pollution and do not require a lot of parking space. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) should exempt motorcycles from paying Salik and encourage more people to switch to motorcycles for short trips.
From Mr Joe John
Dubai
Endless queues
It is very annoying that the Greens area is fast turning out to be another Deira - in terms of endless traffic queues, that is. Additionally, the many construction blockades continue to further narrow down the single-lane stretch leading to Shaikh Zayed Road.
Traffic jams have become a familiar sight in this area and we often see motorists honking at each other and pushing through small gaps, leading to accidents.
From Mr Zain Hussain
Dubai
Need for policing
The exit from Al Nahda Park towards Al Ittihad Road and Emirates Road has become a real nightmare during rush hour. It takes commuters at least one hour to exit from Al Nahda and another hour to reach Shaikh Zayed Road. Unfortunately, there is rarely any police person present in the area to help regulate the flow of traffic. I am sure that the presence of just one police officer at each junction in this area could provide great relief to harassed motorists. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Sharjah Police should take immediate action.
From Mr Raj Shankar
Dubai
