Festive spirit
Some friends and I thought of celebrating Eid by visiting one of the parks. To my surprise, I not only had a good time but made friends with some UAE nationals' families, too. I wish the festive spirit continues, binding people in many more wonderful ways.
From Ms Sudha Kathuria
Dubai
Who we are
I am glad that young non-resident Indians (NRIs) are finally finding their roots ("Young NRIs trace their roots to Goa", Gulf News, December 9). It is saddening to see many young Indians go abroad and completely disown their culture. Most Indian women feel ashamed to even wear the elegant sari, saying that they don't know how to drape it. If one only makes an effort, it is not too difficult to learn the art. Let us not forget who we truly are.
From Ms Elaine Fernandes
Dubai
My vote
With reference to Gulf News's poll question (December 10) on one's favourite hypermarket, the first thing I have to consider before going to a hypermarket is whether I will or will not find parking in the area. If an item I require is only available in a particular hypermarket, I have to schedule a suitable time to go. Otherwise for all my regular groceries I opt to go to the nearest hypermarket.
From Ms Salma Mendoza
Dubai
Avoid violence
I am a 10-year-old pupil and I think mankind should avoid all forms of violence ("Mumbai attack haunts nation's Eid festivities", Gulf News, December 10). The terrorist attacks that occurred in Mumbai were very tragic and unpardonable. No religion preaches the killing of another human being. Let us all work to build international peace and harmony.
From Ms Simran Vedvyas
Dubai
Making news
I was astonished by Mr Saifee M. Tarwala's letter to Gulf News ("Hypocrisy", Gulf News, December 8). The reader is worried about lesser coverage being provided to the violence in Baghdad and the fact that Mumbai's terror attacks have become the 'talk of the town'. What Mr Tarwala should be asked is - just how much coverage is appropriate? The attack on Mumbai was a deliberate, pre-meditated attack and affected millions around the globe. Moreover, the violence in Iraq is a worldwide concern too, and I can vouch as a regular reader of Gulf News, that it continues to be covered extensively.
From Mr Anurag
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
No connection
As a resident of Al Nahda area, in Dubai, I applied for etisalat's Al Shamil line on November 10 and accordingly received the relevant account number. However, a month after the application and after several calls, I was told that etisalat could not provide an ADSL connect because of infrastructure limitations. My account was closed, without any agreement from my side. I was really surprised. If etisalat has infrastructure issues, why can't other telecommunication operators function in the area?
From Mr Pravin Rao
Dubai
The management of etisalat replies:
etisalat has provided internet service for the subscriber and his internet connection problem has been resolved. etisalat called the customer and confirmed that the connection is working fine.
Reckless drivers
On Dubai's roads, it is common to see motorists driving recklessly. Some speeding motorists do not even care to check if anyone is crossing the road or if a vehicle next to them is changing lanes. I think such motorists are the main reason for road accidents. The authorities should act fast and take the necessary measures to avoid future collisions.
From Ms Usha Narayanan
Dubai
As standby
When an individual becomes a victim of a terminal illness, the organisation he or she works for must stand by them ("Workers with terminal illnesses should not be discriminated against", Gulf News, December 11). Cancer is the biggest killer of our times and claims its victims at will. They may be working mothers or fathers with dependent children or aged parents. If in this time of personal tragedy, the organisation they are employed with forsakes them, then where will they go and who will they turn to? It is therefore vital that such individuals are not discriminated against and instead receive as much help and support as possible from their employers - to help ease their pain. I do not think this is asking for too much.
From Ms Shiuli Dutt Dey
Dubai
Website comment
Don't let go
Workers who suffer from a terminal illness should not be let go because of it. The authorities could help in the treatment of people with terminal illnesses.
From A Reader
Canada
Name withheld by request
Website comment
Recognise loyalty
Companies should not be allowed to sack people who have a terminal illness, especially if the employee is a senior citizen and has given years of his or her life to the company.
From Mr Manoj Kumar
Dubai
Website comment
The right move
I think this is a right move ("Dubai Airport's doubling of parking fees hits wallets", Gulf News, December 11). Actually, if one looks at it carefully they have not increased the price of the parking, they only reduced the duration of parking time, which I believe will help in reducing the number of people arriving to pick up others.
From Mr Amit Mathur
Dubai
Website comment
Why the fuss?
The doubling of parking fees should not affect people so much, as we do not travel and use the airport parking facility on a daily basis. Therefore, once in a while if we need to pay a parking fee then it should not be such a big problem. The supreme facilities and infrastructure provided by the authorities must not be overlooked. When the airfares are increased we all have to pay even if it is too high. Similarly, due to inflation if the authorities have increased the parking fee - for some time slots - then the decision has to be accepted by travellers. The rise is okay though the rates at Terminal 3 could have been kept at Dh15 per hour instead of Dh25 as in Terminal 1.
From Ms Naina Nair
Sharjah
Website comment
Safeguarding lives
The terror attacks on Mumbai have left most of us shattered (“Devastated Mumbai Jewish centre and Taj hotel to be rebuilt'', Gulf News, December 10). Looking at the pictures and the news regarding the same has had a deep impact on my children, too. The fear is so strong that they do not want to visit India anymore. It is high time that all of us take moral responsibility to be more alert and cooperate with the police and the authorities to report any suspicious behaviour. Finally, I want to pay homage to all those heroes who lost their lives in order to save hundreds of innocent lives. They were awake so that we can sleep peacefully. Now they are sleeping in eternal peace so that we can be awake every morning to see the beautiful world. Saluting the true heroes of India!
From Mr Shashi Mohnani
Dubai
Join hands
The Mumbai terrorist attack is similar to the attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka (“Devastated Mumbai Jewish centre and Taj hotel to be rebuilt'', Gulf News, December 10). During the 90s, the Sri Lankan government constantly pleaded the USA and UK to ban LTTE from raising funds, but all its pleas fell on deaf ears. The September 11 attacks along with the explosions in London alarmed the USA and UK governments enough to ban terrorist organisations. I wonder if the attack on Mumbai has brought the concerned authorities back to their senses and realise the catastrophic acts of terrorism. It is time all nations join hands to eradicate terrorism. It is not a religious act or fight for freedom, but terrorist organisations killing innocent civilians.
From Mr Roshun Razik
Abu Dhabi
Time to think
This is with reference to the critical situation that Mumbai faced in the past few days (“Devastated Mumbai Jewish centre and Taj hotel to be rebuilt'', Gulf News, December 10). The world is already going through an economic crisis and this incident has got Mumbaikars into more trouble. I really feel sad about the families who lost their loved ones. However, I do not think anybody can realise the pain of those people who lost their jobs, recently. What about their families? How will they cope with the situation? We can just hope they get some compensation from the government. The politicians are already busy with the blame game. I hope they can spare some time to think for the good of the people of the country who are facing such pain and agony.
From Ms Nitu G. Pandorwala
Sharjah
In a dilemma
Recent news shows that the UAE is not free from the grips of the global financial crisis (“Mideast growth to slide'', Gulf News, December 10). Expatriate employees are in fear of losing their jobs at any time. The employees who have availed personal loans from various banks are in a dilemma due to their inability to find an alternative financial source to settle their debts. In this situation, it would be helpful if the authorities stepped in and help resolve the matter.
From Mr Abdul B. C.
Valappil
Dubai
Travails
Some people are facing difficulty in taking a taxi from Sharjah to Dubai and vice-versa, on a daily basis. The crux of the problem lies in the traffic congestion on the Sharjah-Dubai road. Taxi drivers of Sharjah are reluctant to pick up passengers heading to Dubai because they will have to face traffic in both directions. Additionally, they run on empty since they are restricted to take passengers from Dubai. This results in a lot of inconvenience for the commuters who have little or no options. To improve the situation, traffic rules must be relaxed. On one hand, this would mean added revenue for the taxi drivers and the taxi company. On the other, it would be a huge respite to passengers who face taxi woes. The fact that massive chunk of Sharjah population commute daily to Dubai and back is no news. The authorities should help resolve this problem.
From Ms Pratima Pandey
Sharjah
Boycott
Many people might be wondering why all the fuss for a whale shark when the entire global economy is in a state of collapse and meltdown. Is this really an important issue to be taken up by a newspaper of standing such as Gulf News?
I admire the force and courage with which Gulf News has taken upon itself to free Sammy the shark. I must salute the newspaper for its persistent campaign. The global economic meltdown is the result of greed to profit more and more, and in the same breathe it is the greed of the Atlantis hotel to cage Sammy in a glass box in a bid to attract tourists and earn a few extra bucks. I urge Gulf News to step up the campaign to free Sammy and utilise the power of the media in calling for every civilised individual to boycott the hotel till Sammy is freed. Like the amazing campaign that the newspaper has been carrying on with discarding the plastic bags, I am sure this too will be a grand success. This is not a small issue. All living beings are equally important and have their right to survive with dignity. I pledge not to visit Atlantis till Sammy is freed. Gulf News, I salute you. Keep Up the pressure. The survival of this planet is at stake.
From Ms Rabi Banerjee
Ajman
Eco-friendly
Congrats Gulf News for turning a terrific thirty! I appreciate your attempt at encouraging the community in reducing the use of plastic bags. Now something has inspired me to appreciate the newspaper. Recently, I saw my physics teacher carrying our books in the jute bag provided by Gulf News. I was not so sure regarding its effects the first time I received it, but after this incident I am convinced of the newspaper's success. Good luck!
From Ms Fathima Siyab Al Deen
Abu Dhabi
Give way
I noticed that some people are so inconsiderate about long buses particularly at traffic signals. Once motorists cross a signal and they do not get enough space in the exiting road, they violate the yellow box rule. These poor bus drivers keep waiting at signals for motorists to clear the exit road, but some inconsiderate drivers come in from all directions and fill the space. Police should make sure these long buses enjoy the same privilege as others in terms of traffic.
From Mr Nasar Usmani
Dubai
Stop hooting
I was reading with interest a Gulf News report on construction noises in Abu Dhabi. In fact, there is another major problem, which is affecting many residents – discourtesy and uncivilised behavior on part of some drivers, especially at night. They hoot for several minutes, especially when they are close to traffic lights, disturbing residents including children. The authorities should solve this as well.
From A Reader
Abu Dhabi
Name withheld by request
