Opinion | Letters
December 16, 2008
Letters to the Editor: December 16, 2008
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:32 December 15, 2008
Cruel beauty
Beauty was considered to be a delicate and tranquil quality of a human, but has now become an obsession. Beauty is the mantra that people chant, be it the selection of a leader at a college, a national leader or an actor. Recently, I saw a documentary on how students contested for elections at a university in India. One of the lecturers spoke about what convinces most students to choose their leader - it was beauty and glamour. Students were quoted as saying that they wanted to enjoy authority rather than engage in providing services for their peers. A part of the world is forced into being simple due to poverty, whereas the other half displays beauty that lacks depth and tranquillity.
From Ms Nithya Raghavan
Abu Dhabi
Solve the issue
I fully agree with Mr Richard Sharples's letter that highlights the traffic chaos in Jebel Ali ("Peak hour chaos", Gulf News, December 11). Does someone have to be injured or a child seriously hurt before the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) takes any action? The tankers and buses make this area a death trap. There is a primary school located within walking distance, too. I only pray that it is not my child who gets hurt before the RTA finally finds a solution for the issue. I urge the RTA to visit the area and see the chaos with their own eyes.
From Mr D. G. Welsh
Dubai
Endless work
Life has become horrible in the Al Nahda area, in Sharjah. This is due to the ongoing construction work that usually starts at 5am and continues even on Fridays, late into the evening and during weekdays. Additionally, some construction workers tend to dump the waste from the top floor, through a pipe. This pipe is damaged at various points forcing the contents to pour out. Additionally, it creates a lot of noise and air pollution. People, especially children, are suffering from dust allergies and other infections. I really do not know how the authorities allow such companies to work on Fridays, without following any health and safety standards.
From Mr K. N. V. Rao
Sharjah
Love at first sight
I am an award-winning sportswriter and my emotional attachment with Gulf News dates back to 1988, when I visited UAE for the first time. It was a case of love at first sight. The news presentation, useful reports, analysis and features attracted me the most. The pagination was another appealing factor. Since then I have read Gulf News almost every day on the website. The newspaper is still so youthful and attractive, even after three decades. Long live Gulf News!
From Mr Azam Mahmoud
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Very costly
I think it is unfair to increase parking fees at Dubai International Airport ("Dubai Airport's doubling of parking fees hits wallets," Gulf News, December 11). Expenses are increasing day-by-day and people now think twice before coming to Dubai. Many of my friends are in the tourism business and most of them tell me about their customers who complain about Dubai being very costly. Additionally, people are now refusing to come to Dubai or suggest to others that they visit the city, which is bad for us in many ways.
From Mr Paresh Shah
Dubai
Out of ideas
I am an existing customer with etisalat's Al Shamil service. My connection stopped working on September 5 and I reported the matter to etisalat several times. I wrote to the customer care centre repeatedly and met the customer care manager, too. The customer care replies were merely a cut and paste job, as is evident from the messages that I received. The manager has been responsive, but is unable to sort this issue with the IT department. Unfortunately, etisalat is out of ideas to fix one ADSL connection. It has been over two months and this matter is still unresolved.
From Mr Harish Chander
Abu Dhabi
The management of etisalat replied: Please be informed that the issue has been resolved. The customer has confirmed that the internet is working fine.
A step further
I would like to go a step further than Mr Syed Atiq Haider in frowning upon queue jumpers ("Be responsible", Gulf News, December 10). It does not need a psychologist to understand that these are the very same people who would speed rashly and cut lanes with scant regard for fellow road-users. Without doubt they are the catalysts for most accidents. Queue jumping is a matter of attitude - a misplaced sense of false superiority cutting across colour, creed and breed. Without them the roads would be a much safer place. Rather than increasing the number of radar cameras and fines, it would be more effective to patrol the bottleneck points and instantly revoke the licences of queue jumpers.
From Mr Lalu Varghese
Dubai
Shameful reality
I would like to thank Gulf News for bringing up an issue that is often neglected (“Mother of all neglect'', Gulf News, October 30). I appreciate the report, as it brought to notice the agony that a mother undergoes when she is neglected in unequipped hospitals, under the supervision of inefficient staff. It is a matter of shame for the entire human race that — even now — there are places in the world where one in eight women die. While the focus today is usually on the various economic and national crises that occur in various countries, nothing is being done for the less fortunate amongst us. Such people suffer the most in times of recession. Developed nations should focus more on their poorer neighbours, both in terms of medical and infrastructural support.
From Mr Aftab Ahmad
UAE
Increased worries
I was very shocked to hear that taxi meters will start at Dh20, when taking passengers to Dubai from Sharjah ("Residents slam Dh20 inter-emirate taxi charge", Gulf News, October 30). The people who commute between the cities every day are very worried over this decision. They already have other concerns, such as the scarcity of taxis, misbehaviour of taxi drivers and traffic congestion. The concerned authorities should take this matter seriously and reconsider their decision in the interest of the public.
From Mr Tanvir Othman
Sharjah
Who's to blame?
Comments by David Morgan, the current International Cricket Council (ICC) president, wherein he supported the abrupt and impromptu calls to overturn the decision of the ill-fated 2006 Oval test match is not only surprising, but mind-boggling too. For starters, it was the controversial umpire Darrel Hare who was wrong and unprofessional in his infamous ‘Four Minutes' decision to declare the test a victory to England. Now, Morgan is following suit, since the ICC unanimously voted to overturn the decision just three months ago, under his watch. By all democratic, civilised, educated and mature standards, the ICC vote should not be overturned just by a call, since the ICC is a global, supreme body of cricket and all of its decisions are binding on everyone involved in the sport — whether directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly, knowingly or unknowingly, irrespective of who they are. It does not matter which race, ethnicity, color, creed, class, gender and school of thought they belong to and where they come from.
From Dr Aamir A. Salaria
USA
Where is dad?
The case of Dr Reem is tragic and there seems to be no end in sight (“Plea for Reem's carer rejected again'', Gulf News, October 30). It is quite heartbreaking to see a young, beautiful, qualified woman reduced to this state. What makes it worse, is that her children do not know their mother. In all this, I wonder what the husband's involvement is. He was never mentioned. It is high time he stepped in and assumed some responsibility. If he would not do it for her then he should at least do it for their children.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Powerful solution
This is regarding Dr Reem, who is in a coma (“Take another look for humanity's sake'', Gulf News, October 30). I share my sadness with the family and pray for them. It is true that no one is above the law and the officials are just doing their job. There are many similar cases like this and the most recent was the eviction of tenants sharing villas. Families are breaking up. I strongly believe the only solution to these heartbreaking issues has to come from someone who has the authority to make the changes.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Good coverage
I thank Gulf News for the continued coverage on the Iraqi Christian situation (“Kurds seen behind attacks on Christians'', Gulf News, October 30). It means a lot to the Iraqi Christian community to have our problems identified and reported.
From A Reader
Australia
Name withheld by request
Be harsh
I think Dubai has one of the best roads in the world. In any other country, I am sure one would not find motorways with six lanes on each side and two additional lanes for exits and entries. Interchanges five and six on Shaikh Zayed Road are masterpieces of road design. The direction signs are very clear and are visible much in advance. However, motorists on these roads are the worst I have ever experienced. Many of them do not seem to care about speed limits, traffic lights or signal indicators. I think there should be surveillance cameras installed at every traffic intersection, Salik tollgates and bridges. Additionally, police presence in such areas should be tripled and they should work undercover. Offenders should be fined and have their driving licence confiscated on the spot. This is the manner in which many countries deal with dangerous drivers. The system should be introduced as soon as possible. When my wife and I drive on Dubai's roads, we feel uncomfortable and unsafe, even though we abide by the rules. Most of the time when we are out and about, we witness some sort of collision or accident. Something must be done, as most drivers have no control over their vehicles.
From Mr Hans Werner
Dubai
Deadly turn
It is terrifying to see vehicles taking sharp right turns, disregarding the ‘no right turn' signs. Additionally, this is extremely dangerous for pedestrians who cross when the green pedestrian light is on. I encountered this dreaded incident, while crossing Damascus Street, recently. Even if the radar cameras at these signals snap a photo of the red-light jumpers, they are not intelligent enough to catch these offenders. I would request the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to look into the matter with utmost urgency.
From Mr Subhasis Mukherjee
Dubai
Your turn
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