Need to rethink
The Greens residents are given one basement parking space with their apartment and many apartments have two or even three bedrooms (‘Greens residents angry over paid parking plans,’ Gulf News, October 9). Do they think that families living in these large apartments are only going to have one car? Most of the cars parked out on the street are those of residents who need the spaces since the allotted basement parking is not enough. The authorities wish to control the misuse of parking spaces — this is fair enough — but residents need to be issued with permits and not charged to park right outside their front doors. What would happen when a two-car family goes on holiday for two weeks? Where are they supposed to park their second car without being charged a large amount or fined? I think that the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) really needs to reconsider this, as it is only going to cause further issues with people parking illegally in basements to avoid paying charges.
From Ms Katie Randall
Dubai
Car expenses
I find that this is the case with most of the residential areas in Dubai, so why should residents in the Greens cry foul? As for people owning or renting a three-bedroom flat, what’s another few thousand dirhams for a parking card? Owning a car means having expenses, such as parking. This should not make a big difference.
From Mr Raj
Dubai
Website comment
Paying extra
The question is — why aren’t the residential parking areas included in what is being paid by the landlords? The maintenance fees, including parking charges, are paid to the building owners monthly. Doesn’t this mean that the residents are charged twice? First by the building and then by the RTA when extra has to be paid. Maybe the buildings should reduce the service fees then, if they allow RTA to charge for the same. I think this question should be answered before any solution is agreed upon and I think that means that the owners’ association needs to be involved in this matter.
From Ms Anita
Dubai
Website comment
Absolutely wrong
Thank you Gulf News for publishing articles like the one with the parents hitting the baby for publicity (‘Video clip of parents hitting baby sparks outrage,’ Gulf News, October 10). These are all traits of tribal acts manifesting themselves within a modern era. Many people, despite having wealth or education, do not have the proper upbringing that conforms with civilised 21st century. By the way, even though this happened in Saudi Arabia, it could have happened in other countries. Regardless of where, this was horrific and absolute wrong behaviour that can have dire consequences on children’s lives. Again, thanks for shedding light on these dark and taboo subjects.
From Ms Nadia
Dubai
Website comment
Children are gifts
It’s really heartbreaking to read something this cruel. Children are a gift. There are couples who are childless and longing for a baby and then there are people like this who have children and don’t know their value. God bless that child and keep her safe.
From Ms Giselle Sheldon Braganza
UAE
Facebook comment
Lock them up
No matter what nationality, this act is horrible. Instead of filming this, the witness should have protected the child. I don’t know how people have the heart to record such events. If I was there, my first reaction would be to get these parents locked up, not take out my phone and record.
From Ms Nadia A. J. Hussain
UAE
Facebook comment
Find the parents
Let’s hope it’s not long before child protection catches up with these parents. I feel like these services are only beginning to be accepted as a need in the region. No child should have to endure such suffering.
From Ms Gillian Dow
UAE
Facebook comment
Existed as a country
I don’t understand why it is taking the nations of the world so long to recognise Palestine as a country, since it existed long before Israel (‘Recognising Palestine for what it is,’ Gulf News, October 10). The Palestinians have only done what they had to do. It is not merely putting up a sign-post proclaiming their rights.
From Ms Nilofer Taher
UAE
Facebook comment
Sending letters
In reference to the letter by reader Maria Vincent on World Post Day, sending and receiving letters via post is something personal and it is close to our hearts (‘World Post Day’, Gulf News, October 9). During the early 1990s, when I was a bachelor, I used to receive a lot of letters from my family and friends. After work, the first thing I would do is check the post box for any letters. I would get such pleasure and happiness in receiving a letter... the feeling is beyond words. After I proposed to my wife, there was a period of almost six months before marriage where I received at least one letter every day. In return, I would also find time to reply. Greeting cards were sent for all seasons — it was so common in those days. Time has changed everything and we can see the evolution of modern technology giving way to email and texting. Letter writing and greeting cards are slowly vanishing. Sending wishes via text message doesn’t have the warmth, love or affection that it did earlier. Perhaps the new generation may be enjoying this, but I have used both means and I still enjoy the process of writing a letter with a pen. I would recommend that everyone sends greetings at least once a year via post whenever time permits.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Filled with sorrow
After reading about the progress in the case of the Emirati women being attacked in the UK, my eyes filled with tears (‘Sister recounts horror of hammer bludgeoning,’ Gulf News, October 9). It makes me feel grateful to be a human being with a sense of humanity. How could someone with a sane mind do such a thing? I’ve seen animals fighting each other for food, but this is ridiculous. People are doing horrendous crimes to live a luxurious life without doing any work. I think the British government should take stringent steps to protect its tourists.
From Mr Mohammad Salah
Dubai
Website comment
Black markets
I was sad to read about 17 people being killed due to the use of illicit liquor in Pakistan (‘17 die after consuming illicit hooch in Karachi,’ Gulf News, October 9). It is not first time that such a large number of people have been killed due to the use of illicit alcohol. I don’t understand why the Pakistani government is not paying attention to such a large number of untimely deaths? In Sindh province, you can easily find this poisonous substance in many forms. Then there is tobacco. In villages all around Sindh, you can find thousands of small shops that sell tobacco at a very cheap price. Villagers who have no other social activity mostly spend time at these shops and use different types of tobacco on almost a daily basis. I find that this business succeeds mostly in the rural and semi-urban areas of Pakistan. According to one study by a non-government organisation (NGO), around 10 million rupees (Dh357,325) a day in profit is made in the tobacco industry in rural Sindh. The cancer ward of Jinnah hospital in Karachi regularly sees patients with throat cancer due to the use of cheap tobacco. At the government level, no one is giving any attention to this illegal roaring business of cheap tobacco. These types of incidents will occur every now and then until the Pakistani government starts to pay proper attention and bans this easily accessible sale of illegal tobacco and alcohol.
From Mr Aijaz Ali Khuwaja
Karachi, Pakistan
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