Finding the root problem
We have a lot of rules and regulations to make our lives comfortable and I think that it is necessary for housing rules to be followed (‘Power and water to 70 Rashidiya villas cut by Dubai Municipality,’ Gulf News, September 14). The world has completely changed. What we need now are precautionary measures rather than remedial or punishing measures. To be precise, I don’t think that we should create a system to punish those who have even committed mistakes.
The need is to see why they break the rules in the first place and how to stop them from doing it again. Precautions and preventions are needed much more than morally hurting these people. Repetition will be there as long as it is not stopped eternally through the maintenance of rules and regulations. If nothing is done deliberately, such things will only remain as a scoop for the media.
From Mr Balakrishnan
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Eviction is necessary
I think the authorities should fine the villa owners who rent them out willingly to earn money. If the villa is rented out to an individual with a tenancy contract, the villa owner should be able to throw them out if they violate the rules. The municipality should not have to come into the picture and cut basic necessities like water and electricity.
From Mr Ali
Dubai
Website comment
Don’t flout the rules!
These people have come to Dubai to make a living, and they should not flout the rules of another country. You need to follow the rules of the country you are in. If someone cannot do this, then they should leave. No one is asking you to sacrifice your family and lives.
From Mr Bob
Bangalore, India
Website comment
Not affordable
I disagree with this because some of the tenants have low salaries and they cannot afford a studio or a one bedroom. People can often not afford even four cheque plans, where they have to pay 3 months in advance.
Many people cannot afford rent of Dh2500 per month plus utilities when they only make Dh2000 to Dh 3500.
From Mr Mhel
Dubai
Website comment
Help these people
I think companies should provide these people with reasonable housing. No one wants to stay in shared living. No one wants to suffer like this, but they have to. The salaries for many in the middle income group do not allow them to have expensive housing. Most villas that are shared are families trying to make ends meet.
It’s not fair to disconnect power or water supply. Give them a warning, fine the landlord who makes these types of setups instead of penalising the people. Provide reasonable houses for small families and single women to let them have their own privacy and their own place to stay.
From Ms Rupa
Dubai
Website comment
Landlords are responsible
It is illegal to share a villa. I think it’s the owner or the legal tenant who is responsible for this problem of subletting. They should have been fined. By cutting off the power in the villas, it could have resulted in health problems to the tenants and for that I don’t think it was acceptable.
The correct penalty in this case would be to get a hold of the person responsible and ask the tenants to vacate the villa within a week.
From Mr Suraj
Dubai
Website comment
Change the rules
It is true that too many people sharing a single villa is unacceptable and it is a threat to safety and health. There has to be some sort of criteria to allow bachelors to share a room in a villa.
From Ms Tejas
Dubai
Website comment
Accountibility
The third beheading by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) is another situation that will justify wars, in my opinion (‘Third hostage beheaded on video by Isil militant,’ Gulf News, September 14). It’s time for politicians to look at their foreign policies and rethought how they managed them. The encouragement for a ‘revolution for democracy’ and various ‘uprisings’ in the name of democracy in certain parts of the world has brought about such atrocities!
Know who you support, as you are likely to be the one accountable to all that happens. I would expect the intelligence to be able to trace the spokesperson of Isil and bring him to justice.
Have they not suffered enough if there will be further military deployment? It’s time to bring those who funded these ‘uprisings’ to account for the consequence.
From Ms Sue
Dubai
Website comment
Teaching hate
This is very sad. May his soul rest in peace. Truly, no religion teaches us to kill, destroy or hate another human being.
From Ms Greta
Sharjah
Website comment
Read the Quran
Islam does not teach us to kill innocent people. I think Isil needs to read the Quran first and then speak about Islam. When I saw this picture, I really felt bad.
From Mr Tas Rahamathullah
Sharjah
Website comment
Thinking about the victim
It was a sin to kill the innocent social worker who was doing a service to humanity. He will be taken straight to heaven for helping the poor refugees.
From Mr Peter
Dubai
Website comment
Some ameliorations
I think the authorities should consider connecting the Etisalat green line with the Rashidiya Metro line (‘Dubai Metro expansion latest: Red Line to Al Warqa’a?,’ Gulf News, September 14). That will save a lot of time for the commuters. I also think the authorities should plan for more pedestrian bridges going into the Metro stations to reduce the traffic where there is a lot of people and it’s time consuming to cross at the signal. For example, the signal in Al Nahda Road is one where a lot of Sharjah residents take this road and during the peak hours it can take almost 30 to 40 minutes to cross the signal. Please consider these types of areas for bridges.
From Ms Dorai
Dubai
Website comment
Central connections
The Red line already takes about 60 to 70 minutes to go from end to end. I can’t imagine someone in Al Warqa’a going through Mirdif, the airport area, Deira, Bur Dubai, and all the way to Media city or Jebel Ali for work.
Expansion of metro services to places like Mirdiff, Warqa’a, Silicon Oasis and Academic City is a great idea. However I think the network should be such that you interchange at a central point and crossover onto other lines. For instance, it’s better to build another line connecting all these areas and linking with say Al Quoz. That way, everyone will get to where they want within 60 to 70 minutes. Of course, Sharjah connectivity would be a big plus.
From Mr Arun
Dubai
Website comment
Chess reducing Alzheimer’s
I think that reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s is one of the benefits of playing chess (‘‘Alzheimer’s to rise 600% by 2030 in UAE’,’ Gulf News, September 14). A medical study involving 488 seniors by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine shows that playing chess, which stimulates brain function, measurably decreases the risk of dementia and combats its symptoms. Instead of letting the brain deteriorate, keeping the brain functioning at a normal rate, especially with a mind exercising activity like chess, will reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease as well as depression and anxiety. This is only one of the many benefits of playing chess.
From Mr R. Pabalan
Dubai
Facebook comment
Changes made
Originally this 14km track at Jumeirah Corniche was also supposed to cater to the needs of Dubai’s cycling community (‘Jumeirah Corniche is 77% complete,’ Gulf News, September 14). Now, there will be a running track and a composite wood paved decking area for the walkers.
On the far end, there is a cycling track running parallel to the running track, but no deck. What is the plan now for the cyclists?
From Mr Jarmo
Dubai
Website comment
Strict hygiene rules
There should be strict rules for the cleanliness of the taxis and hygiene of the drivers, especially in hot areas like San Diego and Dubai (‘Body odour test for taxi drivers in San Diego,’ Gulf News, September 14). I’ve gotten into many taxis in Dubai that smell horribly and I personally try to avoid using their services as much as possible. I would suggest to the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to take measures on this issue in order to improve the customers’ experience.
From Mr Hristo
Dubai
Website comment
Needed in the UAE!
I think that we need this odour test in the UAE. It should be practiced here and many other places as well.
From Mr Faisal
Dubai
Website comment
Good customer service
I think this is an excellent way of providing a good service to the customers. This should be implemented in Dubai. I think that many costumers will benefit from this.
From Mr Er A.
Dubai
Website comment
Editors’ note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@ gulfnews.com. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet us @GNReaders.
