Give back to the country
The move to introduce a value-added tax (VAT) in the UAE is a very intelligent one (‘How VAT will impact businesses in UAE’, Gulf News, February 29). The estimated revenue of Dh12 billion will go a long way in strengthening the country’s economy. Looking at a taxation system and the five per cent tax rate, is a fair and moderate decision. While the developed world has already embarked on the taxation model, the need for finding resources for government spending cannot be disregarded anymore. Also, the choice of VAT, an indirect method of taxation, rather than a direct taxation of corporations is also a welcome step.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been recommending fiscal consolidation in GCC countries through diversification of government revenues and reduction in government subsidies. The UAE authorities are spending billions of dirhams for infrastructure development of things like roads and bridges, as well as public transport systems, like the Metro, and they have to source funds for the country’s development.
It’s a good sign that the UAE has exempted 100 food items, education and healthcare from VAT, so that it will not have any impact on the common people’s basic needs. It is the duty of every resident to pay back to the country a certain percentage of what they have been enjoying absolutely free, for so many years. I personally welcome this move and hope that together, we can all build a strong economy and nation.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Vegetarianism and cancer?
I was very pleased to read Dr Rupal Merchant’s blog on vegetarianism and good health (‘Being a Yoga-tarian: A diet to fight cancer’, Gulf News, February 22). I just wanted to know whether any study has been conducted that shows the number of patients, as a percentage, that have suffered from cancer and whether they were on a vegetarian or non-vegetarian diet.
From Mr Nachiket Shah
UAE
Editor’s note: Dr Rupal Merchant responds: “The studies have been conducted by many institutes, like Epic-Oxford (the Oxford component of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition). They have collected data about cancer in vegetarians versus meat eaters. Fewer studies and hence, less data, is available for vegans.
According to Epic-Oxford’s data, female vegetarians show lower risk of ‘female cancers’ like breast and urinary tract cancers. General studies, as well as studies in specific cancers, have been conducted, too. Even the mortality rate in vegetarians is lower for certain cancers, like pancreatic, lymphatic and colorectal cancers. But, statistical data shows that lung cancers have no relation with diet. For more insight regarding your questions, do read my subsequent blog post.”
Oscar winners this year
I love Hollywood movies and followed the extensive coverage of all the award shows and the news via the media, especially Gulf News (‘Leonardo’s long journey to glory’, Gulf News, March 1). I would like to congratulate Leonardo DiCaprio for winning his first Oscar for his brilliant performance in The Revenant and I equally admired his wonderful speech — that has had such an impact. All his movies are very good and he should have won earlier, but this was an exceptional performance.
I would also like to mention a few words about the Pakistani-Canadian film maker, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, who won an Oscar for her film about honour killings in the documentary short category.
However, I regret to add that Chinoy’s comments as she came up on to the stage to receive her award — with the whole world watching — were quite shocking and in bad taste. She said: “Thank God I have got two Oscars now.” It was shameful, the way she concluded her speech and abruptly marched off the stage with the Oscar, without uttering a word of thanks.
From Ms Umbereen Rahman
Dubai
In the name of peace
Syria has turned out to be the focus of conversation all around the world in recent times (‘All you need to know about Syria’s ceasefire’, Gulf News, February 28). Many countries wanted to bomb the country to usher in peace and democracy, and, in the process, they have killed and displaced millions, with no regrets, either from Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s brutal regime or his opponents.
From Mr Asad Sye
Vancouver, Canada
Facebook comment
Good things in Middle East
Today’s Middle East is about finding a consciousness in collective effort (‘Mohammad Bin Rashid: Why UAE ministers for happiness, tolerance, youth and the future?’, Gulf News, February 28). Superpowers have always been the ones who have suppressed others throughout the centuries, and it all has to do with greed. Psychologically, they think they know what is best for the world. I think that Middle Easterners are generally misunderstood and whatever improvement they make, they still don’t get the credit they deserve.
From Mr Mubarak F. Dan
UAE
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Trump isn’t worthy
Republican candidate Donald Trump does not deserve to become the President of the US (‘Trump’s victories aren’t mysterious if you understand why people are angry’, Gulf News, February 28). I sincerely hope that the people of the US will make a wise decision, instead of voting for someone who has a destructive mind-set and has made a joke of himself. This man does not deserve to be taken seriously. He isn’t worthy of running a country.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
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A strong candidate
I have faith that Trump could be an honest president. If Trump becomes the president, I think there would be no war. I think that he will reveal the true hands behind the violence we have had to witness for the past decade, and I think that is what everyone fears.
From Mr Deepesh D.
Dubai
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No care for policies
US senator Marco Rubio put it perfectly, Trump is using the fear and anger among the American people to his advantage. Trump supporters don’t care about his policies, because whenever he is asked about them, he can offer only the vaguest of possible answers. He never answers how all these great things will be done. The truth is that none of his supporters mind that. Now, he is doing incredibly well by becoming a key Republican nominee, but he still has a long way to go, to win the general elections. The only possible scenario in which I see him winning, is if Bernie Sanders loses to Hilary Clinton.
Some of Sanders’ supporters might go on to support Trump. Hopefully, that won’t happen. If Americans believe they are the greatest country on the planet, this is probably the simplest decision they will have to make in their lives.
From Mr Govind Mohandas
UAE
Facebook comment
A poor candidate
The America that I know and was raised in, would never in a million years elect Trump to become the next US president. He is a sorry excuse for a human being, let alone a proper candidate. If Americans do vote for him, may God guide them.
From Ms Carol Ann
Abu Dhabi
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Match of the year!
India’s cricket team is a strong team compared to others, but if Pakistan’s players could have handled the pressure, I think they could have beat them in the Asia Cup match (‘India face Pakistan in high-octane Asia Cup match’, Gulf News, February 27). I predicted that it was going to be a close match and that India would win. No doubt at all that this was the match of the year.
From Mr Mohammad Sadiq
UAE
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A thrilling match
The high voltage match between Pakistan and India at Mirpur was a real thriller. M. S. Dhoni was fortunate enough to win the toss and had the advantage of the green turf to skittle the Pakistan team to a low score of 84. However, it was an all-out show by Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Amir who almost toppled the apple cart of India’s team!
What a return to international cricket! It was a real thriller, like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Thanks to the valuable knock of Virat Kohli, who took India to the winning post. Incidentally, it may not be out of place to mention that the umpiring was very poor. Despite the help of technology, the umpires continue to err.
From Ms Janaki Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
Budget plan is welcome
This Gulf News editorial was meaningful to read, since after Railway Minister of India Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu’s recent budget announcement, he made significant plans for innovations and modernisation of the railways (‘India needs to shore up its railways infrastructure, Gulf News, February 27). Yet, infrastructure is needed for many states’ suburban areas so that people can reach the city. Overall, I think that Prabhu’s budget was good and the most important salient feature in his budget is that he has not increased the fare and he has broadened the quota for senior citizens.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
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