Letters from the past

Gulf News looks back over the years at concerns and issues raised by readers in their letters to the newspaper. It's a retrospective that offers an insight into the community, the development of the country and the paper's journey. This week's letters are from 1980.

Entertainment
As a newcomer to Dubai I noticed that there aren't any good films in English. In a modern metropolis this is a curious phenomenon. This is especially so of this city with its large expatriate population, which looks to films as its main source of entertainment. The authorities could consider setting up an organisation responsible for importing and distributing those films. Properly run, it should certainly make enough money to justify its existence. I am told India has such a set-up for foreign films. The concerned body, the Film Finance Corporation, has taken to film distribution as a means of shoring up its finances. Foreign films do well in cosmopolitan towns and their distribution is a sure moneymaker.
From Mr Anthony Wedge
Dubai

Low quality
I would like to take this opportunity to reach the concerned authorities through Gulf News. Most films exhibited here are third-grade movies. Even in economically poor countries like Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan we get better quality movies. The best movies from Hollywood and the UK reach these countries about a month after their general release. Can't we have a few art films directed by great film directors like Satyajit Ray and Roman Polanski? It would be wonderful if the authorities could do something about this.
From Ms Maya Wesley
Sharjah

Leadership requirements
Ronald Reagan is in his sixties. If he wins the United States presidential race in November he will be the oldest US President. This seems to be, from the point of view of young America, the minus factor that is preventing them from backing Reagan. I wonder how the Russians and Iranians look at this problem of old age. Their leaders are older than Reagan by about 20 years. And old age does not seem to be a handicap that prevents them from creating nightmares for the young incumbents of the White House. Anyway, I think Americans should pay more attention to their old computers, because old computers plus a senile leader can cause many problems and irreparable damage to the entire world.
From Mr Donald Simonol
Al Ain

Longer office terms
The letter by Gulf News reader Donald Simonol raised a very valid point. Ronald Reagan is only 60 years old whereas Leonid Brezhnev is 74 years old. But Brezhnev's actions are not senile at all. I am of the opinion that the President of the United States should be given another term. A four-year term is not enough to accomplish even a fraction of the tasks a president is expected to complete.
From Mr B.G. Pillai
Dubai

Promote local talent
The Emirtel project to train Emiratis in telecommunications engineering is a wise step. This type of training scheme should be used in all other development projects undertaken by the government and even the private sector. Provisions for such training courses in every industrial and technological project must be made compulsory. It will help promote local talent and remind people that training in fields of development is a need that must have top priority.
From Mr Simon Fernandes
Abu Dhabi

New strategies
The planning ministry has prepared a report on suitable strategies for the development of new industries in the UAE. According to press reports, several projects on milk production and fisheries proposed by the planning ministry are with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. While appreciating the timely action of the ministries concerned, I hope the authorities would pay attention to the need to diversify existing agricultural projects, such as the date palm industry. An industrial strategy to boost the income of date palm growers is needed urgently. A food processing industry backed with a research institute to develop new food technologies using dates as the basic raw material should be the cornerstone of any local agro-based industrial strategy.
From Mr Abdul Irani
Abu Dhabi