Letters to the editor 29/01

Rental index mess

I simply cannot understand why there was a need for a rental index? How can Rera (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) fix an index stating that the rent for a one-bedroom flat in, say, Karama should be from Dh100,000 to Dh150,000?

What is the basis for the index? Have they never heard of terms such as depreciation or the law of diminishing returns? Does it justify for a 15-year-old building to charge the same rent as a new building after the 15-year-old building has earned much, much more than its cost and that too many times over.

And it's really shocking to find the rates in Karama and Mirdiff almost the same as those in some new Dubai areas.

Obviously the greedy landlords and real estate brokers will be salivating at this bonanza as they get to jack up rents to new heights. If you complain, they will just point you to the index.

Sunil, Dubai


Rent hike index

Having a rent index for different areas in Dubai would be a good thing if only all the buildings in a specific area were of the same standard (Rental Block, page 5, January 22). How can older structures with no basement parking, amenities like gym and pool, or even elevators be grouped with the new buildings? Dh150,000 for a two-bedroom apartment in Karama in a brand new building is understandable, but not in a building which is really old. I'm afraid our landlord would simply see the new rent index as an opportunity to raise the rent again.

Jaideep Khemani, Dubai

Look first, judge later

I live in a one-bedroom apartment in Bur Dubai in a very old building. I have major problems with the water supply and the air-conditioning. The place is falling apart while I am charged for maintenance but receive none. All the maintenance works are carried out at my expense. I also pay separately for the parking. How can one fix the rent for my place without visiting it?

Name withheld, Dubai

No money for home

Everyone should know the rental index will encourage landlords to increase rents by such huge margins that the public will be forced to buy the flats that are lying empty. Eventually the residents will be left with no money to remit home.

Name withheld, Dubai

Bail me out

I have six credit cards (Defying Debt). The total minimum payment for the month of January came to Dh6,407 as I did not pay for one month. The minimum total includes over-limit and late payment charges. I am willing to pay but I just lost my job. I don't know what to do.

Name withheld, Dubai

Credit protection

Credit shield is definitely a good protection measure for people who use credit cards, especially in difficult times. Thank you XPRESS for keeping us up to date.

Roy John, Dubai

Shield? What shield?

I would also like to add that even if the credit shield covers your existing balance, as soon as you are able to find a new job, an arrangement will be made with the insurance company on how you are going to give back the amount they paid for your credit card. So, don't pay your credit shield, it's useless.

Name withheld, Dubai

Wake-up call

The Indian government and we, the people, need to wake up. We just need to stand up against terrorism. We should stay aware every moment, not waste our time going to bars, playing blackjack for fun or watching silly movies which are of no use. Instead, we should unite to make strategies to tackle the problem called ‘terror'.

Akshay Verma, India

A reason to celebrate

In response to Mr Waleed Mohammad's comment about Slumdog Millionaire (Slumdog Hijack, page 12, January 22), I would like to add that every Indian needs to be proud of the achievement irrespective of whether the movie is British or Indian. It is to be understood that a recognition long due has been showered upon and, hence, it is a valid reason for a celebration.

Murugesh Sambasadhasivam, Dubai

Sense and sensibility

I have noticed quite a number of well-educated women wearing inappropriate, transparent dresses, sleeveless tops and mini skirts that are just too far above the knee line when out in public. Are these women forgetting that the UAE is a Muslim country? Definitely in my opinion parents should discourage their daughters from wearing such indecent clothes and ladies should think twice before wearing such outfits. These ladies should learn to respect the country's tradition, cultural and moral values. I don't think that is too much to ask for. Is It?

Errol D'souza, Dubai

The root solution

The UN Security Council's resolution mandating a plebiscite deciding the future of Kashmir is the longest outstanding UN resolution still remaining unimplemented. It is perhaps the worst of the UN's many failures.

Instead of wasting monumental resources on purely non-developmental areas of enhanced security, unprecedented surveillance and pointless diplomatic energies, the root causes of flashpoints like Kashmir and Palestine should be resolved once and for all. Unless this is done without any further delay, militancy born of despair, disempowerment and disenfranchisement cannot be wished away.

Hamza Mukhtar, Dubai

When experts mislead

Experts, most of whom are on banks' payroll, try to spread the fallacious idea that the international liquidity crisis led to the recent 1.5 per cent mortgage rates hike. This explanation is totally fallacious. The EIBOR rate (Emirates Interbank Offer Rate) reached its peak in October 2008 on the grounds of funds outflow following a massive dirham-dollar “de-peg'' speculation. Since then, EIBOR has fallen from above 4.5 per cent to well below 4 per cent due to an active Central Bank monetary policy (base rate cut and liquidity inflow) and market conditions.


Meanwhile, banks increased their mortgage rate by 1.5 per cent, thus increasing their margins on mortgage operations by a nice 50 per cent. Is this move economically responsible versus the UAE community? Is this move sustainable versus their shareholders? This will obviously put more pressure on home-owners, increase both default and foreclosures, thus further exposing the banks themselves to bad debts and accelerating the economic downturn. The result will be exactly the opposite of the initial intention. I, therefore, appeal to the highest authorities to overcome the laissez-faire ideology and bring some regulation on the mortgage market.

Name withheld, Dubai

Clean-up act

During my visit to Sharjah, I was shocked to see the condition of residential areas around Al Wahda Street. Garbage and discarded construction materials were scattered everywhere. I had never seen such a mess on inner roads on my earlier visits to the UAE. Not many years back we could always see cleaners going around in the residential areas picking up garbage and cleaning the roads in the morning.

I pray and hope that the next time I am here, the authorities will have restored the city to its original beauty.

D.B. Singh, Dubai

A prayer for India on Republic Day

Where we agree that all human beings need not think alike, and in such diversity exist the seeds of progress. Where human beings do not equate with each other on the basis of language, caste or religion.

Where we realise that all religions advocate care, concern and compassion for our fellow human beings. Where men appreciate that to save and build a life is noble, but snuffing it out is inhuman.

Where human beings are judged by the quality of their work, rather than by their caste. Where people do not derive a vicarious delight from the wounds and grief of others.

Where the brutality in the hearts of people is replaced by fraternity. Where men employ persuasion to change the views of others rather than bullets and swords. Where tender children go to school and playground, and do not beg at traffic signals or work in subhuman conditions. Where the old are respected and the sick are cared for.

Where destiny of our country is determined by thinking people and not by politicians guided by astrologers. Where public offices become trusts to serve the people, and not privileges to get rich illicitly.

Where 250 million citizens living below the poverty line do not remain deprived; but are assured of food, clothing and a roof overhead and education. Where people do not sell their blood to blood-banks to buy a meal.

Where managers and labourers work together to improve the productivity of corporations. Where doctors and scientists work through the night to find cures for Aids, cancer and blindness.

Where people obey laws, not due to punitive fear but because it is sensible for everyone to do so. Where violence, fires and riots are replaced by endeavour, patience and cooperation.

Where we live harmoniously with our neighbouring countries and share our art, music, literature and technology with each other. Where we realise destruction is easy but construction is arduous.

Where human beings realise that eventually we have to answer for all our deeds here. Into that peaceful haven, let India awake, after all these years of freedom.

Rajendra K. Aneja, Dubai

For art's sake

I couldn't help but feel frustrated by the blocking of DeviantArt, an online art community.

DeviantArt is a website where budding artists can share tips on art, display their art proudly, and learn from other artists.

For some strange ‘dating' reason, it has been blocked, thereby suppressing artists in the UAE. I heard that it was blocked in 2006 and 2008, yet the number of complaints received urged etisalat to unblock it. Dating? Any site which is potentially a platform for forums and messaging services can be used for dating. Facebook is an example, yet it isn't blocked, is it?

The 2009 blocking of this site has made a lot of people go hysterical with complaints once again. There is currently an online petition going on for the unblocking of the site.

Please etisalat, please unblock it. DeviantArt is any artist's necessity, and by taking it away, you are slowly killing our sense of art.

R. Sanguinary, Dubai

Editor's note: The site is back.

Obama must deliver

Obama's inaugural speech was long and verbose. He must learn to be pithy. He must now start delivering on his promises. Otherwise, the political honeymoon of publicity and popularity will end.

R. A. Dubai

Drive to save

On page 4 of your previous issue, you advertised the ‘Gulf News Fun Drive' (Fun Intended) and on the following pages you support people who are against chopping of trees (Trees Face the Chop, page 8) and dumping of waste water (Blame it on the Rain, page 14). You should be opposing any such unnecessary destruction of the desert's vulnerable ecosystem. Instead you should be writing articles about the severe impacts these drives involving hundreds of cars will have on the desert. Think about it.

Dr Habil U. Wernery, Dubai

Editor's note: The Fun Drive has been planned after taking the necessary precautionary measures and keeping the environmental concerns in mind. In the past too, Gulf News has always ensured no damage is done to the dunes or rubbish left behind. To this effect, participants are provided with trash bags to collect all garbage. Also it is a practice in this annual Fun Drive to have an environmental inspector travel the route ahead of and after the drive.