NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies
Law against human trafficking will be enforced soon
ABU DHABI — MAY 15: The UAE government will activate the law against human trafficking, according to a senior official.
The National Committee on Curbing Human Trafficking has discussed a mechanism to activate the law against human trading in the country, said Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairperson of the Committee.
The minister's statement came yesterday following the first meeting for the committee, which was constituted under a cabinet decree. A team will be formed to coordinate between the committee and the authorities to combat the crime, said Dr Gargash.
He said the committee reviewed initiatives undertaken by the country for protecting camel jockeys and the successful programmes adopted by the Ministry of Interior and Unicef to ensure their rehabilitation in their native countries.
The National Committee for Curbing Human Trafficking is responsible for studying and modernising legislations in accordance with international requirements. It is also responsible for preparing reports, in coordination with other authorities in the UAE.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Dubai - Cops raid Karama
Dubai - MAY 15: Traders selling copycat designer goods in Dubai have been left reeling by what they are describing as the most hard-hitting police raids ever. In the past week officers and trading standards officials have completed a series of unannounced inspections in the Karama district - seizing hundreds of fake handbags, watches and items of clothing.
Some shop owners dumped stock or moved it away before they could be caught but still say their profits have been hit hard. One trader, who did not wish to be named, said: “The police were very thorough and wanted to look at all the shops’ stock rooms. “There was a lot of panic and people had to throw stock away or have it taken away in a van to be put in storage.
“These raids happen now and again but these were the biggest and a few shops have actually been shut down and the owners told not to open up for business again. I think this will really reduce the amount of people selling these types of goods - I think they do not want the trade to be as big.” A spokesman for Dubai Police confirmed that they carried out a raid last week in conjunction with Dubai Municipality but would not divulge any further details. During the weekend the Karama district was as busy as ever with people looking to snap-up copies of everything from handbags to pairs of socks - but many went home empty-handed.
Traders were particularly worried about selling certain designer goods such as those created by top brands Luis Vuitton and Christian Dior as they are known to have the most aggressive anti-counterfeit policy. “At the moment we are not trying to sell anything by these designers - they have their own people who come around on undercover inspections,” added the trader. “Fake handbags are the products they really get upset about. We can take a handbag worth more than dhs5,000 and sell a copy for dhs500 which will look identical and the leather used will be of the highest standard.”
SEVEN DAYS
100 drugs 'vanish' from market
ABU DHABI — MAY 15: Nearly 100 essential registered medicines have disappeared from the shelves of private pharmacies as the distributors were not happy with the profit margins they were earning, a senior drug official has disclosed.
"A survey conducted by the Drug Control Department (DCD) at the Ministry of Health (MoH) shows that the drug distributors have stopped importing some 100 items because of smaller profit margins," said Dr Issa bin Jakkha Al Mansoori, DCD's director.
The DCD director pointed out that most of these medicines were not expensive and included items like vitamins, medicines for heart patients, anti-sterility drugs and medicines used at accident wards in hospitals. However, Dr Mansoori stressed that the MoH was committed to ensuring availability of these medicines at the government hospitals and medical facilities.
He pointed out that the ministry could not force these pharmacy outlets to have all these drugs. He, however, underlined that the MoH was chalking out certain measures to secure availability of all types of medicines in the market.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Dubai Police special team to expedite fugitive's extradition
DUBAI — MAY 15: The Dubai Police will constitute a special team to coordinate with India to hand over Madhav Patel, a fugitive businessman reportedly arrested in India, to the UAE, Dubai Police chief Lt-Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim has said.
The two countries have signed an extradition treaty. The UAE has handed over several criminals arrested in the UAE to the Indian authorities in the past few years, Dhahi Khalfan said.
Madhav Patel, 49, is wanted by the UAE for allegedly duping 30 banks in the country during his stay in Dubai spanning over 20 years. He operated three trading companies and his business interests extended through Asia and Europe.
Dhahi Khalfan said the affected banks had submitted necessary documents and copies of judicial ruling against the absconder to press for legal action against the fugitive. Patel had fled the country with over Dh1.2 billion of credit fraud.
The fraud was discovered in May 1999 when one of Patel's company dealing in metal trading ran into financial difficulties. Initially, he played down the problems affecting his operation, and announced that a rescue plan was being worked out.
However, Patel later fled the UAE for London in the same year (1999). Some 20 Middle East banks had extended credit to his trading businesses.
According to reports, Patel was arrested in Mumbai some time in January this year. During his interrogation, he reportedly revealed the address of his absconding father, another accused in the same fraud case.
Subsequently, the CBI arrested his father in New Delhi. Both were produced before a Mumbai court which granted them bail.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Parity in salary hike wins praise
SHARJAH — MAY 15: Government employees in Sharjah have lauded the decision taken by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to implement a 30 per cent increase in the salaries of all national and non-national employees at Sharjah government departments.
Officials also hailed the Sharjah Ruler's order calling for strict regulations to protect consumers from traders who raises prices of commodities arbitrarily.
Engineer Al Waleed Khaleej bin Khadem, Director-General of the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa), thanked Dr Shaikh Sultan for treating all employees equally, regardless of their nationalities.
Regarding the regulations for traders, Bin Khadem said, “Dr Shaikh Sultan has made this kind gesture to ensure decent and comfortable living for residents of Sharjah as he realised how difficult it is for us to cope with high living costs."
Sultan Al Mazrou, Director of the Follow-up Division at Sewa, said the Ruler's orders would definitely improve the living conditions of both nationals and expatriates.
Another Sewa official, Abdul Rahman Al Salman, Head of Public Relations, felt the salary hike will ensure a good living for residents. Hailing the salary hike order, Jamal Eiyad, an expatriate journalist working in a local government department, said, "I hope landlords will now stop exploiting us, thanks to the new regulations."
Dr Salah Al Haj, Director-General of Sharjah Municipality, expressed his gratitude to the Ruler on behalf of his employees.
Haleema Musmar Al Naqbi, Member of Sharjah Executive Council, said it is an indication of Dr Shaikh Sultan's generosity and kindness towards the people of the emirate.
Hisham Al Madhloum, Manager of the Directorate of Art at the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, said that the Ruler's decision will encourage Sharjah government employees to enhance their performance and provide best services to the public.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Patron of Dubai school
DUBAI — MAY 15: Former undersecretary-general of the United Nations and reputed author Shashi Tharoor has been named patron of GEMS Dubai Modern High School.
"It is a singular honour that a man of Tharoor's stature and distinction has consented to be patron of Dubai Modern High School, said GEMS Dubai Modern High School Principal Darryl Bloud.
He hoped that his students would be inspired by Tharoor to explore the world as they become socially, culturally, economically and environmentally aware.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Municipality bans some melamine products
DUBAI — MAY 15: The Dubai Municipality has ordered a ban on melamine products which do not conform to UAE health standards and specifications. The decision comes in the wake of excessive presence of fake melamine products in the market.
Senior municipality officials told Khaleej Times that very soon they would be coming up with a regulation with regard to the use of plastic containers for packing food items. The department is also in the process of identifying substitutes for plastic bags.
Khalid Mohammed Sharif, assistant director, Public Health Department, and head of the Food Control Section, said a recent survey conducted by the Food and Environment Laboratory revealed that certain types of melamine products, particularly the tableware (pots and plates), available in the local market do not comply with the current specifications.
"The food control section has, therefore, started confiscating all such products in cooperation with the competent authorities. These items contain urea formaldehyde which is carcinogenic," Sharif pointed out.
The municipality has also issued a circular in this connection. "We are not putting a ban on all the melamine products. We are aware that there are many companies which are good and their products are not harmful. All the tableware importers and distributors are now required to provide approved certificates from the country of origin stating that their tableware items are free from urea formaldehyde. We are asking the customers to buy only those products that are approved by the municipality," he added.
The officials said strict checks were being carried out at the entry points to prevent further imports of such products.
The banned items include Melamineware-China, Noramine, Feah, Melina Melamine, NFI, Hua Mei, Kinou Melamineware and Hecho En China.
Municipality officials said they would be launching a campaign to make the restaurant owners aware of the ill effects of fake melamine products. With regard to the use of plastic for food packaging, Sharif said the municipality would soon initiate action.
"There needs to be classification when it comes to plastic. There are certain forms of plastic which cannot be recycled. The restaurants would be asked to use plastics which can be recycled and are not harmful for the people. We are also thinking of finding a substitute for plastic bags used in shops and markets," he said.
KHALEEJ TIMES