NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Daily
Dubai will stub out smoking by ’09 end
DUBAI — May 31: As the World No-Tobacco Day is observed today, Dubai has decided to ban smoking in government buildings, schools and colleges, the first step in a plan to stub out smoking across the emirate by the end of 2009. The ban comes into effect today, May 31.
“May 31 will be the launch of gradual steps to regulate smoking in public areas,” Zohoor Al Sabbagh, head of the Clinic and Community Health Section at Dubai Municipality (DM), said.
“We will start with government offices and educational establishments ... there will be a gradual ban on smoking in public areas,” she said. From September 15, smoking will be prohibited in the hallways, food courts, children’s play areas and emergency exits of Dubai’s sprawling shopping malls, Sabbagh said.
Later on, restaurants and cafes will be required to set aside a special section for smokers, comprising no more than 25 per cent of their seating area.
Starting next year, the DM will impose fines on people caught smoking in non-smoking areas, hoping to stub out the habit in all public places by the end of 2009, she said.
Cutting down on smoking is one of the aims of the Dubai government’s strategic plan and a local order was issued to regulate smoking in 2003, said Sabbagh, but the campaign is being launched to coincide with World No Tobacco Day.
The rules will mean only those over 20 will be allowed to smoke or enter designated smoking zones, to discourage young people from picking up the habit. “Tomorrow will be the first step,” said Sabbagh.
Meanwhile, health professionals, educators and concerned citizens across the UAE will mark the World No Tobacco Day today with a variety of events designed to draw the attention of people towards the perils of smoking.
A special event will be held at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai today. A number of community activities are being organised on the occasion. Minister of Health Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami will attend the event, which is being supported by a number of major companies, including Pfizer.
Pfizer will also unveil the winning designs of a series of posters and letters on the occasion to encourage people to quit smoking. — With inputs from agencies
FROM TODAY
Immediate ban on smoking in government buildings, schools and colleges.
Gradual ban on smoking in public areas.
Smoking will be prohibited in the hallways, food courts, children’s play areas and emergency exits of Dubai’s shopping malls
KHALEEJ TIMES
Traffic police gearing up for summer rush on highways
ABU DHABI — May 31: With the summer holidays approaching, special traffic safety measures have been put in place, particularly on highways, according to Col. Ghaith Al Zaabi, Director of the Traffic Police in the Capital.
A large number of nationals and expatriates move from one emirate to the other during the holidays as they visit friends and relatives, go sightseeing, and enjoy the summer festivals. Many residents travel home by land via the Al Ghwaifat International Road, Al Zaabi added.
The official said that all steps to deal with the heavy traffic season and emergency cases had been taken.
He said a decrease in road accidents was witnessed last year as some 106 accidents were reported in the June-August period in 2006 compared to 207 accidents in the same period in the year 2005.
Most of the accidents, said Al Zaabi, were reported on the Tarif-Al Ghwaifat highway, followed by the Abu Dhabi-Tarif highway, and Shaikh Maktoum bin Rashid Road.
The official pointed out that the proper maintenance of vehicles was crucial to avert accidents. “The fitness of the tyres must be checked and motorists should concentrate while driving. They should steer clear of road users, stick to speed limit, give priority to pedestrians, and reduce speed in densely populated areas,” said Al Zaabi.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Clear fines to get work permit, companies told
ABU DHABI — The companies violating the labour law must first pay fines and then seek work permits.
This was conveyed to a firm’s public relations officer by Obaid Rashid Al Zahmi, Assistant Undersecretary in the Ministry of Labour (MoL) during the weekly open session yesterday. Al Zahmi met 35 applicants during the session.
Al Zahmi rejected the application of Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Construction Company which sought 13 work permits. He told the firm’s PRO to clear fines in order to obtain work permits.
He also rejected Al Madinat Services Company’s request for fine waiver because the firm had provided false information about an absconding labourer.
Al Zahmi referred the case of Al Hassani Maintenance Company to the Settlement Committee in the MoL. The company had sought waiver on Dh10,000 fine since it had sent the expired labour cards to the Indian embassy, which had delayed renewal of the labourers’ passports.
After being informed by a PRO that one of the applications had not been cleared in 44 days. Al Zahmi said the concerned departments will investigate the matter and do the needful.
Many workers said their complaints took several weeks and sometimes months without any results. Commenting on the complaints, Al Zahmi said, “Sometimes the workers don’t know the rules and formalities. So, we urge the labourers across the country to use the toll free number 800 665 to get more information that will definitely help them.”
KHALEEJ TIMES
HIV+ man pardoned
DUBAI — May 31: Kanniapan Mohandoss can now be with his family in India. The 37-year-old man, who had been lying in Kuwaiti Hospital for a month with multiple fractures and later tested HIV-positive, has been pardoned by the public prosecution on humanitarian grounds.
His friends have bought for him an air ticket and they have also managed to get him the Airlines Fitness Form. If all goes well, Mohandoss would be departing for his homeland today. Khaleej Times had featured his story on May 22.
According to information available, Mohandoss arrived in Dubai on January 26 this year on a visit visa. But within a week, he decided to go back to India. While departing from Dubai on February 2, he lost his passport at the Dubai International Airport. In desperation, he turned violent and attacked a policeman who tried to help him out. Mohandoss was arrested for assault.
After securing bail on February 10, he visited one of his friends on March 17. Later, in an attempt to end his life by jumping off from the second floor of a building, he suffered serious injuries. During his treatment, it was discovered that he was HIV-positive.
“We have got a lot of help from the hospital, the policemen and the Indian Consulate. The social organisations have also helped us a lot. It is because of them that he is now free to go home. His Indian Airlines flight is scheduled on Wednesday. All the arrangements have been made. We have got the airline fitness form,” said Palani Velu, his friend.
“We have also bought a few things for him and his family. He has thanked everybody responsible for his release,” he added.
KHALEEJ TIMES
RTA plans tyre safety awareness campaign
DUBAI — May 31: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has finalised preparations for the launch of a two-month campaign to create awareness about the importance of tyre safety in order to avoid accidents.
Maitha bin Udai, executive director of the Traffic and Road Agency, RTA, said the campaign would feature a comprehensive programme, including a permanent traffic exhibition. A message, to be displayed at more than 300 sites, will tell motorists that excess luggage and passengers or failure to make proper maintenance of the vehicle run counter to traffic safety rules.
She said the campaign, which will be launched in association with the Nasser Abdul Lateef Al Serkal Establishment and a number of companies connected with road users’ safety, will conduct random patrols to advise motorists on the validity and road-worthiness of their vehicles’ tyres. These patrols, she said, will comprise supervisors from the RTA awareness section and tyre-maker, Bridgestone. They will offer a tyre examination service to all motorists regardless of the brand of tyres.
A guide on travelling by road will also be distributed. The booklet will contain scientific, technical, geographical, tourist and religious information as well as safety rules about tyres which all motorists should adhere to before starting a journey.
The campaign will also include visits to check-points at UAE’s border with Saudi Arabia.
KHALEEJ TIMES