NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies
Traffic fines are being issued electronically
DUBAI —Jun 03: The Dubai Police have started issuing traffic fines electronically, according to Colonel Nader Fekri, Deputy Director of the General Department of Electronic Services Department.
He said that the new system was in place since April 13 following the directives of Lt -Gen Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police.
He said the system was implemented by the General Department of Electronics Services in collaboration with the General Department of Traffic.
Intimations about fines and pictures of the place of violation are being sent by SMS or email to the violating motorists.
Colonel Nader said that since the implementation of the new system, the Dubai Police had recorded 300 traffic violations up to now.
He stated that 13 mobile phones with special specifications had been distributed to traffic officers to issue traffic fines by taking a still picture of the vehicle which was found jumping the red traffic signal, or was seen parked in a slot reserved for special needs people or on the prohibited margin of the roads.
“The system is the first of its type in the world and it saves time and effort of both the police and the motorists involved in traffic offence. He explained that motorists are informed about the fines via an SMS on their mobile phone or through e-mail. A picture of the location where the motorist had committed the violation and type of violation is recorded by the Dubai Police GPS system or mobile phone cameras,” he said.
“Very soon,, the traffic police will be able to take the pictures by using video cameras where it would be possible to add voice commentary giving details of the vehicle committing the offence and provide more images to assist in identification of violations,” Fekri pointed out.
The web site of the Dubai Police also offers more than 174 electronic services. The number of Kiosks at police stations and various shopping malls has gone up to 30. The Dubai Police have also introduced IVR system through which the public could conduct 23 traffic transactions through the toll free number 80077777.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Man stuck after bailing out friend
DUBAI — Jun 03: Although his eight-year-old daughter died in India in January this year, Basheer Puthenpeedikayil couldn’t go home. He has been stranded in Dubai for the past three years since he stood as bail guarantor for a friend and pledged his passport to the legal authorities here.
His friend, however, absconded once out on bail and Basheer is still trying to trace his whereabouts.
The plight of the 36-year-old Indian began when he stood bail guarantor for his friend and compatriot, Sheriff Puthiyaveetil. The latter was arrested by the police for selling stolen mobile phones in Deira three years ago and was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail.
Basheer said, “Sheriff’s relative asked me to pledge my passport so that his bail could be secured and assured that a similar security would be arranged within two days so that my passport can be released. That never happened and to make matters worse, Sheriff absconded while out on bail.”
Meanwhile, Shamsudheen Karunagappilly, an advocate, said Basher has now contacted him to file a mercy petition with the legal authorities, so that his passport can be returned to him on humanitarian grounds.
KHALEEJ TIMES
MoE for changes in sick leave rules
DUBAI — Jun 03: The Ministry of Education (MoE), in a letter to the Ministry of Governmental Sector Development, has sought amendment in rules pertaining to sick leave.
Irregular attendance and lack of punctuality on the part of teaching staff affects the learning process, the ministry noted, adding that frequent sick leave taken by teachers is affecting the academic performance of students, especially when the MoE and the education zones do not have a provision for substitute teachers.
Meanwhile, a meeting of MoE Personnel Affairs Committee recently, chaired by Mohammad bin Hindi, acting undersecretary in the MoE and assistant undersecretary in the Ministry for Administrative Affairs, discussed applications of 16 women teachers who had obtained approval from the higher medical committee for transfer to administrative posts.
The teachers were willing to face interviews for the jobs of computer teacher, librarian, secretary, or lab keeper.
Further, 172 women teachers have also applied for administrative positions on health grounds and other personal reasons.
Those with health problems will be medically examined by the higher medical committee. However, applications of those seeking transfer for personal reasons will not be entertained, the ministry clarified.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Seven firms to run taxis in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI — Jun 03: Abu Dhabi’s Taxi and Hire Car Regulation Centre yesterday announced that seven UAE-based companies had been awarded the franchise for operating and managing the new taxi network in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
In line with Law No. 19 of the year 2006, Abdulla Rashid Al Otaiba, Chairman of the Department of Transport, endorsed the list of winning taxi franchisees. Companies awarded the franchise for managing and operating the new taxi network in Abu Dhabi are: Tawasul Transport, Cars Taxi, Al Ghazal Transport, National Taxi, a joint venture of Arabia Taxi and Al Masaood, Q-Link Transport L.L.C and Emirates National Group.
Following a competitive tender launched in 2006, bidders’ proposals were evaluated against comprehensive criteria that took into account the company’s technical and management capabilities, financial strength, understanding of the taxi sector, and the company’s level of preparation to contribute to the successful launch of the taxi sector in Abu Dhabi.
Each franchise company will launch a fleet of 1,020 taxis over a phased timeframe of three to five years. The total fleet size will be around 7,140 taxis and the first batch of new taxis is anticipated to hit Abu Dhabi streets in the last quarter of 2007.
“As a fair and transparent regulator, we have evaluated and assessed all submissions on the basis of applicants’ merit against our quality benchmarks and high standards,” said Khaled Saleh Al Rashedi, General Manager, Taxi and Hire Car Regulation Centre.
“We will be working closely with the franchise companies to finalise all processes,” Al Rashedi said.
KHALEEJ TIMES
Marrying close relatives may not pose risks to offspring
DUBAI — Jun 02: Marrying close relatives within the limits of religious sanctions may not necessarily pose health risks for offspring, according to 130 doctors who attended here a workshop on ‘pre-marital health check’.
The workshop jointly organised by Ministry of Health and Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services targeted doctors from maternity and paediatric hospitals and preventive medicine in an effort to familiarise them with the ‘pre-marital health check’ programme being implemented by Ministry of Health as part of its strategy to bring about healthy families.
Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health and Primary Healthcare Dr Maryam Matar said that the ministry is moving ahead with a clear vision and plan in this regard.
“We give emphasise to the need for enhancing professional capability of doctors in diagnosis as it can create good results in pre-marital health checks for prospective brides and grooms and avoid the chances contagious diseases,” she said.
The pre-marital health checks can identify the chances of occurring genetically transmitted diseases like thalassaemia which is found in the region and mainly attributed to marriages between close relatives.
The workshop stressed that marriage between close relatives is not necessarily a reason for genetically transmitted diseases.
KHALEEJ TIMES
New rules for transportation of medicines
ABU DHABI — Jun 02: With the summer heat increasing day by day, new rules for transportation of essential drugs will be enforced from mid-June, according to an official source at the Health Authority, Abu Dhabi (HAAD).
“Some regulations regarding transportation of medicines will be ready by June 15 for implementation in order to guarantee efficacy of imported pharmaceutical products,” revealed Dr Mohammed Abu Elkhair, Director of the Drug Department at HA-AD.
According to him, a comprehensive training course, titled ‘Cold Supply Chain’, will be conducted in order to educate people engaged in handling of medicines, including drug distributors.
“We will also focus on the public as the training programme will educate them how to safely store medicines during summer when temperature and humidity are high,” he said.
Dr. Elkhair told Khaleej Times that transporting medicines in temperatures other than the prescribed limit could lead to inefficacy of the drugs.
“Throughout the transport chain, from the exporter to customs authorities to clearing agents to distributors, stores to pharmacies up to the consumer, a certain temperature must be maintained to preserve the quality of the medicines.”
He said exposure to heat could result in change in colour and taste of the medicine, reduction of potency and efficacy and precipitation (in solutions and suspensions where chemicals are settled at the bottom of the bottle).
“The quality of medicine could be greatly affected and the medication would not yield desired results if it is transported in improper temperatures,” said Dr Elkhair.
According to him, “Medicines should not be kept in the car if the temperature is above 45 degrees and if the person has to travel a long distance, specially if the AC is not working. People are also advised not to leave drugs in the bathroom where humidity is relatively high.”
KHALEEJ TIMES
Finding a cab is a taxing time for passengers
Sharjah - Jun 03: Residents of Sharjah say there is an acute shortage of taxis caused by drivers who cash in by allowing passengers to share a ride. The problem is particularly severe during the mornings and evenings.
Many drivers of metered taxis prefer to make more money during these peak hours by carrying several passengers rather than individuals. But such “shared” taxi services are against the rules.
“I have been waiting for a taxi to go to Sharjah Airport but no driver will take me,” said Sethu Madhavan.
“They are operating shared taxis to other locations.
“Unfortunately, there are not many people who want to share a taxi to the airport.
“Sometimes passengers in a hurry are desperate to engage taxis, but drivers do not entertain them. While sharing a cab is good for many people, drivers should not blatantly refuse others.” One driver admitted: “I run only a shared service because it is more profitable. I take many customers who want to share a taxi. The demand is high because people who are dropped off and picked up a few kilometres away from their accommodation in Rolla need taxis to get there.” Drivers avoid some routes that are congested such as the Dubai-Sharjah road and where many individual customers try in vain to hire taxis.
Areas such as Rolla, National Paint Roundabout, Geco Roundabout and Al Qusais in Dubai are particularly lucrative for drivers. The emirate of Ajman is also profitable.
Another driver said: “I keep the meter on and drop off and pick up passengers from different places. We have a daily collection target. Many passengers cannot afford to take taxis. We are sometimes fined Dh300 for sharing taxis – but we make more money.” Taxi companies said drivers are not allowed to run shared services. “We have only 10 inspectors to monitor drivers,” said a Union Taxi official. “We have 850 taxis and 10 inspectors cannot stop this practice. If a customer complaints we warn the driver – and if the violation is repeated he is fined between Dh300 and Dh500.” A Citi Taxi official said: “If any driver refuses to carry a customer his taxi number or number plate should be noted and we should be informed. They cannot reject any customer.”
EMIRATES TODAY
Three-year termfor mother who killed her baby
Dubai - Jun 03: A mother, who killed her sixweek-old daughter by hitting her all over her body by the Dubai Criminal Courts has been jailed for three years. She will be deported after sentence. AA, a 32-year-old Filipino maid, was pregnant when she moved to the UAE from Lebanon with the family who employed her.
She told the police that when the watchman, who worked in the family’s building in Lebanon, learned she was expecting, he ordered her to have an abortion. He said he would kill her if she did not obey.
Later, when the baby was due, AA’s employer took her to a hospital in Dubai where she had a normal delivery. She was questioned about the identity of her child’s father, and police were called, when they discovered the baby was the result of an illegitimate relationship.
Six weeks later, the baby was found dead in a bathtub.
The mother told the court, the child had slipped out of her hands and hit her head on the floor.
But the forensic doctor who examined the body said, the baby had been killed in a violent attack.
“It is impossible that the injuries found on all parts of her body were caused by her falling to the ground,” he said. “There were bruises that resulted from violence – hitting by hand and scratching by fingernails.” A psychiatric report said: “The mother does not suffer from any mental or psychological disease. She had full mental strength on the day the crime occurred.” The public prosecution accused AA of premeditated murder, which is punishable by death penalty.
However, the court decided there had not been premeditation as there was no evidence to prove that the defendant planned to kill the baby.
AA was convicted of killing and was jailed for three years, to be followed by deportation.
Medical sources said cases where mothers harmed their children were extremely rare.
EMIRATES TODAY