Letters

Well done to The National for highlighting the shortcomings of the plan to issue national ID cards. It seems that the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) is trying to put the blame on the people. How many advertisements did they run in English newspapers? Just one or two before the summer. Apart from that, what other means did they employ to inform the expatriate community about the ID card deadline? I do not know what strategic committee designed the website, but even in the English site, you have to write from right to left, and it is full of errors and spelling mistakes. So much for their planning. The minister who is responsible for the ID cards should be looking into this mess. Name withheld by request, Abu Dhabi

The UAE is going through a transitional period where the medical facilities that are being introduced are only to prevent nationals from going abroad for treatment, "Ability to cope with increase in 'medical tourism' questioned" (Nov 3). Most of the agencies that have set up here have only commercial interests, they are not here to improve the country's medical services in the long term. There is no point in expecting people to come here from overseas for medical treatment, they will go to other destinations for cheaper and better service. It is too early to embark on medical tourism in this country, where facilities are struggling to pay their expatriate staff. Dr Dillan Shetty, Abu Dhabi

I thought I had seen it all… but then I went to Lulu island. Rather than go to the public beach on the Corniche, the weather was so blissful on Saturday that my husband and I thought we would travel the extra mile over to Lulu to enjoy the extra space. Getting off the shuttle bus on the western shore we thought we were in luck: three free sun shelters with just a young Asian man sitting on the table under the middle one. We prepared to make ourselves comfortable under the end shelter, when the man came over: "I'm sorry," he said politely, "but these are reserved. We are going to have a large party and barbecue." A little reluctantly, we picked up our things, took a couple of chairs and moved off a few yards to sit out in the sun. Then, a large group of westerners arrived. These were the people for whom the man had been waiting, and naturally we presumed he would join the party that was now starting. Not at all. In very imperious tones, we heard one woman giving him his orders for the afternoon, finishing with the words: "And be back here for 6pm sharp." And with that, shelter-sitting duties done, the young Asian man was sent away. I've seen people putting towels on sun loungers around hotel pools, but I've never heard of anyone hiring a servant to squat on a beach before. Angela Braxton, Abu Dhabi

Evicting low-income people from shared villas is nothing but cruel. I would have supported this move if there were enough low-rent apartments available for low-income people to live in. But in the absence of such, making men send their wives and children home, and risking their children's education for the year, is nothing but an invitation to bring the city bad luck. Mazhar Mohad, Dubai

I enjoyed Sultan Al Qassemi's recent article on Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, "The Emirati sheikh of hearts" (Nov 2). If you ask an expatriate in the UAE: which Emirati is closest to your heart? There is a good chance that the answer will be Sheikh Nahyan. The sheikh has taken a great interest in the social and cultural activities of foreigners living here, not only in the UAE, but also in their home countries, especially India. He has played a very important role in strengthening the political, economic and cultural relations between the UAE and all of its neighbours. While Sheikh Nahyan strictly follows his religion, he also gives utmost respect to other religions and their beliefs. He is a fine example to the expatriate community living in the UAE. K V Shamsudheen, Sharjah