Farewell to a Bollywood superstar

A reader mourns Indian actor Rajesh Khanna. Other letter topics: villa sharing, health insurance and an alternative to speeding tickets.

A reader mourns Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna, pictured at an awards ceremony in 2009. Pal Pillai / AFP
Powered by automated translation

I am writing in reference to Villa-share crackdown as Dubai rents rise (July 17). What is the problem with multifamily villas - especially if there is a shortage of low-income family housing available?

The system that requires annual rent to be paid upfront is a strain for people of all nationalities.

As a result of the system, many apartments and other buildings sit empty in Dubai; hence nobody makes money.

The owners of these villas are probably making more money on multifamily rentals than renting to just the one family.

I don't understand the "safety" issue. If the problem is fighting between occupants, is it always the case that single families don't fight among themselves?

It seems to me that money is the issue here, not security.

Monica Carver, Dubai

Speed warnings better than fines

Sky News reported this week that authorities in an English town have started sending out warning letters to speeding drivers rather than asking them to pay fines.

They believe this will have more effect, and I feel strongly that the UAE should adopt such a scheme.

I consider myself a "safe" driver. I rarely speed, but recently I was fined Dh600 for doing so. I think I should not have to pay such a large sum of money for what was an error on my part rather than the direct result of flouting the rules.

I was on a road where the limit was 100kph. I came to another road, and the speed limit went down to 80kph, but the time to reduce my speed was too short before I came into the radar camera's range. I felt like I was trapped.

There is a similar "trap" on Al Ain road coming into Dubai, where the speed reduces from 120kph to 80kph after crossing Silicon Oasis. The camera appears less than 100 metres after the 80kph sign.

I regularly use that road, and I have tried many times, as an experiment, to check if one can easily reduce speed before coming into camera range. It is pretty difficult, and I think motorists should be given more time.

Radar cameras should be there for safety, not as a moneymaking venture. And if people are to be fined, I think the fine should be dependent on the safety record of the driver.

Name and address withheld

Violent crime is a cause for concern

Man 'stabbed to death in knife fight over woman' (July 18) is very tragic for the parents of the men involved.

It is concerning that violent, drug-related incidents are beginning to happen in what is otherwise a relatively safe place compared to the rest of the world. Mamba Sna, Dubai

Health insurance changes needed

Health insurance is mandatory, so all residents must be insured with companies approved by the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD).

Different health insurance cards are in use and their coverage of medicines, tests and treatments all are different, but all of them have an annual limit.

My concern is that some potentially life-saving medicines are not included in everybody's coverage. Also, members have to think twice before making an appointment at an optician or dentist, because most health cards fully or partially exclude eye and dental treatments.

A few days ago, one of my friends visited a dental clinic to be treated for toothache. The next day, he noticed a rash, so he went to another hospital and they refused him treatment, saying he'd have to wait seven days because "you were already treated yesterday".

My suggestion is that the insurers cover all medicines and procedures until the annual limit is reached. Of course, they should have the right to investigate doubtful cases and take action against the physician or clinic if necessary.

K P Muhammad, Abu Dhabi

Israel should face world's scrutiny

Regarding Clinton in Israel with an eye on US voters (July 17), how did we get it all so backwards?

As a signatory to the nuclaer Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has an internationally recognised right to develop and implement nuclear technology. Israel rejected the NPT and has no such right.

Yet, Israel has nuclear warheads and campaigns for war against Iran. Israel, not Iran, should be sanctioned and forced to reveal its nuclear machinations.

John Wilcox, US

Sadness at death of Indian superstar

The death, yesterday, of actor Rajesh Khanna was a great shock.

He was prodigiously talented and was a worshipped hero in his heyday, when every movie he touched became a blockbuster.

It is sad that, in his later years, he shied away from the screen, though his fans continued to look for his magical presence.

Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai