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7DAYS
WEDNESDAY MAY 13, 2009 25
Housemaid issues: Don’t
The conversation
“No phone, I know. I can’t see the point, issue them a ticket or a fine. I believed
be too quick to judge
continues...
aka common sense in talking on your they should act as a role model for us but
mobile while backing out of a parking instead it is the other way around.”
space, or trying to park, turning a corner, MARYMARGRETH
Let me say firstly that I do not
condone in any way the
Online readers agree that
or driving SZR at breakneck speed - could
maltreatment of nannies and maids not enough is being done to
anyone enlighten me? I have recently “If Dubai Police are really serious about
witnessed two ladies in SUVs, both on the stopping motorists using mobile phones
and secondly I am not in the least
surprised that so many people have
punish drivers using phones
phone, backing out of their parking spots while driving, then the first thing they have
reacted the way they did in
Letters@7days.ae
and straight into each other...” to do is ban blacked-out windows.
AUSSIEMAUS How can they expect to stop driving
condemning the entire family in the
question out of hand. A recurring question: Why
offences when they cannot see the
“Today, I saw a lady in a Ford Explorer offence taking place?”
After over ten years living in Dubai, I
know the issue of maids is isn’t phone law enforced?
even typing an SMS on Sheikh Zayed
Road not paying attention to the traffic at HUGH_J
guaranteed to make people smugly all. I think the only way to get drivers not
pass judgment armed with relatively Oh Hear! Hear! D Gallagher to your I was recently travelling on Sheikh to do so is, is to make free speaking “I remember I received an email a few
few fact but a lot of prejudice and suggestion of doing it yourself. Zayed Road when a driver in a pickup devices in UAE cars mandatory. It is so months back about a law penalising
preconceptions. Come on stay-at-home girls, what did truck, talking on a cell phone, headed easy when one uses Bluetooth or other drivers dhs5,000 if using their phones
We do not know what went on you do before you came to the UAE? straight toward me swerving at the last car phone systems.” without a hands free set. At first, I thought
before or after the point where this Yep, we all did it ourselves, washing, minute to avoid a collision. JEBEL ALI BABA the amount was too much but considering
family was observed in the ironing, cleaning, driving, cooking, On another occasion, in an adjoining the risk these people are posing on the
restaurant. I know many nannies gardening, bringing up kids, town, a police car was stopped - waiting “Hi No Phone of Dubai, you are lucky to road, I now think it’s just fair.”
who have different mealtime lunchboxes at crack sparrow, for the traffic light to change. To his side notice only a truck driver and a civilian on YNIAKE DUBAI
schedules to the rest of the family cleaning out the loo! was another vehicle with someone their mobile phones while driving on the
members through choice and/or And what will we do when we all go blatantly using a cell phone - not even a road. I have experienced seeing lots of Comment online
design, simply because surely it back home? You get it! warning was issued. policeman on the phone while driving, but
www.7days.ae
makes sense to have someone free So get off your rear ends, sort the The question is: Why are the Dubai what I can do I don’t have the authority to
to help feed or at least supervise kids out, sort yourselves out and get
children during meal times? on with it! All that activity will certainly
I am not defending the family in lose some of that fat, and your
question but it’s not impossible that husband will be delighted to have a Archangel Gabriel was ready to
their nanny ate before or was given fitter, thinner and more energetic, topple them up on his command, New bus fares don’t work
food afterwards? For every nanny more fulfilled you! Not to mention the but instead he prayed for them to
that appears to be or is maltreated, example of reality and home building become Muslims for their own good. out too well for everyone
there is at least another who is you set your kids. That was the kind and benevolent
respected and very much a part of UK DIY Expat personality which made even the The RTA issues a new e-bus card
the sponsor’s family. Jumeirah most stony and rocky hearts to costing dhs18 valid for nine trips,
melt… that’s his example we passengers are gaining only 20 fils
I have a serious thought on how Muslims are suppose to follow and per trip. But now, even for one trip
we are protected by law in of the rest of the prophets too. you are forced to buy dhs18/- e-bus
this country when it comes to In another incident, he forgave the card. Passengers who wanted to go
a runaway housemaid? murderer of his beloved daughter. by bus may not have dhs18/ all the
We are a Canadian family living in He forgave those people whose evil time. If a person comes with a
Dubai and after long search for the deeds he tolerated, when he had the family, every member of the family
right housemaid we ended up But the stark truth of life is, we are not power to annihilate them. has to buy an e-bus card.
dealing with an agent who gave us a doing our bit to give back to Mother Peace is the message of Islam, How is the system going to be
few options and we chose one an Earth what we have taken and are which is always followed by practical? The bus users are mainly
Indonesian, middle aged lady and continuously taking from her. forgiveness and tolerance...which the people who are earning dhs600
paid almost dhs14,000 to get her We need at this point in time not only the Taliban don’t have, so how can to dhs3,500 per month.
here. (Not to mention a more than to delve into our own selves and see they call themselves Islamic?? From May 1, they stopped issuing a
20-day wait). This is the cost of the how we can bring about this change Khusro Kamran “Bus Monthly Pass”.
agency, visa and medical etc... but put to practice what we read and Dubai Now every one is forced to by
After two months, one morning our hear every day of our lives. an e-bus card. People who work on
maid ran away and it was shock to It is not difficult to put into practice a a shift system and have to travel four
us - why? When she has everything simple act done in a day. United fans - all roads times a day, now have to spend
from her own room, privacy, time, It could be just as simple as switching dhs220 per month. It is a huge
And I really don’t think it helps to TV, mobile etc…. off the lights when no one is in the lead to... Crowne Plaza! amount for the bus users.
vilify mothers who have a nanny and So we went to immigration and room or reducing usage of the air Now the situation is utter confusion.
conclude she is a ‘bad’ mother who reported her escape, the sad part is conditioner in the car whilst travelling The solution for every one
cannot look after her own children that we still need to pay her ticket in short distances. concerned is:
because of it. My nanny helps me case they find her lets say after one, Someday when we go back in time - Issue monthly pass as before.
supervise my kids so they can play two who knows how many years and see the footprints that we have Increase the monthly fare from
safely while I cook our family meals from now… No penalty at all, no left on Mother Earth, I’m sure these dhs95 to dhs120 or dhs150.
(that she shares), she cleans so that punishment at all and they got our steps will be gigantic in terms of the - Let the driver issue the tickets as
I can spend more time with my visa, work freely and make more benefits it will reap for the next before.
family, she holds my baby while I eat $$$... so my question for authorities, generation. - Keep the new machines in all the
a hot meal instead of being the last is this the right way of protecting Shalini Menezes buses
at the table. sponsors? Dubai - Leave the choice of buying the e-
It would be better to have my own Is it ok to let them use us and use bus card to the bus users.
extended family help me but we UAE law…??!! At the same time, encourage the
don’t have that option in Dubai. Can we put his/her picture in a local Taliban not representing people to use e-bus card but don’t
R Taylor newspaper and ask the public not to force them.
Dubai hire them, are we legally allowed to true message of Islam Thanking you, Yours faithfully,
so? Most of these housemaids know Azariah Devadason
7DAYS POLL
that there’s no such penalty or crime I am shocked to hear that the This is a call to all red devils out in the Dubai
if they run away, so using us for Taliban burned Christian families in UAE. We are turning Harvesters in
getting a visa, ticket to this country Karachi. God knows their reason Crowne Plaza into our own.
and then run away…!!! best, if they intended to make It has been a fantastic venue for the
Do you use your mobile phone
Saeed Christians Muslims by these efforts, past two seasons giving us great
while driving?
Mirdif they have failed miserably, because service and a venue to sing our
100 ..............................
Islam was never spread on terror’s chants into the early hours. We will be
Adults not doing their
hook. It has always been the religion creating an atmosphere like no other
of PEACE, one of the main lessons
7DAYS, in
80 ..............................
and it will be the next best thing to
bit for the environment
that Islam teaches you is tolerance/ Rome. So if you are a United fan get
association
60 ..............................
patience, not terror and aggression!! down to Harvesters on May 27th. The
with Air Miles,
30% The Taliban call themselves flags will be on show the drinks will
will from next
40 .............................. YES
Isn’t it strange that we adults read, Muslims, but they aren’t even close be flowing and we shall be singing.
week be
write and converse so much about to what a Muslim should be... a To receive further information please
rewarding the best
20 ..............................
70%
the three r’s: Reduce, Reuse and generous, kind and an contact me at ziad08@gmail.com
letter each week with a whopping
Recycle. understanding fellow having love of Believe
20,000 miles. So get writing!
0 ..............................
NO
The schools are doing their bit by humanity. When Prophet Dubai
chipping on good chunks of Muhammad PBUH went to Taif to
TODAY’S QUESTION information to their students and give the message of Islam, kids 7DAYS welcomes your letters. Please send letters by e-mail to letters@7days.ae. We
Have you become more stressed
ensuring that the same ideologies are threw stones at him, so much so, reserve the right to edit letters.
since moving to Dubai?
practiced by their kids. that his blood trickled down to his
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