Not the prime suspect

British prime minister David Cameron shouldn't be blamed for leaving his child at the pub, a reader says. Other letter topics: parking, obesity and fizzy drinks, and an unwelcoming neighbourhood.

A reader says David Cameron needs a security detail and shouldn't be blamed for losing his child. Oli Scarff / Getty Images

Deborah Lindsay Williams' comment piece You're welcome to an extra helping of obesity at the snack bar (June 13) was excellent and I commend her for spreading the message about New York mayor Michael Bloomberg's drive to make his city healthier.

I should warn her, though, that her views may lead to a surprising amount of hostility.

Ever since I aired the issue at my children's school, a number of people have stopped talking to me and there have been some very unusual reactions.

You might think that people would welcome any proposal to reduce the amount of junk food consumed by children in this country but, as in New York, people react as if you have just punched them and their offspring.

I do hope that those who are so angry at any attempt to limit the fat and sugar available to our children are also happy to sit with their children at the dentist and help them through the inevitable fillings and tooth decay that is the natural outcome of consuming so much sugar.

Nargis Walke, Abu Dhabi

Dress code ought to be enforced

I am an Indian who has been living in Abu Dhabi for 28 years and I completely agree with the proposal put forward in Call for federal dress-code law (June 12).

Some western countries do not want Arabs to wear their abayas so why should we let their people dress how they want here?

If they want to stay, they should abide by the rules and completely respect them, otherwise they need not come here. But, rest assured, they will come even after the rule is enforced, because they are paid so well here and life is so much easier.

Please legislate this rule and be very strict in enforcing it.

Renu Ghasita, Abu Dhabi

Losing his girl not Cameron's fault

Apropos the article British PM leaves something behind in the pub: his daughter (June 12) one would think that David Cameron was in such "high spirits" that he forgot his eight-year-old daughter at a pub near his home.

The fact is that it was just a communication failure among the personnel responsible for Mr Cameron and his family that resulted in him leaving the pub in one car while his wife and two other children departed in the other car.

As a head of state, he has a whole retinue of personnel who are responsible for his safety and security and that of his family.

The prime minister would have been guilty of gross negligence had he been dining all alone with his family. This was clearly not the case here.

Mr Cameron may or may not be remembered by history as the man who achieved remarkable success as British prime minister, but he will surely go down in history as the only head of state who left his daughter behind in a pub.

Amitabh Saxena, Dubai

Full steam ahead for India's trains

India's railways head for a bumpy ride (June 13) was interesting.

India has one of the world's largest train services and millions of people travel on it every day. Authorities should upgrade facilities for passengers and modernise the trains.

But if there are improvements, I hope the government doesn't allow the fares to rise.

K Ragavan, India

Unsavoury activity ruins a family area

I live in the Tourist Club area in a neighbourhood that is very family orientated. There are children playing, parents walking with their children, and pushchairs and toys on the pavement.

However, walk two buildings down the street and it is a very different scene. On any given night between 50 and 100 women, who appear to be prostitutes, walk around the area. They attract various undesirable people.

I feel uncomfortable and unsafe walking through the area. If I park my car near there, people shout things at me as I walk by. NL, Abu Dhabi

Another side to the parking story

Regarding Parking is such sweet sorrow ... (June 12), people need to also look at the positive side of the Mawaqif system.

I live in an area where Mawaqif was deactivated temporarily because of construction work.

Although temporary free parking was provided to residents in an underground car park, I still saw people double parking, blocking each other's cars and so on, just because they didn't want to walk 100 metres.

Some people need to be forced to abide by the rules, and it's tough rules that will keep things organised. Mawaqif is doing this - and the city looks way better than it did back in 2007.

Mohammed Aljadaa, Abu Dhabi