Car dealers in a tight spot

Sharjah's decision to relocate car dealers is unwise, a reader says. Other topics: debt, France attacks, Abu Dhabi pavements, Myanmar

A reader says Sharjah’s plan to relocate car dealers will hit the businesses hard. Pawan Singh / The National

What the Sharjah authorities are doing is very wrong (Used car dealers moving to Sharjah's auto city face high rents, November 15). Instead of encouraging investors and individuals to start their businesses, they are making life difficult for everyone.

Sufi Muhammad, Sharjah

Can Myanmar

Is there an escape from the debt trap?

I would like to thank The National for giving me an opportunity to express my feelings (UAE residents sucked into the cycle of debt, November 14). I am going through a testing time.

I am an Indian IT professional and have five sisters. They have all reached marriageable age. Since I have great responsibility, I started working at a young age while still studying. I worked in India for three years before coming to the UAE with high hopes that I would be able to take care of my family.

To get my first sister married, I took a loan. To pay that I took another one. It has been topped up as I had to pay for my mother’s cardiac surgery and sister’s neural treatment.

The outstanding, as of now, came to Dh128,000. I have been looking for a job for the past two months as my company has started retrenching following the drop in oil prices.

I have applied in many places but have not yet received a single call for an interview.

Although I am a well-qualified and skilled professional, I wonder why no one is considering me for the desired position, which is IT manager. If I lose my job, I would be devastated as defaulting on my obligations could land me in jail.

I need help to be able to sort this matter out as I cannot do it all by myself given my vulnerable financial situation.

Name withheld by request

In the past couple of days I received two text messages from the two banks I have credit cards with (Prudence key to tackling debt, November 15). Both informed me that my credit limit has doubled. The total amount I can borrow from the two banks is insane.

I think they have seen how reliable a client I am and that I have paid my debts regularly for over 12 years but the nominal risk is big and the facility I have now is well above my capabilities. Furthermore, I reckon they should ask me first, in writing, before raising my credit. Shouldn’t they?

Luca Cima, Dubai

A great gesture towards France

I was happy to see some landmark buildings illuminated with the red, white and blue of the French flag (UAE lights up with French tricolour in support for terror victims, November 15). It was a great gesture. Paris is one of the top cities in the world. If a city like Paris is not safe, what is?

I hope the killings stop all over the world. These attacks, whether in Paris, Mumbai, Kabul, Baghdad or Beirut, only claim innocent lives.

Raj Singh, Abu Dhabi

Will Myanmar be transformed?

Jeremy Schertz's opinion article Election promises will be hard to fulfil in Myanmar (November 16) was spot on. It showed an excellent understanding and knowledge of the issues on the ground confronting Aung San Suu Kyi.

Even though Ms Suu Kyi has won by a landslide, may have to struggle hard. Myanmar needs to fight poverty. Unfortunately, a lot of time will be wasted in managing the politics.

Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai

Open manholes pose danger

I came across several open manholes in Abu Dhabi with no danger signs around them. They probably have been like this for some time. One of them seemed to be quite deep and has water in it. It lies close to a busy area near the India Social and Cultural Centre. These manholes are not quite visible at night. What’s more worrying is that many children walk in that place, especially where there are functions at the centre.

We certainly do not want an accident to draw the attention of the authorities. So these manholes should be covered immediately.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi