I was overwhelmed when I first visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Blossoming talent, November 14). My brother and his family lived in Abu Dhabi, so I was really lucky that I got the chance to see all this first hand. The designs and floral displays are absolutely amazing.
Maz Brammer, UK
Move to raise utility tariffs wise
I am happy to know that water and electricity tariffs will be raised from next year (New utility tariffs for Abu Dhabi residents, November 13). It's sad that average water consumption per person per day was 500 litres a few years ago in a country which doesn't have water resources.
The tariffs should be determined according to usage – the more the use, the higher the rate – regardless of villa, flat, local or expatriate.
Some rental properties offer free water and electricity, which encourages tenants to use them freely.
J Smith, Abu Dhabi
We have to remember that we live in the desert. Piping water inland has to cost something. I’m from an island, where it rains for most of the year. Water prices here are nothing compared to back there. We should be grateful for that.
Name withheld by request
I agree in principle with the price hike, as water and electricity is heavily subsidised, but as usual the increase is sudden and dramatic. A steady increase over several years would have been less traumatic. Also, we live in a hot desert, where we are bound to consume more water.
Claire Wyness, Abu Dhabi
Death of women shame for India
India's attempt to curb rampant population growth through a national sterilisation scheme has backfired with the deaths of over a dozen people (Education is key to population control, November 13).
In a country known for excellent, inexpensive medical care, and where many people come from abroad for surgical procedures, the deaths are a blot on the current administration’s attempt at clean governance in all spheres. It’s a shame for the country where poor women line up for operations in the hope that doctors will do a safe procedure.
AR Modak, South Africa
Can we fully rely on doctors?
With reference to Taryam Al Subaihi's opinion article Are we getting an unhealthy dose of health care in the UAE (November 13)? I want to share my experience at a private hospital. I was involved in a car accident several years back and suffered a whiplash injury.
The orthopaedic surgeon from Abu Dhabi suggested I needed an operation to rebuild discs in my neck. I sought the advice of another orthopaedic specialist within the same hospital who had been recommended by friends. He sat me down and said: “The neck is an area that if a simple mistake is made you could be paralysed for life”. He then advised me to seek physiotherapy. “If that still does not resolve your problem, come back to me and we will see what alternatives are available, but surgery should be your very last option,” he told me.
After a course of physiotherapy elsewhere, my problem was resolved.
So while I agree that private hospital practitioners are like commercial salesmen in that they must perform a certain number of operations to hit their designated targets, there are still individual doctors within that have integrity, morals and extremely good values.
As a side note, I would like to say that most doctors in this country give out medication far too readily.
Name withheld by request
