Your news report Tough rules come into force for school buses and their drivers (February 3) left me disappointed. Generally, regulations are implemented very quickly in this country, but why are the police giving the bus companies two years to comply with the safety belt and driver-training rules?
Kim Hunt, Abu Dhabi
Your editorial Safety rules need to be enforced (February 4) raised the right points. There is a lot to be done in terms of implementation of school bus-safety laws.
School buses should be made to adhere to the stipulated speed limit. Schools and parents should cooperate with the authorities concerned to make school transportation as safe as possible.
Also, every school bus should have a supervisor on board to assist children and monitor them at all times.
Name withheld by request
I agree with your comment that school buses are driven recklessly with children on board. I recently saw a school bus slowing down for a speed camera then speeding off.
I was going at 100kph and the bus was several hundred metres from me in less than 10 seconds. It had children on board.
Jen Bishop, Abu Dhabi
Chefs can deliver healthy message
It's good to know that chefs will conduct hour-long classes on food preparation and healthy living in a normal classroom setting for teachers, parents and schoolchildren (Lessons in healthy eating from hotel chefs, February 4).
It is important that youngsters are kept in mind while spreading the message of healthy eating, given the alarming statistics of child obesity.
To make children better understand what and how food comes to their plate, it is vital to educate them on how food is sourced and prepared.
If young people learn the art of cooking, they can make their own choices concerning food, instead of binge eating.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
Emirati workers should thrive
In my view, it is vitally important for Emiratis to be active contributors to the professional world in this country (Private sector 'is not investing in training of Emirati workforce', February 4). Although many expatriates like me appreciate the new lease on life we have here, our presence cannot justify the unemployed status of locals. Every effort is required to ensure a change in the employment landscape that will see a qualified and thriving Emirati workforce.
Haaike Ahmad Barnard, Abu Dhabi
Some jobs not fit for epileptics
I have fought epilepsy for 15 years and there are some jobs that someone with epilepsy should never be allowed to have (Calls to halt prejudice against epileptics in UAE, February 1). I would not want to be on a plane being flown by someone who has ever had a seizure. I had part of my right temporal lobe removed last year to prevent seizures and since then I have not experienced any. But the risk of having it again can never be ruled out.
Chris Arceneaux, Abu Dhabi
Lebanese oil sector flourishing
If I want to ignore the political point of view that is evident throughout Michael Karam's article Lebanese inertia vexes sympathisers (February 3) and focus on the part concerning the Lebanese oil and gas industry, I can find nothing but negative thoughts and predictions on something that has not started yet.
I’ve been following Karam’s articles on the industry and I always find criticism in them. What’s the purpose of always criticising the industry? On what basis does the writer build his arguments? I wonder if he is aware of the huge work that is being done in Lebanon, especially by the Lebanese Petroleum Administration (LPA), since 2012. Has he ever heard about it? Has he ever contacted any LPA members to know more about their work?
Lebanon has made major achievements on this front. Let us, for once, look at the positive developments in the industry in Lebanon.
Marc Ayoub, Lebanon
