The chaos at Yas Waterworld over the weekend is unfortunate (Water park limits entry as free day leads to overcrowding, January 26).
However, the water park is to be commended for offering teachers free admission for themselves and up to three friends and family members, along with a free buffet lunch and a discount on merchandise, on the occasion of Teacher’s Appreciation Day.
I would like to thank them so much because I got there with my family very early and we had a wonderful time. We did however hear of others who either saw the “line” and left or experienced the hoard of queue jumpers. It is simply shameful that teachers and those with them would behave in such a way.
I hope this does not discourage Yas Waterworld and other venues from offering special days for teachers.
I think the core of the difficulty in this case lies in the sheer number of teachers versus the size of the venue.
D Glass, Abu Dhabi
It wasn’t necessarily due to overcrowding. But there was a lack of planning on the part of the facility. They had one check-in table. And they placed it right in front of the main entrance so it was cramped and there was pushing and shoving.
Why couldn’t they have set up several tables in the car park, where people could get their wristbands and then walk right through the gate (or use one of the alternate gates that are usually closed)?
Jil Schroeder, Abu Dhabi
Lack of news is disappointing
For the past six years, I have been participating in the events of Gourmet Abu Dhabi. It has always been possible to plan ahead and decide which event you want to attend, thanks to an informative website. It allows you to book online over a month in advance, browse the events and receive regular updates by email.
This year, there is nothing other than the dates – February 11 to 20. The website of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority directs you to the Gourmet Abu Dhabi website, but the site is not available.
I understand, from a previous article, that there will be no awards this year, which is disappointing, although the InterContinental website features a line-up of the statuettes on its page relating to the event, which is just over two weeks away.
People like to make advance plans for these type of events, and as a lover of gastronomy I am very disappointed at the lack of information on the event. It is unlikely that the event will be well patronised if it’s done in this manner.
Jeremy Weeks, Abu Dhabi
Maternity leave worth a debate
The article Agency in Dubai puts maternal needs first (January 24) makes for a great debate.
Some will think from a parental perspective and consider it to be a great move as women employees get more time with their newborn. Some will be thinking from a business perspective and wonder who will do that job for six months and what will happen to the lost revenue. Others will be thinking women can’t have everything – a career and children.
Meanwhile, what I think this region needs to do is start considering these points: more temporary contracts to fill these gaps; employing older, experienced women who have had their children and can’t get a job; and job sharing, whereby two people working part time who know the job can cover for each other. In other words, employers need to start thinking outside the box.
Sam Clarke, Abu Dhabi
With reference to your story (January 24), an option for the administrative officials at the organisation can be to provide an on-site day-care facility. That will enable mothers to devote time to their babies, while maintaining the production that would otherwise suffer because of their absence for six months.
WJ Bilal, Dubai
