Small eateries offer best food

A reader applauds the UAE's efforts to eradicate child abuse. Other topics: oil price, driving, restaurants

A reader applauds the UAE’s efforts to eradicate child abuse. Sarah Dea / The National

Your editorial, Expanding our culinary horizons (January 20), was interesting. From my experience of travelling around the world, I can say that some of the best food is found in small restaurants in and around town. However, to find those restaurants one needs to inquire with the local people. From the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique to Paris and New York, you will find those restaurants.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

As far as the variety of food is concerned, we are spoilt for choice in this country. The only problem is that most of the restaurants steeply increase their prices as soon as they start showing some promise. So they become unaffordable for ordinary people.

Gere George Kuruvilla, Abu Dhabi

This country is full of cheap and good eateries that cater to every taste.

Olivia Reyes, Dubai

UAE’s move to curb child abuse is noteworthy

I read with interest the excellent report, Duty for all to blow whistle on child abuse (January 19).

It is reassuring to know that the UAE is leading the region with its progressive child rights law that has been approved by the Federal National Council in 2014.

In addition, enriching workshops such as the one Austability ran in Dubai with the support of the Government highlights how practical measures are being put in place to raise awareness over the issues of child neglect and abuse.

It’s necessary to work closely with nations that have established mechanisms to combat this problem.

Your report rightly pointed out that it is “everybody’s responsibility to make sure that every child is all right”. There is no excuse for someone looking away.

A uniform standardised course on child safety can be helpful in this regard. All professionals who have contact with children should undergo this training, including doctors, nurses, therapists, teachers, police, park supervisors, social workers, women’s groups and sports coaches.

I am a paediatric dentist who relocated to this country from the UK 18 months ago. As an NHS doctor, I was subjected to compulsory child protection and safeguarding courses and was required to complete several levels of training before carrying out my duties. I think it would be useful to emulate the UK model.

Iyad Hussein, assistant clinical professor in paediatric dentistry, Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine, Dubai

Oil scenario is predictable

In reference to your editorial, Markets trade on narratives (January 20), we know exactly the developments. China and emerging market economies are slowing, while the European economy has already slowed. This has reduced the demand for oil.

However, the US was ramping up oil production and Opec decided to maintain production levels to keep their market share. Now Iran will increase its production. This glut on the supply side will hurt economic growth. So the current oversupply of oil is not the result of mysterious or unknown developments.

Chris Reid, Dubai

Every person’s life is precious

Regarding the news article, How speeding and reckless driving destroy young lives (January 17), I recently travelled from Abu Dhabi to Dubai for the first time with my family. I realised how dangerous the road was. Motorists did all sorts of things that they were not supposed to do: speeding, tailgating, flashing lights from behind and bumper-to-bumper driving. This country needs a stringent policy to tackle such behaviour on the road.

Nicolas Benoit, Abu Dhabi

There is a highway next to my building and nearly every day I hear the sound of crashes and sirens of emergency vehicles. Driving irresponsibly is as dangerous as leaving a loaded gun in a crowded room.

I urge everyone to be considerate and patient when driving. Every single person on the road is important to this world.

April Garza-Tarman, Dubai