FUJAIRAH // The quality of schools, including meals for children, and the problem of power outages are the top priorities for residents who will choose Federal National Council members in next month’s election.
People who live on the east side of Murbah, the town’s oldest area, are calling for FNC candidates to promise to provide new schools and for them to provide better school meals.
› Ahead of the FNC election day on October 3, The National's reporters are travelling across the seven emirates to speak to Emiratis and find out the issues that affect them – and what they expect from members of a new Federal National Council. Read them here.
Umm Nujood, a 38-year-old mother of six, said that her children are studying in the same school that she went to more than 30 years ago.
“Al Muthana bin Al Harith is the elementary school that my kids go to and it’s the same school I went to. The Government refurbished it but it’s still falling apart and they need to build a new one for the sake of the children,” she said.
“I pay Dh700 for what they call a healthy meal for my kids at school but the meal is not healthy at all – they serve them dry bread with melted chocolate inside plus some milk and cornflakes.”
Umm Nujood is not convinced that FNC members have the power to make a difference but she said she will explore all avenues until solutions are found.
Sayda Al Shareef, another Murbah resident, said that housing was her big issue as she lives with her four married sons and their families under one roof.
“We are 15 human beings living in an old house with an aluminium roof,” said the 60-year-old. “The rooms are very small and I sleep beside the door in a room that used to be a kitchen, to provide space for others.
“We need a new house and the Government can give us only Dh500,000, which is not enough to build a new house.”
Nada Al Tamimi, who lives in Khansaheb, near Murbah, said the Government needs to focus on the area as there are few paved roads, street lights and the houses are old.
“Khansaheb is a very old area with falling-apart houses,” said Ms Al Tamimi, 33. “I recently moved there to my newly constructed house and I see people suffering, living in unsuitable places.
“There are no paved roads and it’s very dark at night. I believe in the power of the FNC members and I wish they would work on developing the area.”
Abdullah Al Kindi, from Al Mtherat, near Al Hayl, said the influx of people has put strain on the electricity and water supplies.
“The pipes are old and designed to serve a small number of residents but the population is increasing and we suffer from regular water and electricity disconnections,” he said.
Salem Al Dhahmani, 48, an army retiree and FNC candidate, said: “I’m a board member of the Fujairah Foundation for Regions Development and we used to deal with such problems. Most of these issues have been discussed by the FNC and if I become one of the new members I will definitely continue raising such issues that concern the community, especially for rural residents. I’m one of them.”
rhaza@thenational.ae