The National

High-rises evacuated amid quake tremors

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This entry was posted in HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2013, The National.

Roundabout raises curiosity

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This entry was posted in Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2013, The National.

Celebration time is approaching

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Celebration time is approaching



On April 17, The National is going to be five years old. It’s a date all news lovers in the UAE remember as they received their first copy of the newspaper and saw it online for the first time.
The newspaper stands out by virtue of its excellent content, both local and global, as well as clear presentation.
I am happy to have been a reader of The National from the very beginning. All of us should celebrate this milestone.
I wish you all the best.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi


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This entry was posted in Letters to the editor, Opinion 2013, The National.

GPS systems can make life easier

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GPS systems can make life easier



Most of the leading airlines serving provide a limousine service to pick up and drop off their business and first-class passengers.
However, recently, it has become a nightmare to accept the services offered by the transport companies who operate these vehicles on behalf of the airlines.
The guest must confirm and reconfirm his or her location at least two days before departure.
However, in my experience, the driver often still has difficulty finding the location. Many of the cars do not have GPS – or, if a GPS is installed, the driver does not know how to use it.
In many cases, the driver is unable to reach the passenger’s home at the agreed time, meaning there is a delay in reaching the airport.
Sometimes, I have had to get a taxi or call on a friend or relative to drop me off at the airport when the car has not arrived.

I think that the major airlines should make it mandatory for the vehicles they use to have a GPS system and a driver who is trained to use it. This would avoid unnecessary telephone calls, arguments and frustration.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi


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This entry was posted in Letters to the editor, Opinion 2013, The National, TQM.

Death toll rises to 22 in Al Ain bus tragedy

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Death toll rises to 22 in Al Ain bus tragedy 


The National staff Feb 4, 2013 Updated two hours ago AL AIN //

A total of 22 people have been killed and about 24 injured in a road accident in the city this morning.

The crash happened on the Old Truck Road (E30), near Sih Sabra, Al Ain, just before 8am when a bus carrying 46 workers thought to be from a cleaning company collided with a large lorry carrying concrete.

The lorry overturned and landed on the bus at 7.53am when its brakes failed, according to Brig Gen Hussein Ahmed Al Harthi, head of the Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police. He also said there wasn’t a safe distance between the two vehicles.

“Twenty-two people were dead at the scene and the bodies were taken to Al Ain Hospital. There were 24 others injured, and their injuries ranged from minor and moderate to serious,” he added.

The accident is thought to be the worst in the history of the UAE.

Police sources said the injured sustained moderate to serious injuries. A total of 11 of them were taken to Tawam Hospital and are currently in stable conditions in intensive care units or in surgery, a hospital employee said. The dead, all of whom were Asian, were taken to Al Ain Hospital.

Brig Gen Al Harthi along with other senior police officials reported to the site of the crash.

Five of the injured men were transferred to Al Noor Hospital, where three were treated for minor injuries, said a member of staff.

“We received five patients in our ER department, and the nature of the injuries varied,” he said.

“Two of them were minor and were treated and sent home. One had a foot injury and is still in the hospital but will most likely be sent home.

“The last two, their situation was more critical.”

All police units were immediately dispatched to the scene upon receiving the report to rescue victims that were trapped in the bus and to provide first aid to the injured.

Emergencies and Public Safety ambulance teams from the general directorate for central operations at Abu Dhabi Police, the medical services division at Al Ain Police and Seha transported injured victims to Tawam, Al Ain, Al Noor and specialised care hospitals.

One victim with a severe injury was airlifted to Tawam Hospital.

The director of the Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police urged contracting and general transportation companies officials to ensure the safety of brakes and other parts of their vehicles before departure and to take buses and lorries off the road in times of fog and rain. He also urged motorists, in general, to avoid overloading their vehicles.

Brig Gen Al Harthi praised the swift response of all police units and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a quick recovery.

My comments as follows:

Extremely sad to read about this tragedy, probably the worst in the history of UAE in a single one on one collision. While we all pray for the departed souls, let the authorities come out with stricter rules on speeding. The speed of buses transporting labourers to and from work in the morning and afternoon hours are scary and at times dangerous for those who are cautious on the road. Refresher courses on road safety and vehicle condition to all heavy duty drivers every year or two as they renew their visas is an option to educate them about newer conditions and road realities. Companies handling heavy vehicles and drivers should also think about having a safety expert or seek training through authorized safety institutes approved by police to give continuous guidance to drivers to adhere to road safety guidelines all the time.

 RameshMenon Abu Dhabi

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This entry was posted in Abu Dhabi - Today in UAE, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2013, The National.

Tunnel speed limit should be uniform

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Tunnel speed limit should be uniform

The new Sheihk Zayed Tunnel in Abu Dhabi looks beautiful and is a state-of-the-art structure that will serve the growth of Abu Dhabi for years to come.
However, when I use it, I am confused by the implementation of several different speed limits along the tunnel.
I am a cautious driver who likes to remain below the displayed speed limit, but I too often find cars speeding up to me, flashing their lights, despite clear signs saying that the limit is 60km/h or 80km/h.
The authorities must find a way to book those drivers who break the limits or there will be many accidents in the tunnel.
I also think they should establish just one speed limit for the entire length of the tunnel, obviating the need for people to speed up or slow down.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi


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This entry was posted in HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2013, The National.

New shops should have been opened before closures

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The closure of small grocery stores in Abu Dhabi will end the traditional easy access to daily home needs.
One cannot any more lazily call the grocer and order a bottle of milk, some eggs, some bananas and the newspaper.
And children can no longer get off the school bus and run to the grocer to buy ice cream or chips before take the lift to their upstairs homes. So I look forward to a healthier population.
But this move has been crushing for many of these grocers. Loss of their investments and difficulty in collecting on credit accounts given to some customers, plus the inability to return goods to vendors, will exact a big toll.
I hope that as many of them as possible find ways to re-establish themselves.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi


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This entry was posted in Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2013, The National.

Breast cancer a year-round worry

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Breast cancer a year-round worry

The account about Peter Campbell and his family (Expat’s battle to fly dying wife home, October 14) was timely.

In October, breast cancer month, people try to paint everything pink. But afterwards, concern can fade away. I know this; we will soon mark the first anniversary of the death of my wife’s mother. whose breast cancer was detected late.

Women of all ages should carry out self-examination, and if any small irregularity is seen, they should come forward at once for a mammogram.

Most doctors are compassionate and experienced and will do their best to help.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

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This entry was posted in Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2012, The National.

Schools should promote health – Letters to the editor – The National Dt. 01 October 2012

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Schools should promote health
Watching the flow of students returning to a reputable school near my home after the summer holidays, I noticed that most the children are overweight.
Because many schools do not have adequate play areas, I think that classroom-based exercise, and health-awareness programmes should be conducted at the start of each day.
Even five minutes each morning could change the students’ outlook, making them more health and fitness conscious.
Smoking outside the school gate is another unhealthy practice that is quite common.
Schools say they are powerless in this matter as it happens off their premises. Therefore, I think it is up to health authorities to check what is going on near schools and take action against students who smoke in public – and their parents.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
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This entry was posted in Community Reports, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2012, The National.

‘Abandoned’ Cars gather dust at Abu Dhabi airport

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ABU DHABI // Scores of luxury cars and sports utility vehicles are gathering dust in the short-term car park at Abu Dhabi airport.
According to the airport’s website, vehicles should be left there for no more than three days. And few would choose to with parking costing Dh240 a day.

But many of the cars have clearly been there for months – long enough for tyres to go flat and windows to become caked with sand and salt.

Beneath the grime, the marques are a checklist of luxury – BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, a Chevrolet Camaro S5 and a Jaguar XK8.

Also accumulating dust are sport utility vehicles such as a Nissan Prado, a Ford Escape, a Ford Edge and a Chevrolet Avalanche.

Others include a Kia Optima, Kia Rio, Honda Civic, Honda City, Nissan Altima and Nissan Tiida, Mazda 3, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, and a Peugeot 207.

“I’ve seen a few cars here that are covered with dust,” said MT Hassan, a Sudanese public relations officer.

“Maybe some of the owners will return, while others may have already left the country. We really don’t know.”

Ramesh Menon, 45, a technical officer at an Abu Dhabi government company, suspects the latter.

He visited the airport in mid-July. When he returned this week, the same cars remained parked.

“If there is a genuine owner who has parked there by mistake, he or she will claim it,” Mr Menon said. “If it is deliberate, the car should be auctioned off to the public.”

The flat tyres are a giveaway, he added. “Abu Dhabi airport has tight security measures. I don’t think someone will go to the car park and puncture the tyres.”

As on dirty cars everywhere, passers-by have inscribed messages in the dust. Some, including a black Ford Edge Sport and a white Honda Civic, bear the time-honoured “clean me”, while the rear windscreen of a blue-green Hyundai Tucson claims its owner has “gone fishing”.

A check on some of the number plates through the police website reveals the cars have a number of traffic and Salik fines.

One, a black Jaguar XK8 with Abu Dhabi plates, has accumulated Dh1,350 in fines – two for speeding in Abu Dhabi in June and July, and another for speeding in Dubai in May.

A grey Nissan Altima with Abu Dhabi plates had five Dubai police fines totalling Dh3,100 between December 2010 and April 2011.

A green BMW saloon, also with Abu Dhabi plates, had two Dubai fines from October 2009, and another from April 2010, totalling Dh1,900. A Kia Optima had a Dh100 fine from Oman, while a Kia Rio racked up nine Salik fines, totalling Dh450, between November 2009 and February 2010. Both cars have Dubai plates.

“The authorities should now consider removing them to allow other cars to park in this area meant for short-term parking,” Mr Menon said. “These cars are eating up a lot of space and it gives a bad image to the city.”
A spokesperson for the Abu Dhabi Airports Company yesterday declined to comment.



Several cars sit covered in dust, seemingly abandoned at the Abu Dhabi Airport short-term parking lot as seen on Wednesday afternoon, August 1, 2012. Silvia Razgova / The National

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This entry was posted in Community Reports, Community Service, HSE, Letters to the editor, Opinion 2012, The National, UAE.