Next 50 years in UAE’s history will be worth watching

Our readers have their say about long-term planning in the Emirates, India's vaccination programme, the Texas turtles' rescue and quarantining

Sheikh Mansour leads the first meeting of the 50-year planning committee. It is one of two committees tasked with guiding the UAE's future over the next 50 years. Courtesy: Wam

I write in reference to the article UAE seeks 'new, dynamic' governance model over next 50 years (February 23): it is always inspiring to read about government officials drawing up long-term plans for a country's development, whichever that country may be. Anticipating how life might pan out on a day-to-day basis can be challenging, particularly in these times of tumult, but the fact that the UAE is looking 50 years ahead is a testament to the imaginative ability of its leadership and its self-confidence. It won't be a top-down approach, as the government expects to collaborate with key sectors of the national economy, but it will be intriguing to see what the "integrated system" it seeks to create will look like. Rest assured that, just as successful the past 50 years were in UAE history, the next 50 will be exciting and well worth watching.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

For vaccinations, India should take the help of its private sector

I write in reference to the article Is India beating Covid-19? Experts are divided as data shows mysterious recovery (February 15): vaccinating more than a billion people scattered across thousands of cities and towns and a few hundred thousand villages was always going to be a challenging task. The government machinery simply cannot carry out this operation on its own. It should enroll the private sector to help. Large corporations such as Tata Group and Hindustan Unilever have their own clinics with doctors and medical staff employed in their offices and factories across the country. For starters, these companies should be given adequate vaccines for their doctors to inoculate their staff. In a large country such as India, organising vaccinations in offices and factories should be the norm – not the exception.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

Turtle rescuers are the angels among us

I write in reference to Leila Gharagozlou's article Stunned sea turtles return to the water in Texas (February 23): members of the US Coast Guard and groups such as Sea Turtle Inc, who have been involved in the rescue and release of thousands of turtles off the coast of Texas, are truly the angels among us. For, they are the ones who care enough to make a difference.

Michael Frisbie, Aliso Viejo, California

People should quarantine even if they test negative

I write in reference to Gillian Duncan's article Close contacts of Covid-19 cases spreading the virus by failing to quarantine, says DHA (February 23): they should quarantine for the full 10 days even if they test negative early on after the last contact.

Andrew Riad