No end to parking woes in Abu Dhabi

Readers express frustration over parking fines. Other topics: Rodrigo Duterte, UAE law

Readers express frustration over never-ending parking issues. Sammy Dallal / The National

I refer to the article Abu Dhabi drivers paying hundreds of dirhams a month on car cleaning to avoid fines (October 28). In many countries, valet airport parking is big business.

There the cars that are parked don’t need to be looked after regularly. You can inform those car park employees about your date and time of arrival, so that they can have your vehicle cleaned by the time you need it.

Lisa Kereliuk, Abu Dhabi

A project was to be carried out last year to increase the capacity of drainage in our area. For that, much of the car park was dug which is why we had find suitable alternative parking places nearby. Still we had keep our cars clean to protect ourselves from Mawaqif fines.

But we couldn’t. We were fined for parking outside the designated parking area, which was not our fault.

Then came the restoration and cleaning of building facades that the municipality compelled building owners to carry out. Again, painting and cleaning contractors took no care to protect our cars from dust and dirt and I ended up paying an individual to clean my vehicle.

It’s unfortunate that no one cared for the residents who were fined for the inconveniences they did not create.

Jehad Makhoul, Abu Dhabi

Is Duterte on the right track?

In reference to the news report Duterte tells worried foreign businesses to pack up and go (October 26), the Philippine president is being wise and learning lessons from the Middle East, where the US indirectly (or directly) destroyed the economies of its allies.

China might not be a better ally for the Philippines, but there are huge common interests and Rodrigo Duterte has to choose between the friendship with a neighbour and being the weak card in the claimed animosity between the two countries with common interests.

Jehad Makhoul, Beirut

Mr Duterte seems to be taking his country into the unknown.

Soon we might see the Philippines under economic sanctions by the EU and the US. If not, then he might face immense pressure from within his country.

Building relations with China and Russia is not the same as having good relations with the United States. I do admire his courage, even though that does not always mean he is smart.

I wish good luck to Mr Duterte.

Name withheld by request

I certainly appreciate a president who truly represent his people, but Mr Duterte’s approach might prove destructive to his country’s economy.

Brad Trumpy, Al Ain

Questions on a new law

I applaud the new law that imposes stiffer penalties on expatriates for certain crimes, followed by immediate deportation (Sweeping reforms to UAE penal code include harsher penalties and up to Dh1m in fines, October 26).

There is no justification for the Government to fill their prisons with criminals from foreign countries and incur huge expenses on their maintenance.

However, many will not have the ability to pay those fines. What happens in that case?

Your story says minor offenders can be sentenced to community service. But what happens to the rest?

Zainoun Al Rahbi, Dubai

The article seems to suggest that a murderer could get immediate deportation because “it is dangerous to keep this person in society”. The same is applicable to prostitutes.

The suggestion is that a person, whether committing a murder or prostitution, could be immediately deported to their home country. However, there is no mention about how this person would be further punished or if they would be sent to jail in their home country.

Could someone then commit murder and be sent back to live in their own country without punishment? If so, this would be an irresponsible thing to do.

I am sure this is just something missing from the article and not something missing from the law.

D Glass, Dubai