The practice of jailing over debt is not helpful

Readers hail Feroz Merchant who came to the rescue of 132 prisoners. Other topics: diet, speeding fine, Aadhaar card

Readers hail Firoz Merchant who came to the rescue of 132 prisoners. Courtesy Pure Gold Jewellers

I appreciate the gesture of Firoz Merchant who paid off the debts of prisoners languishing in the country’s jails (Businessman clears debts of 132 prisoners in Ajman, January 25). However, I think this system needs to change. If people are jailed for non-payment of debts, how is it going to solve the issue? They can’t work to pay them off. Save jail for real criminals.

Michal Teague, Abu Dhabi

This law needs to change. People in debt are not criminals.

Khurram Qureshi, Abu Dhabi

I salute Mr Merchant for saving the lives of so many people. May God bless him with more wealth and happiness.

Mingma Tshering Sherpa, Dubai

Keep an eye on your diet

Your editorial The habits that keep us fat (January 23) was topical. It’s time we start watching our diet. I’ve started back on my green protein diet. Have a lot of kale, broccoli, spinach mixed with quinoa and pomegranate. Substitute fish for chicken and lay off the junk food.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

Arabic needs a real boost

The major issue regarding the Arabic language here is the lack of willingness on the part of the Government to truly promote the language among expatriates (Why Arabic must be preserved and promoted, January 23). Let’s face it ­­– numerically there aren’t enough Emiratis to drive such a movement here.

Arabic should be mandatory for all schoolchildren, but the Government has to be willing to give them something in return, in my humble opinion.

How about requiring all Arabic movies and TV programmes to have English subtitles? That might be a start. It would definitely expose a larger portion of the population to the culture and language.

Kenneth Seymens, Dubai

Waiving fines is not the answer

Regarding your news report Dubai Police waive speeding fines after motorist proves wife was in labour (January 25), taking emergency cases to the hospital is the job of the ambulance services.

It will be a joke if all cars taking someone to the hospital drove like that and expected no fines. What about others on the road? What about pedestrians?

Kai Sh, UK

I wonder how the response would have been if a couple of people were killed by the speeding driver.

Mohammed Rishal, Dubai

There is no excuse for endangering the lives of others to bring your one child into the world. It’s unacceptable and a wrong message to send.

Sara Smith, US

To save one person one shouldn’t put the lives of others at risk.

Amir Maqsood, Ajman

Modi must sort out expat issue

I am really happy about Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s visit to India (Focus on UAE investments in India’s energy and infrastructure sectors, January 25). Our two countries can immensely benefit from each other.

In this context, I would like to point out that India needs to sort out the issue of Aadhaar card registration for millions of Indians living in this country. The Indian government has made it mandatory for every Indian – resident and expatriate – to obtain the national identity card.

It is now necessary for any financial transaction in India. Yet, it is not possible to get it without paying a visit to India at a particular time chosen by the authorities. This process can be made much easier for expatriates if they can register at the Indian embassy in the UAE.

I wonder whether this issue could be sorted out by Mr Modi as he implements so many development initiatives. I think this is the right moment to address this concern.

Petrina Peyang, Abu Dhabi