Many precautions avoid disaster
I am a mother of three children, and I never let my children go near the window areas (‘Parents may be prosecuted for neglect of children’, Gulf News, April 26). The reason being that I have taken some precautions from the time they were toddlers. There are certain psychological approaches a parent has to take to avoid children going near these areas. I don’t encourage them to look out through the windows even when we are with them. For example, if you dip your finger into a bowl of honey and taste it, you are tempted to dip more times. Just behave with them as though we don’t care about that part of the house. I tell them stories that there is danger down at the bottom of the building looking up and waiting to pull down children. Always be 100 per cent aware of what your child is doing. After all these precautions, if you still feel your child is naughty, then take care to stay only on the ground floors or, at most, the first floor.
From Ms P. Mathew
UAE
Website comment
Think about people, not money
It’s a good move from the authorities to consider prosecuting parents for child neglect. I wish the authorities would also introduce bylaws for larger apartment sizes, car park floors inside the building, more parks and play areas within a residential vicinity and increased control on traffic flow and congestion. Every owner and investor is just trying to earn more money by building more units that he can rent without realising the true value of living a life.
From Mr John
UAE
Website comment
Dangers always overlooked
It’s strange how after all these events that parents are not realising the dangers of letting their children go on balconies unattended. It’s a great move – maybe a little late – but, better late than never! I would also suggest to get police the involved when they see children playing on balconies and issue fines. Prevention is better than the cure.
From Mr Nameesh
UAE
Website comment
Additional building measures
There are certain cases when balconies are open and children go out. As a parent, we have the responsibility to care, but we request the municipality to provide the additional safety measures on high-rise buildings as well.
From Ms Pretty
UAE
Website comment
More fines for parents
Will this legislation also be applicable to cases where the driver of a car neglects to ensure that his or her children’s safety? We see lack of seat belt usage and children in the front seats.
From Mr Jo Clark
UAE
Facebook comment
Parental safety, not enough!
Cases where children fall down from windows can be controlled 100 per cent, if it becomes necessary for these construction companies to make windows with grills. As soon as we shifted to Sharjah, we sealed all our windows because these windows can be opened so wide that even I can pass through them! Children can easily open them. Blaming the caretaker is not enough; they must take other steps if they are really serious in this regard.
From Ms Maryam Sarfraz
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Car safety also an issue
Parents should also be prosecuted for allowing the children to stand up in the car! They should be made to sit still with a seatbelt on. If you slam on your brakes at just 10km/h, they are going to get hurt. It’s a disgrace how so many parents couldn’t care less about the children or simply can’t see the risk involved in allowing this.
From Mr Steve Chase
UAE
Facebook comment
Is this sad?
We live in a sad world where the imposition of a fine would ensure that parents would take better care of their very own children.
From Ms Sana Abu Backer
UAE
Facebook comment
Only the parents to blame
I don’t blame anyone but the parents when it comes to children’s safety in apartments or anywhere else for that matter. Leaving children home alone is just crazy. I don’t even leave my children alone in the next room! If you’re responsible enough to bring a child into this world, than you should be responsible enough for their safety. It breaks my heart each time I read about a child falling from a balcony, and it just makes me even more vigilant than before.
From Ms Saima Naveed Sattar
UAE
Facebook comment
Safety is most important
Parents definitely should be prosecuted and thrown into jail for a couple of nights so that they don’t forget to make sure their children are safe! I often see children wondering around the streets at odd hours of the night, stealing other children’s toys, hanging around on balconies, and I wonder what other important thing these parents could be doing at that very moment. They should want to watch their children and keep them safe.
From Ms Natasha Preena Soomoon
Dubai
Facebook comment
This doesn’t stop negligence
I believe it’s an illogical law. First, if a child falls out of a window while the parents are at work, what is the worst punishment for parents? Is it imprisonment or suffering from the loss of their child? Second, once the parents are sent to jail, who will take care of the injured child? This law won’t stop parental negligence.
From Ms Ludmila Chekhomova
Manama, Bahrain
Facebook comment
India offers excellent assistance
The recent earthquake in Nepal has devastated the region and transformed this nature-rich country into a mound of debris (‘Nepal quake: Toll continues to climb’, Gulf News, April 26). The loss is irreparable but, the way the Indian government stood beside them with aid and assistance is highly commendable. Especially when there is so much tension, misunderstanding and negative diplomacy standing between the neighbouring countries. The initiative and effort shown by India is sending a positive message to the world. I want to applaud India, my country, for that. Nepal is not only a beautiful country, but the people are also very simple with golden hearts. There is a sizeable Nepali community living in the UAE. We are beside you and pray for all of your friends and relatives, for their safe and secure life.
From Ms Shiuly Ray
Dubai
Website comment
Nepal needs safer buildings
All are saddened by hearing the shocking news of the devastating earthquake in which nearly 3,200 people were killed and numerous houses and buildings were flattened. This deadly quake was measured at 7.9 on the Richter scale, which is one of the worst that has hit the subcontinent. On hearing the sufferings of the poor country, the great and generous UAE leaders immediately sent their condolences and instructed to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance. In such an hour of tragedy and trial, the primary task of the friendly countries is to bring relief to the earthquake-affected people, though Nepal’s topography makes it difficult.
Nonetheless, no effort should be spared to provide relief in terms of food, clothes and medicines. Thousands have been injured and they need to be given priority. Nepal, which is one of the poorest nations, needs international support to deal with the crisis. In future, Nepal should be careful to make their buildings compliant with the earthquake norms of agencies like the Delhi Development Authority. All new buildings in earthquake prone areas must conform to norms in this regard for which a mass awareness programme needs to be initiated. Prevention is better than the cure.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
More patience with new drivers!
I totally agree with the dangers of tailgating and I am of the same opinion that most of the accidents occur in this part of the world due to tailgating (‘Harsh enforcement of traffic rules is vital’, Gulf News, April 27). I have seen many of these cases and I have been victim of the same. The drivers are so bad that they do not have the patience to wait for a second and they come and flash lights at you. They do not even care that there are other vehicles moving in other lanes, and it is difficult to change lanes right away. They make the drivers nervous by continuously flashing their lights and, as a result, we try to move to the other lane in a hurry and sometimes these results in an accident. I, however, try my best to avoid the fastest track to escape from this tailgating, but I have noticed that sometimes there are drivers who flash at you even in the slower tracks. They can change lanes and overtake from the left, but they want us to move and make way for them instead. It is really very difficult for the people with new driving licenses to drive on the roads because of these tailgaters. Most of the drivers drive at very high speeds, and they expect us to do the same also. Tailgating puts the drivers under mental pressure.
From Mr Ajeet Kumar S. Pillai
UAE
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