January 5 2005
Indian President Condoles the Death of Sheikh Maktoum
The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has condoled the passing away of the His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In a condolence letter to the President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan, Dr. Kalam has said, “It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing away of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sheikh Maktoum will always be remembered for his abiding kindness and generosity. Under his leadership, Dubai attained a unique status as a hub for commerce, finance, travel and tourism. His contribution to the UAE as a whole, and Dubai in particular, has indeed been immense. He will always be remembered as a great benefactor by the people of Dubai and the UAE. The loss is even more poignant for all Indians, particularly those residing in Dubai, who greatly benefited from his affection and generosity. This is an even greater loss to me as I had know him personally to be a very warm hearted and generous person. India is united in grief with the ruling family of Dubai and the leadership and the people of UAE, in mourning the passing away of Sheikh Maktoum. On behalf of the Government and people of India and on my own behalf, I convey to you my sincere condolences.”
Dubai Ruler Sheikh Maktoum Passed Away in Australia
Dubai, 4 Jan.- The ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has died during a visit to Australia. Sheikh Maktoum was also the vice-president and prime minister and of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a federation of seven Gulf states. Forty days of mourning have been declared, and government offices will be closed for seven days starting Wednesday. "The UAE has today lost a historical leader who dedicated his life to building the nation and doing good for its people," said a statement from the UAE's presidency. The funeral of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum will take place on Thursday morning at the Umm Hurair cemetery after his body arrives back in Dubai from Australia.Sheikh Maktoum maintained a low profile, preferring to allow his younger brothers to run the daily affairs of Dubai. His brother Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al Maktoum is expected to succeed him as ruler of the emirate. Internationally, Sheikh Maktoum was known as co-owner of Dubai's Godolphin stables, which competes in major horse race.
Dubai Shopping Festival Postponed indefinitely
Organizers of one of Dubai‘s main tourist attractions, the Dubai Shopping Festival 2006, announced on Wednesday that all festivities related to the one-month event would be canceled. DSF was planned to start on Wednesday. The cancellation was declared following the news about the death of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The festival’s website, mydsf.ae, has been taken down until further notice. The entertainment and shopping bonanza event, with activities taking place around the city during the 32-day fiesta, has evolved into one of the favourite haunts for visitors. In fact, one of the biggest beneficiaries of the event is the tourism sector. Hotels, travel agents and tour operators contribute to the selling of the event worldwide. The festival annually draws some 3 million people to Dubai to shop
Sheikh Maktoum with Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Zayed.
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Five hundred Citi Taxi Drivers too Return Taxi
SHARJAH - Following two taxi strikes in Dubai, about five hundred odd drivers of a new taxi company in Sharjah have returned their vehicle in protest against the recent increase in the daily target from Dhs.250 to Dhs.300 and the decision to. Drivers said the drivers stopped work in protest against the increase in target, which they said is difficult to meet. “We used to pay Dhs.7500 per month to get 30 per cent commission. However, following the patrol price hike the target was increased to Dhs.9000 per month, which is very difficult to achieve in Sharjah, a place with heavy traffic and a number of illegal taxis, said drivers.
“Two drivers went to the Dubai office of the taxi company to talk about the problems. However, the managers demanded that the drivers return their taxis to the company and go back to their home country as strike is illegal in the UAE,” they said. “More than 500 taxi drivers have returned their vehicle to the company and they are parked behind the Sharjah City Centre,” they said. “We understand that the new drivers were recruited with an agreement that for three years their payment will be 30 per cent for 7,500 per month,” they added. “The drivers are not on strike, but returned their vehicle because they are not keen to work. The management will have to take a decision on the issue,” added drivers.
The new drivers who have joined the taxi company say that their monthly income is negligible and sometimes negative because of various reasons, especially traffic fines, which are borne by the driver. As there is not enough business in Sharjah, an Emirate where the lower middle class and working class reside. There are many taxis and getting customers is difficult,” they said. When contacted, the General of the Taxi promised to return the call and talk about the drivers strike. There are four new taxi companies in Sharjah that have replaced the old illegal taxis run by Asian expatriates. As there is still competition, heavy traffic and lack of experience, many drivers fail to achieve their monthly target.
Dubai Transport Drivers Resume Service after 10 Hours Strike
KM Special
Sonapur – More than 3,000 drivers of Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) have resumed work, after stopping the main taxi service in the city for about ten hours from 6 AM to 4 PM on a working day. The drivers returned to the Dubai roads after the higher authorities intervened to resolve the crisis and promised to look into their grievances by next Thursday. The drivers have stopped work to meet their nine point demands, which the mediators from the Diwans Court, have promised to examine. The presence of riot police ensured that the strike remained peaceful, except minor scuffles among drivers who supported and opposed the strike.“We are happy that the higher authorities in Dubai have promised to passionately look into all the nine demands made by the DTC drivers. Therefore, we have called off the strike at 4 PMm” said one driver, who claimed that about 3,500 drivers participated in the first such strike that plagued the city life in the recent past. Hundreds of taxi drivers in uniform assembled within the main station of Dubai Transport Corporation at Sonapur from early morning and did not take taxis. “Most of the taxis were parked in the complex behind the DTC main station and other vehicles were parked in other areas in Dubai. Most of the drivers kept off the road,” said one driver, who did not want to be named. This correspondent could not see many DTC taxis on the Dubai roads, but most of them were parked in Sonapur main station complex.
The main demand of the drivers is to “avoid unnecessary fines and refund the amount of unnecessary fines.” The mediators have agreed to reexamine the fines, which became a bane for many taxi drivers in the last two months. According to sources, the faulty satellite message system is one reason for the problem as the messages send from the system do not reach the driver on time. “The messages come to a driver in Sonapur to pick up a passenger in Jabel Ali or Wafi City. Many drivers cannot meet the assignment in such messages because of heavy traffic and other problems,” said one driver. However, some drivers do skip short trips and focus only on customers from some hotels. There are many drivers who are earning negligible commission due to arbitrary fines, drivers said.
Many drivers said they have been getting either negligible commission and in some cases, the monthly earning is negative. Stopping the periodical increase of target amount, avoiding the newly introduced petrol diesel (PD) in the target and ensuring safety and security of drivers are other demands, which will be positively reexamined by the Dubai Transport Board of Directors and other relevant authorities. “Any customer can call up the complaints number and victimize a driver. It is agreed that customer complaints would be solved in the presence of the complainant and the driver. Normally, decisions of fine are made arbitrarily without taking the drivers point of view, they said.
Another problem haunting the drivers was the compulsory parking of taxis in specific locations where major exhibitions or trade shows take place. While it is a reasonable demand for the taxi company to meet the demands of international tourists and business visitors reaching the Emirate, the taxi drivers feel that since their vehicle is parked for a long time idly in such venues, they cannot achieve their target.
“If there is no car due to any reason, make arrangement for alternative vehicles or that day should be kept out of the target,” says another driver quoting the demands chart. Arranging monthly meetings, listening to their problems and solutions, free accommodation and uniform are other demands of drivers that are being examined by the DTC and Rulers Court authorities. Drivers have said that if their problems are not solved by Saturday they may abstain from work again.
