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Boost in firefighting services a hot topic
Boost in firefighting services a hot topic Olivia Olarte-Ulherr / 29 May 2013 Detailed investigation and analysis of the circumstances surrounding a fire incident, big or small, are imperative to improving firefighting services and operational procedures, an expert says. “We don’t put enough emphasis into what we should be doing…The amount of time and effort that is spent on the investigation of fires is not enough. We need to be spending time analysing the fire, not just the cause of the fire,” said Peter Holland, an adviser to the UK’s Department for Communities and Local Government. “Most fire investigations done around the world are very much focused on the cause of the fire, it needs to be focusing more on analysing the circumstances around that fire,” he stressed. The new or modern methods of (building) construction pose a huge challenge globally to firefighting services, Holland said. People need to learn that fires sometimes behave differently from what was initially thought. “We need to look at the structure and how that behaves, but we also need to look at the content and how they are behaving. Modern materials are being used inside our homes, our buildings, we need to gather that information more quickly and we need to gather it not just from the tragedies, not just from the big fires, but we need to gather it from smaller fires,” said the fire chief of over 40 years. Speaking on Tuesday at the third annual Fire Safety Technology Forum in the Capital, Holland, who is also the international president of the Institution of Fire Engineers, underscored the importance of “gathering evidence” to help review standards, testing regimes and operational procedures. “It’s about collation of that information and reviewing it so that we improve our test standards, we improve our building regulations, our buildings codes to ensure that they are fit for purpose for the future.” Disaster Victim Identification Casualty tracking is important in the management of a major incident, said Richard Gordon, director of Bournemouth University International Disaster Management in the UK. In his presentation at the forum, Gordon highlighted the benefits of having a dedicated missing person unit or a place the public can call to inquire about their family members suspected to be involved in a big accident. This, he said, would help effectively lead the public away from the accident site. “Dead or not, we need to know who you are…according to Interpol, you and I have the right not to lose our identity because you died away from home,” Gordon pointed out. The physical description of each missing person gathered from relatives often helped easily identify people, especially those involved in an “open event” or when an accident happened in public places with large mass gatherings. “We want to provide that care, so that people don’t lose that identity,” Gordon said. olivia@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
FNC okays new Company Law
FNC okays new Company Law Nissar Hoath / 29 May 2013 Private firms will soon have to employ more Emiratis after the Federal National Council finally passed Company Law 2013 after a long debate on Tuesday. It will now be presented to the Cabinet for consideration. A key article of the draft law refers to the requirement of private companies to employ a larger workforce. A clause in the article stipulates that company boards must comprise 50 per cent Emiratis. According to the article, if the number of Emiratis on the board is below this number, it will be asked to appoint them within three months. The draft law was discussed and approved in the presence of Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy. The session was chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr and attended by Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for FNC Affairs, and senior economy ministry officials. The council reviewed a committee report on the bill. The house was informed that the panel had held 23 meetings to discuss the draft law before its submission to the council. The committee also held meetings with government officials and the minister. Some of the members suggested further amendments to the draft, and changing the name from Company Law to Company and Trade Law. However, the minister had his reservations. “If the name of the law is changed, I will refer it to the Cabinet and I will raise my objections to that,” said Al Mansouri. The minister said the term Company Law was perfect was commonly used worldwide. “A change in the name of the draft law restricts its jurisdiction. This particular draft law gives space to many trade and economic activities that serve and boost the economy of the country,” he said. Al Mansouri also said the draft law, after it was finalised and implemented, could further be improved and expanded to cover more comprehensive economic activities. The council has been discussing the 383-article draft law for more than four sessions. The bill has been drafted to regulate the establishment, management and governing of private companies in the country in a way that they serve the national economy. To a question from a member about industrial growth, Al Mansouri said industries played a vital role in the country’s economy. “Industries are important to the country’s economy and development. Industries as at now contribute 9.1 per cent to the GDP. We are planning to increase it further and soon the industries contribution to the GDP will be 20 per cent,” the minister said. He also said the draft bill had been thoroughly reviewed and amended several times and hopefully it would be soon approved by the Cabinet and would receive Presidential assent and be implemented to help further improve the country’s economy. The draft law, once implemented, will be applied to all local and international companies with branches operating in the country. It also has articles that govern the operations and business of international companies that come here for temporary period under agreements with local partners. – nissar@khaleejtimes.com A member raises an issue at the Federal National Council on Tuesday. — KT photo by Nezar Balout FNC defers 7 questions In a rare event, the Federal National Council (FNC) went without the Question Hour on Tuesday. The council deferred seven questions for the forthcoming session on the request of the Federal Government. “The council today will not be able to take up the seven pending questions on the request of the government,” FNC Secretary-General Dr Mohammed Al Mazrouei told the House as it was about to start the Question Hour. He also told the members that the issues raised by the members in their written questions will be raised with the ministries and authorities concerned. However, some members raised their voices and regretted that the important questions concerning public interests have been deferred several times. The meeting chaired by Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr was also attended by Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of FNC Affairs, and Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy. Responding to the criticism, Dr Gargash explained the reasons behind the delay in taking up the questions that have been pending for the last several sessions. “This has happened because the ministers concerned who could better elaborate on these issues could not attend the recent and this meeting due to important engagements. But let me assure the House, the government always cooperates with the council to help it exercise its legislative role,” he said. Member Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, in his deferred question, raised the issue of and profession of mosque imams (prayer leaders) and muezzins (those calling for prayers). He asked the House and the authority concerned what was the policy for Emiratis getting into this dignified profession. “What are the results of the council’s recommendations for the recruitment of Emiratis as imams and muezzins?” the member asked. Another issue raised was about increment in salaries and other financial benefits, including pensions of Emiratis. In his question addressed to Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, who was absent, member Hamad Ahmed Al Rahoumi demanded: “Retired Emiratis should be given a pension of more than Dh9,000,” he demanded. The other issues raised in the written questions were about an amendment in the policy pertaining to pensioners, and benefits for the elderly and women, increase in the grants for civil servants and reconsideration of the system of early retirement for women. nissar@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Thought leader: Spread Arab culture of moderate Islam
Thought leader: Spread Arab culture of moderate Islam (Wam) / 28 May 2013 “The Arab-Islamic culture of moderation is in a real crisis amid the flood of ideological militancy and extremism,” Dr Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, director-general of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), said. “There is no way out or alternative but to support and enhance this culture of moderation, not only so that our Arab and Islamic nations can overcome these difficult historical circumstances, but also in order to protect future generations from the spread of militancy and extremist ideology, he told the opening session of a conference on ‘The Future of Arab-Islamic Culture’. The two-day conference will deliberate on ‘Analytical View of the General Currents in Islamic Thought,’ ‘Islamic Thought and the Arab Renaissance Movement’, ‘Movements in Contemporary Islamic Political Thought: The Muslim Brotherhood’. The Closing Discussion Panel will tackle ‘Experiences of Political Islam in Power: Visions and Ideas.’ He stated: “In recent years, the Arab region has witnessed obvious and significant political transformations, the result of which has been that religious groups and movements stand at the forefront of politics in several countries. It stands to reason that such shifts have specific implications and consequences worthy of close research and study, particularly in the light of Islam itself becoming a subject of escalating political argument and controversy in conflicts that will undoubtedly yield adverse consequences. “Such consequences will not be limited to the stability of Arab communities in the current moment, but may also spread to affect the image of Islam that has prevailed for centuries, namely its unique characteristics of tolerance and acceptance of others.” He added: “Observance of the vast overlap between religion and politics in the daily practices of certain Islamic groups and movements shows the systematic distortion of Islam through the adoption of slogans and media coverage, ostensibly to defend religion. However, their essence and goals are political and aim for authority, power and influence by exploiting certain religious perceptions that utilise the innate tendency of Arab people towards religiosity, in order to fulfill their aims. “Therefore, we see that the Arab world is in a dilemma, which some movements and groups try to justify and interpret in a historical and religious context. This also leads us to struggle against a close-minded religious discourse that paralyses the potential of our youth, closes the window of hope and throws the destiny of the Arab world into the abyss.” The Director-General of the ECSSR stressed that the only way to tackle the several problems Arab countries are facing, at present, is holding on to moderate Islam to strike a balance between material gain, spirituality and the preservation of cultural identity without falling into the traps of excess, negligence, extremism or violence. The proper understanding of Islam will rid the Arab and Islamic world of its deterioration and fortify societies against extremism, he said. He added: “We fully trust that moderate Islamic culture is immune from fundamentalism, extremism and all attempts at hijacking of Islam by those claiming its exclusive representation. This trust stems from the existence of well-established religious institutions which protect moderate Islamic culture, preserve the true identity of Islam, and aim to spread it worldwide. The most prominent of these institutions is Al Azhar, the biggest religious institution in the Arab and Islamic world. He concluded by saying: “Our aim in this conference is not to criticise practices that have been rejected by Islamic societies. Rather, our goal is to provide a driving force for the efforts aimed at developing the Arab nation on the basis of sound Islamic thought and introducing the true image of Islam, thereby replacing its image presented by some groups as a closed, fanatical religion that rejects the other. Continue reading
