Bad experience with taxi driver
Dear Sir,
As a Filipino woman working in Doha, I have a great regard for Qatar. The peaceful atmosphere and the fair justice system prevailing in the country give one confidence and a positive feeling. Because of this, a bitter experience I had with a Karwa taxi driver the other day had come as a real shock for me.
I hired a Karwa taxi from Najma (just behind the Crowne Plaza ) to go to Al Nasr Street Al Sadd on that day.
The driver seemed new to Doha as he did not have a clear idea of the route. After going around different roads, he finally dropped me off in Mansoura. He was rude when I told him this was not the place I wanted to go. I was shocked and scared by his misbehaviour and decided to get down immediately.
He then asked me to pay QR50 for what I considered a short distance. I argued that I would not pay that much. And when I opened my wallet he just snatched it from my hand and sped away. My mobile phone was inside the wallet which also had some cash.
I couldn’t recognise the driver’s nationality.
Immediately after this incident I lodged a complaint with the Karwa customer service through telephone. But no action seems to have been taken yet. I had expected a quicker response to my complaint from the taxi company.
Let me take this opportunity to tell women travelling alone to exercise utmost caution when hiring taxis in Doha. I would also like to request the Philippine embassy to intervene in this matter and initiate necessary action at the earliest.
Divine Grace Aquino, PO Box 19138, Doha
Environment campaign
Dear Sir,
They were on their toes from the word go. They did not take their eyes off the goal. It was like a penance for the entire team. It was not a participation just to win, but a mission to accomplish. And they came through with flying colours. They deserved it, of course. They made the entire nature-loving community of Qatar proud.
Qatar-based Karnataka Sangha, an Indian expatriate association known for its socio-cultural activities, has just been adjudicated to the top slot in the Qatar National Environment Day -2015 competition organised by the Ministry of Environment and Indian Cultural Centre (ICC).
The Sangha has won the honour after running its dedicated, selfless and vigorous environment campaign for more than six weeks.
Another Karnataka organisation, Tulu Koota, has been a close second.
Karnataka Sangha has always been reaching out to its members to be responsive to environmental concerns. It has adopted the noble idea of presenting a plant sapling instead of bouquets to guests at its functions. The tagline of its website, “Start today, Save tomorrow”, and the nature-loving phrase “Adopt, Accept
and Adore” speak volumes of its members’ concern for mother earth.
Hats-off to Karnataka Sangha! Keep up the good work!
Uhdamkh, (Full name and address supplied)
Please send us your letters By e-mail: [email protected]m
