Mandela statue
Dear Sir,
My eyes welled up with tears as I saw the picture of a Nelson Mandela statue being unveiled in Ramallah in the Arab world section of Gulf Times the other day (April 27).
It is said to be the first such sculpture of the anti-apartheid icon outside South Africa.
The six-metre statue  was unveiled by Parks Tau, the executive mayor of Johannesburg, which sponsored it as part of a twin city agreement signed two years ago.
The statue unveiling was long overdue but it had been frustrated by successive Israeli governments.
I remember as a child watching on live television Mandela walking out of prison with the iconic fist pump in the air (interestingly, the statue unveiled in Ramallah captures that gesture exactly).  It mesmerised me as it symbolised his defiance of oppressors, no matter what.
Mandela was a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. He also backed the cause of many other oppressed people in the world up until his death.
God willing, the statue will remind the occupiers that peace in Palestine will be achieved when Palestinians are given back their land and are allowed to govern themselves.  
George Matubia
[email protected]

Avoid chemical pesticides
Dear Sir,
The report “Demand for pest control surges as cockroaches multiply” (Gulf Times, April 23) highlighted a major problem facing Doha.
Cockroaches multiply rapidly in warm weather. And if left unchecked, a cockroach infestation can rapidly expand.
Pest control companies sell their products, which contain chemicals and toxins, at a high price. But, one should be hesitant to use them because of their toxicities, which could pose health hazards.
But there are alternatives to chemical pesticides which can cause allergic reaction and trigger bronchitis, asthma, skin eczema, etc.
The homoeopathic system, which has recently been recognised in Qatar, provides safe remedies for pest protection. They are reputed to be safe and cost-effective.

Dr Benezer Latheef Nassar
[email protected]