EVEN as Qatar surges ahead with its modernisation plans in terms of ultra modern malls, state-of-the-art airport and ports, contemporary road systems and the latest gadgets, there are certain places where time may sometimes seem to stand still in Doha – and in some cases it actually does.
We are not talking about Souq Waqif where the clock seemed to have been turned a few decades back, in a manner of speaking, to make it a showpiece destination for the local population as well as tourists with its traditional architecture, conventional shops and age-old ambience.
We are referring to a couple of examples of public clocks in the city where the time seems to stand still, literally and figuratively.
In a random check of public clocks in the city, Gulf Times discovered that at least two of them at prominent places were telling the wrong time - not by minutes, but by hours.
For instance, the public clocks on the tower near the most important address in the country, the Emiri Diwan, showed different times on its two faces: 12.48 and 12.20, respectively, when the actual time was 9.55am.
The same is the status of the time-piece at yet another prominent junction in the city: near the Toyota Tower. When our photographer took a picture at 10.18am, the time on the dial read 6.30!
But, it must be said in all fairness that these clocks indeed show accurate time, down to the millisecond, at least twice a day. That is a service they have been doing for a long time now, observers insist.
But, another chronometer from a prestigious world brand can’t even claim that: it has no hands. Still it adorns a college wall.
As if to reinforce Qatar’s intentions of marching forward with the digital era, the authorities have installed a number of eye-catching state-of-the-art clocks on many of the country’s impressive thoroughfares, which, alas show different times, albeit slightly, at any given time.
Clocks or no clocks, no one doubts that Qatar will charge ahead determinedly to keep its appointment with destiny among the modern countries of the world.

MASSACRE IN GAZA

GAZA: Israeli warplanes pounded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip yesterday, killing at least 225 people in one of the bloodiest days for the Palestinians in 60 years of conflict with the Jewish state.
Prospects for progress in peace talks seemed as good as dead.
Israel said the strikes were in response to rocket fire by Gaza militants, which intensified after Hamas ended a six-month-old ceasefire a week ago.
The rockets caused few injuries, but goaded Israelis as they gear up for a February election. Yesterday one man was killed by a rocket fired after the Israeli strikes began.
“There is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and now the time has come to fight,” Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said. Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that “it may take time, and each and every one of us must be patient so we can complete the mission”.
The head the Hamas government in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh said: “Palestine has never seen an uglier massacre” and in Damascus, Hamas leader Khalid Mishal called for a new Palestinian uprising against Israel. “We will not leave our land, we will not raise white flags and we will not kneel except before God,” Haniyeh said.
Black smoke billowed over Gaza City, where the dead and wounded lay scattered on the ground after Israel bombed more than 40 security compounds, including two where Hamas was hosting graduation ceremonies for new recruits.
At the main Gaza City graduation ceremony, uniformed bodies lay in a pile and the wounded writhed in pain. Some rescue workers beat their heads and shouted “God is Greatest”. One badly wounded man quietly recited verses from the Qur’an.
More than 700 Palestinians were wounded in all, medics said.
Israel instructed hundreds of thousands of Israelis living up to 30km from the Gaza border to remain in “safe areas” indoors in case of retaliatory rocket fire.
Backing Israel, the administration of US President George W Bush, in its final weeks in office, put the onus on Hamas to prevent a further escalation.
“The US ... holds Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza,” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement. “The ceasefire should be restored immediately.”
The UN and the European Union, in contrast, simply called for an immediate halt to all violence.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Israeli air campaign was “criminal” and urged world powers to intervene.
Egypt said it would keep trying to restore the truce.
A five-day Israeli offensive in March killed more than 120 people, but yesterday’s death toll was the highest for a single day in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 1948, when the Jewish state was established.
“I call upon you to carry out a third intifada (uprising),” Hamas leader Mishal said on Al Jazeera television. The first Palestinian intifada began in 1987 and the second in 2000 after peace talks failed.
Hamas estimated that at least 100 members of its security forces had been killed, including police chief Tawfiq Jabber and the head of Hamas’s security and protection unit, along with at least 15 women and some children.
Morgues across the Gaza Strip ran out of space for bodies.
Hamas, which won a 2006 parliamentary election but was shunned by Western powers over its refusal to renounce violence and recognise Israel, said all of its security compounds in the Gaza Strip were destroyed or seriously damaged. - Reutersamas-ruled Gaza Strip yesterday, killing at least 225 people in one of the bloodiest days for the Palestinians in 60 years of conflict with the Jewish state.

TAMIM MEETS ABEGS PARTICIPANTS

TAMIM MEETS ABEGS PARTICIPANTS: HH the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received at his Emiri Diwan office their excellencies the participants at the 20th General Conference of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS) who called on him to greet him. The Deputy Emir wished their excellencies success in their meeting. The meeting was attended by Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Sheikha Ahmad al-Mahmoud, and director of HH the Heir Apparent's Office HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani. – QNA

GULF TIMES WISHES ITS CHRISTIAN READERS A MERRY XMAS

Fountains dance to the tune of music near the entrance of the La Cigale hotel in Doha.

The musical spouts that also bloom into colourful patterns presented a fitting scenario to the festive season. Related reports – Page 6 nPICTURE: Jayan Orma

HOMING IN ON HERITAGE SITE

Feral pigeons have set up a thriving colony in the heritage site of Souq Waqif in downtown Doha.

The pigeons have made the renovated souq their new home after they were “displaced” from Souq Faleh. Visitors can buy grains from the shops in the souq to feed the birds. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

Gas states form forum

MOSCOW: Gas exporting states yesterday finalised the creation of a new Qatar-based forum aimed at co-ordinating gas policy.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned at the meeting of ministers from the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow that the “era of cheap gas” was over and that consumers would face higher prices in the future.
“A new organisation has been born today.... The charter has been agreed. The headquarters will be in Qatar,” Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said after the meeting.
The forum groups Russia, the world’s biggest gas producer, with other gas-rich states such as Qatar and Iran and a dozen other gas-exporting countries.
The GECF had been dreamt up at a meeting in Tehran in 2001 and ministers have met annually since then. But this was the first time the organisation’s basic rules have been agreed and a headquarters established.
Doha beat off competition from Putin’s home city of Saint Petersburg and Tehran to host the headquarters.
Forum officials emphasised that the purpose of the meeting was to approve the charter rather than create an Opec-style forum to fix prices.
“We would like to again stress there is no need to directly associate the newly created organisation with Opec,” said Shmatko.
“Therefore we will certainly not be discussing today the need to agree on levels of gas production. Our view is much broader.”
Putin’s warning over more expensive gas came amid a weeks-long standoff between Ukraine and Russia over Kiev’s debts to Russian energy giant Gazprom and the price it should pay after the New Year.
Gazprom supplies a quarter of the European Union’s gas, mostly via Ukraine.
“The expenses necessary for developing fields are rising sharply, and this means that despite the current problems in finances the era of cheap energy resources, of cheap gas, is of course coming to an end,” Putin said.
The deputy chairman of Gazprom, Alexander Medvedev, described the forum as a “gas Non-Opec”.
“There are no mechanisms which the ‘oil Opec’ uses which could be applied to the gas market. Quota arrangement is impossible in the gas market in principle,” he said.
The indexing of gas prices to the oil price and infrastructure factors make the gas market far more rigid than its crude equivalent.
In his keynote address, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah noted that Qatar hosted the Ministerial Meeting twice, in 2003 and 2007.
He said the high-level committee constituted during the last meeting 2007 had worked on finalising the forum’s statute and the procedure for the establishment of the General Secretariat. An important study on global gas supply and demand was conducted during that period.
This meeting is taking place at the end of an exceptional year, during which the world witnessed dramatic changes in the energy markets and in the global economy as a whole, he said.
The world witnessed growth in natural gas demand in the recent past, al-Attiyah said, explaining that China and India as well as the Middle East were the main centres for this growth in demand.
He announced that with one of the new LNG trains fully operational in 2009, Qatar’s LNG production capacity will be close to 39mn tonnes a year. This figure will almost double to 77mn tonnes a year in less than two years from now. – Agencies

Trafficking in humans: ‘no state faultless’

NO COUNTRY has a clean record in human trafficking and Qatar is no exception, speakers at a symposium said yesterday.
The symposium was organised by the National Office of Combating Trafficking in Humans (NOCTH).
Legal experts explained that the traditional ways of human trafficking had changed “into many forms that are difficult to recognise, unless those responsible for combating such crimes are appropriately trained.”
Dean of Faculty of Law at Qatar University Hassan el-Sayed said that the Qatari Constitution or criminal law did not include a clear regulation for fighting human trafficking, but “each rule matched the international agreement in this regard”.
“Qatar laws do not include a clear regulation for combating human trafficking as in Sudan’s constitution, which is considered as the source of traditional slavery, since we have mostly surpassed this level of fighting the crime,” he said.
El-Sayed said the Qatari Constitution had articles dealing with fighting corruption and exploitation.
He pointed out that the Qatari criminal law included acts dealing with crimes like use or threats of using force, murder or torture, and any act or attempt of buying and selling humans or their organs without their consent.
El-Sayed said Qatar’s record was not clean, especially with some labourers not getting their salaries on time, although the law was very strict in this regard.
“This causes great rage among workers which could be harmful to national security,” he said.
Qatar was fighting human trafficking by giving everybody a chance to learn and train, fighting poverty, conducting media campaigns, training legal personnel, and through international co-operation, he added.
NOCTH co-ordinator Mariam Ibrahim al-Maliki said at the opening of the symposium that human trafficking had increased due to poverty and unemployment.
She noted that Qatar had signed and respected many international agreements in this regard.
One of the delegates called for the establishment of a law for housemaids in Qatar.
Another participant pointed out that husbands were not allowed to accompany married maids to Qatar. “The husband could work as a driver and protect his wife from sexual abuse and other crimes,” he said.
Mouna Ghanem from the Centre of Development spoke about maid abuse in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Morocco.
“The Sri Lankan embassy in Saudi Arabia had reported in 2004 that it received about 150 maids who fled their sponsors every month because of mistreatment,” she said.

Attiyah sees ‘oil supply crisis’

HE the Deputy Premier Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah has said the declining oil prices would not encourage companies and oil producers to invest in the energy sector leading to future supply crises.
“We have already started hearing about countries and oil companies either putting projects on hold or abandoning them altogether. None of them will invest in non-economical projects if the prices remain so low. This will create supply crisis when the global economy recovers, triggering demand yet again,” he said in his opening remarks at the GCC energy ministers meeting at the Sheraton last night.
Earlier, speaking to reporters al-Attiyah said he was not surprised by a recent fall in oil prices after an Opec output cut, saying the decline was due to the global economic slowdown.
“This is a cycle, you know, it is related to the world economy,” al-Attiyah said.
It would take some time to measure the depth of the global recession and determine the length of time it would take for Opec cuts to draw down inventories and balance the market, he said.
“We will have to wait until the first quarter to see more clearly the world economy,” Attiyah said.
Attiyah said he was confident that Opec members would make the deep cuts in supply that they have pledged. He said compliance with previous reductions was over 80%.
Reuters quoted al-Attiyah as having said were no plans at present for Opec to meet before its next scheduled gathering in Vienna in March.
US oil settled at its lowest level in more than four years on Friday, just two days after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to its deepest-ever supply cut to stem the slide in oil prices, the agency said.
The economic recession has eaten into oil demand and caused prices to fall more than $100 from their July peak.
Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said one should not doubt Opec’s ability to restore the oil market. He was replying to a query on whether the Opec members would stick to the promised cut in production at their two previous meetings in Austria and Algeria.
GCC Secretary-General HE Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah said a draft law on unified mining procedures was being discussed by the energy ministers of the six Gulf countries.

Al Khor next hotspot for real estate: Barwa

BARWA Al Khor, a subsidiary of BARWA Real Estate and a leading master developer, has described Al Khor area as the next hotspot for tourism and luxury living in the region.
Massive infrastructural developments and the booming expatriate population have made the area an ideal location for more world-class real estate projects.
Recognising the outstanding potential within the culturally-rich suburban area, the QR35bn ‘Urjuan’ was officially launched by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabir al-Thani, Prime Minister of Qatar, in November.
The Urjuan project, which will rise within one of Qatar’s freehold areas, will provide a unique environment where residents from a diverse range of global cultures may thrive and it is expected to be a residential community project, which will reflect a modem city that preserves the heritage of Al Khor.
Situated at the north of Al Khor, along the shore of Al Khor Bay on Qatar’s east coast, ‘Urjuan is set to become a self-sustained community in close proximity to the proposed Bahrain-Qatar causeway’.
Apart from over 24,500 housing units, the project will consist of a beachfront luxury hotel and resort, well-appointed apartments, townhouses and villas.
In addition, the project will include extensive gardens and tourist facilities such as a world class hotel business club and resort hotel, waterfront residences with full leisure facilities and three marinas, an 18-hole international golf course, and a club offering leisure and sport activities.
“The challenge for us is to build a cosmopolitan area - one which the Qatari nation can be proud of and with the unhindered progress of the project, we believe that we are on track to achieve our goal,” said Al Khor Barwa chief executive officer engineer Youssef Ahmed al-Hammadi,
“The growing popularity of the Al Khor area with its natural bay as a thriving destination for first-class residential properties gives us an outstanding opportunity to cater to the growing demand among Qatari nationals as well as expatriate residents. With sales now open for the massive project, we are very optimistic of the prospects within this massive real estate venture, which focuses not only on providing modern luxury facilities to tenants but also on underlining the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Al Khor.”

Aid boat arrives in Gaza Strip

GAZA: A Qatari boat carrying humanitarian aid docked in the Gaza Strip yesterday after sailing from Cyprus despite an Israeli naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory.
Fifteen international activists, including two from a Qatari charity, left the port of Larnaca on Friday, coinciding with the end of a six-month-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the enclave.
It was the fifth such voyage by the US-based ‘Free Gaza’ movement since it launched shuttles from Cyprus last August.
Israel patrols the coastal waters around Gaza, but has not obstructed Free Gaza activists from sailing to the enclave.
But earlier this month the Jewish state prevented a Libyan ship from delivering humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip and foiled an attempt by Israeli Arabs to set off in a boat from Israel to the territory.
The Dignity boat was allowed in after having been stopped at sea and searched.
“Israeli security intercepted our boat at sea. It carried out an identity check, searched the boat and allowed us to continue our voyage towards Gaza,” said Aed Qahtany, from a Qatari group.
The cargo consisted of baby milk and a tonne of medicines, according to Amjad al-Shawa, co-ordinator of the campaign.
“The whole Qatari population and its government stand alongside the Palestinian people and particularly alongside Palestinians who are subject to the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip,” Qahtany said.
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member Jamal al-Khudari said the delegation of the Qatari ship would inspect the health, educational and agricultural sectors in the Gaza strip to get acquainted with the real situation here to convey a true and clearcut image of what is going on in the Gaza Strip to the entire world.
He added that more such ships would follow, such as a Lebanese vessel and a European parliamentarians’ ship, which is due to arrive early next month.
Meawhile, GCC Secretary General HE Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah has praised HH the Emir, government and people of Qatar for the implementation of Qatar People Initiative which broke the Israeli siege on Gaza by the arrival of the Al-Karama (Dignity) boat in Gaza. - Agencies

A newly-introduced double-decker Karwa bus carrying women and families on a free trip of the Corniche yesterday.

The free ride was offered for two days – Thursday and Friday – as part of Qatar National Day celebrations. PICTURE: Jayaram

Country marks the day with patriotic fervour

QATAR yesterday displayed its military might and cultural heritage as the country celebrated its National Day marked by an outpouring of patriotism and joy by citizens and residents.Thousands of people turned out on the Corniche in the morning for the National Day celebrations, the biggest and the most impressive seen in Qatar yet.

Among them were HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani who received the salute of the armed forces marching in a parade. Other ministers and dignitaries also watched the parade from a special podium.

As the columns of soldiers marched down the festooned thoroughfare and military vehicles moved slowly behind, small children, in their brocaded finery, waved Qatar’s flags enthusiastically.The bright and pleasant sunshine only added to the festive spirit.As the various branches of the security forces strutted their stuff on the black tarmac, a flotilla of battle ships along with traditional boats sailed in the turquoise waters of Doha Bay.Fighter jets and armoured helicopters conducted a fly past and some of them weaved designs with maroon-coloured smoke.The march past ended at 10.30am and HH the Emir left immediately after the National Anthem. The cavalcade moved at a snail’s pace with HH the Emir waving constantly to an excited crowd.Many of the spectators said it was the best parade seen in the country, both in terms of size and organisation. The evening saw fabulous water and light shows, and ended with a spectacular display of fireworks, undoubtedly the biggest and the most dazzling yet seen in the country.The National Day is dedicated to the memory of the founder-ruler, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani al-Thani, the tribal ruler who stood up against the big powers towards the end of the 19th century and achieved statehood for Qatar.He led Qatari tribes and fought a decisive battle against Ottoman troops at Wajbah on March 25, 1893. That was a turning point in the history of the region. The day is also in remembrance of the nation’s forefathers and the sacrifices they made.On December 18, 1878, Sheikh Jassim took over the reins of leadership following the death of his father, Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani.The Qatar National Day Organising Committee has worked for the last five months to stage events that are rooted in history and directly connected with the identity and special culture of the country.

THOUSANDS of Qataris and expatriates who witnessed the National Day’s military parade yesterday on the Corniche were unanimous in describing it as magnificent.

Although the area of the parade was blocked as early as 8am, large numbers of residents were very keen on being part of the event. They parked their cars away from cordoned-off area of the parade and made it on foot to the Corniche. Um Khaled, a Palestinian who was born in Doha, hailed the show as “wonderful”, saying that she was awaiting such a chance to express her gratitude for “her home Qatar.”

“This is the first time in my lifetime I have witnessed such an experience. Although I am a Palestinian, I feel that Qatar is my home. I was born here and my loyalty is to Qatar. Thanks to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad, the Palestinians are receiving special attention,” she said.Emile from the Philippines said she braved the cold weather and attended the parade to “congratulate Qataris”. “It is our duty to gift Qataris something today. I was very keen on having many Qatari flags to gift them to Qataris as a gesture of our love for Qatar. We are living in their homeland,” she said, while observing that the dhow show was the best she liked in the parade. While expressing her satisfaction at the shows, Um Saif, a young Qatari woman, hailed the idea of changing Qatar’s National Day to mark the date when Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed succeeded his father. “It was a great idea. Sheikh Jassim has been a symbol for our unity and solidarity. I feel happy that I would be able to celebrate the same event years and years to come. I think it was a loss for everyone who did not come out and see this big show,” she said. Ramandugam, an Indian expatriate, saw the spectacle, which, he said, was the first of its type during his 18-year long residence in Qatar as “amazing.” “Everybody is enjoying the festival mood. I have been here for 18 years. But this is the first time I have ever seen great show. I am sure that expatriates enjoy the shows equally as the Qataris do because they feel they are at home,” he said.However, it seems that Mubarak al-Kuwari, a 12-year old Qatari child, has some different reflections on the National Day. “I would like to congratulate Abu Meshaal Sheikh Hamad and wish him many returns of the National Day. But I have a small request. I would like to ask him to find us a solution for the traffic jam we have to deal with every day on our way to school,” he said. Eveline, a Canadian expatriate, hailed the shows as “great as the fabulous weather seemed to celebrate with Qatar.” “It is wonderful. I am very happy to be part of such experience where all the people are happy. It is fabulous. When I think back home as the weather is chilling with the temperature minus zero, I feel the difference,” she said, while observing that the organisers should have distributed some sort of flyers for the programmes. “It would have been better if we have been provided with schedules and episodes of the celebrations so that we can be in the right place at the right time,” she added. Units from different sections of the Armed Forces and Interior Ministry participated in the parade. They were led by equestrian soldiers and others on camel back, clad in traditional uniforms. The parade was met with a great applause from the public who waved the Qatari flags and chanted slogans and carried banners expressing their national feelings.The parade included a parachutist’s dropping, the police in their garments and uniforms of the 50s, 70s and 80s periods along with Arab horses and camels. It also included a procession of the old and modern armoured vehicles, and equipment dating back to 1949. However, the most spectacular part of the parade was the air force show which captured the attention of all those on the Corniche. A squadron of fighter jets described the number 18, the date of the National Day, with their vapour trails in maroon, the colour of the Qatari flag.

We salute the architects of our nation

Qatari Navy rehearsing for today’s demonstration. PICTURE: Jayan OrmaEVERY December 18, we celebrate our National Day in commemoration of the historic day in 1878 when Sheikh Jassim, the founder of the State of Qatar, succeeded his father, Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani, as the ruler and led the country towards unity.

This national occasion emphasises our identity and history, embodies the ideals and visionary aspirations that this country was founded on, and pays homage to the great men and women who participated in building our nation. December 18 is the day we remember how our national unity was achieved and how we became a distinct, and respected nation out of a society torn apart by conflicting tribal loyalties, devoid of security and order, and overrun by invaders. Qatar’s National Day is about honouring the heroes, leaders and people who built this country. It’s also a chance to reflect on the principles on which Qatar was founded - truth, justice, friendship and brotherhood and to remember the values of generosity, loyalty responsibility and sacrifice which are key to Qatar’s success today. Our nation has proved in the past, present, and God willing, the future, to be capable of bringing prosperity and building good relationships, both internally and throughout the Arab and Islamic world. Our country has proved that it’s more than just oil, gas and commerce, but also a guiding light for education, knowledge, innovation and freedom. Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani embodied all of these virtues. The founder of the modern State of Qatar demonstrated unequalled determination, leadership and courage and in so doing unified the Peninsula of Qatar during a time of great change and disruption. Together with the Qatari nobles, tribal representatives and ordinary people, Sheikh Jassim established national unity based on a foundation of allegiance to the country and on Islamic principles. On National Day the people of Qatar will come together to renew their relationship with this strong heritage and together look ahead to a peaceful, prosperous future.

EMIR RECEIVES GCC CHIEF:

EMIR RECEIVES GCC CHIEF: HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani received at his Emiri Diwan office yesterday HE the GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah. During the meeting the Emir was briefed on topics to be included in the agenda of the 29th session of the GCC Supreme Council, scheduled to be held in Muscat on December 29-30.

DOHA has asked Manila for more time to study the situation in the conflict-hit Mindanao region after Philippine President Gloria Arroyo made a formal request to Qatar to act as a “facilitator of the peace process”, a top Filipino official told Gulf Times yesterday.

Before departing for Manila at the end of a two-day official visit, Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Peter Favila said that Arroyo presented the request in her meeting with HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and now “they need to have a more complete briefing of the situation.”

more complete briefing of the situation.”Qatar’s support is actively being sought as a facilitator between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), after Doha’s successful mediation efforts in Lebanon earlier this year. “I think it’s pretty difficult for Qatar to make any comments at this point until the Philippines government gives them a detailed briefing of the situation back home,” Favila said. Earlier, Arroyo’s peace adviser Secretary Hemogenes Esperon Jr had told Gulf Times that Qatar could either act as a facilitator or assist Manila with development and infrastructure building in the Muslim-majority region. On December 1, Arroyo reconstituted the government panel in the suspended peace talks with the MILF which was followed by a “complete reconstitution”. The decision came after Malaysia pulled out of the International Monitoring Team at the end of last month citing “developments within its own territories”, as well as the rising perception that the current methods of bringing lasting peace were not working. The official termed Arroyo’s visit as “very very successful” and “highly productive”.“There were investment commitments, some agreements were signed and a decision to set up a joint sovereign wealth fund (SWF) to the tune of $1bn,” Favila said. Qatar, through the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), will be contributing $850mn while the remaining 15% will come from the Philippines government in the form of subscription.“We made a presentation of a series of priority infrastructure projects and other investment prospects to the Qatar Investment Authority. This includes basic infrastructure, telecom, property development, agriculture and fisheries,” Favila explained. However, QIA can undertake its own “due diligence” and decide which project the fund would be keen to invest in.“During the bilateral meeting there were highly encouraging words from HH the Emir no less when he said that he expects the visit of the president to produce very concrete and positive results,” Favila said. “The Emir also suggested to us that Qatar will need 37,000 more Filipino workers next year alone for some of the projects that the country will be putting in place,” he added. The two countries also signed a number of agreements. A few more are expected to be signed when the Emir visits Manila, after Arroyo formally extended an invitation during their talks. The Emir later led well-wishers and ministers who bade farewell to Arroyo upon her departure at Doha international airport yesterday morning.

Arroyo vows to address expats’ demands

THE government of the Philippines cherishes the contribution of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and will work to address their longstanding demands was the message President Gloria Arroyo gave to the 1,500-strong community at the Sheraton Hotel last night. And to prove that actions speak louder than words, President Arroyo ordered, on the spot, the Philippines Department of Labour to take steps towards conducting the professional licensing examinations in Qatar – a longstanding demand of professional Filipinos in Qatar. Currently, any OFW who wants to move overseas in the capacity of a doctor, engineer, architect etc, must pass a professional licensing examination in the Philippines first, before an exit would be possible. Now OFWs can come to Qatar and take the examinations, passing which, they can seek employment.The examination is conducted by the Philippine Regulatory Commission which comes under the Department of Labour. It has been offered to Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. The demand was put forward by a host of Filipino forums in Qatar. “We are all here (including my ministers) at this platform for you. You have a lot of contribution to our economy,” President Arroyo said in her community address. President Arroyo was of the view that one day OFWs will be going overseas purely “out of choice”, rather than the current situation, where “some unfortunate Filipinos must leave their homes to survive.”“Qatar is booming and the manpower agencies back in the Philippines are receiving multiple job orders for this country. This shows we are a hard working people,” Arroyo cheered the community. She also talked about the Filipino Livelihood Support Programme which gives the returning OFWs an opportunity to take loans for education, business and other purposes. Arroyo dismissed that her popularity has plummeted following a decision by her government on value added tax (VAT). “We will use VAT for infrastructure, for environment, business, employment, and also to pay off national debt. We are also working on building an expressway from North to South in addition to improvised ferry services,” the president said. The president added that because of the government policies the country’s economy grew at 4.6% in the third quarter of this year, unlike “countries like say Japan, which are facing recession.”

Volunteers say aid work is rewarding experience

FOR people who get fed up of the rat race and constant efforts to simply earn more and more money, there are a number of ways to ‘give back’ to those in need in Qatar.

Gulf Times has spoken to charity organisations as well as individual volunteers on ways of getting involved in financial, social and environmental voluntary work.One of the most popular methods of conducting voluntary work is through the online forum Qatar Living (QL). The website has a group called ‘Qatar Living Volunteers’ which is managed by member SPEED, who spoke about the types of activities with which his group has been involved.“I arrived in Qatar in 2007, and after conducting a number of activities to help people in need, such as the 600 labourers who were affected when the HBK camp was burnt down, I was asked whether I would lead the QL volunteers group,” he explained.“Of course I was happy to do this, and now have an active membership of around 230 people, which is increasing every day,” he added.SPEED explained that he and his members have been involved in a number of initiatives to collect funds, food and other necessities for people who have been affected by circumstances beyond their control.The group also gets involved with national and international drives to raise awareness in Qatar about certain issues, such as the ‘World Handwashing Day’ and the ‘World Donor Day,’ among others.QL volunteers have also been involved in environmental initiatives such as the beach clean-up that was reported in Gulf Times last month. SPEED said that he hopes this will become a regular event, taking place on the first Friday of every month.One member of the group explained that he offers his services in communication and public relations training for free at the weekends.A British expatriate said she would like to do more to work with disabled people. “However, I am new here, and so far I have found it quite difficult to get access to these people in Doha,” she added.Gulf Times spoke to the head of public relations for the Shafallah Centre, Hana el-Amedi, about volunteer activities.Individuals are allowed to visit the centre and fill out an application form, after which they can choose the areas of voluntary work they would like to be involved in, such as teaching, nursing, physical therapy or organising events.“We have volunteers of all ages and nationalities who come and work with the children,” she explained, adding that anyone interested in helping should check the centre’s website and then visit.The centre has also received help from a number of organisations: “Standard Chartered Bank have visited the centre with their staff in the past, and this is an initiative which will be carried on into the future,” said el-Amedi.Other organisations have been part of the charity and volunteer work scene for many years in Qatar, and groups such as the Indian Community Benevolent Fund and the Sri Lankan Benevolent Fund have grown in strength as the international community in Qatar has increased.A number of individuals too have made a major contribution, such as Indian expatriate Eugenia Dias who gave her time to preparing dead bodies at Hamad Medical Corporation’s morgue before they were flown home.Gulf Times recently carried a report about Dias, who has since left Qatar. Her story touched many, as she and her team had carried out this task since 1977 for no pay and very little recognition.And many others carry out similar altruistic acts on a daily basis, such as those who regularly travel to the deportation centre with donated items for the inmates, or others who visit the labour camps giving their time and goods to the needy workers.One such person explained that the immense gratitude shown by the labourers at receiving items that she considered everyday and basic “put things into perspective.” Everyone Gulf Times spoke to mentioned how rewarding this kind of work is, and it is encouraging to see just how many people are interested in giving something back to society here. In between the luxury hotels and opulent villas there are a wide variety of people who lack the bare essentials and who can benefit greatly through the voluntary work of others.There are numerous government organisations which carry out charity and voluntary work as well, and through their actions and those of other community members, needs are being met that may otherwise not have been addressed.

Street shows draw huge crowds to Souq Waqif

TWO more evenings of merriment await families at Souq Waqif where a group of 30 artistes, mostly from Europe, have been giving an impressive array of performances since Monday.

Fire and juggling acts, living statues, one wheelers, puppeteers and big men are part of the team that has attracted big crowds to one of the most traditional souqs in the Gulf.

A visit yesterday evening to the square within Souq Waqif, where a stage has been set up, proved memorable.Even as the molten gold hued rays of the setting sun bathed the premises, a fire spitter was holding the audience spellbound.Performing a well-choreographed act with flaming torches in both his hands, the artiste took mouthfuls of lamp oil and sprayed them into the air, creating balls of fire, all the while moving to music.A football juggler went on the stage subsequently and started doing balancing tricks with a single ball, before moving on to juggling with three balls first and five later, much to the delight of the young and the old in the crowd.It was at this juncture that four ‘Big Men’ walked out of an alley, causing wide-mouthed stares from the spectators. Children initially scampered for cover, hiding behind their parents, till they realised that the ‘giants’ were only bent on making others laugh.Moving in a line, the ‘Big Men’ followed some of the visitors and encircled them, in the process scaring the wits out of some adults as well.The antics of the foursome, who could also extend their ‘necks’ making them even taller, were among the highpoints of the performances.“Most of our artistes are from the Netherlands, with others from Germany, France, Belgium, England, and New Zealand,” the troupe director Martin Hierck told Gulf Times.The artistes, arranged by Bruggen Verwiel, a leading event marketing agency from the Netherlands, are performing in the region for the first time, he explained.“We like Qatar and its people, who are very friendly and co-operative,” Hierck observed while maintaining that audience participation has been fantastic in the performances.“We are winding up on Friday with a performance from 3pm to 7pm,” he added

QATAR Tourism & Exhibitions Authority is participating in the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) currently being held in Cannes.The prestigious three-day event will end tomorrow.

QTEA is promoting Qatar to the luxury international market, by focusing on VIP buyers from upscale leisure sector, including businessmen, travel agents and boards of tourism authorities.

Staged annually in Cannes, the International Luxury Travel Market is a business to business event presenting a diverse range of destinations, products and services from some 1,500 international suppliers. QTEA said the event was a unique opportunity for the travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business at one venue, in the ‘Palais des

Festivals et des Congres’. QTEA said Qatar was already known as a “hub of business innovation”, but is attracting more travellers looking for a “unique and luxury destination”. Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority is educating travellers on the country’s exclusive leisure and cultural attractions, as well as the independent spirit and progressive orientation that makes Qatar unique. Qatar represents the bridge between the Arabic traditional heritage and global innovation, with a fine life style.With a total investment of $17bn over the next five years on tourism infrastructure, including luxury hotels, resorts and other leisure facilities, Qatar is even more attractive for travellers from more than 80 countries. They are well connected to Qatar by Qatar Airways. Luxury travellers visiting QTEA’s promotional stand were delighted to learn more about luxury facilities Qatar is now offering. Currently there are some 15 five-star hotels in the country. Hotel capacity has been forecast to go up to 29,000 hotel rooms and apartments by 2012. The additional attractions include shopping and leisure complexes at the Pearl Qatar and all over Doha, unique desert safaris, and the cultural landmark- Museum of Islamic Arts. Buyers from all over Europe expressed their enthusiasm to come and visit Qatar.Ahmed A al-Nuaimi, Qatar Tourism & Exhibitions Authority chairman said, “Qatar is becoming a key location between Europe and Asia. More and more travellers extend their stop-over to stay in Qatar and enjoy with their family the safe and luxury destination, with upscale facilities such as our 5-star hotels, shopping malls with major international brands, and the Museum of Islamic Arts, a cultural landmark.”Qatar Tourism & Exhibitions Authority is accompanied by a high level delegation, including key personnel from Al Sharq Village and Spa and major travel companies, such as Fal Travelmart, Travel and Tours, and Destinations of the World Qatar.