Karwa men say three cheers to crackdown on illegal cabs
DOHA-In recent weeks, the Traffic and Patrols Department has stepped up its crackdown on illegal private taxis plying in the city.
The offence is punishable under Qatar Traffic laws with a fine of QR3,000 and impounding of the car.Karwa Taxi drivers, the consequential victims of the offence, are naturally happy with the new development.
As the illegal and more numerous competitors stole their passengers with impunity, the Karwa drivers see this move as a morale booster.
A Filipino Taxi Driver, Ninto Mendel, said: “the increasing number of illegal taxis had apparently outnumbered Karwa taxis in the country causing the average daily income of Karwa drivers to fall.
With this crackdown, I hope to be able to meet the company’s demand and save for myself.
This crackdown is very good.” Rasik an Indian Karwa driver said, “I am happy with the current crackdown on private cabs, they compete with us at major shopping malls and bus stops, they pick up passengers from the roads and also get prior bookings on phone.” Usman Badrou an Eritrean driver wanted stronger action.
“If private cabs are totally eradicated from the roads our productivity and efficiency will be go up as there will be more passengers per vehicle to pick up.
We’ll be prompt and happy to work,” he said.
With these efforts to curb illegal private cabs, however, many residents believe that shortage of taxis in Doha would aggravate, unless Mowasalat goes for a further expansion of its fleet of buses and taxis.
Mowasalat on its part has no plans to increase its fleet of taxis.
“For now, we are concentrating on completion of the Karwa City project.
Any major expansion would come up next year,” said an official.
Kimo Mohammed, a Sudanese resident said, “Private taxis are not only cheaper than Karwa taxis.
They also come at short notice in contrast to Karwa taxis where booking 24 hours in advance is probably the only guarantee.”
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Nigerians yearn for native food
If you are a Nigerian and wish to savour your country’s delicacies in Doha, you may find it very tough to cater to your taste buds.
Since typical Nigerian dishes are very rich and spicy foods, having different varieties and flavours, it is almost impossible to find them in the local restaurants.
As a result, many Nigerians have compromised with the situation and taken to alternative foods.
Talking to Qatar Tribune, Gbenga Aladesanmi a Nigerian music teacher, said, “My eating habit has changed because I don’t have access to ‘iyon’ (pounded yam).
There are no Nigerian food stores here.
So we have to make do with what we have in locally available food items.
This has resulted in poor and, at times, unhealthy eating habits because most of us are not so good at cooking healthy meals.
Instead, we prefer to eat fast foods.” He said if at all the food items of their country are available, they are very expensive.
“The cost of a yam tuber range from above QR150 and to elaborately prepare a meal of pounded yam you need two to three tubers, which is expensive.
Most of the time, it is easier to pick up your phone and dial a meal that would be delivered at your doorsteps.
The absence of a Nigerian restaurant affects my eating habit.
I have taken to local foods like kubus which is different from my Agege bread.” Commenting on the absence of Nigerian delicacies and what he misses about home, Bayo Anjorin, said, “During many evenings, I think of the food, not just any type of food, but the type that could be eaten or enjoyed in the company of my native friends and family over some drinks, complemented by a football game on TV and spiced up with arguments and debates over the different aspects of our national life.
I miss amala and gbegiri, not to forget ‘ewa agoyin’.
These are meals I can’t find here, even at family kitchens.” Ibrahim Yusuff, an IT expert, said, “I hope to relish eating a typical Nigerian delicacy when we celebrate our national day on October 1. There are food stores, Indians, Filipinos, Nepalis and other nationalities, but none for Nigerians.
May be the cost of setting up a food store is something enormous that the average Nigerian food vendor can’t afford.” Since the Nigerian expatriates miss their authentic delicacies, they are always on the look out to go back to their country during the vacations to enjoy a good meal.
If you are a Nigerian and wish to savour your country’s delicacies in Doha, you may find it very tough to cater to your taste buds.
Since typical Nigerian dishes are very rich and spicy foods, having different varieties and flavours, it is almost impossible to find them in the local restaurants.
As a result, many Nigerians have compromised with the situation and taken to alternative foods.
Talking to Qatar Tribune, Gbenga Aladesanmi a Nigerian music teacher, said, “My eating habit has changed because I don’t have access to ‘iyon’ (pounded yam).
There are no Nigerian food stores here.
So we have to make do with what we have in locally available food items.
This has resulted in poor and, at times, unhealthy eating habits because most of us are not so good at cooking healthy meals.
Instead, we prefer to eat fast foods.” He said if at all the food items of their country are available, they are very expensive.
“The cost of a yam tuber range from above QR150 and to elaborately prepare a meal of pounded yam you need two to three tubers, which is expensive.
Most of the time, it is easier to pick up your phone and dial a meal that would be delivered at your doorsteps.
The absence of a Nigerian restaurant affects my eating habit.
I have taken to local foods like kubus which is different from my Agege bread.” Commenting on the absence of Nigerian delicacies and what he misses about home, Bayo Anjorin, said, “During many evenings, I think of the food, not just any type of food, but the type that could be eaten or enjoyed in the company of my native friends and family over some drinks, complemented by a football game on TV and spiced up with arguments and debates over the different aspects of our national life.
I miss amala and gbegiri, not to forget ‘ewa agoyin’.
These are meals I can’t find here, even at family kitchens.” Ibrahim Yusuff, an IT expert, said, “I hope to relish eating a typical Nigerian delicacy when we celebrate our national day on October 1. There are food stores, Indians, Filipinos, Nepalis and other nationalities, but none for Nigerians.
May be the cost of setting up a food store is something enormous that the average Nigerian food vendor can’t afford.” Since the Nigerian expatriates miss their authentic delicacies, they are always on the look out to go back to their country during the vacations to enjoy a good meal.
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