Write to the editor

I want to thank everyone who visited, exhibited, performed, sponsored, donated and organised the first annual Thank You Bahrain event last weekend at the National Stadium in Riffa. I am so proud of you all and grateful for your contributions. Estimates of total attendance range from 15,000 to 30,000 throughout the day. How can I best describe the atmosphere? ‘Love, Harmony, Peace, Unity’ - the four words that best describe the multi-cultural haven that we all call ‘home’ ... The Kingdom of Bahrain! Thank you all.

Betsy B Mathieson,
Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations.

Just a quick mail to say thank you very much for last week’s story on my sister who is collecting phones for my son, Darragh, who has autism.

Irish Autism Action is doing a great job for people with autism and is supplying laptops, iPads and other special needs accessories in exchange for broken phones.

Once we have reached our total of 220 phones we will start collecting for Darragh’s school so that they too can benefit.

Once again, thank you from me, Eadaoin, Aoibha, Rachael and, especially, Darragh.

Mark Forde, by email.

I read May Al Mousawi’s recent review on Bu Ali restaurant. My attention was drawn to a statement in her article ‘do not buy into the cliché that Indians do not care about dessert’.

I am unaware of this cliché. The range of deserts made in India is huge. My friends from the Arab world, Europe, Africa and the US love Indian desserts.

Ras Malai is a particular favourite for all in Bahrain.

Sudev Sarkar, by email.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for the recent restaurant review headlined: Delicious and affordable too.

I appreciate the time you spent reviewing our restaurant – the Bu Ali international restaurant in Zinj – and on behalf of myself and on behalf of the Bu Ali & Fareeda Group of Companies, would like to convey my heartfelt thanks to you for the valuable help.

Ashok kumar Guram,
General Manager,
 Bu Ali & Fareeda Group of Companies.

THE Lions Club of Riffa joined hands with Helping Hands, a charity organisation in Bahrain, to provide relief to the poor labourers who were made homeless after the recent tragic fire in their accommodation in Manama.

The club donated a sum of BD150 to the poor victims of this tragedy. In addition, the donations were collected in cash from the Club members as well as their friends and relatives.

In total 42 people received a pack of the following items: bath towels, shaving kits, toothpaste, toothbrushes, vests, undergarments and two sweaters each.

From the clothes donated, an extra 29 packets were made containing shirts, trousers, undergarments, toiletries and towels, which were also distributed. In all, 71 people benefited.

The chief co-coordinator of this event from the Lions Club of Riffa was Abbas Akber and volunteer Maryam Mustafa.

Amber Lokhandwala,
President, ,
Lions Club of Riffa.

The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the initiative of His Majesty King Hamad to convene a political dialogue and the affirmative response from six opposition societies.

The Secretary-General has consistently called for dialogue and hopes that the parties will follow through on their announcements and ensure that the dialogue is well-prepared, meaningful, fully-inclusive, and addresses the legitimate aspirations of the Bahraini people.

This initiative is an important first step towards reforms that ensure justice and human rights for all Bahrainis.

He expects that all communities will be represented fairly and freely and calls on all Bahrainis to contribute to creating a conductive atmosphere for a successful dialogue.

Nejib Friji, director, UN Information Centre (UNIC), Bahrain,
Qatar & UAE.