and the 'de de de' award goes to..

Let's be completely frank; I seriously think that we have the worst people in the authoritative positions here in Oman, especially in some governmental positions.

I seriously do.

Here's why..

The Under-Secretary of Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment & Water has just announced that the ministry had signed an agreement with a company to draw up a plan to establish a damn in the Wadi Udai and Qurum areas, that were devastatingly hit in the last drench of scattered showers on Muscat not so long ago (please refer to links).

Oman has always had it's share of rains ever since it rained on the old Muttrah corniche area in the 1890s and made a river out of it (source: theweek). But back then, we had the excuse that we didn't have the technology to help us provide the necessary solutions to avoid such natural disasters.

Now, fast forward 36 years into the renaissance and keep in mind that we still have our seasonal scattered showers every few years.. you would think, that even the most basic logical even temporary solution would suggest that you take care of the problem until a more permanent solution is put into place to be acted upon in the opportune moment.

But to think that it took them 36 years of going through the same catastrophe over and over again just to make that move; it makes me think 'God help us when they do start on the actual projects if and when they do'.

I mean, it's not that I am against the very idea of them creating idea - quite the contrary - I am very much for it, but what puzzles me is why it took them so damn long to come up with that simple solution and avoided losing all that money, all that effort, all those poor souls' lives?

Another issue in Oman that is clearly one of the oldest and requires much attention is the issue of the rise of tobacco being used by the Sultanate's population (see links) that has risen up to 23% (23% men; 2-3% women, 1 in every 5 school students is a smoker) in the last few years.

Most of you who read that small percentage and shrug off their shoulders to dismiss the importance and significance of this fact when in fact what should also concern you also is the fact that 75% of Oman's population is under the age of 21 which is alarming because this means that most of the smokers in Oman are still in their young age of youth.

What's ironic though, is the fact is that there was a legislation passed by the government banning smoking in two phases; the first of which was to ban it in governmental and official buildings, whilst the second phase was supposed to focus on banning it in public places such as restaurants, cafe's, areas where toddlers and children alike could spend most of their time - alas, though, this second phase never got to being passed.

As non-smokers in the Muscat area we were hoping that we would see smoking being banned in all manners and forms that it could ever come across but then that was one sweet dream. Now, the government through the Ministry of Health is sounding the alarm because it can't put a curb on the habit or stop it from being marketed? Sounds like an April fool's joke out either too late or too early to me.

There are lots of ways to make this work; create a solid law that bans selling any type of tobacco to a minor under the age of 21 and if such a case was found then a big hefty fine is in need against the establishment or prosecution.

The matter of waging a war against tobacco in Oman isn't just financial, it could also be political as the people behind the tobacco industry in Oman have some political ties that link up with other retail outlets in Oman that offer many jobs to Omanis. Kind of a blackmail issue if you want to look at it that way.

Marketing the products is something that is up to the people that require the money like the local theatres that would gracefully open their arms to anyone who would help in paying their extra bills through advertising on their screens, and as a fact, the tobacco companies such as Marlboro pay big sums of money to get their 'flavor' across the screens with the traditional small font warning that it is a direct cause to lung cancer. While the world is alarmed at how Walkman headphones could seriously damage a human being's sense of hearing.

Doesn't that make your blood boil?


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Links:

- Under-Secretary of Ministry of Regional Muncipalities, Environment & Water announces plans for construction of damns in the Muscat area (Arabic only)

- Sultanate's battle against tobacco needs teeth

- Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment & Water Resources