Parking meters ‘refuse’ new coins

Posted on October 9, 2008 by Kishor

This meter adjacent to Hotel Woodlands in CBD refuses new coins.

The new 50 baisa coin.

This is a problem I have been facing for quite sometime with a few automated parking meters around CBD area in Ruwi: they don’t accept new 50 and 25 baisa coins. On a busy day, with scorching sun above your head, you end up looking for meters which accept new coins or risk being penalised for not having a parking slip on your car. So you are left with two options while in CBD — either carry a handful of old-looking coins in your car all the time or opt for SMS parking.

Omani black magicians arrested for helping UAE footballers

Posted on October 9, 2008 by Kishor

A report says:

Two international footballers, including the UAE’s star striker Faisal Khalil, have been arrested on suspicion of practising “black magic” and casting spells against other players.

Khalil and Subait Khater were arrested in Dubai with two Omani “sorcerers” at the end of last month.

Khalil, who plays for Al Ahli, and Khater, of Al Jazira, are believed to have paid the Omanis to make spells in order to maintain their places in the national team.

Detectives in Dubai were investigating the Omanis when they discovered their alleged ties to footballers. (more)

Oman’s worst employer?

Posted on October 5, 2008 by Kishor

I got this mail today from a British expat. It says:

I was shocked to discover that the Eid holidays had been ruined for staff of the “ZZZ” supermarket chain in Qurum where I shop regularly.

At this most auspicious time of year, the company had failed to pay the salaries of its staff meaning that the Eid celebrations for many Muslim employees –– both Omani and expat –– and their families had been ruined.

It is shameful that the private sector does not follow the lead of the government who released salaries early to ensure the happiness and well-being of their employees.

I certainly will not be adding to the profits of a company who treats its most valuable resource so badly by shopping there anymore. I hope that the management of “ZZZ” will compensate its people for the distress they have suffered at this time of year –– a time for families, friends and celebration –– not misery.

I have heard previously form others I have met during my time in Oman that the company in question is one that does not respect its employees. It is rumoured that some employees have not received a pay rise in over 5 years! Having heard this latest poor treatment by the company, I felt that I must bring the way the company treats its people to the attention of the public so that suitable action is taken and it doesn’t happen again.

PS: I’ve not mentioned the name of supermarket since only one side of the story is available at the moment.

5 Indians killed in accident near Jabal Al Akhdar

Posted on October 5, 2008 by Kishor

Five Indians were killed and six hurt when the Land Cruiser in which they were travelling lost control and plunged into a ravine in Jabal Al Akhdar on October 3, 2008. The Indians, hailing from the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, were returning back in the evening when the tragedy struck. It is suspected the vehicle suffered brake failure at the final hairpin bend just before the check point. Sources also claimed that over-speeding could be one of the reasons for the accident. The injured are out of danger.

A report said:

MUSCAT: The ill-fated Land Cruiser that slipped into a ravine near Jabal Al Akhdar on Friday, apparently fell prey to a sudden brake failure that resulted in five people dying on the spot and six being injured including two children.

“The vehicle was just reaching the last turn before the checkpoint when the accident took place. The vehicle fell over and was damaged on all sides,” said an eyewitness who wished not to be named. The rented four-wheeler had apparently suffered a brake failure and to avert a collision with other approaching vehicles, the driver hit the cement barricade and the vehicle rolled over and fell around twenty feet down into a ravine, the witness added.

All the unfortunate holiday-goers, who happened to be friends and relatives, were from the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and employees of Mase Marketing, Oman Fisheries, Bahwan IT, Port Services and Worley Parsons, according to sources.

Those killed in the accident were identified as Sreenivas Narayanan, Vijay K. Subramanyan, Sukanya Amarnath, Jayalakshmi Radhakrishnan and Priya Ramesh. Arrangements are being made to send the bodies of the dead to their homeland.

The six injured in the accident are recovering at the Nizwa Referral Hospital. Some of them are being treated for multiple wounds including head injuries. They include P. R. Radhakrishnan, Amarnath (he is able to walk now), Ramesh and Karthik. Supraja Ramesh and Vanushika Radhakrishnan were the children injured in the accident. The witnesses said that the local Omani people were very helpful in rescuing and taking the victims to the hospital. They also praised the services of the Nizwa Referral Hospital.

It maybe recalled that during the Eid holidays last year, a nine-year-old Indian girl had died in a car crash near Nizwa.