Volume 13 • Number 3914
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
20 Jumada II, 1429
PRICE: QR2
Workers’ woes
Hundreds living in harsh
conditions in Industrial Area
BY RAYNALD RIVERA
DOHA • Hundreds of Filipinas are liv-
ing in harsh conditions in a labour ac-
commodation in the Industrial Area, a
concerned resident said recently in a
message sent to The Peninsula.
The Filipinas are working with a
manpower company which provides
cleaning services.
The e-mail claimed that the Filip-
inas were housed in an unsafe area
surrounded by male accommoda-
tions adding that the gates were pad-
locked all the time and the building
had no fire escape, posing serious
threats to the women’s lives.
It was also stated in the message
that foods not fit for human con-
sumption were provided to the work-
ers most of the time and they were
not allowed to take a day’s off.
“When the employees complain, es-
pecially about food and sanitation,
they are harassed by the manage-
ment,” the e-mail said.
An informant said that having ar-
rived in Qatar just three months ago,
the Filipina workers are not yet ready
to go home since they have debts to
pay back in the Philippines, having
given 16,000 pesos to the agency as
placement fee and still paying a cer-
tain amount for eight months.
They receive QR730 a month,
which is way below the minimum
wage for Overseas Filipino Workers
in Qatar, the informant added.
An employee of the company con-
firmed that the management imposes
tight security to protect the women
since it is the only female accommo-
dation in the area, adding that the
women are allowed to take a day’s off
Temperature
soars to 47˚C
A car showing the temperature at 50
degrees Celsius.
DOHA • Qatar experienced a record
high temperature of the season yes-
terday. Mercury touched 47 degrees
Celsius, a high point of the season.
The temperature will remain almost
the same today, MET officials said.
The daily weather chart says the
maximum temperature will hover
over 45 degrees Celsius today. The
minimum temperature will be
around 34 degrees Celsius. The
weathermen forecast a ‘hot with
slight dust at times’ weather today.
North-westerly winds may blow 5-15
knots onshore and offshore.
Last year, during the corresponding
period, the maximum temperature in
the country was below 40 degrees
Celsius.
Qatar, UAE progress
THE PENINSULA
in Asia World Cup
SINGAPORE • Qatar and the United
Arab Emirates have taken the final
two berths in the next phase of
Asian qualifying for the World Cup
2010.
They join Australia, Bahrain, Iran,
Japan, North Korea, Saudi Arabia,
South Korea and Uzbekistan as the
final 10 teams which will contest the
last round of qualifying for football's
showpiece tournament.
Playing in Dubai, Qatar notched up
a vital 1-0 win away to Iraq, with
Sayd Ali Bechir rising masterfully to
meet a Hussein Yasser cross to score
the game's only goal in the 77th
minute.
AFP
See also page 30
Sports
3 13
ENERGY
Qatar could stand to gain significantly
as prices of natural gas could well
Nation
touch $20 per million BTU by the
end of the year. Natural gas prices
touched $13 recently.
and they could go out anytime after
seeking permission from the manager.
He also said that health officials had
just inspected the accommodation,
and so far it met their standards.
A Filipina working in the company
told this paper that they are given
only two hours every Friday to pur-
chase their basic necessities.
She also related some cases where
fellow workers were sent home be-
cause they got sick due to the poor
facilities in the accommodation.
“When somebody gets sick, she is not
taken to the doctor, but immediately
sent home," she said.
When contacted regarding the mat-
ter, Philippine Labour Attaché Vivo V
Vidal said, “Somebody from the
workers has to stand up and file a le-
gitimate complaint.”
The Philippine Overseas Employ-
ment Administration (POEA) has al-
ready banned the agency responsible
for recruiting the Filipinas but in a
new development, the said agency
has tied up with another agency to
push through with their illegal activ-
ities and 400 more Filipinas are likely
to come to Qatar to work in the same
company, a source said.
Filipinos comprise a major part of the
labour force around the world espe-
cially in the Middle East. Just recently,
an article from an Arabic newspaper ti-
tled Imagine a World Without Fil-
ipinos lauded their indispensable role
in shaping the world economy where
23 percent of the world’s nurses and 20
percent of world's seafarers are Fil-
ipinos. “We could die a slow death if
they (Filipinos) choose to leave us,”
the article said.
THE PENINSULA
CAR ON FIRE: Firefighters dousing the flames in a car at Old Salata in Doha yesterday. The car, which was parked between two
buildings, caught fire due to an electrical short circuit. No one was injured.
Al Jazeera children’s film on
Palestine premieres in Doha
BY HUDA N V
DOHA • Al Jazeera Children's Channel
(JCC), the first Arabic edutainment
channel, held the premiere of its lat-
est feature film My Simple Story, di-
rected by Izidore K Musallam, at
Grand City Center Cinema, yester-
day. The film tells the story of the
consequences of Nakba or catastro-
phe, which is the formation of Israel,
through a child’s eye.
The film revolves around a 13-year-
old boy Sami and a donkey. Using
this animal, the director portrays the
longing of the displaced Palestinians
to return to their homes.
“The story is multi-layered and is re-
lated to Nakba. The donkey is used as
a metaphor for the problem,” Izidore
32 TENNIS
Roger Federer and Serena Williams erased painful memories with contrasting victories to reach the second
round of Wimbledon yesterday.
POLITICS
A court disqualified former prime
Pakistan
minister Nawaz Sharif from contesting a
by-election for a seat in the National
Assembly later this week, deepening
political uncertainty in the country.
POPULAR PLACE: The newly renovated Souq Waqif is fast becoming a popular place for people to spend their summer evenings.
Embassy seeks aid for Philippine ferry victims
DOHA • The Philippine Embassy in
Qatar has called upon all Filipino res-
idents and other benevolent people
and organizations in Qatar to extend
help for the hundreds of victims of
the recent maritime tragedy that
struck the country on Saturday.
“It is very unfortunate that the
tragedy has resulted in the loss of
many lives,” Philippine Ambassador
to Qatar Isaias F Begonia said.
told The Peninsula. “I have always
been fascinated by simplicity. It is the
highest art and the most difficult.
When we make complex movies, we
forget about emotions. The story is
about the child and it moves along with
the donkey,” he said. A donkey runs
away from its owners, who live as
refugees in West Bank, as it wants to
return to its ancestral home in Haifa.
Sami is touched by the donkey’s deter-
mination and decides to guide him
through to Haifa. The two go on a jour-
ney in search of the home in the dis-
mantled and occupied Palestine, pass-
ing through the Israeli check posts.
The film sheds light on the suffering
of Palestinians who were deprived of
thier homes and belongings over half
a century ago, and gives hope to
17
OIL
Business
Oil rose yesterday as Nigerian supply
disruptions and escalating tensions
between Israel and Iran outweighed
Saudi Arabia’s pledge to raise output
and keep markets well-supplied.
Asked if there was anybody in Qatar
whose relatives have perished in the
tragedy, he said so far the Embassy
has not received any information yet.
MV Princess of Stars sank 3km from
Sibuyan Island on Saturday and re-
ports say that dozens have been res-
cued while hundreds are feared dead.
Ambassador Begonia said that the
catastrophe has caused a lot of con-
cern for the Philippines especially this
(SHAIVAL DALAL)
those who live with the belief that
one day they would be able to return.
The children who attended the pre-
miere were fascinated by the story
and understood the inner meaning of
the film. “The children got the politi-
cal message,” he added.
Izidore is an award winning Pales-
tinian-Canadian film-maker based in
Toronto. He has written and directed
six feature films; two of which won
international awards: Foreign Nights
and Heaven Before I Die.
The film is produced and distributed
by JCC. “We have now marked the
60th anniversary of Nakba. We
wanted to remind the Arab world
about it,” said Mahmoud Bouneb,
Executive General Manager, JCC.
THE PENINSULA
time when typhoons are causing hav-
oc to many parts of the country.
In response to the disaster, Philip-
pine President Gloria Macapagal Ar-
royo has made an appeal for help to all
Filipino Overseas Workers (OFWs),
Ambassador Begonia informed.
He said that President Arroyo has
called for OFWs to come together
and help alleviate the victims’ suffer-
ings, adding that she has also urged
New building rules for
Bin Omran and Kulaib
BY NASSER AL HARTHY
DOHA • The re-zoning of Fereej Ku-
laib (Zone 35) and Fereej Bin Omran
(Zone 37) by the Urban Planning
and Development Authority
(UPDA) is set to give these two areas
a harmonious look with the revised
land use plans, UPDA officials said
yesterday.
Announcing UPDA's new land use
pattern coming into effect today at a
news conference, UPDA Director of
Planning, Engineer Mohammed Ab-
dul Qader Abu Erhama, said that
land use in Fereej Kulaib will be ded-
icated to residential apartment build-
ings (G+2) in place of single residen-
tial (G+1+P) buldings.
In Fereej Bin Omran, where single
family residential (G+1+P) building
is currently allowed, new land use
will be dedicated to residential apart-
ment buildings (G+2) and (G+3).
Abu Erhama said the re-zoning
was conducted after comprehen-
sive studies and in light of the
Qatar National Master Plan
(QNMP), which will study and rec-
ommend future land uses and zon-
ing for urban development in the
next 25 years. He also pointed out
that in anticipation of the final re-
lease of the QNMP, the Planning
Department of UPDA has adopted
a flexible approach to to conduct-
ing studies on re-zoning.
Qatar’s vision for 2030
DOHA • The Emir H H Sheikh
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani yester-
day issued a decree approving the
comprehensive development vision
‘Qatar National Vision 2030’.
The vision was earlier approved by
the Cabinet.
It aims at transforming Qatar
into a most modern country that
relies on sustainable development.
The vision has four pillars: social,
economic, environmental and hu-
(ABDUL BASIT)
Philippine embassies to put up a fund
for the victims.
In response to the President’s call,
the Philippine Embassy in Qatar wel-
comes any help from Filipino resi-
dents as well as other concerned
groups. “We hope that everyone will
come to the aid of the victims,” Am-
bassador Begonia added.
THE PENINSULA
See also page 9
Consideration is given to the rap-
idly changing conditions and ad-
dressing the impact of urban devel-
opment projects. Impacts
considered include addressing the
shortage of residential apartment
buildings in Greater Doha, coordi-
nating with the concerned service
departments in designing and imple-
menting future infrastructure net-
works and ensuring adequate com-
munity services that meet the needs
of the residential areas.
Abu Erhama said the step has been
taken to meet the requirements for
residential apartments in town.
There is a need for more apartments
than villas.
He said the plan has been under-
taken in these two zones mainly
because there are pockets of villas
in the middle of apartments
which did not fit in with a well-
balanced area.
The re-zoning was undertaken due
to the fact that the residential blocks
were zoned for villas, but actually lo-
cated in a zone dedicated to apart-
ment buildings.
The decision was made taking into
account the QNMP, the increasing
demand for residential development
and the government policies that call
for providing quality housing for
both Qatari and resident populations,
Abu Erhama said.
THE PENINSULA
man development.
It is based on the constitution and
includes guidelines by H H Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and H H
Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al
Missned.
The vision also seeks to develop in-
stitutions and related services. It
identifies the dimensions for future
and highlighted the values and the
ambitions of Qatari people.
THE PENINSULA
 2 The Peninsula | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 NATION
PRAYER Fajr 3.15 am
TIMINGS Sunrise 4.45 am
Dhuhr 11.36 am
Asr 2.59 pm
Maghrib 6.29 pm
Isha 7.59 pm

CITY WEATHER

High 45º C
Low 34º C
HIGH TIDE
Inshore 1-2 FT
Time 0745 & 2100
LOW TIDE
Offshore 2-4 FT
Time 1245

Barwa hones
administrative
skills of staff
DOHA • More than 20 trainees, in- The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani received a letter from President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould
cluding deputy directors, supervisors with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Following the talks, Qatar and China signed Sidi Cheikh Abdellahi pertaining to relations between the two countries and matters of common concern.
and heads of departments, took part a number of agreements in the fields of oil and natural gas and labour. An agreement to make Doha and Beijing The letter was handed over by Senior Adviser to the President of Mauritania Al Khalil Al Nahawi at the Emiri
in a training programme on supervis- twin cities was also signed. Diwan yesterday.
ing skills and administrative coordi-
nation, organized by Barwa Real Es-

Nepalese to become Several events to

tate Company as part of the
company's training plans for 2008.
The programme, held last week at
Sharq Village and Spa, was intended
to develop supervising abilities,
leadership and administrative skills
in the fields of decision making,
problem solving and communica-
tions, as well as other necessary ad-
ministrative skills.
This is one of development pro-
grams offered by Barwa's Training
and Development Department
(T&D) which includes strategic
planning, selling and negotiation
skills, and time management.
Barwa's T&D Department has
signed up training institutions and
prestigious universities which grant
internationally recognized certifi-
cates to provide high-standard train-
ing programmes.
THE PENINSULA
Nigerian
community to
get together
DOHA • The Nigerian community in
Doha, Dohanaiga, will organize an
open house gathering at QP Ras Abu
Aboud Boat and Beach Club, behind
Marriot hotel, at 8.00pm tomorrow.
The main purpose of the event is to
socialize and meet new members. The
fun-filled and entertaining occasion
will also be an opportunity to redress
major problems of the community.
THE PENINSULA
biggest community
THERE ARE MORE THAN 250,000 NEPALESE IN QATAR AT PRESENT
BY RAYNALD RIVERA
DOHA • By the end of this year,
Nepalese residents will become the
largest foreign community in Qatar.
This was mentioned by Nepal's Am-
bassador to Qatar, Surya Nath Mishra,
during a speech at the first 'Nepal
Tourism and Cultural Festival' at the
Ramada Hotel yesterday evening.
Ambassador Mishra especially
thanked the Qatari government for
granting 100,000 visas for Nepalese
this year. "There are more than
250,000 Nepalese in Qatar, which
makes us the second-largest commu-
nity, next to Indians," the ambassador
told The Peninsula.
He said Nepal was a small but beauti-
ful country rich in natural resources.
Nepal ranks second in the world after
Brazil in terms of water resources, he
said. The immense quantity of water in
the Himalayan country provides great
potential to generate hydroelectric
power.
Ambassador Mishra said the tourism
festival was held to promote tourism in
Nepal and expressed the hope that it
would become an annual affair.
Nepalese artistes perform a folk dance during the Nepal Tourism and Cultural Festival at
Ramada Hotel yesterday.
Ambassador Mohammed bin Khater
Al Khater, Director of Protocol De-
partment at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and chief guest at the festival,
lighted a candle to formally inaugurate
the function.
Representatives of diplomatic mis-
sions as well as guests graced the
colourful event.
(SHAIVAL DALAL)
The event featured traditional
dances and traditional Nepalese food.
The dancers mesmerized the audience
with the brisk movements of their
hands and feet and their colourful cos-
tumes in the Shyabru dance, which is
popular among the inhabitants of the
high altitudes of northern Nepal.
THE PENINSULA
mark anti-drugs day
DOHA • The International Day
against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traf-
ficking, which aims to mobilize
support against drug abuse around
the world, is getting much attention
in Qatar. The day, celebrated annu-
ally on June 26, was launched by the
United Nations General Assembly
in 1987.
The United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in
Doha and several organizations
here are organizing a series of
awareness programmes to mark the
day. Campaigns this year, as in the
past, are targeted towards youth
and students.
The theme of celebrations is "Do
drugs control your life? Your life.
Your community. No place for
drugs." The slogan for three years,
focusing on different aspects of
drug control, was used last year
against drug abuse. This year it will
be used against drug cultivation and
production, and anti-illicit drug
trafficking in 2009.
The Global Sport Fund (GSF), in
collaboration with UNODC and
the Qatar Olympic Committee
(QOC) is launching a unique at-
tempt at drug use prevention to
support youth-in-sport projects in
several countries. Young people are
encouraged to take up amateur
sports to promote healthy lifestyles
that include being part of a coach-
ing programme in which they prac-
tice fair play on the field and essen-
tial social values and related life
skills off it. For this a number of
camps with participation of over 30
countries are set to take place in
Africa, Asia and South America by
the end of 2008.
Permanent Committee on Drugs
and Alcohol Affairs of the Ministry
of Interior on behalf of Qatar gov-
ernment has been conducting exhi-
bitions, presentations and lectures
to raise awareness among the public
on the dangers of using drugs.
Many other organizations like the
Indian Anti-Smoking Society
(IASS) have also been working to
raise awareness in their community.
IASS will organise inter-school
painting and elocution competi-
tions from today at Ideal Indian
School. On June 26, a prize distri-
bution ceremony will also be held.
"Addiction to drugs starts in the
teens as children find it difficult to
adjust and become restless. So ac-
tion should be taken by the family.
More than half of those with psycho-
logical problems resort to drugs. This
could be reversed if families take ac-
tion and approach the doctor," said
an IASS member at a press confer-
ence yesterday.
THE PENINSULA

Incas awards presented to

meritorious students
DOHA • The seventh annual Merit Evening of Incas for the academic year 2007-08
was held at Pan Arab Recreation Centre on Thursday. Former judge of Internation-
al Court of Justice at Hague, Dr P S Rao, was the chief guest at the function.
Dr Rao highlighted the role of teachers in motivating students through his personal
experience. He said that education must help to achieve total development of an in-
dividual and shall not be limited to scoring highest marks in examinations. The ul-
timate essence of education is humanity. Every society has challenges to be met and
the purpose of education will be met when its fruits are translated into the service
of the society.
He also inaugurated a website (www.invademath.com) created by AC Ashraf, Sec-
retary of Incas and a teacher at MES Indian School. The user-friendly website is de-
signed for students from lower levels to the higher classes to learn mathematics
with ease.
The winners of this year's Incas-Alukkas Jewellery Gold Medals were Priya Bajaj
and Nasheeha Aboobacker (CBSE X), Priyal Ramesh Bhai Patel (CBSE XII Sci-
ence), Ganesh Kumar (CBSE XII Commerce), Rinsa AS and Roshini Rajendran
(Kerala Board X), Azeela NR (Kerala Board XII). Lisa Merin Joseph (CBSE X) won
the KC Varghese memorial gold medal for the topper in the Incas family.
THE PENINSULA Former judge of International Court of Justice at Hague, Dr P S Rao at the seventh annual Merit Evening of Incas at Pan Arab Recreation Centre on Thursday.

Islamic Studies HSBC to reward

at MES school customers collecting
DOHA • MES Indian School pro-
poses to conduct a two-month
Chip, PIN Cards
summer course in Islamic Studies
for Muslim students during July-
August 2008. The course will in-
clude topics like (1) Fundamen-
tals of Islam (2) Islamic Culture
(3) Islamic History (5) Duas and
topics from Fiqh.
The classes will be conducted
separately for boys and girls. Mus-
lim students from classes V to XII
who are in Doha during July-Au-
gust 2008 can avail of this unique
opportunity of imbibing the cher-
ished ideals of Islam and the
teachings of Prophet Mohammed
(PBUH).
The course will be held on Sat-
urdays, Mondays and Wednes-
days from 8.30am to 11.00am.
Interested students may report
to Arabic room, Silver Jubilee
Block, at 8.30am on Wednesday
July 2 for enrollment.
Free school transport will be
available for students (in Doha
and Wakrah only) during the peri-
od of the course. However, par-
ents concerned will have to drop
their wards at the school on the
first day.
DOHA • HSBC Qatar will be distributing new
Chip and PIN Credit Cards to customers start-
ing toady. The first 4,000 customers who will
collect their cards will receive a shopping
voucher and will stand a chance to win a 22
karat gold coin. The draw for the gold coins
will take place on a weekly basis and the 10
lucky customers will be announced every Mon-
day. In addition, customers who collect their
new Chip and PIN card before the end of Au-
gust will be eligible to win a grand prize of a
Cadillac Escalade.
Distribution will take place at the special col-
lection centre behind the main HSBC Branch
on Grand Hamad Street. The collection centre
will be open from Saturday to Wednesday from
11.00am to 6.00pm. Premier customers will
benefit from a dedicated centre within the main
branch which will be open Sunday to Thursday
from 7.30am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm till
7.00pm.
"Chip and PIN credit cards are now in use internationally and provide more security for card
holders. We are pleased to be able to offer global standards of security to our cardholders in
Qatar," said Lucy Havard-Williams (pictured), Head of Personal Financial Services in Qatar.
Customers will have to bring proof of identity when they collect their new credit card and are
advised to make the collection personally. All existing customers who currently have magnet-
ic strip credit cards will need to replace their cards; however, new cards customers can collect Philippine Ambassador Isaias F Begonia (fourth right) and his wife (centre) with members of the Links Band. The
their cards at their branch. Philippine Embassy recently organized a diplomatic reception in commemoration of the 110th Philippine Independence
More information about the collection procedure is available on the HSBC website at Day at the InterContinental Hotel, with Judy Azur Estrada (fourth left) and the Links Band performing for the diplomatic
www.qatar.hsbc.com or from the call centre at 442-4722. corps, embassy staff, community leaders and guests.
 NATION The Peninsula | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 3
Rising gas prices could US students get
new perspective
boost Qatar’s earnings on Mideast
STORAGE SHORTFALLS EXPECTED TO PUSH UP NATURAL GAS PRICES BY LUBNA SAMHA

DOHA • Twelve American and 12 Arab students closely ob-

BY RABIN GUPTA
DOHA • Qatar could stand to gain sig-
nificantly as prices of natural gas
could well touch $20 per million BTU
(MMBTU) by the end of the year.
Natural gas prices touched $13 re-
cently, according to Serge Laureau,
Strategist with the Copenhagen-
based Saxo Bank. The bank is an In-
ternet bank which deals with futures,
foreign exchange, funds and bonds
and offers private wealth manage-
ment services, among other activities.
Laureau said prices will continue to
rise due to shortfalls in storage. "As
the year advances, the summer stor-
age capacity is becoming more critical
Qatar to get region’s
for the winter 2008-2009 natural gas
balance. Demand continues unabated
and we believe natural gas in the US
is at a significant discount to crude
and despite a 78 percent surge this
year, may extend its gains further."
In the prevailing situation, Saxo has
revised its price estimates from $13
by summer-end and $15 before the
year-end to $15 and $20 respectively.
Discussing oil prices, Laureau said:
"China's surprise (price) hike has
caught the market unawares, particu-
larly given the fact they were increas-
ingly gaining international press at-
tention for their subsidies for the
international community."
However, Saxo believes the move
was made because China's primary ob-
jective was to boost domestic refiner-
ies' output to avoid consumer short-
ages in the run-up to the Olympics.
But even with China's hike, prices
there are at $3 a gallon compared to
$4 and above in the US, said the
strategist. "Also worth noting, the an-
nouncement (of price hikes) came
just before the meeting called by Sau-
di Arabia (in Jeddah) to discuss sta-
bilisation of oil prices. Saudi Arabia
expects its Khurais oilfield, one of the
biggest in the oil industry, to be com-
pleted by mid-2009, adding 1.2m bar-
rels per day in production capacity,"
said Laureau.
THE PENINSULA
Call to set up
new global
served Middle East politics, religion, culture, and journal-
ism for three weeks in Cairo and Doha as part of an edu-
cational trip titled Journalism Bootcamp.
The 12 American students and six students from the
American University in Cairo (AUC) left Doha last Sat-
urday after a sojourn that had opened their eyes to many
things in the region. They recorded their thoughts and
feelings in a blog (http://adhamcenter.blogspot.com/).
Dave Botti, one of the participating students, said in his
piece, titled Perspectives: "As we continue this programme
past our second week, I've begun to recognize that per-
haps the greatest lesson we're all learning here is that of
perspectives. Coming to the Middle East I thought I'd had
at least a decent understanding of how people from the re-
gion viewed themselves and the United States — but this
understanding was far too simplified."
"The problem is when I try and start to think deeper
about this idea; my thoughts quickly turn into a gridlock
of conflicting emotions," he added.
Many of the students were active journalists, and most
of them were graduate students. "They are here for 11 days
to refine their skills in the Middle East. Qatar University
is hosting them to see Al Jazeera, and to be able to com-
pare and contrast the Middle East," she added, Jinnyn Ja-

first insurance rights body

DOHA • There is a need for setting up
cob, International Affairs Programme and Qatar Univer-
sity Coordinator, said of the students from AUC.
The students visited various places in Doha, including
Shiekh Yousuf Al Qaradawi delivering a lecture attended by the
visiting students. (JASMIN BAUOMY)

trade platform an autonomous human rights body,

BY RABIN GUPTA
DOHA • The Qatar Financial Centre
Authority (QFCA) yesterday an-
nounced agreement has been
reached to set up the Qatar Insurance
Platform (QIP), a first in the Middle
East.
A QFC official told The Peninsula:
"A board will be announced for the
company which will run the platform.
There will be significant investment
in the company, including by the
(Qatar) government."
Various partners are involved in the
project, including several specialist
companies, said the official, adding
further announcements will be made
at a later date. However, the first
phase will go live in a pilot operation
in the fourth quarter of this year.
The QIP is a technology-based in-
surance trade fulfillment platform,
which will provide an electronic trad-
ing service, ease transaction workflow,
deliver trade documentation and ef-
fective management information and
at the very end, enable straight-
through processing capabilities.
The QIP initiative will advance the
country's insurance industry's so-
phistication and help bring further
insurance expertise to Qatar. QIP will
also bring together global insurers, re-
insurers and brokers to carry out in-
surance activities using the platform.
The formation of the QIP is in keep-
ing with Qatar's intention to be the
leading insurance centre in the re-
gion. It is expected to provide access
for international insurance and re-in-
surance majors to the fast-growing
portfolio of GCC.
While the QFC has ensured Qatar
has attracted big names in banking,
several insurance majors have also
set up shop at the QFC Tower here.
While insurance in general receives
little attention, the QFC's move to set
up a platform which would serve as a
single window of sorts, is sure to
drum up further business.
The fact that markets like central
and south Asia — both home to ro-
bust and growing economies — will
be easily accessible, should make
QIP even more attractive to insur-
ance firms.
THE PENINSULA
National Human Rights Committee
Secretary General Dr Ali bin
Sumaikh Al Merri has said.
The body should be dedicated to de-
fending and improving human rights
across the globe, he said, while ad-
dressing participants in the 'National
Human Rights Institutions and Hu-
man Rights Defenders Workshop".
Al Merri said the workshop aimed
to assist key staff from NHRIs to un-
derstand the role and functions of
human rights defenders and the in-
ternational standards and mecha-
nisms that protect their rights.
The organizers had designated a
number of highly qualified trainers to
supervise and conduct the workshop,
he said.
He highlighted the role of civil soci-
ety institutions and the private sector
in supporting institutions at the na-
tional, regional and international lev-
els to ensure full respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms.
Isabelle Scherer, Director of the In-
ternational Services Organization for
Human Rights, said cooperation be-
tween official institutions and non-
governmental entities was vital to
promote the cause of Human Rights.
THE PENINSULA
The Pearl-Qatar and the headquarters of Al Jazeera,
where they interacted with senior staff. They also at-
tended a lecture by Shiekh Yousuf Al Qaradawi at Qatar
"As far as I can gather it is because we have to under-
stand how the Arab-Israeli conflict has affected the Arab
world to its deepest roots. This is something an American
University. such as myself could never truly understand, or rather
Botti, commenting on Al Jazeera's use of the word 'mar- feel," he added.
tyr,' wrote: "Still, I'd venture to guess that for the average The posting on the blog are as diverse as the participants
American the word martyr in the context of the Middle in the boot camp and are accompanied by photographs
East conjures up images of suicide bombers and masked taken by Jasmin Bauomy, a photojournalist. Some of the
men fighting in the streets of the West Bank. So, why does interesting postings include, Kebab and Curry, The Big
a news organization take no issue with using such (as Metal Door and Life behind the Veil.
many in our group called it) a "loaded word"?" THE PENINSULA
HMC unit gets WHO accreditation
DOHA • The Measles and Rubella Hanan Al Kuwari visited the labora- accreditation to certify the quality of
Laboratory Unit at Hamad Medical tory unit and congratulated the staff its measles and rubella tests.
Corporation (HMC) has been award- on the achievement. Virologist Consultant Dr Said Al
ed an accreditation certificate from They were accompanied by Mo- Zahiry pointed out that all tests per-
the World Health Organisation hamad Mubarak Al Noimi, Executive formed at HMC labs follow interna-
(WHO). Director, Marketing and Public Rela- tional industry standards, and test re-
The certificate acknowledges that tion Department and Dr Nasser Al sults are available within three days.
measles and rubella tests are per- Ansari, Deputy Director of Lab Unit. Clinical Consultant Dr Naima Al
formed at the unit in accordance Dr Nasser Al Ansari said that Mawlawi explained that last February
with WHO international criteria. Af- measles and rubella tests were first she participated in a workshop or-
ter successfully passing the accredi- performed at the HMC labs in 2003. ganised by the Lab Unit that was at-
tation review, the Laboratory Unit re- Following the WHO Middle East re- tended by WHO representatives.
ceived this certificate of recognition gional office announcement of its During the workshop, HMC shared
on June 18. plans to eliminate measles and rubel- its experiences with measles and
HMC Chairperson Dr Latifa Al la from the region by the year 2010, rubella testing.
Houti and its Managing Director Dr the HMC Lab Unit applied for WHO THE PENINSULA

Starwood hotel
brands to support
UNICEF projects
DOHA • Starwood and UNICEF are
now re-energizing the 'Check Out For
Children' partnership by widening
support to other areas of UNICEF's
work that reflect the core values of
each hotel brand.
■ Sheraton hotels are aiming to
raise awareness among guests that
millions of orphans and vulnerable
children affected by HIV and AIDS
do not have a place to belong and do
not receive the care and support they
need. Donations from Sheraton
guests will provide these children Adel Syed (right), director, Evaluation Institute, SEC, announcing results of QSSC 2008
with access to health care and sup- at the SEC headquarters yesterday as Dr Nawal Al Sheikh, communication manager, SEC
port and the chance to come togeth- looks on. (ABDUL BASIT)
er to learn and play with other
children.
■ Westin hotels will focus on clean
water, and will use guest donations to
bring well-being by providing water
43 percent students
points and sanitation facilities in
schools and communities.
■ Four Points by Sheraton hotels
reach top slot in
senior school exams
are highlighting how a simple inter-
Officials of InterContinental Hotels Group and Trans Orient Group with a model of the Crowne Plaza to be built in Doha. vention can save lives and are asking
guests to help prevent the transmis-

Crowne Plaza coming to Qatar

DUBAI • InterContinental Hotels
Group (IHG) has signed an exclusive
agreement with the Trans Orient
Group to develop the first Crowne
Plaza in Qatar, located close to Doha
Airport.
The agreement was signed by
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin
Abdullah Al Thani, owner of the
Trans Orient Group, and John Bam-
sey, Chief Operating Officer, IHG,
Middle East & Africa.
Speaking at the signing ceremony,
Bamsey said: "Today IHG has pushed
further forward with development,
highlighting our commitment to con-
tinued growth and expansion within
the Middle East and Africa. IHG is
delighted to have signed the Crowne
Plaza Doha Airport agreement with
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin
Abdullah Al Thani and the Trans Ori-
ent Group. Doha is a strategic loca-
tion and a great opportunity for
Crowne Plaza, which offers business
travellers high levels of comfort, serv-
ice and amenities, ensuring a relaxing
environment in which to work and
rest."
To be centrally located within
Doha's newest business park, which
is currently under development and
only two kilometres from Doha Inter-
national Airport, the hotel has been
designed with a focus on high-level
individual service, comfort and busi-
ness facilities. With easy access to the
business park's major conference
centre and office towers, the hotel
will provide the perfect base for the
discerning business traveller.
Incorporating 265 hotel rooms and
83 serviced apartments, the property
will offer travellers a choice of ac-
commodation to suit their length of
stay. Featured in the design are three
specialty restaurants, ideal for enter-
taining clients or unwinding after a
long day. A fully-equipped business
centre with state-of-the-art facilities
will also form part of the hotels serv-
ices, ensuring Crowne Plaza Doha
Airport becomes a focal point for
both guests and local companies to
conduct business.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin
Abdullah Al Thani said: "I am ex-
tremely happy to be working in part-
nership with IHG on the develop-
ment of the Crowne Plaza Doha
Airport. The Trans Orient Group al-
ready has a strong portfolio of com-
panies within Qatar, including the de-
velopment of the new business park
at the Crowne Plaza Doha Airport
site, incorporating six office build-
ings. The economy is growing signifi-
cantly throughout the country and
superior business hotels such as
Crowne Plaza are required to service
the needs of this booming market."
IHG currently operates one proper-
ty in Qatar, InterContinental Doha,
with a further hotel, InterContinental
Doha West Bay, in the development
pipeline.
Currently there are 13 Crowne
Plaza Hotels and 3,538 rooms across
the Middle East and Africa, with a
further six properties and 2,216
rooms in the development pipeline.
sion of HIV from mothers to babies.
Their donations will help UNICEF to
provide the medicine, care and sup-
port needed to ensure babies are born
free from HIV.
■ Luxury Collection hotels will
support UNICEF's work in the pre-
vention and treatment of malaria.
Donations will help to supply fami-
lies with treated bed nets and to en-
sure children with malaria receive
prompt life-saving treatment.
Football magic
at Marriott
DOHA • Guests can watch the semifi-
nals and the final of the European
Football Cup 2008 at the Doha Mar-
riott Hotel and witness the excite-
ment live as it happens. The football
matches are shown on large TV
screens at the Shisha Tent, Salsa
Restaurant, Café Trottoir, and Pearl
Lounge which have been trans-
formed into exciting sports venues.
Guests can enjoy great food, drinks
and pleasurable Shisha as they cheer
their favourite team to victory.
DOHA • Jana Alkhair Mohammed Ah-
mad of Al Bayan Independent
School has emerged as the overall
topper in the Qatar Senior School
Certificate (QSSC) examination.
Jana scored the maximum 990
points in the exam, for which 1,373
students had appeared.
Masri Amna Azhar Othaman, an-
other student of the Al Bayan school,
stood second with a score of 980.
Seven students of various other
schools, including Al Bayan, jointly
bagged the third place by scoring 970
each in the secondary school exams.
The QSSC comprises the student's
Qatar Overall Senior Schooling
Score (QOSSS); Senior Schooling
Scores (SSSs) in Arabic, English,
mathematics and science; Senior
School Studies Results (SSSR) as is-
sued by the school; and listing of ad-
ditional Special School Accomplish-
ments (SSA) identified by the
school.
The QOSSS is reported on a scale
ranging from 700 (lower perform-
ance) through to 990 (higher per-
formance) and provides a measure of
the student's academic performance
in relation to the peer group. It pro-
vides an indication of the student's
potential to undertake further studies.
Releasing the 2008 results yester-
day, Adel Sayed, Director, Evaluation
Institute, Supreme Education Coun-
cil (SEC), said of the 1,373 students
who took the examination, 593
found a place in the top slot. Of this,
36 students scored the high 951-990
points. Sixteen students could score
only in the lowest 700-750 scale.
Mena Alla Fayz Abdel Hady El
Moghazy of Amna Bint Wahab Inde-
pendent School is the top scorer in
Arabic. Mena scored the maximum
500. A total of 476 students found
their place in the high 451-500 score
range in English. Twenty students se-
cured the highest 500 score in Eng-
lish.
The overall top scorer, Jana Alkhair
Mohammed Ahamad, won the top
slot in science by scoring the maxi-
mum 500. In mathematics, a total of
194 students got an entry into the
highest slot. Five students of Al
Bayan Independent School got the
maximum score of 500.
THE PENINSULA