Write to the editor

I am by now used to the ‘journalistic’ style of the GulfWeekly. One and the same person contributes the car review, which feels like somebody copies entire paragraphs out of the manufacturers press-release or PR brochures, or elevating even the most mediocre eateries to culinary temples, as long as a free lunch can be had, and flogging, what looks on the photos as the most dreary and impersonal flats, as luxurious apartments and phenomenal penthouses.

I don’t mind, as I do not believe that many people still fall for this kind of undisclosed advertisement.

But now the same lady tries her hand in the sport pages, although mentioning at least six times McDonald’s in the same article gives a small hint at what it is really about.

Mai writes about an 11-year-old Bahraini boy who is fond of the Belgian international Eden Hazard, who was so kind to him ‘although he is not noted for his gentleness when it comes to treating kids’.

I suppose she refers to the incident when Hazard tried to retrieve the ball from Charlie Morgan, when this guy – during a game between Chelsea and Swansea City – threw himself on the ball to waste as much time as possible after he had announced on Facebook that he would, acting as a ball boy, do exactly that. He escaped punishment mainly because he is the son of the owner of Swansea City. The ‘child who fell on the ball’ as Mai describes it, was 17-years-old at the time. In fact, the Premier League has a number of players of that same age. Wayne Rooney was a year younger when he scored his first Premier League goal. Hazard was only three years older than this Charlie person when the incident happened.
 
But why let the truth get in the way of a good McDonald’s story. Why not defame a young player, Eden Hazard, who cannot defend himself, anyway?

An apology in the next issue would be the least.

A Belgian in Bahrain,
By email.

Editor’s note: Thank you for your letter. Please be assured that we welcome any and all constructive criticism and would be pleased to address your concerns, in chronological order.

The car reviews are predominantly done by the motoring correspondent, mostly because he has a wealth of knowledge on the subject, having driven several hundred cars over the years.

As for the content of the reviews, yes, parts are taken from press releases, such as the technical specifications, however, the review itself is written from an honest first person perspective by someone who knows the difference between Newton Metres of torque and horsepower without using Google.

Your next point, ‘elevating even the most mediocre eateries to culinary temples’, to which review are you referring? Taste is subjective, and we review many different types of cuisine. Perhaps, if you didn’t enjoy your meal at one of the places we featured as much as we did, it would be a good idea to take up your complaint with their management or even the chef?

As for ‘flogging dreary and impersonal flats’, have you personally been to view any of the properties featured? If you would like to assess the standard of any property we feature up close and personal, we will happily arrange it.
As for sports writer, Mai Al Khatib-Camille, rest assured, with seven years experience under her belt, she knows what she’s talking about.

The story you refer to regarding McDonald’s can be explained very simply. The initiative is called McDonald’s Bahrain Player Escort Programme … what else can we call it? The point of the story you appear to have missed was that it was McDonald’s that afforded these football fans the opportunity to watch the World Cup in style.

As for the reference to Hazard, it was not libel (the written form of defamation) as we stated that Hazard was merely ‘accused’ of his actions.

For it to be libel, one must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the statement was false, caused harm and was made without adequate research into its truthfulness.

The incident was well reported in the international media and GulfWeekly did not express a personal view on the matter.

As for referring to Swansea City BALLBOY Charlie Morgan as a child, legally, in the UK anyone under the age of 18 is considered one.

I would like to thank you very much for the beautiful write up on Sneha in the latest issue of GulfWeekly. It was a wonderful description of Sneha through art.

Looking forward for such support always in the future.

Nivedita Dutta
Hon. President
Indian Ladies Association.