News from Samoa, Dubai and Saudi Arabia

Errant and ownerless dogs are rife across the island nation, and the parliament’s recent debate on a “Canine Control Bill” prompted various proposals to address the problem, including stray dog racing.

The Commonwealth country of about 200,000 people reportedly has more stray dogs than tourists, and there are frequent reports of attacks on humans. The country’s associate minister, Tole’afoa Apulu Fa’afisi, proposed in parliament the idea of exporting stray dog meat to Asia and received strong support from fellow MPs.

“Rather than spending money on dogs, how about we use their meat to get money?” he said. “Put them in cans and export them. Looking after other farm animals is also expensive maybe we can grind their meat to feed farm animals?”

The proposal won the backing of the finance minister, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, who said “there is no difference between the meat of a pig and that of a dog. When it gets cold in Asia, the moment you eat dog meat, you feel warm afterwards,” he said.

Another MP, Levaopolo Talatonu, reportedly backed the proposal but said the government should sample the meat first. He also suggested the government consider dog racing. “In other countries they have a lot of dog races and it makes money,” he said. “If we have the same thing here, people would be quick to take those dogs in town under their care so they can take them to the race to earn money.”

The opposition has rejected the plan for dog meat, saying the stray dogs should be put down.

But the police minister, Sala Fata Pinati, said it would be “inhumane” to start shooting at stray dogs without obtaining a court order. “We don’t just walk to the market where there are a lot of stray dogs and start using a gun to shoot them,” he said.

A picture was shown off on the service’s Twitter feed, with the caption: “Latest Dubai Police patrols, now at your service.” It was widely re-tweeted with the hashtag “#onlyinDubai”.

Local media suggested the $550,000 car, which has a V12 engine, a maximum speed of 217mph and accelerates from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds, would be more used as a marketing device than as a standard patrol car.

The city’s police chief, Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, is one of the more public relations-aware officials of the region, and is closely tied to the ruling family, with its vision for the city as an international playground for the wealthy.

However, the car is being shown off at the same time as the police are in the middle of a campaign to curb the wilder excesses of the city’s largely young, male, drivers, who frequently use the United Arab Emirates desert motorways as a racetrack.

Extra fines and even threats of imprisonment for those caught speeding at more than 124mph, who make up 15% of the total, have recently been unveiled. Standard fines for speeding work out at no more than $150-$230.

The campaign has not been without its critics. “One-sixty is not fast in some places,” one local man, Ali Izzat, told a local newspaper. Although the speed limit is 75mph, fines on the fastest stretches don’t kick in until 99mph. “If the roads are all clear, and it’s late and dark, why do I need to drive slow and risk even falling asleep when I can drive quicker to get home?”

Another Emirati said: “I don’t think it is fair that they risk losing their jobs for driving above 124mph. Every car can easily go above 124mph. It is better to raise awareness in this regard instead of imposing such a harsh rule.”

The police have already begun using a new Chevrolet Camaro SS (top speed: 157mph, 0-60mph: 4.3 seconds) as their first weapon in the campaign against excessive speeders.

SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia deports ‘irresistible’ men

(The news briefs above are from wire reports and staff reports posted at London’s Daily Telegraph  on April 4th, 11th and 17th.)