PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST AT BAZAAR
Chinatown is a densely populated and well-known shopping and tourist attraction. In such crowded areas, fires or other unexpected incidents can trigger panic and stampedes.
So it was good to see the Singapore Civil Defence Force ensuring that fire-safety rules were being followed at the Chinese New Year street bazaar at Temple Street on Feb 2.
Organisers of the bazaar need to be well-prepared for any emergency, and must keep traffic flowing so as to avoid serious casualties in the event of a crisis.
They could set up a citizens' patrol to manage vendors and combat unscrupulous activities, such as illegal extension of stalls.
Social intervention can be effective as vendors will feel they are being watched by concerned citizens.
Human behaviour is essential to achieving fire safety. The interests of vendors should not be placed above the safety of the public.
Loong Chik Tong
CLEANLINESS IN HDB BLOCKS
Last June, the Government announced an increase in conservancy charges for Housing Board flats, shops and offices to keep up with the rise in maintenance costs, including cleaning. However, this increase in charges does not match the quality of services rendered by the cleaning companies.
SEEKING CLARITY ON VOLUNTEERS
Voluntarywelfare organisations (VWOs) engage volunteers as they are not able to employ more staff due to lack of funding.
Also, it enables VWOs to provide more help to people with the money saved.
Can profit-oriented companies and organisers of commercial events that charge for entry also be allowed to engage volunteers, instead of employing part-time staff?
Is there a governing body and regulations to oversee this practice of engaging volunteers?
What are the conditions, requirements and restrictions for engaging volunteers, if any?
Like making donations, volunteering is good, and it is a personal choice. However, providing volunteer help to VWOs and non-profit organisations and such may go a longer way to helping those in need.
Ang Hak Heng
Owing to a manpower crunch, sometimes only the common areas, such as public toilets or the ground floor, are cleaned while the upper floors are neglected. It is only when residents or shop owners complain that cleaning is carried out.
To improve cleanliness, robotic sweepers could be deployed to lighten the load on elderly cleaners.
The foreign manpower restriction policy could be relaxed for the cleaning industry so that younger workers can be hired.
Rachel Tan (Ms)
SIA STILL A GREAT WAY TO FLY
I am a frequent flyer of Singapore Airlines' (SIA) flights to the United States. I must disagree with some writers to Forum on the quality of the travel experience (Airline succumbing to external pressures, by Mr Arthur Lim, Feb 6; Worsening experience on SIA flights, by Mr Rahul Gupta, Feb 6; SIA headed the wrong direction, by Mr Peter Loon, Feb 3).
I have found the flights mostly to be of good quality. Despite the journeys taking close to 22 hours , the indefatigable spirit of the cabin crew to cater to the whims of the passengers on board at any time impresses me.
I take around three long-haul flights a year on SIA, and have compared them with similar flights on other airlines. SIA flights are above par on all aspects in my judgment.
I think the current pricing strategy serves the company well, allowing it to tap various ends of the market and making flights affordable for customers.
Singapore Airlines is still a great way to fly.
Chandra Das
