Security forces in Beirut is finally removing the cement blocks that were set in place a few years ago due to security threats. People who work in Hamra know how badly positioned were these block due to the traffic they were causing everyday, so it is a relief to have them removed at last.
The funny thing though is that the former minister of interior (Nohad Machnouk) and the new one (Raya El Hassan) both claimed they ordered the blocks removal which really sounded childish (here and here).
If there’s one thing that unites the Lebanese people then it must be their hate for the Valet Parking workers. They’re overpriced, always rude, and they have the capability to doom a whole areas just like what they did in Gemmeyze and Mar Mkhayel! I seriously pity the people living in that surrounding as I personally do my best to avoid going there at night…
And unfortunately, just as in the case with illegal internet and cable TV providers, the government couldn’t keep the valet parking thugs from hijacking public spaces so it simply resorted to “regulating” their activities. For years now they have been imposing ridiculous prices up to 10,000L.L and sometimes more at lush venues, but a recent joint memo by the ministry of interior and the ministry of tourism fixed their service fee at 5,000L.L. So let’s hope it gets applied!
I’m not sure though if hotels are also subject to this memo.
Earlier this month, minister Marwan Charbel imposed a new traffic plan on truck drivers to keep them from driving during rush hours in order to reduce congestion on the main roads.
The drivers eventually didn’t like this plan, so they started complaining about it in the media until they decided to go on a protest today. And being the geniuses they are, they didn’t do that in front of the ministry of interior or any other reasonable place, on the other hand, they simply decided to block the Ouzai highway which is used by thousands everyday to reach Beirut, which made people wait for like an hour or two in their cars this morning! I know because I was one of them.
Police officers were as usual just watching the protestors, and not daring to speak a word with them, while trying to organize the traffic a bit.
Balad mat3oub 3leih!
Apparently there’s some new virus targeting Lebanese porn surfers that displays a fake warning once you visit some x-rated website, claiming you have violated the law and requires that you pay a fine of 200,000 L.L to the ministry of interior via cashU or face 8 months to 1 year in prison.
On a side note, the reporter needs to take a chill pill towards porn websites.
This country is seriously going beyond insane. A group of gunmen stormed into Tripoli’s Islamic Hospital last night and released a detainee called Mohamad Youssef, who was arrested for opening fire on minister Faisal Karami’s convoy a while ago, after beating up the police men who were guarding him.
