One of the brand new ferries waiting on the docks of the new Suez Canal. The first two ferries crossed the canal from the east bank to the west last month amid celebrations by the people of Ismailia chanting: Long Live Egypt. Egypt's new Suez Canal will open on 6 August. Hani Dahi: A minister in the spotlight Hani Dahi, the minister of transportation, has recently been the centre of attention following the sinking of a boat heading to the Nile island neighbourhood of Al-Warraq which claimed the lives of 35 including children on Eid Al-Fitr. The tragedy showed alarming negligence in Egypt water transportation sector. Dahi was sworn in last June, when he announced an ambitious plan to develop various sectors of the ministry including water as well as automobile and railway transportation. Such plans have yet to see the light, however, with much of the railway system in dire need of maintenance and many roads in an appalling state. A recent train-bus accident resulting in the death of seven students and the injury of 30 others prompted no action on his part. The raising of train ticket prices has not reflected any improvement in service. Perhaps Dahi's most controversial statement to date, however, was saying that LE25 would be a fair price for the underground metro ticket, which currently costs LE1. This prompted much public anger. The sinking of the Al-Warraq boat is Dahi's chance to take decisive genuine steps to resolve transportation issues beyond making a scapegoat of the head of the Nile Transportation Department, who has been dismissed. We raised the Egyptian flag on our balconies on 30 June. Likewise, I call on everyone to do the same on 6 August, the opening of the new Suez Canal. We want to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the number of flags raised. I also call on all our guests to hoist the Egyptian flag together with their own. We want to see the flags of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Tunisia and every other country next to the Egyptian flag. Amani Dorgham, Al-Akhbar Experimental operation “Although the full details of the opening celebration of the new Suez Canal and the list of attendees have not been disclosed, Saturday saw the safe passage of three huge container ships from Singapore, Bahrain and Luxembourg sounding their horns in celebration.” Al-Tahrir “The head of the Suez Canal Authority Mohab Mamish said the safe passage of six container ships through the new Suez Canal demonstrates the success of the project.” Al-Watan “We celebrated the experimental operation of the new Suez Canal on Saturday. Today, we celebrate the 59th anniversary of the nationalisation of the Canal: the most courageous decision taken by the late president Gamal Abdel-Nasser.” Elham Aboul-Fath, Al-Akhbar Negligence is the word “Negligence is the main reason behind the sinking of the Al-Warraq boat last Wednesday. Neither was the boat licensed, nor did its captain have a license. Besides being overloaded, it had no lights and was playing very loud music which prevented the captain from seeing or hearing the barge before bumping into it. This is not the first and will not be the last accident caused by negligence. We all remember Al-Salam 98 ferry, which sank in 2006 claiming the lives of some 1,400 people, and the Beni Sweif Theatre fire that killed 50 people. It is high time to declare war on negligence and establish an Egyptian association to combat it.” Osama Al-Ghazali Harb, Al-Ahram Four in one “Al-Ahly's victory over Zamalek last week is fourfold event. First, the team gained three points in the league. Secondly, the match proved the absolute supremacy of a great team against a dwarfed one. Thirdly, it was a victory for the supporters who cheered their team an exemplary way. And fourthly, it was an administrative victory reflecting how the administration of Al-Ahly united and managed the crisis of the venue of the game in an efficient way, imposing its will.” Osama Khalil, Al-Masry Al-Youm Egyptian Essence: 9 million virus C patients “There are nine million virus C patients in Egypt according to a 2008 field survey. 90 per cent of them do not know that they carry the virus. There are over 150,000 new cases every year. Four per cent of that state's health budget is earmarked for treating Virus C patients.” Al-Ahram Facebook “I am the son of the 23 July Revolution. It granted me a dream, a vision, a project, a will and the energy to achieve them. I am Gamal Abdel-Nasser's son, in all his successes and failures. Today, I confess that I rediscover Nasser every day and rediscover myself, my dreams, hopes and failures. On 23 July, I greet Egypt, Egyptians — and Nasser, who is still alive among us 45 years after his death. ” Hani Raslan “Listening to the Abdel-Halim Hafez song that speaks of ‘our revolution' aiming for freedom and social justice and I wonder whether we have achieved any of the aims of 23 July or any other revolution. The revolution that will achieve its target has not come yet and may never come.” Nour Farahat Twitter New Suez Canal @NewCanalSuez A big thank you message for all the people who participated in accomplishing the #NewSuezCanal. A Y G @A_U3_G Painful blows by the Egyptian army smashed the backbone of terrorism in Sinai. Mostafa Al Sayed @mostafty We have lost our war against the terrorism in Sinai, but aren't you proud of a 7000 years of civilization? Sherifa Zuhur @SherifaZuhur There is no new strategy against #terrorism, although anti-regime pundits oppose use of military force. Without it what would #Sinai be now?
