Monsurat
The Lebanese people are about to face a new challenge with two different time zones, amid a dispute between political and religious authorities over the decision to postpone winter clock changes.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati made the decision on Thursday to delay daylight saving by a month. This means that daylight saving will be introduced on April 20 rather than on the last weekend of March.
Although, no official explanation was given for the move, the Lebanese media has suggested that the decision was to allow Muslims break their fast earlier. Mikati’s decision was seen as an attempt to gain popularity among Muslims by allowing those fasting to break at 6pm instead of 7pm.
However, the Lebanon’s influential Christian Maronite Church have said it would disregard the decision and change its clocks on the last Sunday in March, as is the custom. The church called the decision “surprising.”
Two media organizations, MTV Lebanon and LBCI Lebanon have followed suit with the church and have gone ahead with switching to Daylight Saving Time early on Sunday. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s national carrier Middle East Airlines said its clocks and other devices would stay in winter time but its flights would be adjusted to avoid upsetting international schedules.
Adding to the confusion, operators responsible for coordinating time on mobile phones and other electronic devices were not notified of the delay in time, leaving users at a cross road.
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