UAE consumers need a Better Business Bureau

• Last Updated: May 23. 2009 10:35PM UAE / May 23. 2009 6:35PM GMT

In reference to Consumers to get their day in court (May 23), I applaud the implementation of consumer arbitration courts, however, another important element must also be introduced: a consumer rights organisation like the Better Business Bureau, where local businesses register by agreeing to comply with BBB codes of conduct.

When shopping at a BBB licensed store, consumers are given greater peace of mind and the organisation also registers, investigates and attempts to resolve complaints against companies with which consumers have problems.

In addition, consumer rights will only be taken seriously with public awareness campaigns and staff training. Further, average consumers need a local, easily accessible, user-friendly means of filing a grievance and, in my experience, most people will avoid courts because of the hassle involved. A local BBB is the ideal solution for average consumer grievances, with the courts adjudicating extreme and high-value problems.

Elan Fabbri, Dubai

New ideas for US diplomacy

The article The Conversation detailed Barack Obama’s first interview with Al Arabiya radio station amid new hopes for American diplomacy. I want to thank Marc Lynch for a wonderfully-written, powerful and historical essay on US public diplomacy. Authentic global engagement is contingent on two all-important words: credible messengers. It’s that simple. They come in all shapes and sizes: Ben Franklin (with his coonskin cap), peace activist Samantha Smith, jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie – you get the idea.

As Brookings and many other Washington think tanks have written extensively, content and style are everything in the new mass media world. The Obama administration’s new field manual for public diplomacy should have a dress code section that reads: “No coats or ties allowed”. Better yet, President Obama should consider closing down the US State Department and replacing it with a new Ministry of the Arts. Quincy Jones is ready and willing. Then there is always the route that investment banker Peter G Peterson put forth – privatise public diplomacy.

John Compton, UK

Contemplating the unimaginable

I would like to deliver a thank you to Tala al Ramahi. I enjoyed reading her column When boys want to be boys and girls want to be … er, boys (May 14), she presented the subject with a solid objectivity, yet with an interesting colourful flow. Being Jordanian, I cracked a little smile when I read the “I would kill myself” comment by the Jordanian student when asked what would he do if he woke up a girl. Although it’s a laughable sexist gesture from a 10 year old, it does project the social reality. How would you feel if you woke up a guy?  

I am pro-mixed gender education without neglecting the concerns about the challenges it brings. And I do believe it would help to reform the “Arabic” social biases.

Firas F Khabour, Abu Dhabi

Deploying new traffic measures

Kudos to the Department of Transport (Parking meter plan unveiled, May 21). Proper enforcement of parking in this city cannot come soon enough. Too many cars are left for too long in areas where it is not appropriate – sometimes for months at a time.

However, just installing meters is not enough. The only area of the city with clearly laid out parking spaces appears to be the one where the meters have been standing idle for years. A few years ago, this area was reconstructed to make it more sensible, with road widths and space layouts that prevent the Abu Dhabi “signature” double parking down the middle of roads.

To roll the meters out throughout the city, will not similar work be required to make the layout of the minor roads in other areas sensible? Or at the very least application of a lot of white paint for bays and yellow lines for no parking? Currently the very layout of the streets encourages the parking mess.

The current yellow kerbs are meant to illustrate no parking. They are totally ignored and ineffective. National Car Parks are very diligent in the enforcement of these in the UK – it is a system which really works.

Currently the capital only has the one traffic warden. It is high time that, as part of the solution to the parking problem, we got a lot more.

An example of parking enforcement working really well is available just up the road in Dubai. Parking there is orderly and clear, and there are plenty of wardens.

Ford Desmoineaux, Abu Dhabi

Fix the Abu Dhabi Mall crossing

Two fairly simple measures would make the Abu Dhabi Mall crossing safer for the lazy ones while we wait for the lifts. First, place police officers or specially-trained security guards at the roadside to stop the suicidal crossing behaviour. Then put countdown timers on the pedestrian lights to show how long you have to wait for a green light and how long you have to cross.

Philip Bowler, Abu Dhabi