Here's a news item from the BBC:
"A man jailed in the United Arab Emirates after cannabis weighing less than a sugar grain was found on the sole of his shoe has spoken out.
Andrew Brown, 43, from Smethwick, West Midlands was jailed for four years in December but was pardoned last week by the head of Dubai's prison system."
I think only the Ruler can grant a pardon, but that may just be a detail they got wrong.
It seems the story was broken by 7Days but I can't find it in any of our other papers. A few international news outlets have carried it - Sky News and International Herald Tribune both quote 7Days while the BBC seem to be carrying their own story.
Assuming it's true, it's a very sensible decision - for Andrew Brown and for Dubai's reputation.
We're taking a bit of a hammering internationally over the jailing of people for taking Codeine or for having a couple of poppy seeds from a bread roll on their clothing, and in this case for having trodden on something. I posted about that a week or so ago.
I don't have a problem with strict drug laws but I do object to them being taken to these ridiculous extremes. I can't believe it was the intention of the lawmakers for them to be interpreted in this way and for the jailing of innocent people.
Maybe our new Minister of Justice will look into what's been happening. It would seem to need an explanation of the laws and what was intended by them to be sent to everyone involved, from Customs to the courts.
The stories are here:
7Days.
IHT.
Sky.
BBC.
And while I'm talking about the law and courts, there was another interesting item that caught my eye.
A while ago the police said they were going to crack down on illegal tinting of car windows. Well, they've started the crackdown and it's on their own personnel!
According to the story, more than 50 police employees have been fined for having tinting above the 30% limit. Major Saif Al Mazroui, Acting Deputy Director of Dubai Police's Traffic Department, said the aim of the campaign is to alert Dubai Police employees that they have to be role models for others and abide by the rule.
I'd like to see that sentiment expanded to cover drivers of police cars too - I see far too many of them breaking traffic laws and rules. Talking on mobile phones, speeding, sitting in the wrong lane...
The story is here.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
This is a worry...
The lead story in Emirates Business 24/7 today is about the RTA putting out to tender the rights to sell advertising on the Metro system.
In the story is some really worrying information that I haven't seen before.
"Apart from the main contract for advertising inside and outside the Metro cars, separate concessions will be awarded for advertising on the Metro viaduct, pillars and stations...The viaduct will have lights and bright advertising signs. The same applies to the concrete pillars that support the viaduct."
Oh great. Bright advertising signs all over everything, that'll be classy.
But that's not all:
"RTA will offer rights to use Metro stations to selected companies, government and private departments and institutions for design and colour of stations...Civil Aviation Authority of Dubai will design and build two stations near the airport.They will carry the authority’s name. Also BurJuman shopping centre has won a concession to design and build the BurJuman station, which will carry its name. Dubai Holding has got a station of its own as well...Among 42 stations RTA will offer only 23 stations for sponsorship by other companies and bodies, while the remaining stations will maintain their design, which should be in harmony with the national identity of the UAE."
'Only 23'? That's more than half the stations designed and decorated by sponsor companies. Will they be 'in harmony with the national identity of the UAE' or in harmony with the advertising of the company...no prizes for getting the answer right.
Even in a country with a high standard of advertising creativity it would be appalling, but in Dubai I can't even begin to imagine how bad it's going to look.
The story's here.
In the story is some really worrying information that I haven't seen before.
"Apart from the main contract for advertising inside and outside the Metro cars, separate concessions will be awarded for advertising on the Metro viaduct, pillars and stations...The viaduct will have lights and bright advertising signs. The same applies to the concrete pillars that support the viaduct."
Oh great. Bright advertising signs all over everything, that'll be classy.
But that's not all:
"RTA will offer rights to use Metro stations to selected companies, government and private departments and institutions for design and colour of stations...Civil Aviation Authority of Dubai will design and build two stations near the airport.They will carry the authority’s name. Also BurJuman shopping centre has won a concession to design and build the BurJuman station, which will carry its name. Dubai Holding has got a station of its own as well...Among 42 stations RTA will offer only 23 stations for sponsorship by other companies and bodies, while the remaining stations will maintain their design, which should be in harmony with the national identity of the UAE."
'Only 23'? That's more than half the stations designed and decorated by sponsor companies. Will they be 'in harmony with the national identity of the UAE' or in harmony with the advertising of the company...no prizes for getting the answer right.
Even in a country with a high standard of advertising creativity it would be appalling, but in Dubai I can't even begin to imagine how bad it's going to look.
The story's here.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Global Village 2008
Sad to say, I was disappointed in this years Global Village. It wasn't anywhere near as interesting as last year I thought.
What I liked about it in previous years was the souk-like arrangement and atmosphere, with hundreds of stalls selling anything and everything. There were less country pavilions this year and far fewer traders.
The usual Dubai problems are the first hurdle - hardly any road signs to the event so confused motorists were adding to the chaos on the roads leading to it.
And instead of spreading the load, in true Dubai fashion all but one of the car park entrances were blocked off, so even though we'd arrived at GV we sat in a queue for forty minutes to get into the car parks.
Getting out was the same problem, just one exit open so the car parks were full of traffic all being forced onto one narrow lane and one exit. I missed most of that because a helpful attendant moved the cones from one of the blocked exits for me.
Even just after opening at 4pm there were big crowds pouring in and I assume visitor numbers are looking good for the organisers. It's still only Dh5 entrance fee, which is good value for money I think.
It can be quite a walk from the far car parks, particularly for families with older people or with children, and it is very much a family event. The last part of the walk can be avoided if you take one of the trishaws, and there are plenty of them lined up waiting for passengers. Coming back laden down with stuff you've bought the trishaw might be a sensible idea - we walked so I don't know what they charge but I'm sure it won't be much.
We particularly liked the Yemen pavilion, it has a real souk atmosphere with the most amazing looking and smelling spice stalls right by the entrance. There's a whole row of stalls selling many different types of honey in bulk too.
As part of the future plan to have GV as a year-round permanent attraction a waterway has been added between major pavilions. There's a canal with several bridges over it and a couple of small lake areas, people sitting and resting at the waterside. And the reflection of lights on water always looks good.
While I'm sure the water will work in future the problem is that with the crowds going to GV now because it's still only a one month event, the waterway has taken out much-needed walkways. The crowds packed into either side of it and on the bridges are absolutely awful.
The crush isn't simply the huge number of people but the added facts that many have children in pushchairs, most are those huge things which are the pram equivalent of a Toyota Landcruiser, and many more are struggling with bags of their purchases.
As in previous years the Indian pavilion is the star of the show. I'm sure it's the biggest, it's full of traders and has a great atmosphere.
What I liked about it in previous years was the souk-like arrangement and atmosphere, with hundreds of stalls selling anything and everything. There were less country pavilions this year and far fewer traders.
The usual Dubai problems are the first hurdle - hardly any road signs to the event so confused motorists were adding to the chaos on the roads leading to it.
And instead of spreading the load, in true Dubai fashion all but one of the car park entrances were blocked off, so even though we'd arrived at GV we sat in a queue for forty minutes to get into the car parks.
Getting out was the same problem, just one exit open so the car parks were full of traffic all being forced onto one narrow lane and one exit. I missed most of that because a helpful attendant moved the cones from one of the blocked exits for me.
Even just after opening at 4pm there were big crowds pouring in and I assume visitor numbers are looking good for the organisers. It's still only Dh5 entrance fee, which is good value for money I think.
It can be quite a walk from the far car parks, particularly for families with older people or with children, and it is very much a family event. The last part of the walk can be avoided if you take one of the trishaws, and there are plenty of them lined up waiting for passengers. Coming back laden down with stuff you've bought the trishaw might be a sensible idea - we walked so I don't know what they charge but I'm sure it won't be much.
We particularly liked the Yemen pavilion, it has a real souk atmosphere with the most amazing looking and smelling spice stalls right by the entrance. There's a whole row of stalls selling many different types of honey in bulk too.
As part of the future plan to have GV as a year-round permanent attraction a waterway has been added between major pavilions. There's a canal with several bridges over it and a couple of small lake areas, people sitting and resting at the waterside. And the reflection of lights on water always looks good.
While I'm sure the water will work in future the problem is that with the crowds going to GV now because it's still only a one month event, the waterway has taken out much-needed walkways. The crowds packed into either side of it and on the bridges are absolutely awful.
The crush isn't simply the huge number of people but the added facts that many have children in pushchairs, most are those huge things which are the pram equivalent of a Toyota Landcruiser, and many more are struggling with bags of their purchases.
As in previous years the Indian pavilion is the star of the show. I'm sure it's the biggest, it's full of traders and has a great atmosphere.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A better deal for Indian maids
There's regular comment about the wages of lower-paid workers in the UAE, and the conditions in which some - especially labourers in the construction industry - are accommodated.
The wages and treatment of housemaids is also a subject of conversation and media reports. Exploitation has been all-too common so it's an area that governments have needed to be involved in. Fortunately that is happening.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE has just issued new regulations for the employment of maids from India.
With immediate effect, housemaids from India must be paid at least Dh1,100 a month plus food and accommodation plus return airfare. They must be a minimum of 30 years of age and it seems that some kind of check into the employer is carried out. The announcement from the Embassy is here.
The new wage is US$299 a month, or at today's exchange rate £152, Euro200.
When you convert it into western currencies it sounds appallingly low doesn't it.
In spite of an 80% increase, is it still exploitation?
The ongoing discussion about lower-paid workers' wages has popped up here again, on the UAE Community Blog and then on Bss & Brn in Al Ain blog.
It's a highly emotive issue, but it's also highly complex.
Just look at a couple of the economic issues - putting aside bad treatment of people, which is unacceptable for anyone under any circumstances.
We live in an economy in which the majority of people are guest workers. Many of the workers are from countries in which their remittances have a huge impact on the economy. Indian remittances last year were nearly US$30 billion. The Philippines economy received remittances of over US$14 billion last year. Remittances are some countries' largest foreign exchange earner.
The average wage in many labour supplying countries is around a dollar a day. The cost of living in many of them is low enough that a person sending back just a few dollars a month is supporting an extended family.
It's highly complex, encompassing everthing from the individual to entire economies. To relate the wages of workers from these countries to western wages & costs of living is meaningless. To say there should be a wage for the job regardless of where people come from is naive.
Compare the wages in your country with the official minimum wage rates declared by the Indian government through its Embassy in Abu Dhabi for its citizens.
For example, the lowest wage is Dh600 a month (US$163, £82, Euro109) for unskilled workers including labourer, cleaner, messenger, Grade II Waiter, cook on personal sponsorship, farm workers.
For 'Office Staff' the minimum wage is Dh1150 to Dh1200 a month (US$312, 157, Euro209). For 'Highly Skilled' people including X-ray Welder, Nurse, Accountant,a minimum wage of Dh1400 to Dh1700 a month (US$380, £191, Euro255).
In the context of India and Indians, the Indian government says those are fair minimum wages.
You can read the full list at the Embassy website.
As I said, it's complex.
The wages and treatment of housemaids is also a subject of conversation and media reports. Exploitation has been all-too common so it's an area that governments have needed to be involved in. Fortunately that is happening.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE has just issued new regulations for the employment of maids from India.
With immediate effect, housemaids from India must be paid at least Dh1,100 a month plus food and accommodation plus return airfare. They must be a minimum of 30 years of age and it seems that some kind of check into the employer is carried out. The announcement from the Embassy is here.
The new wage is US$299 a month, or at today's exchange rate £152, Euro200.
When you convert it into western currencies it sounds appallingly low doesn't it.
In spite of an 80% increase, is it still exploitation?
The ongoing discussion about lower-paid workers' wages has popped up here again, on the UAE Community Blog and then on Bss & Brn in Al Ain blog.
It's a highly emotive issue, but it's also highly complex.
Just look at a couple of the economic issues - putting aside bad treatment of people, which is unacceptable for anyone under any circumstances.
We live in an economy in which the majority of people are guest workers. Many of the workers are from countries in which their remittances have a huge impact on the economy. Indian remittances last year were nearly US$30 billion. The Philippines economy received remittances of over US$14 billion last year. Remittances are some countries' largest foreign exchange earner.
The average wage in many labour supplying countries is around a dollar a day. The cost of living in many of them is low enough that a person sending back just a few dollars a month is supporting an extended family.
It's highly complex, encompassing everthing from the individual to entire economies. To relate the wages of workers from these countries to western wages & costs of living is meaningless. To say there should be a wage for the job regardless of where people come from is naive.
Compare the wages in your country with the official minimum wage rates declared by the Indian government through its Embassy in Abu Dhabi for its citizens.
For example, the lowest wage is Dh600 a month (US$163, £82, Euro109) for unskilled workers including labourer, cleaner, messenger, Grade II Waiter, cook on personal sponsorship, farm workers.
For 'Office Staff' the minimum wage is Dh1150 to Dh1200 a month (US$312, 157, Euro209). For 'Highly Skilled' people including X-ray Welder, Nurse, Accountant,a minimum wage of Dh1400 to Dh1700 a month (US$380, £191, Euro255).
In the context of India and Indians, the Indian government says those are fair minimum wages.
You can read the full list at the Embassy website.
As I said, it's complex.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
More on old Dubai today...
This is the second post, which I meant to do much earlier than this, on Dubai's older shopping areas that I so much prefer to the new malls.
The first one was about Satwa and today it's the area in Bur Dubai around Al Faheidi Street.
The shopping district is between Bank Street and the Creek, with Al Faheidi Street running parallel to and in between them. Bank Street, by the way, has a big concentration of computer stores, especially clustered around the junction with Mankhool Road.
This part of Bur Dubai is another area of mainly small roadside shops with a bewildering variety of things to see and buy. From designer clothing to the cheapest clothing, souks, supermarkets, hardware, household goods, tailors...you name it and it's almost cetainly here.
It's also a residential area of course, and it's quite different from the over-the-top opulence the world thinks all Dubai consists of.
These local shopping areas are attracting little clusters of gold shops selling the traditional Indian and Arab jewellery now that the gold souk is catering more for western tourists. I've always thought it makes the most stunning window displays.
The area is full of little cafes, restaurants, juice bars all adding to the atmosphere, especially with the hunger-making smells coming from them.
It also has dozens of the little lanes and alleyways, most with tiny shops both sides. And they're perfectly safe to walk down - a side of Dubai that often gets forgotten or we become blase about. It really is astonishingly safe for a city of its size.
You can start up in Bank Street and just wander in the direction of the Creek, checking out all the little streets and lanes and eventually you arrive at the souks.
Down by the Creek there are some household goods shops, crammed from top to bottom with kitchen gadgets, cutlery, pots & pans and stuff I have no idea what it's for, sweet shops, spices, pharmacies, travel agencies - as I've said before, if you don't know where to find something just go into one of these older shopping areas and you'll find it.
This Creekside area is where the textile souk is located, wholesale and retail, and there's more material on offer than anyone could ever need. The materials, the designs, the countries of origin, the vast choice is amazing.
There's also the more general souk with a lot of touristy stuff but also amazing bargains for the rest of us. For example, a Pashmina shawl for Dh10 is great for tourists, but it's also not a bad buy for residents considering the cold weather we've been having.
And of course there are watches and shoes and bedsheets and hats and T-shirts, antiques, leather belts, jackets, snacks, juice...
Then you eventually arrive at the Creek, my favourite part of Dubai. The sights, the sounds, the smells of the Creek - that's Dubai.
The first one was about Satwa and today it's the area in Bur Dubai around Al Faheidi Street.
The shopping district is between Bank Street and the Creek, with Al Faheidi Street running parallel to and in between them. Bank Street, by the way, has a big concentration of computer stores, especially clustered around the junction with Mankhool Road.
This part of Bur Dubai is another area of mainly small roadside shops with a bewildering variety of things to see and buy. From designer clothing to the cheapest clothing, souks, supermarkets, hardware, household goods, tailors...you name it and it's almost cetainly here.
It's also a residential area of course, and it's quite different from the over-the-top opulence the world thinks all Dubai consists of.
These local shopping areas are attracting little clusters of gold shops selling the traditional Indian and Arab jewellery now that the gold souk is catering more for western tourists. I've always thought it makes the most stunning window displays.
The area is full of little cafes, restaurants, juice bars all adding to the atmosphere, especially with the hunger-making smells coming from them.
It also has dozens of the little lanes and alleyways, most with tiny shops both sides. And they're perfectly safe to walk down - a side of Dubai that often gets forgotten or we become blase about. It really is astonishingly safe for a city of its size.
You can start up in Bank Street and just wander in the direction of the Creek, checking out all the little streets and lanes and eventually you arrive at the souks.
Down by the Creek there are some household goods shops, crammed from top to bottom with kitchen gadgets, cutlery, pots & pans and stuff I have no idea what it's for, sweet shops, spices, pharmacies, travel agencies - as I've said before, if you don't know where to find something just go into one of these older shopping areas and you'll find it.
This Creekside area is where the textile souk is located, wholesale and retail, and there's more material on offer than anyone could ever need. The materials, the designs, the countries of origin, the vast choice is amazing.
There's also the more general souk with a lot of touristy stuff but also amazing bargains for the rest of us. For example, a Pashmina shawl for Dh10 is great for tourists, but it's also not a bad buy for residents considering the cold weather we've been having.
And of course there are watches and shoes and bedsheets and hats and T-shirts, antiques, leather belts, jackets, snacks, juice...
Then you eventually arrive at the Creek, my favourite part of Dubai. The sights, the sounds, the smells of the Creek - that's Dubai.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Rape case appeal rejected
A rape case that has attracted international attention and condemnation of the laws and sentences here, is back in the news.
A reminder. Three Emiratis, one HIV & hepatitis positive, were charged with 'having forceful sex' with a 15 year old French schoolboy. That's the way homosexual rape is described by our law.
It has been not only all over the internet, the boy's mother started a website called boycottdubai.com, but in the mainstream media as well - if you google you'll see the extent of it. There's a lot of highly critical stuff, very damaging to Dubai's reputation in major international media.
The expectation in many quarters seemed to be that justice would not be served in the case.
To the surprise of the sceptics the two adult men (the third is appearing in a juvenile court) were each given 15 year sentences.
A Dubai Government spokesman said the sentence was in accordance with the practice in most countries in respect to similar crimes.
The defence lawyer at one stage said that as the boy had not developed HIV it proved his client was not guilty. That quite rightly attracted a huge amount of derision.
On that laughable suggestion an Appeal Court judge is quoted today as saying:
"Although the victim's results came back negative, this has nothing to do with the crime, charges, litigation and court proceedings".
The convicted rapists appealed, but yesterday the Court of Appeal upheld the initial ruling.
The court also upheld the referral to Dubai Civil Court of the victim's Dh15 million compensation claim.
Of course, the appeal will now be taken to the highest court. Let's hope they show the same good judgement as the earlier courts.
Change of sentiment
I don't know how long the mother's website will be accessible, because on it she has posted:
I am pleased to be able to tell you, all around the world, that Dubai is committed to the enforcement of its rule of law in a fair and just manner...
...I consider my demands for positive redress of the situation, to the UAE, have been met. I have therefore withdrawn the civil cases filed in Dubai, Paris and Geneva respectively.
For all these reasons, I will now close down this website which was established to raise the public and media attention of this case.
A reminder. Three Emiratis, one HIV & hepatitis positive, were charged with 'having forceful sex' with a 15 year old French schoolboy. That's the way homosexual rape is described by our law.
It has been not only all over the internet, the boy's mother started a website called boycottdubai.com, but in the mainstream media as well - if you google you'll see the extent of it. There's a lot of highly critical stuff, very damaging to Dubai's reputation in major international media.
The expectation in many quarters seemed to be that justice would not be served in the case.
To the surprise of the sceptics the two adult men (the third is appearing in a juvenile court) were each given 15 year sentences.
A Dubai Government spokesman said the sentence was in accordance with the practice in most countries in respect to similar crimes.
The defence lawyer at one stage said that as the boy had not developed HIV it proved his client was not guilty. That quite rightly attracted a huge amount of derision.
On that laughable suggestion an Appeal Court judge is quoted today as saying:
"Although the victim's results came back negative, this has nothing to do with the crime, charges, litigation and court proceedings".
The convicted rapists appealed, but yesterday the Court of Appeal upheld the initial ruling.
The court also upheld the referral to Dubai Civil Court of the victim's Dh15 million compensation claim.
Of course, the appeal will now be taken to the highest court. Let's hope they show the same good judgement as the earlier courts.
Change of sentiment
I don't know how long the mother's website will be accessible, because on it she has posted:
I am pleased to be able to tell you, all around the world, that Dubai is committed to the enforcement of its rule of law in a fair and just manner...
...I consider my demands for positive redress of the situation, to the UAE, have been met. I have therefore withdrawn the civil cases filed in Dubai, Paris and Geneva respectively.
For all these reasons, I will now close down this website which was established to raise the public and media attention of this case.
I don't suppose for one moment that the international media will pick up on that.
So, things are moving in the right direction.
We have a new Minister of Justice too. Maybe he will look at other laws that are getting us a bad press internationally - those relating to drugs.
The question of people with over-the-counter drugs being so harshly treated, the jailing of people who took (even prescription) drugs outside the UAE, the jailing of people with the tiniest microscopic speck of a drug on their clothing - the laws and their implementation need to be looked at.
References you may be interested to read:
And in relation to the drug laws that I think need urgent attention:
Ministry changes
Last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid put various ministries on notice to lift their game.
Then it was announced that 'mystery shoppers' would be used to
check their performance.
Today there is the annoucement of a cabinet re-shuffle. Some ministers have been moved, some have been replaced, new ministries formed, responsibilities of some departments have been moved...and we now have four female ministers.
WAM quotes Sheikh Mohammed as saying that :
...the overall objective of the cabinet reshuffle was enhancing government's efficiency, transparency and teamwork.
"We want a modern and effective cabinet with a greater consistency and abilities to improve functioning of the government as a whole and to accelerate development processes."
All the details are in the lead story in today's Gulf News, here.
Then it was announced that 'mystery shoppers' would be used to
check their performance.
Today there is the annoucement of a cabinet re-shuffle. Some ministers have been moved, some have been replaced, new ministries formed, responsibilities of some departments have been moved...and we now have four female ministers.
WAM quotes Sheikh Mohammed as saying that :
...the overall objective of the cabinet reshuffle was enhancing government's efficiency, transparency and teamwork.
"We want a modern and effective cabinet with a greater consistency and abilities to improve functioning of the government as a whole and to accelerate development processes."
All the details are in the lead story in today's Gulf News, here.
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