I refer to the article Small firms help UAE defy world downturn (January 24). Though the UAE is indeed an easy place to establish small businesses, it has far to go in terms of establishing a regulatory framework which nurtures them. As the business director for a boutique film production company based in Abu Dhabi, I am continually encountering government clients bound by auditing policies which mandate overwrought contractual terms more appropriate to large-scale industrial contracts. Advance payment guarantees, performance bonds, and tender bonds are not only inappropriate to many media industries but they drive small businesses out of the game. If Abu Dhabi is serious about nurturing an economy of entrepreneurs, it needs to create a business environment in which they can realistically participate. ES, Abu Dhabi
A good economy is not just based on capital. A good economy is one that has worked hard to diversify and create knowledge-based sustainability like Singapore and Scandinavia. With the amount of natural resources and thus massive cash flow that the UAE has, it should be the most progressive place on the planet and a blueprint for every emerging market. It is trying to and it will get there but it is not government management that gives it a good economy. It is two things: input from the expat workforce (skilled labour and innovation) and its own liquid assets (liquid in cash and liquid in oil, to be precise). Once the local population, due to properly structured Emiratisation, has been woven into the fibre of the culture and entrepreneurs and innovators spring out of the national collective, backed with government funding, you will see a truly good economy. Mick D, Dubai
In his opinion article An ostrobogulous journey through a godwottery of words (January 23), Colin Randall says readers may find exploration of obscure words ostrobogulous. Well, not ostrobogulous in terms of "indecent, pornographic", but certainly "interesting and bizarre". I only managed two out of the seven ("accidie" and "godwottery") but I thank him for providing interesting additions to my vocabulary. Just wait till my next Scrabble game with my daughter, though some of them have too many letters. I can just hear her protests about "brendice". Sheona Hutcheson, Gibraltar
Does a knowledge of such words as "fornale" and "godwottery" really enrich your vocabulary or simply establish you as a linguistic elitist who throws them into conversation for no other reason than to elicit blank stares and a feeling of inadequacy in your listeners? I ask as someone who is a devotee of The Guardian's cryptic crosswords, who has a reasonable grasp of the language and knows what several of Collin Randall's quoted words mean. Perhaps that does enrich my vocabulary, but not my usable vocabulary (seldom even for solving crosswords), so what's the point? Bill Taylor, Canada
With reference to HSBC delays debit card scheme again (January 25): 10 years ago I was surprised to learn that HSBC in the UAE had not implemented debit cards. I was offered a credit card as an alternative. Presumably this is to make more money from customers. Debit cards are commonly available worldwide. Customers who are not satisfied with their bank in this regard simply need to switch (like I did) to any of the other banks in this country that offer the debit card facility. Anita C, Abu Dhabi
In reference to Child dies in latest of hundreds of fatal falls from windows (January 22), parents have to take responsibility. Young children should not be left unsupervised, not even just for a few minutes. I have a young toddler and do not leave her unattended at any time. Additionally and very importantly, there are numerous "child-proofing" devices widely available in baby shops in the UAE, including window locks, gates and plug socket covers which all increase the safety of our homes. The stories we hear of children falling from balconies and windows are heartbreaking and tragic but totally avoidable if parents think about safety and ensure that any other carers are equally sensible and skilled in childcare.
While we are on the subject of child safety, why is it that many parents in the UAE don't put their babies and young children in an appropriate child seat when travelling by car? This is negligent and, in other countries, illegal. Do the parents really think they can protect their child if there is an accident? Parents, look after the safety of your children, they are too precious! Helen Hangari, Dubai