Il-FAIR għadu fair?

Ftit taż-żmien ilu konna għaddejjin bil-kampanja tal-FAIR u nisimgħu li l-Ewro mhux se jgħolli l-ħajja. L-NECC - il-Kummissjoni Nazzjonali għall-Qalba għall-Ewro kienet tinfurmana l-ħin kollu li l-prezzijiet għandhom ikunu maqluba bir-rata fissa stabbilita. Kien hemm ukoll il-friża tal-prezzijiet sal-famuż Marzu tal-elezzjoni u l-wegħda li l-funzjoni tal-NECC, li wara l-qalba għall-Ewro kellha tevolvi fi struttura li tara li l-prezzijiet offruti lill-konsumatur ikunu tabilħaqq ġusti. Naħseb li sa dak iż-żmien kollox mexa ħarir. Il-qalba kienet waħda lixxa u l-kontrolli dehru li kienu qed jaħdmu.

Kważi sena w nofs wara x'inhu jiġri?

Il-friża tal-prezzijiet donnha dabet għall-kollox - dabet ukoll is-saħħa li kellhom il-flus f'butna. Mawra s'għand il-ħanut tal-merċa biex tixtri l-bżonnijiet ta' kuljum tħallik nifsek maqtugħ, tħares lejn il-kont tipprova ssib xi żball li jispjega għaliex kull darba qed tonfoq aktar mid-drabi ta' qabel biex tixtri l-istess affarijiet. L-NECC dabet ukoll - dik li kellha tkun il-funzjoni ġdida tagħha baqgħet ma twieldet qatt. Drajna naċċettaw wegħdiet miksura.
Il-konvenjenza tal-konverżjoni tal-valur tal-flus ħadet post il-FAIR li tant konna stampajna riklami u waħħalna stickers tagħha mal-bibien tal-ħwienet. Tista' tagħti tort lin-negozjant li jaqta' għad-dritt meta dan jara li anki d-Dipartimenti tal-Gvern qed jagħmlu dan - id-Dipartiment tal-Artijiet, ngħidu aħna, kien iżomm Lm 5 jew €11.65 biex tinġabar kopja ta' tender - illum dan sar €12 għad-dritt. Nistħajjilkom tgħidu, "U iva mhux 35c kollox hemm differenza!". U għandkom raġun. Għandu raġun ukoll min jemmen li l-FAIR abbandunajnih bil-provi -minn fuq s-isfel.

The New Year's celebrations are with us, and as is customary in this country we exchange our gifts.  In the past, in Malta, people exchanged gifts on New Year's Day (L-Istrina) instead of being brought by X'Mas Father.

L-istrina has now become synonymous with the fund raising event which is hosted by “Where is Everybody” and broadcast on all the local TV Stations.  The L-istrina event supposedly supports the “Community Chest Fund” - a philanthropic Institution that is under the patronage of His Excellency The President of Malta.

Charity is a good thing,  and I still have childhood memories of my parents taking me to Valletta and making me buy a gift from my pocket money to put under the massive tree in Freedom Square to be given to some kid with less means than mine.  The sense of fulfilment and joy still permeates every inch of my body every time I remember those times.

These values are long gone.

Nowadays charity is given through a breathtaking media event called L-Istrina, with great gifts being given to the public in  exchange for their donations!

I wonder:

• Is it just another lottery?
• Is it true that,  should there be no lottery winnings, the Community Chest fund would raise less money?
• Are the Maltese such avid gamblers who would not otherwise donate money for charity?
• If all the gifts that they put for lottery are turned into cash, would the total cash generated be the same or maybe more?
• Does all the money go to the Community Chest Fund and/or other beneficiaries?
• How is the selection of the beneficiaries done?

We should all give charity by all means, from the bottom of our heart and with all our love.

Best wishes to all Il-Manoċċa readers.




PS: to add insult to injury, last Sunday I came across an article in a local newspaper claiming that the premises/area hosting the L-Istrina 2008 event is built without proper MEPA Permits!


Might is Right....
I scratch your back and you scratch mine!!

I think we all know the outcome.  The Authorities will be charitable towards this prominent building contractor/businessman and issue him the proper permits as he desires.; possibly prior to the eve of the event.

Stat ta' Konfuzjoni

Waħda mill-affarijiet li jaffaxxinawni fis-sistema politika Maltija hija in-nuqqas ta' separazzjoni bejn it-twemmin personali u l-istat. Jekk hux topponi divorzju fil-liġi ta' l-istat fuq bażi ta' twemmin reliġjuż, jew jekk tridx iddaħħal klawżola li tagħmel l-abort anti-kostituzzjonali, din l-atitudni tbeżżagħni. Forsi kieku ma ġewx l-Ingliżi, u żammejna l-liġi sekulari li ġiet mponuta fuq Malta taħt il-Franċiżi, forsi konna nkunu aħjar.

Din il-konfużjoni ma tieqafx hemm. L-anqas nafu naqtgħu linja bejn l-istat u l-partit. Din il-ġimgħa rajna lil Paul Borg Olivier jibagħat email jitlob lil rapreżentanti ta' l-istat jgħaddu informazzjoni lill-Partit Nazzjonalista. Jekk jien inkellem lil ministru, m'inix inkellmu bħala kandidat ma' partit jew ieħor. Qed inkellmu bħala rapreżentant ta' l-istat. Daqshekk diffiċli naqtgħu linja dritta?

Hemm il-Prim Ministru u l-Kap tal-Partit Nazzjonalista. Hemm il-Kap ta' l-Oppożizzjoni u l-Kap tal-Partit Laburista. Fiż-żewġ każi, persuna waħda, imma żewġ karigi differenti. Daqshekk diffiċli li narawhom differenti?

Salbu! Salbu!

Kont kwazi konvint li ser nikteb xi ħaġa dwar l-effetti siżmiċi li ħalliet warajha il-Konferenza Ġenerali tal-Partit Laburista u l-operazzjoni fina sabiex tinbidel ir-rotta ta’ ħsieb f’dan il-moviment. Kont ukoll qed niddibati l-ġirja għall-Parlament Ewropew fejn jidher biċ-ċar li kulħadd beda jagħmel il-warming up għall-isprint finali li jibda minn Jannar – min b’kandidati iddikjarati u min b’kandidati skjerati fit-tieni fillira. Imma ma’ flaħtx ma ndawwarx fehmti!

Kont qed inqalleb fil-blog ta’ George Pullicino u tfixkilt fi bloggata taħt l-isem Inneħħu l-Kurċifiss? Għal bidu kont ser naghmel ġest kattoliku u nrodd is-salib meta ħadt l-impressjoni li l-Ministru qed jaqleb progressiv. Iżda malajr intbaħt li dan ma kien minnu xejn, anzi waqa’ f’konservatiżmu u fundamentaliżmu għar minn dak tat-talibani. Dan is-sens ta’ Malta Kattolika allura trid tinkina quddiem dan is-simboliżmu, jgħoġbok jew ma jgħoġbokx hija nkwetanti. Sa ftit ta' żmien ilu kulħadd kien jitkaża bil-xenofobija assurda ta’ Norman Lowell tant li wasslu biex tellugħ il-qorti u waħħluhulu għax issa lanqas għall-MEP ma jista’ joħroġ. Allura minħabba f’dan l-artiklu lill-George Pullicino ħa nagħmlulu l-istess u nniżluh minn Ministru?

Meta kont żgħir u kont għadni nattendi l-iskola primarja kelli tifla fil-klassi tiegħi li l-ġenituri tagħha kien jiprattikaw reliġjon oħra. Din kienet ittimbrata bħala stramba għaliex fil-ħin tal-lezzjoni tar-reliġjon din ma kienetx tipparteċipa. Sfat emarġinata għax kienet differenti. Ma nistax nifhem din id-dikotomija f’dan il-pajjiż. Fuq naħa għandek bidla radikali ħali inbidlu anke l-kotba ta’ l-iskola biex issa l-istruttura tal-familja ma tibqax dik klassika ta’ l-omm u l-missier imma li naghtu possibilta ta’ familja b’ġenitur wieħed u anke bil-possibilta ta’ partner (għadna ma wassalniex li naċċettaw li l-partner ikun ta’ l-istess sess). Min banda l-oħra issib nies mill-ogħla istituzjoni ta’ pajjiżna li jitkellem b’dan il-mod faxxista.

Daqs kemm ma jaqbadnix il-bard meta nara kampanji illoġiċi bħal ma’ huma tal-Gift of Life li jitkellmu b’estremiżmu liema bħalu u li mhux dehen għall-soċjeta ċivili bħal m’hi tagħna. Ma noġezzjonax għall-kontenut per se (għalkemm ma naqbilx miegħu). Noġġezzjona għat-ton padroniżżanti. U ninkwieta l-aktar għaliex bħal mal-liġi tal-familja (ċivili) ġiet iddominata mill-liġi tal-Knisja, dawn in-nies qed jitkellmu li jridu jbiddlu il-Kostituzzjoni. Jinkwetani George Pullicino li jitkellem fuq dak li għamel Zappatero mhux bħala stat ta’ fatt imma biex jitfa dell ikraħ fuq ħsieb progressiv li fil-priċipju mhuwiex kontra ir-reliġjon imma huwa kontra in-nuqqas ta’ inklussivita. Raġunament li huwa favur l-iżolament ta’ settur ta’ nies li kapaċi lanqas għandhom sens jafu il-għala hemm min jemmen mod u min jemmen mod ieħor.

Maltese Gemgem – Time to stop and Take Action

The 200 year colonisation of our Archipelago by the British Empire left more than a mark on environment and culture. Apart from the stones still standing throughout the Islands, and the official second language, which is used and misused in various ways. (the Inglixx Spijking cultural classification is another topic for another time and place)

The British left with an opinion of the Maltese Population that we are a complaining lot who never take a stand or action for their complaints. They used to say “Maltese Gemgem”

Even one of the greatest Maltese Politicians of our time, Duminku Mintoff is quoted for saying: ”Il-Poplu injurant u jinsa malajr”, that is the Population is ignorant and forgets quickly.

Well it is time to stop.

What I am writing about here is not of a political nature, but nonetheless a radical change we need to make in the way we conduct our business, and the way we should start acting as consumers.

Everybody complains (Gemgems) about how the local customer service leaves much to be desired, but nobody takes any real action.

Filing an official complaint where one thinks he/she has suffered a wrong doing or failed to receive the appropriate service, is not the same as complaining.

It is your right to do so!

Let us take a positive perspective of the issue.
How would a business know that it is failing to meet its client's needs or not reaching their expectations?
One should not just expect a service, but have the responsibility to provide feedback when and where it is required.

I am not writing here a bunch of blabbering.
I am one who leads by example.
A few of my close friends know that it is my private crusade to take action over failed service. I complain and fight for my rights whenever there is the need to.
I have to thank Mr. Michael Testa, may he rest in peace, my old school headmaster for teaching us all ex tal-Handaq Junior Lyceum pupils to always walk tall and stand up for our rights.

Let me give examples.

On the day of our accession to the EU I wrote to the EU ombudsman complaining about our sub-standard roads. His reply, which I received both by email and through the post, was that he fully understood my frustration as he had himself experienced the Maltese roads on a number of occasions. However he could not officially help as his office only deals with issues regarding the use of EU funds. I have to make a public apology for not following up the EU Ombudsman's reply, when the St. Paul's bypass was being overhauled. Tabloids claimed that it was EU funded, and I failed to inform the EU Ombudsman that the EU funds were being wasted as the project took years to finish, and it is still not completely done!

Lately I received a packet from abroad, it was something I bought over the Internet as many of us do. The postman could not leave it in my letter box, so he left the usual green paper. Upon calling Maltapost I was told that I had to pick it up two days later. I asked for their delivery service, and I was told, that the item will be delivered at the sub-contractor's discretion!

So I filed an official complained. The poor girl at the other end of the telephone line was very sweet, and she stood up to her employer's procedures. I had to nicely explain that this is exactly what I was complaining about. She could not even find an appropriate classification of my complaint on her computer. Poor representative, she was completely lost. This shows how ill-prepared our businesses are for receiving complaints from their customers.

I diligently dictated my complaint to this Maltalpost representative, and she finally gave me a complaint number and a contact person.

Few days ago I received a phone call from a Maltapost representative thanking me for my two complaints. He informed me that the Maltapost management is currently discussing some major operational and procedural changes!

My first complaint that collecting a packet two days later is a worse service than we had in the past, is exactly one of the changes they were implementing.
My second complaint that for a paid up delivery I expect to dictate the date and time for receiving my packet, was also brought up to the management and this will also change, as I was right in my complaint!


Indeed, let's be positive again. If I had not informed Maltapost, they would not have known that their clients are not happy with their service.

Let us all stop complaining at home, in our offices and in the street.
Let's start the revolution of positive complaint filing.
Let us stand up to our rights.

I have to say here, that in the past I had great help from the Consumer Department. They work diligently and are of extreme help whenever you have a dispute with a supplier.

Last July, Melita Cable sent me a bill of an extra month, without even informing me if I would like to continue their service after the package I had bought for a whole year. They said that it was in the small print. I challenged them that nobody reads the small print, and that a contract is void if no one takes the time and the due diligence to explain it to you in detail. Hey, nobody seems to know this! I was given the contract as an attachment to the installation receipt from their technicians/installers. They did in the end after a number of phone calls and emails, give the extra month I was promised, and I continued with their service.

Also in July, GO called me that I had unsettled bills on their digital terrestrial service, which I had discontinued last year when I moved to a new place. For over than one year they did not even contact me or call me! Once again I challenged them and I was waivered from any debts upon returning the digital receiver. The latter was my duty and I did so.

I intend to keep publishing here my official complaints, and the feedback I receive from the respective business entities

I will also offer the space in my column in Il-Manocca to whoever OFFICIALLY files a complaint with a third party and would like to publish the outcome.

Please don't send me complaints.
Don't just complain in the street, between yourselves, on the media or with me!

Take action for yourself and follow-up your official complaint.
I’ll publish your results if you wish so.

Let's all start this customer service revolution, peacefully and quietly from our homes.

Whenever you feel there is room for filing a complaint, do not hesitate, just do it.

If everybody starts taking action, there will be a momentum for change, and the change will occur.

Stop complaining!

Take action!

(and remember, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT)

Nilagħbuhom?

Il-liberalizzazzjoni hija tajba. M'hemmx argumenti. Niftakar iż-żminijiet tad-dlam, żmien Mintoff, meta l-Maltin ma setgħux jidħlu l-Casino. Mhux sewwa, xi dritt għandu l-istat li jieħu r-rwol tal-missier u ma jħallikx tilgħab flusek? Għandek tkun liberu li tagħżel inti x'tagħmel bi flusek.

Illum għamilna progress enormi, nistgħu nilagħbu fuq il-futbol, it-tiġrijiet taż-żwiemel minn madwar id-dinja u aktar minn hekk, f'kull rokna u kantuniera ta' kull belt u raħal għandna numru sabiħ ta' ħwienet tal-logħob fejn wieħed isib varjetà ta' makni li fihom titfa' l-flus bit-tama li jirrendulek dak li fil-fond ta' qalbek taf li mhux se jirrendulek. Il-klijenti ta' dawn il-ħwienet mhu qed jagħmlu xejn ħażin, fil-fatt ma nistax nifhem għaliex il-ħwienet joffru s-servizz ta' paraventu lil kull min jidħol fihom. Ir-ristoranti ma jaħbux l-uċuh tal-klijenti tagħhom, allura l-ħwienet tal-logħob għaliex jagħmluh dan?

It-tentazzjoni għandha rwol f'din il-biċċa? Jien tgħallimt li jekk ma jkollokx tentazzjoni, l-virtujiet tiegħek ma jiswewx wisq. Jista' jkun li l-ħwienet tal-logħob li qed ifaqqsu ma kullimkien allura qed iservu biex joħorġu aktar il-virtujiet ta' dawk li ma jaqawx għat-tentazzjoni. Illum li l-lottu pubbliku sar lottu privat, partatna qligħ tajjeb li l-gvern seta' juża għall-ġid il-poplu ma' qligħ akbar ta' darba biex forsi ntaffu d-defiċit fil-finanzi sodi tal-pajjiż. Imma jien konvint li llum qegħdin aħjar, jew forsi aħjar meta konna agħar

Il-Monument

Qaħbec nies kemm ġraw affarijiet dan l-aħħar. Biex jirnexxielek tikteb fuq kollox trid tinkolla ruħek quddiem l-imniefaħ ta' kompjuter u ma tinqalax minn quddiemu. Biss la qed ngħix fuq din il-blata ma nistax ma nkunx tipiku Malti u ma nikkummentax ftit.

Per eżempju, tgħidx kemm fraħt il-ġimgħa l-oħra bl-elezzjoni ta’ Obama. Mhux biss għax nispera li fl-aħħar il-US of A għandhom president progressiv, mhux biss għax mhux bjond u għajnejh blu, mhux biss għax jismu Hussein ukoll, imma fuq kollox għax fl-aħħar qed nara li hemm xaqq ta dawl li l-mentalita Reaganjana, dik li l-kapital jirrenja, waslet fi tmiema. Għax ejja ngħiduha kif inhi, is-sistema kapitalista falliet. Kif tista tiġġustifika sistema kapitalista meta f’mument ta kriżi iddur fuq flus il-poplu? Kif tista tiġġustifika l-kapitaliżmu meta dan jista jsalva biss bl-aktar intervent komunista li jista jkollok, dak statali? Mela tajjeb, kapitalisti sakemm ngħamlu l-qliegħ, imma mat-telf insiru kollha komunisti!

Imsomma, jidher li l-US of A, fl-aħħar qed jaraw id-dawl. Nispera, għax hawn id-dawl ħa nibdew narawh biss matul il-ġurnata (s’issa dak tax-xemx għadu b’xejn). L-ieħor, dak elettriku, nistgħu nibdew ninsewh. Fi ftit snin uliedna ħa jibdew jużaw il-kelma bozza bl-istess mod kif aħna nużaw il-kelma kenur, oġġett li ħadd ma għadu juża. Oġġett tajjeb biss għal mużewijiet. Għalhekk nixtieq nipproponi li f’waħda mir-rawndebawts kollha fjuri ngħamlu monument iddedikat lill-bozza li ftit saru jaffordjaw jixgħelu. Dan il-monument (l-iskeċċ jidher ma' dan l-artiklu) hu ispirat mill-mistoqsija “Jista xi ħadd jispjegali għala li issa l-prezz taż-żejt raħas kważi bin-nofs, ħa nibdew inħallsu id-doppju?”. Il-monument għandu jkun intitolat “ILLUMINANA GONZ!”