PBS should explain why two Gozo programmes, namely Ghawdex Illum and Zmeraldi, have been moved from their usual showing time in order to accommodate two other programmes in the Christmas Day schedule.

Ghawdex Illum has been shown at midnight on Christmas Day. Usually Ghawdex Illum is broadcast at 7.20 p.m. Instead, we had a talk show which is normally transmitted on a Sunday. I was patiently waiting to watch the feature about the Neapolitan cribs shown on Ghawdex Illum and instead I found something else which had no connection with Christmas.

The other programme, Zmeraldi, which is the only programme where the Gozitan young generation can air their talents on the national TV, was shown at 8.30 a.m. on Christmas Day when many people are still asleep, instead of at its usual time, 6.05 p.m.

When I personally contacted the producer of these programmes he commented, with a certain feeling of disappointment, that in spite of all the reforms that took place at PBS air time for programmes about Gozo on TVM is still not guaranteed.

The programme Ghawdex Illum has proved its worth and it is one of the best programmes of its type. At times PBS boasts of Ghawdex Illum as an award winner and at other times it doesn't seem to appreciate the effort being made to produce such programmes week in week out! To relegate these programmes to strange air times is a sign of a hidden inferiority complex. Or, worse, is there some hidden agenda?