Claudia Calleja
Maltese are really hospitable, students whose driver was attacked are told
Ninety foreign students, some of who witnessed a violent incident on Wednesday during the public transport strike, were yesterday presented with Malta Tourism Authority gifts and mementos as an apology for the incident and proof of Maltese hospitality.
"We're here to apologise for the incident that a number of you had to witness during the transport strike. These (strikes) are things that occasionally happen... Thank God it's over now... In Malta we pride ourselves on hospitality," the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco, told the English language students at Sir Temi Zammit boys' secondary school in Mtarfa.
On Wednesday, the students, mostly from Italy and some from Romania, were on two coaches that had just arrived at St Dorothy's school in Żebbuġ, where their language courses were being held. One of the coach drivers was allegedly assaulted by a mini-van driver when the students were still on board. A mini-van driver appeared in court later that same day and charged with the incident.
The students received a package of MTA tokens, including a pen drive, a stress ball, lanyard, mobile phone charms, a pen, a lapel pin and a book.
Flanked by MTA chairman Sam Mifsud and CEO Josef Formosa Gauci, Dr de Marco said he hoped that, during their two-week stay, the students would find out for themselves that the large majority of Maltese people were very hospitable.
"I hope you enjoy the learning experience and also get to enjoy Malta as a country with its beaches, entertainment and a population that always welcomed foreigners and students," he said.
Malta treasured the English language learning industry and had good relations with both Italy and Romania MTA officials had worked hard to minimise the strike's impact on students and foreigners, Dr de Marco said.
Two teenage Italian girls, who were on the coach whose driver was attacked, recounted to The Times how a mini-van driver started banging on their coach driver's window and shouting words in Maltese as another two men tried to restrain them. They described how the "angry man" then reached into the coach and punched their driver.
"He was really angry... He looked mad.... We were scared because we didn't know what was going on," they said. With a smile on their face, the two friends are alright now. "We know these things happen," they said.
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Stephen Farrugia
Jul 19th 2008, 20:16
Yes, Laurence Schembri, there are strikes and violence all over the world, but in how many countries do the people affected receive an apology? If others find it difficult to say sorry, it doesn't mean that you have to be equally cowardly, so I am sure that the Swedish lady and the students appreciated Mario de Marco's gesture and noticed the difference between Malta and other countries.
F Gauci
Jul 19th 2008, 19:50
I find it very akward when Maltese keep repeating ad nauseum to foreigners how "hospitable" they are. They pride themselves as being the most "hospitable" people on the planet, when actually they are not more "hospitable" than any one else. And it's really pompous to give yourself out-of-this-world attributes and trying to ram it down some foreigners' throats, I guess any visitor to the islands can found out for himself if this is true or not.
laurence shembri
Jul 19th 2008, 16:48
@ Wilfred L. Camilleri
For goodness sake man grow up. Partisanship has nothing to do with it. It was a storm in a tea cup, it is us idiots that made an epic out of it.
There was a few scuffles, so what. I take it you watch TV. What about the nasty strikes in France where millions of tourists get caught in them, in the UK, in Germany, need I go on.
With people of your ilk it is partisan politics.
A swedish lady interviewed on TV said it all. ``It`s OK with get this sort of thing at home, people has a right to strike``. Of course I`ll brush it off as an experience, I roamed the four corners of the World for fifty years, so I know what I`m talking about.
Wilfred L Camilleri
Jul 19th 2008, 14:56
Laurence schembri said that "most of the students were Italians" and that " they have witnessed more savagery on their terraces in an afternoon of Italian football, than they would do in Malta if the strike lasted six-months". Well Mr. Schembri, that's not the point! Whether or not any of those students had witnessed violence in their countries is irrelevant. How would you like it it if you witness violence or if you are directly affected by it when you're abroad? I'm sure you would not just brush it off as an experience that would give you a positive view of the country you're in. Those who resorted to violence are nothing but louts and ignorant people and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The minister did the right thing. Partisan politics has no place in such situations.
simon zammit
Jul 19th 2008, 13:04
PROSIT DR DEMARCO FOR YOUR INITIATIVE. I AM LABOUR SUPPORTER BUT MODERATE ONE. I AGREE WITH LIBERALISATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT 100%. LIKE LABOUR LEADER SAID I CONDEMN VIOLENCE. THE MAJORITY OF MALTESE CITIZENS IRRELEVANT FROM THEIR POLITICAL OPINION ARE BEHIND GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE ISSUE OF THE LIBERALISATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
laurence schembri
Jul 19th 2008, 12:36
What a load of old cobblers. Most of the students were Italians, lets face it, they have witnessed more savagery on their terraces in an afternoon of Italian football, than they would do in Malta if the strike lasted six-months.
Quite honestly I thought the whole excercise by the minister was pathetic and they were handed presents...what`s next take them out for a meal and a piss-up?
Paul Micallef
Jul 19th 2008, 10:55
I would like to thank Mr De Marco for trying his best at his new post, thanks, and I think that I must even congratulate Austin gatt, I am a Labour Supporter, and I think that I do not speak alone on this one, that the Crises was handled diligently ,this is the way foward, I did not vote for the E.U, but now as time goes by I am seeing the results of Joining the E.U. and takeing in other peoples point of views with much ease now that we have a new Leader. As mr Joseph muscat says that this is a new way of doing politics and I like it a lot.
Claude Calleja
Jul 19th 2008, 10:35
One can only condone such an action from De Marco ... at least we show these foreigners that not all of us are savages!!