
Tuesday, 3rd November 2009
Summoned from bed
A few days ago my doorbell rang at 7.45 a.m. As I work nights this call was a real nuisance to me and I decided not to answer it and go back to sleep. The bell rang again and again with insistence. This time I got up as I thought it was a matter of some urgency.
To my amazement it was a young man delivering traffic contraventions. I told him I could not go down and sign and to come back tomorrow to which he replied "I will write refused".
Now what kind of attitude is this? As far as I know summons are usually sent by post. They used to be registered in the past but our wise warden company realised that the cost of registered letters would increase their expenses and slow down their revenues. Surprise surprise, I found that the three summons were, after all, deposited in my letter box.
By the way, one of the traffic notices was given at 10.13 a.m. in Alfred Craig Street, Ta' Xbiex, a street I never heard of and at a time that I am always in bed. Secondly, if my English wife had received one of these contraventions, she would not have understood a thing as these notices are written in Maltese only. Wake up whoever is responsible. Enough is enough.







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Comments
Totally agree with you./
We are in Malta and Maltese is our language.
Everything should be printed only in Maltese.
Imagine how much we would save if we printed all laws, regulations, the Government Gazette and everything in Maltese only. Those who need a translation in any other language should pay for it. Other countries only publish everything in their national language. Do they publish anything in Maltese? So why should we publish anything in a foreign language whatever that may be? Are we now to be expected to publish everything in Italian. German, French, Arabic, Polish, Romanian, Norwegian, Chinese, Thai and other languages because we have residents from many countries?
Well, Maltese is the national language of Malta, no? I live in Switzerland, and everything is in German, French or Italian depending on where you live. I live in the German part, and suprise surprise, I had to learn German to be able to get around my everyday errands liks buying bread, for example.
If the language in Malta, why do people expect that we do everything in another language? It is true that we are bilingual, but if the national language is Maltese, then that should be the language.
On another point, how many time do you go somewhere from shopping for clothes to buying a drink, and the sales person is a foreigner and does not understand Maltese? Imagine myslef working in a shop and do not speak German, there is no way I would ever be given the job.
I think that the Maltese language should be given its importance and status, and foreigners should at least try and learn the language, at least out of respect for the host country.
Just my 2 cents worth.