Julian Borg, Gżira
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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Galea. L
Nov 3rd 2009, 23:37
a camilleri
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?
h galea
Nov 3rd 2009, 21:38
J.Cardona,the Law states a lot,the notice to attend at court,does not say ''if you can not attend what to do''Why should i pay a lawyer if he on that particular hour he will not be present,should't he be prudent to inform me so as not have the hessel to attend and waiting long hours hoping he turn up.Same applies to Judge and Magistrates.Etc etc.
Chris Borg
Nov 3rd 2009, 21:18
Mr Borg, regardless of what nationality your wife happens to be, she is living in Malta and as such needs to get used to receiving mail written in the Maltese language. I'm sure that if that was the case, your wife would find a translation for her. Sending out mail in two languages would only be a waste of paper. What about the Maltese nationals who do not speak the English language then? By the same reasoning, they would not understand also!
Kurt Mifsud
Nov 3rd 2009, 18:44
@Joe Cordina - I'm sorry to contradict you but I also had received a contravention in my letter box. Oh wait it was the tribunal notice already! Not even in an envelope and with the bottom part torn off. And it happened to be a contravention on one of my cars which was garaged on bricks in Kirkop tunnels where I had never been in the last couple of years
adrian aquilina
Nov 3rd 2009, 18:16
in the u.k. you can have all government letters etc in any language you need it in...
GiovDeMartino
Nov 3rd 2009, 18:10
My wife happens to be chinese...so what?
mark johnson
Nov 3rd 2009, 17:25
Do you think we should change the constitution to remove english as an official language?
LOUIS FENECH
Nov 3rd 2009, 17:05
Do the French, or the Germans, or the Italians, or the Spanish Or the Polish use any other language/s in their official letters/circulars? And Canada is different as the country is divided between the French and the English which goes back to hundreds of years and they fought battles for one's supremacy.
a camilleri
Nov 3rd 2009, 16:16
yes, all official documents should be printed ONLY in maltese. printing them in other languages is a waste of money and is harming the enviroment. obviously i don't speak about documents intended to be used by tourists.
victor pulis
Nov 3rd 2009, 16:00
Maltese and English are the two national languages but even if, for the sake of argument Maltese was the only national language what's wrong with having an english translation? it's not a question of being colonial but for practical reasons. Canada is the second largest country in the world and everything from money to toilet paper is in English and French. Being patriotic is well and good but fanaticsm never did anyone any good.
P. Grech
Nov 3rd 2009, 14:43
Since the constitution of Malta says that both maltese and english are the official primary languages in Malta, then it is not too much to expect that official documents be written in both languages, as in the case of the national ID card, passport, driver's licence etc. Another reason why english is an obligatory language in the school system. This is different, however, from expecting everyone to be able to speak english, as other issues have to be considered in that case.
mark johnson
Nov 3rd 2009, 14:05
The constitution of malta states quite clearly that there are two official languages in malta: maltese and english. Do all official notices have to be in both official languages, maltese and english? If not, does it make them invalid?
D Schembri
Nov 3rd 2009, 13:44
I want to comment on your last sentence regarding contravention written only in Maltese.
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.
mark johnson
Nov 3rd 2009, 13:40
That's a good point. Do all official notices have to be in both official languages, maltese and english? If not, does it make them invalid?
Joe Cordina
Nov 3rd 2009, 12:55
For your information police court summons are never sent by post. The law states that a police court summons is to be delivered to the accused or witness in person or to an adult in his registered home address. the police is at times requested to give evidence in court under oath that he had actually served the summons as indicated on the receipt. This is a requisite unlike summons for local council tribunals as if the summoned person fails to attend to the court hearing he may be fined and moreover an arrest warrant is issued by the court by which the police are empowered to arrest and detain the person up to 48 hours before the hearing and escort him to the court on the date and time of court sitting. Hope this has answered your question