Man 'lives in cave' and goes to Caritas to shower

m. borg (slm)

Mar 24th 2010, 23:17

Some people cannot help apologizing about everything wrong that happens on the island, even were poverty is concerned.

Michael Pace

Mar 24th 2010, 21:46

The real problem is not the cave-man's case. It's the fact that poverty exists, in Malta, and in every country in the world. And it's on the increase, especially in the richer countries, including Malta. Modern economics are all about everyone caring for himself (some of the comments are clear examples of this attitude), the small state, decreasing social benefits, etc. It's a world in which the strong win, get ever richer, but the weak always lose. And it's not just people who don't care less. More and more people are being left out of the race. The present economic crisis is just a sign of things to come if the economy keeps on being (mis)managed the way it is. We're rapidly going back to Dickens style society, with a few very rich people, and ever more people who have no job, no home, nothing to eat. Many people who are satisfied with their lives, and criticize the poor, are hurrying on the way to join the left-out people. Then other satisfied people will take their place in pointing their fingers, until it's their turn to join the hungry.

P.Cassar

Mar 24th 2010, 17:28

I agree with the comment Bryan Sullivan made. I know of a person who died of old age who lived in a house who's furniture was either very old or made of bits and peices his wife used to accuire from friends and neighbours. They never even had a washing machine or TV. Yet when he died she found that she had inherited well over 70,000 maltese liri. Her family wanted to help her upgrade her life but she wanted only to give everything to charity.
Some times people chose to live their life just the way they feel comfortable so why interfeire.

Edward Hughes

Mar 24th 2010, 16:56

You will always find people like that even in a country of good social services. There are people who just like living in isolation. I’m not saying that this is the case, but why go for a shower once a week? I’m sure that Caritas would accept hit to come for a shower once every two days or even better at one day. And in an extreme circumstance like this, doesn’t the government or maybe an other entity/NGO help him out to live in a council house?

Steve Sant

Mar 23rd 2010, 18:05

You're blind if you cannot believe it. My family has rented houses with millionaires living in them, but I've dealt with families that find it hard to pay the measly 23euro. Now when some wisecrack says you should have checked them out. I can assure you we have. But the incredible thing about all this, is that many of these families do not get help from the Government, many times partially from the church and the majority from landlords (not necessarily with many houses). There are huge injustices on this Island, people with huge pockets (literally Millionaires) living in huge houses for next to nothing, then you get others with 6 to 10 children in a one bedroom flat. I've seen it for many years, but everyone thinks like the ostrich. Impossible many politicians tell you, liar a blogger below said. How sad !

bryan sullivan

Mar 23rd 2010, 15:56

could this perhaps be a case of...... you can take the man out of the cave but you can not take the cave out of the man !

tbriffa

Mar 23rd 2010, 12:17

Mario Camilleri - ARE YOU SERIOUS? How dare you discredit a profession who bravely face the gritty aspects of our "beatific" island whilst the rest of us turn our face away lest anything horrid might spoil our perfect little lives? I don't have the courage myself to do what they do and I really admire them. Maybe someone should set up some sponsorship, such as the type a lot of us take part in for kids in Kenya, Ethiopia and Brazil. Charity should begin at home.

Chris Cassar

Mar 23rd 2010, 09:58

A child being beaten is nothing. There are actually Christian Churches (not the Maltese Catholic Church) that encourage wife beating as one of the foundations of a solid marriage. Here it is: http://malta-exposed.blogspot.com/2010/03/do-you-spank-your-wife.html

Antonio Anastasi

Mar 22nd 2010, 22:43

How do they define poverty???
Could it not also be a choice of a way of life?
I remember last time we had a power cut...
A woman was interviewed on PBS News who lives in a cave on the west of Malta. No electricity. No cooler. She had been living like that all her life.
You know what the amazing thing is?? SHE was happy!!
There are many cultures that live happy fulfilling lives uncontaminated by our idea of what we think culture should be.
The same thing cannot be said to many young couples that get married wanting all the luxuries in life spending most of their existence paying off their debts.
Who is the happiest...or the poorest?

victor vella

Mar 22nd 2010, 22:00

@Nyal Xuereb, Today you can run a fridge on LPG and a generator does not cost the world and it would be enough to light up a house or run a washing machine, so please cut the bull.

czarb

Mar 22nd 2010, 15:10

I wonder whether the person living in caves is Maltese or not. If the answer is yes then how come that he lives in that condition while immigrants live in open/closed centers on full board basis. Why hasnt graffiti came out to protest against this discrimination

mario camilleri

Mar 22nd 2010, 15:00

Mr.Girard, I DONT believe you.Go and tell it to the marines not to the university students. Social Workers and Born Again Christians tend to say anything that goes in their mouths to get noticed.

Dennis Zammit

Mar 22nd 2010, 14:24

Without going into the merit of each individual case, I can recall a couple living in the center of Pieta, very close to the Fatima Church, who lived in a small farm on the main road who did not have any electricity, fresh water connections or telephone until a couple of years ago until they died of old age. Not withstanding the fact that they had no commodities, they decided to live this way and in no way did they have to do it because they where poor. A few years before, they had been robbed of a large sum of cash hidden in their home. What I would like to point out is that many people prefer to live a humble life instead of spending their money in comfort.

Nyal Xuereb

Mar 22nd 2010, 13:56

Its not only about poverty. I know of a family still living without water and electricity cause its too expensive for the service provider, once controlled by the government, to link them to the modern world of 2010! They use rain water to wash, salt instead of a fridge and candles instead of lighting. At least they have mobile phones for communication.