Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
More say they are poor
The number of Maltese saying they are poor or are at risk of becoming poor is increasing, according to the latest data published in Brussels yesterday.
According to a survey conducted by Eurostat in 2010, 15.5 per cent of the Maltese population were at risk of poverty, meaning that they were living in households earning less than €6,275 annually, equivalent to 60 per cent of the median national income. This represents an increase of 0.2 per cent over 2009.
The calculated income includes all social benefits received by such households. If state assistance were to be removed, the number of people at risk of poverty in Malta would surge to a staggering 22.9 per cent.
More worrying are the statistics related to people thought to be “severely materially de-prived”. In 2010, those in this category increased by one per cent over 2009, standing at 5.7 per cent.
Eurostat defines severe material deprivation as representing the proportion of people who cannot afford at least four of nine items that include mortgage or rent payments, utility bills or hire purchase instalments; one week-long annual holiday away from home; a meal with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day; unexpected financial expenses; a telephone (including mobile phone); a colour TV set; a washing machine; a car and heating to keep the home adequately warm.
Although these figures will shatter the perception that Malta has no poor people, the situation here is still better than the EU average.
According to Eurostat, 16.4 per cent of the EU’s population were at risk of poverty in 2010, up 0.1 per cent over the previous year. Where it comes to the most worse off (severely materially deprived), the EU average is more than two per cent above Malta’s and stood at 8.1 per cent in 2010.
Although all member states have poor people, there are variations in rates and incomes.
The poorest population rate is found in Latvia with a total 21.3 per cent at risk of poverty. The Czech Republic has the lowest rate with only nine per cent in this category.
The definition of poverty also varies. For example, while in Luxembourg those whose household earns less than €19,400 are considered to be at risk of poverty, in Romania the poverty threshold is €1,222 annually.
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mark borg
Feb 11th, 10:19
nothing new we had poverty back in the 60's after 12 years of PN/Church Govts and now after Labour improved life across the board with the comprehensive welfare state system throughout the 70's and 80's that brought middle class level ...now history repeating itself.....anyway hekk riedu in -nies ...mela ha jgawdu .
Min hu sinjur sew ...u min se jbati il-guh !!
u hallikhom milli twahhlu fil mobiles jew lotto ...hawn sezzjoni kbira ta nies jaqilghu taht 900 ewro u jhallsu dejn ta dar u kontijiet....dik se twassal zgur ghal povera !
Mariella Caruana
Feb 9th, 19:28
Poverty is expecting the state to intervene in one's misery and wanting what one doesn't need. Look at Malta's so called poor - they buy lotto, cigarettes, alcohol, get cosmetic make-overs, and the list is enless. To combat and overcoming life's adversities translates to fullfillment and happiness and that the real meaning of well to do.
George Lewis
Feb 9th, 18:48
What is or is going to be done to address this situation?With the ever increasing cost of living,the prices of water,gas and electricity etc..we are going to be worse off.Probably since the survey was done things have worsened and the percentage increased.
Mark J. Magri
Feb 9th, 17:38
Under the present situation and circumstances I add myself to the poverty line.
GRANPINTO
G Sciberras
Feb 9th, 15:38
Useless reports/journalism !!!
WHY ? this data refers to 2010 right?
By now these poor people are poorer and dead hungry. Anyone humanitarian actions tied to these reports?
Hope this data will help Malta achieve more funds from EU !!
Henry Samut
Feb 9th, 15:14
@JR Apap
Do not wish to dampen your spirit.... however there are many poor people in Malta, sadly! Certainly comperatively we are worse off and far poorer than the North European Nations. We are not a rich nation.... We are poor! Our cars are second hand rejects, our clothes are very ordinary and homes quite basic.
Perhaps you are lucky enough to be an exception and indeed extremely lucky to have lived in UK!
David Vella
Feb 9th, 14:24
Am afraid for the worst yet to come!!
james cairns
Feb 9th, 14:21
Yes and if you continue to stay in the EUSSR expect to get poorer!
fred fellon
Feb 9th, 13:57
Had it not been for people emigrating to Canada , Australia and the USA, unemployment in Malta would be more than 20%.
Karl Consiglio
Feb 9th, 13:45
Malta is like Culcutta?
francois esteva'
Feb 9th, 19:57
Yeah sure i can even smell the curry from here. I don't know what exactly your point is, except that you are comparing the poor of culcutta with the well off Maltese, i have heared of the black Hole of Culcutta i grant you that, but the only holes i can think of in Malta are the bloody pot holes after a heavey rainful. Bon Jour.
Eve Axiaq
Feb 9th, 13:42
Id- dhul mhux iddikjarat ghandu jkun ikkalkulat ukoll. Naf bosta familji fejn l-omm tmur issefter kuljum ovvjament bla ktieb tax- xoghol u hawn hafna self- employed li dejjem ghaddejin bix-xoghol imma msieken jaqilghu minimum wage u jiehdu l- beneficcji kollha. Vera hemm kazijiet genwini imma trid taghmel minus 70% tar- rizultat!
Mr F J Brincat
Feb 9th, 14:43
If you know of this abuse then report it. Only come here to tell us about if you have reported it to the authorities and nothing was done about it.
Eve Axiaq
Feb 9th, 16:38
@ Brincat, il- punt tieghej mhux li tmur tirraporta, apparti li tkun qed tahli l- hin, imma li hi kultura taghna... anke l- ministru kien ihaddem seftura bla ktieb! U int dejjem hallast bl-ircevuti tal- VAT (mhux invoice) ta' xi servizz??? Niddubita. Again its in our culture.
Jason Pisani
Feb 9th, 16:59
unfortunately EVE not everyone is as lucky as you, and these people work their ass off to make a buck!! and to be enslaved by people who are lazy to do their own work (The forces of a capitalist society, if left unchecked, tend to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.), the last thing these people need is to declare their miserable income. these people work for 2 - 3 euros an hour the so called "seftura" so she could afford to feed their children since the social assistance in malta is crap. I lost my job 6 months ago and I went to apply for social assistance, but my file is still being reviwed for six months i have been without an income, I am 39 years old with 2 children, and i am a full time university studetent the government pays me 80 euros a month.. do you think im not on the virge of poverty. I paid taxes and NI my whole life i served my country for 16 years in the military and had to leave because of POLITICS i have been transfered 13 times in 16 years and this was because of my father's political affiliations. so do you think if i earn 20euros i would go and declare it.. you must have bumped your head, I dont blame the people, that dont declare the income they make on the side.
JR Apap
Feb 9th, 13:37
This kind of publicity stating that the Maltese are poor is not entirely true, however many foreigners read such news and the Maltese media abroad, so much so that i can still remember when i was working in the uK about 11 years ago, An English bloke said to me in a conversation , he said Malta is a poor country isn't no shoes and alot of people apparently are begging in the streets,>>>The first thing i said to the English PiG(moron) call what you will the ignorant anglo Saxon tosspot is to take a trip to Malta and come back and have another conversation on his path finding mission and tell me who is poor now the British or the Maltese. Needles to say he got my goat good and proper. , They got some inteligent people in the UK but they also have some ignoramous so and so all over the British Isles. Its a well known fact that in Malta there are some poor people but the can always help themselves by going to their local social and explain their situation, and i know since i have returned back to my country of birth that Malta and Gozo has improved tremedously and is well organized health system and also social department are doing their best to make it as easy as can be for everyone including schooling. All in All i am proud to be Maltese and also very glad to be back in my own country, as for politics to be honest i am not interested , may the best man win thats all i can say, but please next TIMES show a better picture then the one above
Pauline Abela
Feb 10th, 10:59
There is no need to get offended because someone has observed that there is poverty in Malta. If you are well off then great for you. I do not live in Malta but visit regularly. I am also very proud of my Maltese heritage and believe that considering the resources that are available, many Maltese have been excellent at managing what they have.
Having said that, I also have to say that I find it amazing at how it can be possible for the Maltese to survive on the level of income that the average family gets. The prices are very similar to what I pay in Sydney - yet our incomes are many times the Maltese ones.
If people dig their heads in the sand and make themselves believe that all is well, how can their situation improve? A problem exists and prior to solving it, one must acknowledge that fact.
Mark. Galea
Feb 9th, 12:35
Eurostat defines severe material deprivation as representing the proportion of people who cannot afford at least four of nine items that include:
1 mortgage or rent payments,
2 utility bills or hire purchase instalments;
3 one week-long annual holiday away from home;
4 a meal with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day;
5 unexpected financial expenses;
6 a telephone (including mobile phone);
7 a colour TV set;
8 a washing machine;
9 a car
10 heating to keep the home adequately warm.
Agree with most, but number (3), for me does not define poverty.
and point (7) reminds me of the golden years when we were "richer"
PS, there seem to be 10 points, not 9 as stated before.
Mark. Galea
Feb 9th, 12:30
Kull ma rridu naghmlu hu li nistennew ftit xhur ohra, u kif jitla Joseph fil-gvern, ikollna rohs kbir fuq id-dawl u l-ilma, petrol u diesel, toghla l-paga minima, u l-problemi kollha jispiccaw ... mhux hekk weghdna l-leader?
(Nisperaw li ma nispiccawx immexxija minn xi AusterityJoe, pero, u b'xi bulk buying tal-golden years ghax f'hekk biss jifhmu dawk il-ministri l-antiki)
Thomas C. Cassar
Feb 11th, 09:13
Fl-1987 il-Poplu ma rragunax hekk, ma qalx issa jitla Eddie u nergghu mmorru lura ghall-Emigrazzjoni, dfin fil-Mizbla, faqar, mard u xejn kura, xejn welfare state etc Min ma jbiddilx iqammel jghidu u bhalissa hekk qeghdin, faqar on the rise u xebgha habi ta` figuri kif kienu jaghmlu l-Griegi sa sentejn ilu. Nippreferi Gvern gdid mimli hegga u b'obbligu li jiddeliverja milli Gvern ilu 30 sena u diga qed juri sinjali li skada.
Imbaghad din il-haga qiesu l-PN biss ghandu d-don tas-sapjenza divina, hu biss jaf imexxi, minbarra li hi klassizmu fin hi anke forma ta` arroganza. Gvern li ghamel 13,000 ewro dejn fuq ras kull Malti ma jistghax jissejjah Gvern kapaci, jew sejjer zball??
John Said
Feb 9th, 12:26
Poverty is most of the time a reflection of ignorance, and the picture above confirms this. With less than 5 Euro one can get a piece of cloth from the market and hang it around this toilet with a few nails, providing some basic privacy, but most probably the people living here are too busy complaining that they are poor!
Most of these people have got their priorities wrong, or are not ready to work hard in order to have a decent life style. One has to be able to draw a financial plan according to his income, and not according to what others do. An unqualified laborer earning a minimum wage cannot expect to live like a professional, who spent years studying in order to achieve a respectable job. Some persons might also be irresponsible, and do not consider what their actions and decisions will bring them too. An irresponsible person can never achieve what a responsible one can. If I get a bank loan and start a business, I have a lot of responsibilities; therefore I expect to be better off than someone who keeps getting fired because he is irresponsible, or more over does not even bother to find a proper job.
These kind of people need to seek help, not only financial help, but also help to set priorities, training to improve their skills in life and at work. This is all available through agencies like Apogg and ETC, but most of them just expect to receive money from the government, but it would be better to learn how to be independent, than just to depend on someone else. They have to help themselves before anyone can help them.
J.C. Borg
Feb 9th, 11:53
Have the interviewers asked these persons what political colour they were. It make a lot of sense.
Mr Ernest Vella
Feb 9th, 14:06
like...plenty, plenty, plenty...Jiena nghid la ahna sinjuri u lanqas ahna fqar imma fil-middle class. Naf hafna nies li jmorru ghal ghajnuna mill-Unjoni Ewropeja b'mobile min dawn ta' l-ahhar bit-touch screen u nibda nghid jekk huma daqshekk fqar kif jippermettu dan meta jien nahdem u ghax bil-ghaqal nghaddi b'mobile zghir, kemm incempel...nistghageb jien imma nsomma fqar hux. Hawn nies ibatu imma mhux daqs kemm qed jghid hawn.
D.Stallion stewart
Feb 9th, 11:52
I am inclined to agree with Vic.Vella. Not all Maltese or the sister island are poor, i have seen people especially on Gozo walking about in rugs and some farmers without any shoes, yet when we read of some cases their will is a completley different story, most leave properties to their immediate relatives and plenty of cash that they stash away so the taxman cannot get to it. No sorry the picture above is not giving Malta a good image, anyone can take a worst picture and say thats what its like in some areas, sorry i do not believe it for one minute. If a shpow a 10ft. Zulu and publish it people will think that all Zulus are that tall, some are poor yes i admit but the majority in present Malta are quite confortable, check out the numbers of cars on the road some 2-3 to one family. Yes?
fred fellon
Feb 9th, 13:52
D .Stallion, True , lots of people have cars but do they have the petrol to put in the tank, like in the old days , lots of people had a T/V antenna on the roof but what percentage of them had a T/V ?
Victor Vella
Feb 9th, 11:12
It`s not true the Maltese are not poor. The Gonzi PN regime is poor because they have taken 600€16c a week while the beggars took 166c a week. For the PN the reverse makes sense at least at tal-Pieta. Outside tal-Pieta everybody is a beggar.
A Cuschieri
Feb 9th, 12:11
If you follow ONE News, authomatically you start feeling poor, sad and angry at the same time with all the pessimism coming out of the PL media.
People need to start realising that the media plays a very important influence on how we interpret life and the situation we live in.
Joe Busuttil
Feb 9th, 13:49
@ A Cuschieri ------This is not PL media news,this is Eurostat speaking. And as to the number of cars per family cited by D. Stallion Stewart ( is he really named Stallion?),well most are rejects from the UK and Japan.And does he know what the average age of our cars is? And how many people can say that they can adequately heat their homes to a comfortable level,or not turn off the lights the moment they exit a room and turn them back on on re-entering a few minutes later,or------.
fred fellon
Feb 9th, 14:08
No matter which party is in power , we all will have to tighten our belts further to balance the budget and pay off Malta's debt.
John Scerri
Feb 9th, 11:12
Being poor is not just an experience ...It is a way of life no one would wish to lead .
There might be a few and there might be many poor in various aspects and for many reasons .
Poverty is not only related to lack of money, although money plays an important part.
The fact is that every human being has one's dignity and has a fundamental right to lead a decent life .
It is the responsibility of all those authorities to treat poverty on a one to one basis and not as a statistic.
Poor Human beings are NOT statistics.
Having a poor person knocking at your door begging for something is not to be considered a statistic.
There are people in our society , whose voice is never heard and both our political parties don't make enough time to listen carefully ....understand and take action FAST.
The magic word is FAST
The burocratic system based on statistics has eliminated the human element .
It is only when one is hit hard with the same problems that things start to move ...but then it will be too late for those who were left behind and ignored.
I wish that MLP, PN, AD would join their forces in order to treat this issue on a national scale ...keeping partisan politics out of it .
If such an effort is not created I am sorry to say that poverty will continue to eat up our society irrespective of whoever will be in power.
George Azzopardi
Feb 9th, 13:13
You are being very unjust! Being poor is part of the system being created today by creating statistics averaging high in employment when in real life their employment fails to be humanly based. You're wrong in saying that "It is a way of life no one would wish to lead" .. your quote. How can you say that to children and elderly who have no say in how their life can become better..
John Scerri
Feb 9th, 13:55
Dear George I'll make it more simple for you ...What i meant when i stated '"It is a way of life no one would wish to lead" was that it is our responsibility to see that poverty is eliminated because it is a life no one wants.
Did you read and understand my whole comment ? i also mentioned those whose voice is never heard..... I cannot understand where the 'unjust' part is.
Maria Brincat
Feb 9th, 11:06
Could someone give us figures, how many people are living like this...with what looks like a communal toilet in a kerrejjja???
Also please what is employment participation???
Maria Brincat
Feb 9th, 11:03
@ Franco Farrugia,
I would hardly say breeding breeding breeding... most (and of course, there are exceptions to this) poeple nowadays have one .. two sprogs at most.
I believe you're so right about poverty being really a matter of priorities...
I've been in homes where you'd imagine the whole place was going to fall down any minute, but then they have tv, cable full package, mobile phones each, hairdresser appointments every week, everyday they get tea and pastizzi from one of the local pastizzeria.. it may not sound like much, and it's certainly not the most exotic lifestyle, but these things do add up... and then when bills arrive, we get the usual refrain... i cannot afford the utility bills, I'm poor...
I've found that the people who have no qualms about saying they're 'poor' are the ones who really have their priorities wrong..
--------------------------------------------------------------
Even with a not-so-brilliant salary, it is possible to live; not the high life, but a decent life, with space for treats occasionally.. it is all a matter of priorities, ultimately, and being able to really judge whether a particular purchase is a necessity or a frippery..
There has been too much of a 'I want it...so i'll get it...now' mentality for a long time, not just in Malta but all over the world, and this is a problem in all aspects of our lives.. We are impatient, our kids are born impatient....everyone wants everything yesterday... it's becoming harder and harder to maintain this pace, not least because of our health...we're on the right road to a heart-attack if we spend all our lives this way.
Everyone is finding it hard to adjust... everyone likes to be 'money no problem' but it is just not possible; and now not everyone has the common sense to accept that hings cannot go on the way they were...
J Degabriele
Feb 9th, 11:24
You know, I sincerely believe that the fault of all these wrong priorities lies squarely with the banks. I know that banks are there for profit. However when I was very young the banks used to encourage us to SAVE. They gave us a bank book and if we only managed to save 2 shillings, they saved it for us. Nowadays, all over the place, you see adverts from banks urging people to SPEND. If you want a computer, a holiday, a car (I'm not talking about houses), then borrow! This is WRONG. First you save and THEN you buy. That's the way to make sure that one is never in debt.
mario micallef
Feb 9th, 11:02
Is Sur Reuben Spiteri ghandu naqra ragun...familji jew individwi jonfqu fuq affarijiet li mhumiex essenzjali mbaghad joghqodu jeqirdu kemm qieghdin hazin. Persuna rezidenti s-Siggiewi l-bierah qaltli li l-pjazza filghaxija tkun mimlija guvintur zghar b'karozzi lussuzi, imbaghad qas ikollhom lira fil-but ...jekk ma jkunux bla xoghol ukoll! Din hija dehra komuni kull fejn thares Malta,mhux is-Siggiewi biss. Dawn iz-zaghzagh huma l-generazzjoni ta ghada,imma ghandhom bzonn kors financial management biex xi darba jaslu x'imkien! Bejn gvern u iehor, mhux ser ikun hemm differenza kbira ghax dawn ibbellghu t-taxxi jafu..imma kull gvern jara dan it-tip ta nfiq, ma tantx jithassar lil hadd imbaghad. U s-second hand, ghal min se jiftah halqu, xorta gholjin l-ispare parts ta!
J Degabriele
Feb 9th, 11:00
The title says that people "say" that they are poor. But is it really true? I'm more than sure that some are really poor but I don't believe that 15% are so.
Very few people have really good heating for their homes in Malta or many are not willing to spend on that. As for going away for a holiday, for many years I couldn't afford that but I didn't consider myself to be poor! That's not deprivation! That's a luxury! It's definitely not in the same class as a washing machine, paying rent or mortgage, etc.
George Azzopardi
Feb 9th, 10:43
imma l-aqwa li hawn hafna xoghol hux!!
Charles Sammut
Feb 9th, 10:54
Ul-aqwa li l-imgewhin ta Kastillja ghandhom l-honoraria ta euro500.00 zieda fil-gimgha!!!
...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on......
...
George Azzopardi
Feb 9th, 11:35
hehe .. mhux hekk Charles .. .isma il-kumment tieghi kien wiehed sarkastiku .. nahseb fihmtni hazin!!
Charles Sammut
Feb 9th, 16:19
le George fimthek sew! Naf li il-kumment tieghek x'rid jghid u jien naqbel mieghek mija fil mija! Il gonzipn jighdilna illi hawn hafna xoghol, kulhadd ferhan, kulhadd mixi fuq ir-rubibi...imma dan qed jirreferi ghal hbib tal-hbib mimlijin korrozzjoni u fottiment, bhal dawk li serqu Euro20 MILJUN mil VAT Dept u l-anqas biss tawhom lura, imma pero hadu l-interdet!!
le.....George jien fimthek sew habib!!
..ghalhekk qabel nehilsu minn aligonzi u il hbieb tieghiu....
..the beat goes on.....and on...and on....
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 9th, 10:41
Can someone please explain to the population where the truth lies? Government boasts of the best performance in the EU when it comes to unemployment, finance etc; whilst the same EU says that our poor are getting poorer. Are our rich getting richer as well? Are we exchanging more poverty for better finances? Is this the way a government, who boasts of having Christian values, acts? Doesn't everybody know that poverty and crises are the result of corruption? Are we immune from corruption in our dear, little island?
A Dimech
Feb 9th, 10:47
The government plays with statistics. The mention unemployment rates - when really most modern countries mention employemnt participation rates.
If you take employment participation rates - Malta is at bottom of the EU!! and that is why poverty is raising
Charles Sammut
Feb 9th, 10:57
I think tonio fenech should go to Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and the other bankrupt countires and work "miracles" on their economy, in the same way he has done with the Maltese economy..by sprinkling their balance sheets with lies!!
...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on......
B Attard
Feb 9th, 11:00
Are our rich getting richer as well?.
Your're right my friend these are about 4 dozen people and the ones that surround them.... the rest who gives a damn about them.
mario gellel
Feb 9th, 10:09
Slight growth in poverty-risk, deprived householdsChildren form greater part of society of 84,000 that has no access to normal living conditions or material necessities. (Euro Barometer regarding Malta)
L-AKBAR CETIFIKAT LI JONORA LIL GONZIPN ??? IL-FAQAR U L-GHAKS ??
XOGHOL TAL HABBA ZIZ, INFLAZzJONI M'OGHLA SMEWWIET, DEJN NAZzJONALI SPLODUT, KUNTRATTI TAL MILJUNI LIL DAWK TA FUQ IL 'YELLOW PAGES' BISS , U 'CUCC' IL POPLU FGAT BIT TAXXI.
fred fellon
Feb 9th, 14:14
All it would take to solve all the poverty in Malta and Gozo , is for Malta to tap a few holes into the VAST amount of OIL beneath our feet.
Paul Barrett
Feb 9th, 10:07
Poverty - or ?????
Interesting (amusing) short video interview of a lady that is really hard pushed to make her way in this modern society.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA9t61PuiDc
John Scerri
Feb 9th, 10:02
The chart shows otherwise ...if MT stands for Malta then it is between 5% and 10% closer to the 5 so maybe around 6%
Which is the correct data ?
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 09:56
I have taken a cursory look at the statistics table above. Malta is not doing that badly. However, let us not be content with that result: within the Maltese context, much of 'poverty' is hidden and there's no mistake about it. The Maltese people would not easily accept the fact that they are 'poor'. For them, 'poverty' is a shame and they would stay back from admitting it. So, let's be careful about this.
And of course, we are here talking about financial poverty. My mind goes elsewhere when we speak about the poor.
A Dimech
Feb 9th, 09:46
That is what happens when you have years of PN administration. In the 60s they left the country full of beggars - and they are doing it again now.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 10:23
Right. In the 70s and 80s, undoubtedly your golden years, there was a different kind of poverty and I would rather live now than then!
A Dimech
Feb 9th, 10:45
@ Franco - you are probably one of those on the gravy train!!
The 70s where the years when Malta was born - huge advance in welfare system (minimum wage, children allowance), huge advance on civic rights (women's rights etc.) and creation of enterprise in Malta - Mid Med, BOV, SGS, AirMalta.
I do understand that some mistakes were done - but the mountain of reforms which happened in the 70s spearheaded Malta towards a modern and self sufficient country. Malta was born
A Cuschieri
Feb 9th, 12:26
waqa l-ghazz A Dimech ... as soon as someone says something pro-government you automatically accuse the person that they're on the gravy train.
Typical of your party to accuse people without substantiating the facts. Bring out the facts that Franco Farrugia is on the gravy train. I know you said probably, but I'd suggest unless you're sure just don't say it - remember Alfred Sant's words "jekk titfa t-tajn, xi ftit minnhu jehel".
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 12:33
'Some mistakes were done.' Wow! An affront, an insult, to us, so many who suffered during those years!
And by the way, whatever I have now, whatever I am now, is thanks to ME, ME, ME and the Good Lord who watched over me: no thanks to anyone else.
And you?
PS By the way, it was in the 70s that most reforms were carried, Europe-wide. So, no big deal!
Reuben D. Spiteri
Feb 9th, 09:30
The fault can be on both sides.
The family that is living beyond its means (exaggerated spending in non-essential items) and of course the ever-hungry government leeching money from all areas it can.
Franco Farrugia
Feb 9th, 09:53
I don't mean to upset the trend and somehow stop you from grumbling (not moaning, pls note!) about the government but ... are you reading international news? EVERY government is doing just that? We are in the middle of a recession!
That having been said, one must quantify what one means by 'poverty'. In certain parts of the island where it is very common to come across sub-standard housing, you see luxury cars parked next to them!
Priorities, is the order of the day.
Priorities and good education! Are these people sending their children to school? Are they ensuring that they encourage their children to get good schooling instead of having these kind of people acting like rabbits and just breeding, breeding, breeding?
In other words, if you already know that you are in a bad financial state, how come you put yourself in situations where you can easily get pregnant? Eh? Where is responsibility?
And then we expect the State - read 'taxpayer' - to cover our expenses when we were not careful!