The new faces of poverty
Poverty is indisputably visible and tangible. No matter how much good the government claims to have done, its biggest success is the reintroduction of many social and political problems, among which poverty ranks high.
The Times published a story on poverty. A woman gave her personal account in an international conference on poverty and portrayed her story about how a bad move in her business nade her bankrupt. She ended up literally having nothing.
But the government doesn’t want to listen and keeps denying poverty. Had the government heeded, it would have listened to YMCA, to Caritas, to EU statistics and to the many charities, to the many organisations that incessantly beg for money and funds to offer their service.
Yes, poverty is back and, as the cycle goes, it will be the Labour Party that will have to work to eradicate it again. And the wheel turns on, the Nationalist Party impoverishes and continues to spend money irresponsibly and the PL rebuilds afresh the so-much-needed institutions. A cycle that, in my opinion, can only be broken if the political system of our country is changed.
Malta is imbued with beggars all year round. Not any more like in the pre-1971 years when beggars used to gather around Valletta gate in shabby and dirty clothing (it used to be full of nuns there begging to feed the little ones too). Yet, not much different either.
Today’s beggars have an identity card declaring which institution they are begging for, institutions without which many will probably be dying of hunger. The biggest beggar is in fact L-Istrina, which, in the name of the state and blessed by the highest authority of the country, collects grand sums of money to help the local poor. Which poor?
Never before has so much money been collected from the public with last year’s collection peaking at €2.5 million. All this to patch up the government’s failures.
The government has reduced this country to begging again, either because of its incompetence or because of its politicians’ craving for money and power.
Why would Puttinu Cares beg for money to build flats in London to host Maltese families whose relative is in hospital? Why would locals have to organise cycling marathons around the world to collect money for dialysis machines to equip Mater Dei Hospital?
Had the Prime Minister put things into perspective, he would have invested there and not in the Parliament building, the bridge to nowhere, the lovely oligarchic house in Brussels, the façade of Malta Enterprise and other offices.
Poverty is not only in the southern part of the island. Just recently I met a woman from the north who told me her story of poverty.
She had taken care of her ill and aging parents for many, many years. When both her parents passed away, a few months back, she inherited the ground floor maisonette that had homed her and her parents, plus a small sum of money. She used the money to pay for the funeral of her father, the last one to die, and she had to fork out all her savings to pay the succession tax. This rendered her penniless.
Obviously, from the government’s perspective, this woman is not poor. She has her own house. In reality, though, had it not been for the neighbours’ generosity, she would not even have enough to eat.
Poverty is visible from the amount of gold that is being sold. Many adverts are constantly inviting the drooling public to sell the little gold they have.
Whoever is doing well in life won’t sell his/her gold. We Maltese have a reputation to keep some gold to pass on to our children, gold being considered a reserve for rainy days. And a rainy day it is.
Many are selling their gold because they cannot do otherwise, because they need to top up their salary, to do some needed works at home, or to buy a new washing machine without which they cannot manage.
We would probably be shocked to know how much gold is being sold.
The best part in this situation is that the government is doing nothing to safeguard some good old locally produced artistic jewellery either. Monte di Pietà, the office which is supposed to lend money on gold so that people would pawn rather than sell, pays the miserable price of €1.75 per gram whereas private buyers pay about €23.
So poor has this country become that we also receive rice and other cereals from the EU to distribute among the local poor. It has been recently reported that Malta will be benefiting from €131,300 of such cereals and will be distributing about 1,230 tons of cereals.
Can anyone responsible please inform us where all these cereals are going? And who is eating them?
Eurostat has also shown us that 15.5 per cent of the population is experiencing poverty (Eurostat 2010). However, poverty has also been visible in the local survey on income and living conditions for 2005, 2006, and 2007 (National Statistics Office 2009). Among the poorest are the single parents and those over 65 years of age.
Other interesting local phenomena are resurfacing too. Such phenomena had been completely eradicated from the island. For example, more couples are getting married and choosing to live with their parents/in-laws simply because buying a home is impossible. Many others are choosing to rent rather than buy, which they cannot afford to do because of low wages, increasing struggles to cope with the standard of living and precarious work, which doesn’t permit them to get loans from banks.
The list of factors proving that poverty is on the increase is endless. It’s enough for the time being just to mention the presence of Mother Teresa’s nuns on the island, nuns who choose to work among the poorest of the poor. This is so shameful for us Maltese, especially when I look back and remember that a Labour government had found the same scenario in 1971 and eradicated poverty completely, restoring dignity to the people.
And, again, it will have to be a new Labour government that will eradicate poverty and lift the country out of the misery it is in.
Dr Azzopardi is the founding chairman of the Institute of Family Therapy Malta.
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Jonathan Camilleri
May 11th, 21:35
I was left penniless for more than 6 months after the Department of Social Security decided not to give me any social security for being unemployed because I was registered under part 2 at ETC. Legally valid death by negation of social security, I think I should contest my human rights.
Mark Cassar
Jul 1st 2012, 23:08
Dr Azzopardi is ashamed of as a Maltese of having Mother Theresa's nuns being present in Malta. If he had researched well he would have found out that her order is present in circa 133 countries. That means they are present in countries which we consider rich and wealthy. Dr Azzopardi's shame should be directed primarily if not wholly at the political class which he is now a part of and all of it mind you, not one side or the other, for not doing more to eradicate it, and also to the political arena he is now entering.
Christopher Ripard
Jun 26th 2012, 10:43
Dr Azzopardi is distorting history completely. Under Labour after 1971, the only employment was in "Korpi", for less than the minimum wage and under military supervision. We had no water, no colour TV, no computers, no foreign chocolate, no toothpaste, no foreign pasta, no roads. Everything was second-hand/scrap, which we scrounged off others. I am deliberately not mentioning the total negation of democracy either.
The reality is that, except for a small clique, we were all poor.
Emma Xerri
Jun 26th 2012, 15:19
Except for the electronic gadgets you mentioned, the situation is pretty much the same, including your second hand poxy cars. And what is worse, is you have less greenery and open spaces and more pollution.
As for your foreign pasta and chocolate, I do not think it is a good trade-off. I would rather still have more space and less immigrants - and forgo the first two.
Victor Laiviera
Jun 27th 2012, 00:42
The usual litany of exaggerations, half-truths and outright lies which the PN media and its allies have been spinning for decades.
Some examples;
- Yes, there were the "korpi". But you fail to mention they were a temporary measure made necessary by the economic and industrial "baħħ" leFt by the previous PN Governments.
- Same goes for the import restrictions - a necessary measure while out economy was still fragile and "under construction".
The pity is that, instead of cooperation to make sure the hard measures were lifted as soon as possible, the Labour Government found obstructionism, quasi-sedition and a lot of juvenile foot-stamping and tantrums from people who could not do without their daily Mars Bar.
It is sufficient to remember that the PN Leader at the time used to visit European industrialists and urge them not to invest in Malta in order to destabilise the Labour Government. This is a matter of record.
Your remark about “total negation of democracy” can only be described as a foul and outright lie. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Leonard Schembri
Jun 25th 2012, 18:13
I take it that Charlie Azzopardi will be a new candidate for the next elections. However, it does not exclude the fact that poverty exists in Malta. Azzopardi is merely drawing our attention to the facts, and how the present government preferred to do certain things over the fact of poverty. Those denying these facts had better start looking around a bit more closely of what goes on around them. They would be better off, as well, to start giving a helping hand instead of ignoring facts or burying their heads under the sand.
If Charlie Azzopardi is to be elected, I hope to God that he'd be given the responsibility to eradicate the poverty that he mentioned in his article.
One last thing - all those comfortable citizens criticizing that poverty does not exist had better start asking questions to poverty to their relatives, friends, neighbours etc. They're bound to find otherwise.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 25th 2012, 20:31
@ Mr Schembri. I agree with you: poverty DOES exist in Malta; why should we expect our country to be immune to the economic ravages taking place? No, Azzopardi is not 'merely drawing our attention to the facts' but he is exaggerating and claiming half-truths and untruths in order to further his political message, which to me, at least, if not to you, is shameful when we come to speak about such a delicate subject. That is the point I was making.
As regards poverty in Malta, one final point: we should be careful and see if by some decision it was we who entered into a state of poverty. You cannot be on the dole while at the same time giviing your son or daughter everything that he or she wants! Sacrifices have to be made.
One also has to see if enough investment in self has been made. A businessman who has never invested in his company should not expect to be at a par with that businessman who dedicated several years of his life in investing within his company and is now bearing the fruits of that investment! Similarly, if a person has invested heavily in educating himself and training and is now 'comforatble' and enjoying the fruits of past sacrifices .... well, should that person somehow feel guilty because the guy next to him is in a different state?
I hope that Mr Schembri is understanding what I am saying. In Maltese, we have a saying - ma nistghux nistennew il-manna taqa' mis-sema'! But let's admit it: many Maltese belong to that culture!
John Schembri
Jun 25th 2012, 22:02
Leonard Schembri: there will always be poor people and rich people , you can’t deny this fact .
You cannot eradicate poverty , poverty is something relative . I saw people who had one room as their dwelling but they were considered rich . There are people in Malta who are poor, agreed but let’s keep everything in perspective and stop thinking that poverty can be eradicated. You will always have gamblers for example.
Education is the key as our Charlie said and as far as we know there has never been so many teenagers who are furthering their studies at MCAST and the University.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 25th 2012, 17:41
Thank you, Mr John Schembri, for that information. One would have to read the article with more than the metaphorical pinch of salt, then.
However:
When we state that 'single parents are the poorest', we have to understand what we mean. Why is it so frequent that we find low-achievers, or low-income persons or even no-income persons who, however, beget so many children? Then, the tax-payer is expected to fork out for sa(i)d children's maintenance, as well as the maintenance of that parent, etc...
We must not, we should not, put 'single parents' in the same bag because I happen to come across such 'single parents' who keep their head high and rightly so: they do their best to earn a decent and honest income, they get help for their one child or two children at most, and do their best, due to their predicament, not to have more children in order not to increase the problem they are already in!
But no: we have these apparently do-gooders (not!) who think that it's just ok to milk the state's coffers (read 'taxpayers') for these people!
I am NOT denying the fact that there isn't authentic poverty in the country! However, for someone who has a 'Dr' before his name to come claiming and pontificating that 'Malta is full of beggars' shows that that person has never ever been abroad or that that person is out to take political mileage for something as serious as poverty! Shameful!
Once again, attacking Dar Malta in Brussels shows that the PL has no love for the EU and for the institutions there. True: it was an exercise at overspending but the question is whether it is important for our country to have a good and noticeable presence in Brussels or not. Anyway, once we have a Labour in government, let's go ahead and sell the damn place but then let's see where all those many Maltese workers working there will work from.
The writer mentions the gold being sold - the reason behind so much gold being sold is that a) it's much easier nowadays to do so, with more than five or six companies / commercial entities willing to buy off your gold; b) many people today have given up wearing gold - and that's a fact! - especially gold artefacts no longer considered trendy; c) many people today don't give a damn about keeping mementos and heirlooms for future generations; d) the exceptionally high value of gold at this time, etc...
But what really but really strikes me as absolutely shameful for the writer - who thus appears to use anything at all for his agenda - and which really irks me, is to use the presence of Mother Therese's nuns as part of his equation. For those who want to know, these nuns came over to Malta, and settled in Cospicua, in the early 70s. Point made, I hope.
Carmel Vella
Jun 25th 2012, 17:28
Whatever happened to working hard for your survival? Whatever happened to being responsible for one's needs and future? And, what happened to families looking out for those members who need help? Now, it's all about the Nanny State. We all are waiting on those who pay huge taxes, to fill our pockets, to take care if us.
What's going to happen when those who pay taxes are a very small number , and those who are leaches are the majority? Read up on the last days of the Roman empire.
John Schembri
Jun 25th 2012, 16:52
His article is a one sided view filled up with half truths, and politically biased statements.
1) I know of ‘fools’ who sold their gold to buy an apartment which was at a good price.
2) Food from the EU is given to prisoners, refugees ,and yes to Maltese people in need , who will exist as long as we will have people living on this dear island of ours.
3) That woman who used to take care of her parents could have applied to have some social security which was made purposely for that reason. Are we saying here that when PL gets to power within six months by default we will have a law which wavers the tax on people who take care of their parents?
4)The poor woman who made the "bad business move” got poor because of her actions like a gambler does. Are we going to make good for other people’s naiveties?
Franco Farrugia
Jun 25th 2012, 13:54
Thank you Mr John Schembri for that information. One would have to read the article with more than the metaphorical pinch of salt, then.
However:
When we state that 'single parents are the poorest', we have to understand what we mean. Why is it so frequent that we find low-achievers, or low-income persons or even no-income persons who, however, beget so many children? Then, the tax-payers is expected to fork out for sa(i)d children's maintenance, as well as the maintenance of that parents, etc...
We must not, we should not, put 'single parents' in the same bag because I happen to come across such 'single parents' who keep their head high and rightly so: they do their best to earn a decent and honest income, they get help for their one child or two children at most, and do their best, due to their predicament, not to have more children in order not to increase the problem they are already in!
But no: we have these apparently do-gooders (not!) who think that it's just ok to milk the state's coffers - read 'taxpayers') for these people!
I am NOT denying the fact that there isn't authentic poverty in the country! However, for someone who has a 'Dr' before his name to come claiming and pontificating that 'Malta is full of beggars' show that that person has never ever been abroad or that that person for political reasons, is out to take political mileage for something as serious as poverty! Shameful!
Once again attacking Dar Malta in Brussels shows yet again that the PL has no love for the EU and for the institutions there. True: it was an exercise at overspending but the question is whether it is important for our country to have a good and noticeable presence in Brussels or not. Anyway, once we have Labour in government, let's go ahead and sell the damn place but then let's see from where all those many Maltese workers working there will work from.
The writer mentions the gold being sold - the reason behind so much gold being sold is that a) it's much easier nowadays to do so, with more than five or six companies / commercial entities willing to buy off your gold; b) many people today have given up wearing gold - and that's a fact! - especially gold artefacts no longer considered trendy; c) many people today don't give a damn about keeping mementos and heirlooms for future generations, etc...
But what really but really strikes me as absolutely shameful for the writer - who thus appers to use anything at all for his agenda - and which really irks me, is to use the presence of Mother Therese's nuns as part of his equation. For those who want to know, these nuns came over to Malta, and settled in Cospicua, in the early 70s. Point made, I hope.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 25th 2012, 17:34
My apologies for the few typing errors in my comment - I assure you they are not due to my standard of English but due to my imperfect eyesight especially when it comes to writing in the medium offered by this plaform, as well as the fact that I think faster than I type and therefore I tend to make mistakes. Apologies.
John Schembri
Jun 25th 2012, 11:36
I think it would be more than fair for the readers to state that Dr Charles/Charlie Azzopardi is a Labour Party candidate .
R. Balzan
Jun 25th 2012, 15:24
Thanks for informing us that Dr Azzopardi is a prospective Labour candidate. That does not in the least negate or minimise the veracity of the stated facts in the article. Anybody living in Malta would immediately realize that Dr Azzopardi has hit the nail squarely on the head and just repeated what has long been publicly stated by organizations like Caritas. The fact that he will contest as a Labour candidate is a huge plus for both Malta and the PL.
John Schembri
Jun 25th 2012, 16:51
I think you should worry that Dr Azzopardi did not show us his true colors in this politically biased article.
Please choose the reason of your report below: