No money? No problem!
I'm seriously considering sending an email to the prime minister next time I receive my electricity bill. The contents will be straight and to the point: "I'm sorry, but I seem to have no money to settle this bill. Cheers!"
No, I'm not off my rocker. It's just that I find this sort of story - http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120829/local/-No-cash-to-pay-for-expropriated-land.434761 – really unbelievable.
My co-blogger Alison Bezzina's latest header came to mind as soon as I read this. What the %$£&^%&^? And yes, some more *&^%$ for good measure. I am well-aware that there's such a thing as prioritising when it comes to national debt. But an email from the prime minister informing you that you're not going to get your rightful compensation after all, because "oops we spent all the dough" really has to be the pits. All that was missing was a "so long sucker" sign-off.
This gets even more insulting considering what other purposes the country did, after all, find the money for.
Convoluted electoral PR machinations; IVF procedures that are universally looked upon as suspect (as opposed to investing in internationally tried and tested procedures); Payment of judges (or magistrates, I can't be bothered to find out which) who simply refuse to do their work; A public work force that won't do a stroke of work after 1.30 p.m. in the summer months
I'm sure there are tons more examples I could bring forth, but I really have no wish to waste more time. I know you're not particularly interested in my financial priorities, but just in case this latest government ploy works, here's a list of items on which I'd rather not drop any money:
Income tax; Social security; Parking fines; Electricity bills
What are the chances that I get the rule-book thrown at me if I send a similarly-worded e-mail to the relevant departments? Well, provided the clock hasn't struck half-past one, of course. In which case my e-mail will go happily ignored.
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Kenneth Azzopardi
Sep 2nd 2012, 10:34
We all know that the government does not have the cash for the land he expropriates but instead uses the judiciary to delay the court cases in the hope that the plaintif would give up hope and just in case that he should succed he will change an act to modify the law to ensure that he would never receive a proper restitution. But we do find the money to throw at our new capital city and we do find the money to sustain enemalta and air malta despite their hevy losses. But hey money no problem lets just go to the public who always seem to buy our goverment bonds no matter what happens to the money we spend. Anyway very soon we will be finding a large oilserve and our country will be abe able to compete with Dubai and Saudi so let us continue to live this way.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Aug 30th 2012, 18:05
Prosit! It is time for private sector employees to stand high, get noticed and shout out stridently that they are, by far, harder workers than their public sector counterparts; and this fact should be recognised in remuneration differentials.
Joe Brincat-LL.D
Aug 29th 2012, 20:26
The economy is flourishing ! Really entertaining. You did not shout, but you made your point.
And something else. If you owe money to the government, you may be charged in some cases interest at 1% per month. If the government owes you, then no interest is due !
Jonathan Camilleri
Sep 2nd 2012, 20:03
I think that the Inland Revenue Department pays interest on late payments. With the enactment of the Late Payment interest directive (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/single-market-goods/fighting-late-payments/index_en.htm), the Government of Malta would be legally expected to pay interest after 30 days, and, 60 days in case of suppliers for healthcare.
CJohn Zammit
Aug 29th 2012, 17:26
You're a lawyer ... don't just sit there blogging; start Malta's version of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) -- www.aclu.org
Please choose the reason of your report below: