As we catch the next big wave that will take us to the polls I want to share with readers my personal views regarding the last tsunami of a wave – the collection for L-Istrina 2012.

The President of Malta claimed on television that the Community Chest Fund uses around €1.3 million annually for its work and that the rest goes for ‘good causes’, and so on. I have no doubt that this is true. My two simple questions are:

If the Community Chest Fund requires €1.3 million why does his office collect €3.3?

Why is our President’s office risking our President’s reputation with the remaining amount?

On our islands there are hundreds of so-called good cause organisations, mostly made up of volunteers. When the President’s Office waves the magic wand and 35 (any number) organisations receive assistance in one year the rest will look upon this office with contempt. This is unfair to our President.

However it is his own office that is instigating such a situation. In my opinion the Community Chest Fund should stick to its own work and wave everyone else away.

At the €1.3-1.5 million mark the L-Istrina collection should stop. Mission accomplished.

Another abnormality that needs adjusting is when companies give their contribution to L-Istrina. Charity is a human virtue and only humans should be allowed to give to charity. When I saw the banks with their hefty cheques I was shocked. The President should have waved them aside politely telling them that this effort is purely the people’s response to his good cause and names of companies and organisations are strictly out of place.

In my younger years, organisations used to assist sporting events and NGOs. Now they are waving the President’s flag to get publicity and calling it ‘charity’.