It’s hot in Malta, which is one of the reasons many foreigners have chosen to live here. And what is often pleasant at this time of the year is to step inside a shop or an office where air-conditioning is running in order to enjoy a brief respite from the searing heat.

But, given that factor, can anybody explain why, these days, shops and (especially government) offices feel the need to close around midday – an old habit that persists even during winter?

Village stores, for example, shoot themselves in the foot by shutting up shop at around noon. Instead of taking a short walk, people in need of, say, a carton of milk around lunchtime nowadays get into the car and drive to the supermarket, which will be open all day.

And while there they may be tempted to do several days’ shopping in one go, buying items they might otherwise have bought from their corner shop.

Government ‘workers’, scheduled (usually) to end ‘the working day’ at around noon, start preparing for closure at any time after 11am and office counters are consequently reduced in manning from that time.

It was understandable, years ago, when toiling through the heat of the day (during summer) would have been unbearable.

But nowadays, with air-conditioning available and installed virtually everywhere, isn’t it time to consider restoring that ‘service’ for which Malta was once well known?

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