In one of the many letters I wrote about British service pensioners – which all fell on deaf ears – I said that both political parties have been taking us for a ride for the past 20 years or so. I am now more convinced than ever that the present government is doing just that and moving away from promises made before the election.

We are being kept in the dark about the proceedings on the case ‘EU Commission vs Malta Government’ regarding the legality of deducting the British service pension from the Maltese State pension. This case has dragged on for the past seven years.

Now everyone is talking and writing about pension reform. Second and third pillar pensions, the pensionable age, sustainability and so on. We read articles and comments about the subject.

We hear ministers discussing the subject on radio and television. We even hear the Prime Minister talking about it in every town and village. No mention, however, about the British service pensioners and if they will benefit from these reforms.

When we discuss the subject with ministers or government authorities, we always get the same answer: “We cannot do everything at once.”

Why is it always the British service pensioner who has to wait to get what is rightfully his? Other promises which were not that urgent and only pledged before the last election were honoured in the first year.

So we wait, and while we wait, we are dropping off like flies. Those of us who will still be around will tell the powers that be that we will wait but we will also sit and wait at home on every election day from now until election promises are kept.