On November 2, I had the dubious pleasure of having to visit ARMS Ltd’s office to change the name on my utility bill.

After waiting for 45 minutes and watching all the other numbers except mine whizzing along, I walked round to the serving counter only to have my suspicion confirmed that there was nobody at that desk.

I informed the nearest policeman and, lo and behold, two minutes later the nice automated female voice with the American accent called my number.

At the desk, I faced a young woman who was busy fiddling with her mobile and after having to shout (because of the noise) my request through the partition I was duly ‘processed’.

That same day (Friday), The Times carried a letter by Norman Grech complaining about “servility”, with the usual dirge about removing the George Cross from Malta’s flag.

Let me tell Mr Grech that when I visit my council offices in Chester and I am greeted there by a British imperialist, I am treated courteously, offered a chair and can discuss my business in private, unlike the situation at ARMS Ltd set-up at Blata l-Bajda.

It is the present-day Maltese people who are servile in that they are evidently willing to put up with such treatment at the hands of government – not my father’s gen

eration, which received the George Cross. That generation did have a bit of backbone.

So may I suggest to Mr Grech that, if the George Cross were to be removed from the flag, it be replaced by a banana? It would reflect present-day Malta perfectly, at least as far as government services are concerned.