I do agree with Gordon that the Maltese general public is to blame for allowing the shameful state of our public broadcasting to remain unchecked for years on end.

Had local critics made their voices heard where it matters, rather than in cafes and behind closed doors, the culture of resignation in this country would have become the order of the day a long time ago.

Ever since I became a critic of our public broadcasting system, I have unfailingly accused our political breed of manipulating the national station, from its very inception, for political gain. This they did by consistently appointing personnel to sit on boards of directors, or on some other board or commission.

Gordon Croton says that the Maltese (politicians and their aides, I would add) are not very robust where criticism is concerned.

Of course not, they just dread criticism when they have no leg to stand on which, unfortunately, is quite often. When they do have, they would leave no stone unturned to hit back.

A very valid point raised by your contributor is the fact that payment to programme makers is in arrears by six months. Is this delay exercised with all programme makers? Or are some programme makers preferred to others? Are the members of the various boards at Guardamangia being remunerated regularly, and on time? Perhaps, PBS’s paymaster would oblige with a reply.

May I remind your contributor that the restructuring of PBS Ltd was meant to give a “new” face to public broadcasting. However, it was shortly realised that the government’s intentions were otherwise, and the “old” face of public broadcasting, as is natural, had only changed for the worse.

John G. Borg-Bartolo

Attard