Between the last week of January and the last week of February the taxpayers paid for two media campaigns on television sponsored and carried out by government as propaganda for the service which, supposedly, the general public is receiving from the public service.

The first campaign in January carried the slogan of Servizz ta’ Kwalita (Quality Service) while the February campaign was under the slogan of Anqas Burokrazija, Servizz Efficjenti (Less Bureaucracy –Efficient Service). I am not impressed.

These adverts, however, contradict real situations.  For example, some years ago Transport Malta approved restricted timed parking on one side of two particular roads in San Gwann. While restricted timed parking approved by Transport Malta in other localities does not apply to all the residents of the locality concerned, the restricted timed parking approved by TM and put up in these two roads in San Gwann is not applicable only to residents of the roads concerned, thus discriminating against the other residents of San Gwann.

On the 21 November 2014 I sent an email to an official at Transport Malta advising that a number of residents of San Gwann, including myself, consider that this approval is discriminating between residents of the same locality, San Gwann. To date, four months plus after my claim by email, no response has been forthcoming even though I sent a reminder to the same Transport Malta official on 30 January, which has not even acknowledged. Furthermore I had to request an acknowledgement to my original email to obtain confirmation that Transport Malta received my original complaint.

I do not think this is the quality service and efficiency that the government claims that the general public is receiving. The propaganda of quality service and efficiency presented in the media campaigns paid for by us lesser mortals out of our taxes is only a government perception.

 

Alfred Mangion

 

Kappara