Last week I was walking in Valletta when a complete stranger came up to me and asked if I could possibly give him money to catch a bus.

A few days later, in between meetings and sitting, minding my own business having a quick bite again in Valletta, I was targeted by another complete stranger who gave me a sob story about how his parents had just split up and how he had not eaten in three days. Again I obliged.

Do not get me wrong. I am not the gullible type and I could see through them quite easily. On the other hand, I must say my conscious plays on me and I felt embarrassed not to give these two strangers anything, so whatever small change I had, I gave to these ‘unfortunate’ individuals.

The thing that gets to me is that, if I had asked for bus money, I would go catch the bus. And if I had not eaten in three days, I am sure I would buy myself some pastizzi or something to stifle my pangs. But not these blokes… no, the former kept on walking into Valletta and the latter kept up the drill asking for change from anyone he could stop.

I can only say that I am led to believe that these scavengers wanted money for ulterior motives and I was more or less coaxed into feeding their addictions, for lack of better words.

Have we arrived at such a state in Malta where, not only I am short of cash, but whatever money I might have left to spend on something special for myself or a loved one, is given away to beggars on the street?

Chris Criminale

Msida