Please allow me some space to reply to the letter from Mr J. Zammit entitled Learning Maltese (TMID, 18 October). I have lived here for over 21 years. I am married to a Maltese lady and I am not an “arrogant” foreigner.

I am an 86-year-old pensioner who as a Brit did not have a good education. So I am happy that my wife and all my Maltese friends speak English, thanks to your first class education system. But why do you speak numbers backwards?

At my age I am happy as things are. We do our bit for Malta, Mr Zammit. We help your economy, perhaps more than you do.

If you are pensioner, you get a £1 for £1. We pay our income tax bills etc., in Maltese currency. Our UK pensions lose 40c for each £1 here so we help your economy more than the Maltese.

Now if all the foreigners left, would you have to pay more income tax?

T. Findley

Zabbar