The feast of the Epiphany traditionally closes off the Yuletide festivities. Many people’s holidays are now over and all children will be back at school by today or tomorrow. It is hoped that these festivities were fruitful in terms of time spent with relatives and friends, and that they helped restore peace among those who were not seeing eye to eye.
Just why did the National Euro Changeover Committee use in its calendar for 2007 the cartoons of only one cartoonist in Malta? Is it possible no other caricatures about this event appeared by other artists? As it is, all the cartoons carried are either favourable to the changeover, or neutral. Surely there must have been cartoons criticising some aspect of the event. The NECC should have given space to other cartoonists to give a more balanced picture.
Which prices do price control inspectors check? One baker, for example, charges 2c for a plastic bag that must cost a minuscule fraction of that. You can hear his employees counting as they hand over the goods to customers: 19c (for a large loaf), 12c (for a small loaf) = 31c, 33c (nothing specific there, but he holds a plastic bag in his hand), 39c (he hands over a ftira zghira). At that rate of increase, the cost of living under the euro will go up sky high. And we all know that the small loaf is really small, and the large loaf not overly so. Some will indeed be looking forward to an exceptionally profitable 2008, even if the PM’s prediction of a bountiful 2007 does not come true.
According to a Radio 101 news bulletin last week, news retail outlets participating in the FAIR system of the euro changeover, are expected not to raise prices “abusively”. Does this mean that these retail outlets can raise prices, so long as that is not done in an abusive manner? And who is to decide what is “abusive” and what is not?
This column has pointed out that the traffic lights on St Andrew’s Road at the turning for Pembroke have been on amber for quite some time. This is presumably being done in order to eliminate any potential traffic jam because of work taking place on the nearby Manwel Dimech Bridge. But it must be admitted that this particular junction is rather dangerous, and an accident that occurred there on Thursday evening is a perfect example of this.
Four canopies at the Independence Gardens in Sliema have been removed or ripped away. The shelter these canopies provide in both winter and summer is remarkable, and it is felt that the necessary work to replace them should be carried out as soon as possible. Their absence also gives a shabby look to the area, especially when one is looking over towards the sea from Tower Road.
Young children sometimes do not realise what danger they can pose to themselves mostly – but to others as well – when they use their skateboards on the road. Some boys have been seen practicing their hobby, hovering their skateboards in between cars. Parents of these children should warn them of the possible consequences and perhaps even wardens should do their bit too.
Internet banking is efficient and effective for all those who use it from the comfort of their home and also from their offices. The presence of so many ATMs around the island also makes it very convenient for people to deposit or withdraw money. But these new systems have not helped reduce the queues in local bank branches, especially on Saturday mornings. The banks should make a priority of encouraging more people to make use of such services.