From Mr J. Gaffarena

Why are we still paying a TV licence when nearly all Maltese viewers subscribe to a service provider?

We are not using an antenna any more, besides which we can easily watch these programmes on a monitor, so surely we do not need to pay this licence.

When I contacted Dr Busuttil about this matter, I was told that this is a matter for our local government, and the EU cannot intervene in this matter. This is something we were told before about the satellite licence and afterwards the EU took the necessary measures and this licence was revoked.

I contacted several EU countries about this matter and was told that when the licence is paid to the government, the station in question has to be run without any advertisements being shown on this channel.

Let us face it, our local TV station is only siphoning our money to Where’s Everybody? and a few other private companies, and everyone knows the standard of programmes they are giving us.

We used to watch several international shows on our local station, but now to see international football, we have to see it on a private channel, for which we have to pay extra. Our local station is only serving as a stepping stone for these private companies by giving them the money we pay for our TV licence.

We have to stop this illegal fee because there is no need for such a licence anymore.

Next time I will think twice when voting for our MEP; perhaps it would be better if I choose an independent candidate.

We are in the EU, but we are still being treated like a Third World country.

Joseph Gaffarena

SANTA LUCIA