Writing in The Times last Monday, veteran journalist Lawrence Dimech complained bitterly at the lack of news about Malta in a specially dedicated broadcasting service.

He wrote that the Special Broadcasting Services offers free airtime to 20 countries to transmit weekly news to Australia. Malta is the only country that fails to avail itself of this free airspace each Sunday to the disdain of the thousands of Maltese living in Australia.

On 25 November and again on 30 December, the Maltese segment did not arrive at all. “This sorry saga has been going on for years. We have become the laughing stock of the TV viewers on this Australian national network.

“You see the ‘ahbarijiet’ the PBS (Malta) sends over to Australia are now just normal news. Although a tiny country, Malta is there with the rest of the “World Watch” segment.

“When we get a blank half an hour we are being shamed. Today, I want to put it to the big shots at Guardamangia to explain to us why this programme is still being delayed. Maybe they can explain why the news is not being sent via the Internet, which instead of taking the long road to arrive in Sydney could only take an hour, or so to upload and download.

“I am told (please correct me if I am wrong) that with the speed of the Internet and providing you have the right server, a complete DVD can be uploaded in a few minutes and then downloaded and burned on the other side to a DVD.

“Can someone, from the minister down, explain why they keep shaming us? We don’t deserve this. If PBS (Malta) has nothing to hide, they should tell us why this is happening and when they intend to do something about it.”

Mr Dimech’s letter obtained quite a number of people adding their complaints.

Raymond Sammut said: “The last time I watched l-Ahbarijiet on SBS, PBS reporters were still using microphones with a long wire snaking out of them. The Maltese broadcaster is so anachronistic, so frozen in time, it makes the whole thing laughable.

“When switching on the TV on a Sunday morning only to find that the ‘tape’ has not arrived, it really breaks the camel’s back. Not only SBS should not waste time with PBS, but Maltese taxpayers can also do themselves a favour. Package PBS in a box, and have it sent to the nearest museum because I gave up a long time ago.”

Lucy Calleja wrote: “Having written about the subject a few times over the years, I wholeheartedly concur with Lawrence’s sentiments. What PBS Malta, and others un/concerned should realise is that Maltese in Australia are used to very high levels of productions, especially when it comes to news and current affairs. So blanks, repeats, and pathetic efforts simply makes PBS Malta the laughing stock of SBSTV ‘contributors’. Taxpayers should be up in arms about this squandering of free-to-air opportunity. Once the Maltese program is booted, it will NEVER, be returned.”

Eric Rizzo added: “I am very well in support of Lawrence Dimech. We are the laughing stock of Australia. Lawrence Dimech you are the pride of the Maltese Community in Australia, thank you for your courage, and shame to PBS in Malta for letting us down for so many years.

Marie Boler said she agrees wholeheartedly with the views of Lawrence Dimech regarding the Maltese News on SBS in Australia. “In fact, the quality, the brevity of the programme and the disregard to commitment, make me and the other Maltese here feel that the Maltese in Malta have no regard for us. This despite the fanfare of Maltese-Australian links when it suits!