It was simply hilarious reading Janet Barthet’s letter (On the right track TMID, 11 January) wherein she wrote that “the majority of the Maltese and Gozitans, with very few exceptions, have welcomed the euro with overwhelming enthusiasm”!

Can anyone believe that a currency which has already brought about an increase in prices, not just on a good number of products but even much more on services, could be welcomed “with overwhelming enthusiasm”!

Prices on products had been rising also in anticipation of the introduction of the euro, months in advance. Although the prices of a good number of other products is on hold up to the end of March, an explosion of prices has been also predicted by a former chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Reginald Fava.

Just days ago even the head of the EU Commission office in Malta, Dr Joanna Drake, was honest enough to speak out about the abusive rise in prices since 1 January. Indeed she said that prices have also been rising even before the introduction of the euro!

And the rise in prices is happening when prices on products must still be shown for a few more months, in both the euro and the Maltese currency.

One can easily thus imagine what will happen when prices will only be shown in euro!

But perhaps, Ms Barthet has not yet had occasions to see a doctor in a private clinic. Or a dentist. Or seek legal advice. Or need a TV or computer technician. Or send children to private lessons. Or take a car for the usual service. Or visit a hairdresser and so on.

When she does, all she has to do is to compare the bill in euro now with the bill she used to pay up to December 2007.

She may then see her “overwhelming enthusiasm” evaporate instantly!

Eddy Privitera

MOSTA