On learning of the President of the EU’s visit to Malta, originally reported as being 10 July, representatives of the ‘Up in ARMS’ group organised a static protest outside the Presidential Palace in Valletta. Unfortunately, the group only learned late on 9 July that the reported visit was now taking place on the 11th. We had checked and double-checked before applying for the permit but, alas, it just goes to show you can’t believe everything you find on Google.:) Permit already in hand, and no time to get another, we forged ahead.
The group who braved the sun and scorching temperatures, donned ‘ALIEN’ masks, which caused much amusement to onlookers (even the new ecard still depicts EU nationals as ‘ALIENS’ :).
The group was protesting against the continued discriminatory charges inflicted on EU nationals resident in Malta: 35 per cent more for electricity and 60 per cent more for water. We know these charges are illegal, we have been told these charges are illegal and have it in black and white, so just why is the Maltese government being allowed to get away with this for so long? Why do we get so many copy and paste emails from Viviene Reding saying that responses are being considered? What is going on?
Malta is part of the EU and as such must follow EU laws to the letter without threats, without using people’s lives as pawns and without discrimination. Malta has fared well from its membership – just look around the island – and has recently unveiled plans to cut bureaucracy surrounding potential investors to the islands. What about the ordinary people on the streets who have chosen Malta as their home? Does their investment not count? We support this country on a daily basis so why are we riddled with this red tape bureaucracy?
Before the general election, the group had support from many Labour candidates all saying the same thing: that we should be treated in exactly the same way as Maltese nationals. Now, after the election, we struggle to get replies from anyone and the charges continue, not only in respect of the utilities.
Many nationalities stopped by our protest yesterday to ask questions and were horrified when they learned why we were there. “Many Maltese live in Australia”, one gentleman remarked, “And we would never treat them like this, it’s disgraceful.” Many others who stopped by were amazed to hear about the two-tier bus fares.
It seems to me that a party seeking election to government is voted for by the people – the electorate – to represent and serve for the good of the people and to be open and honest in the good and the bad and run the country well. Well that’s what they promise. What do we get? We get another branch of the secret service, where everything is cloak-and-dagger and all we ever get to hear is the pettiness between the parties.
Our group urges all EU nationals to ensure that they have their voting rights for EU elections, and not just assume that they have.
Patricia Graham
For and on Behalf of Arms Class Action Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/371466666251933/