Last-minute Saturday morning shopping on the way out of Victoria, Gozo – might be convenient at times, as otherwise one would have to do without meat for Sunday as very few fresh meat butchers open Saturday evenings (and I do not blame them). Yet repeatedly, I have come to realise that with all its advertisements, a cold store chain of shops falls short somewhat of some consumers’ rightful expectations.
One Saturday, upon going into the outlet, I looked up the special offers and proceeded to fill the shopping wire basket provided by the shop. Having secured my purchases I paid at the single cash register and discovered that frozen rabbit is charged not at the marked price on the packet, but at the re-weighed amount inclusive of additional ice (perhaps the relevant officials would do well one of these days to verify how this extra ice gets deposited inside such frozen foods packages?).
Them, ‘special offer’ posters for out-of-stock items costing less than very similar, but costlier items, are not removed – resulting in more than one consumer thinking of having purchased a special reduced price offer only to discover the higher priced item on their bill. Too many, especially over for the weekend and merely occasional customers of this store, fail to complain – perhaps they feel that they might lose face even though they are in the right (how typically Maltese) – but the 50c, sometimes Lm1 (or more) difference quantified over several purchases leaves more in the store’s till.
When approached, one of the employees said that he couldn’t be bothered with removing ‘special offer’ notices for items he had run out of – in vain were my remonstrations that this could mislead customers. He seemed more bent on carrying out a conversation with a young lady – a semi-permanent addition to the place though not wearing this store chain’s uniform. Then are there no regulations stipulating that an office desk with all its clutter should be separated at least by a partition from a kitchen area on one side and the cash till on the other? And how about some notice pointing to an emergency exit in the case of fire, or other hazard from a store full of freezers and fridges?

J. Bonett
Ghajnsielem

I had the fortune to meet Prof. Godfrey Wettinger through an acquaintance friend Dun Gwann Azzopardi, who was then the Mdina Cathedral Museum curator. Being myself an avid promoter of the museum, particularly when working for Thomson Holidays, I admired this gentleman’s passion and true love for Maltese history.
I enjoyed reading this article and wish that Prof. Wettinger would be tempted to be given assistance to produce a television programme which could encapsulate his teachings and interesting research he has given the public throughout all these years.
 
Gianfranco Selvaggi  
Sliema

Those who are saying, including the prime minister and Tonio Fenech, that the introduction of the euro has not brought about an increase in prices, particularly those of services, are only fooling themselves. Or trying to fool the people!
Who will believe, for example, that a doctor who used to charge Lm2 will not ask for €4,66 and not, at least, €5? I know people who used to pay Lm3 for a visit to a private doctor and have had to fork out €10 – an increase of 41%! How can one expect doctors, lawyers, TV and computer technicians and many more service providers, to carry with them a bagful of euro cents so as to keep charging the same price or tariff as before the arrival of the euro?
Although there has already been an increase in prices of certain products, the worst is still to come. First come next 1 April, when the agreement with a number of importers comes to a close. And even more so in July, when prices of products will only be shown in euro! An explosion in prices is expected as has happened in all eurozone countries.
Don’t hope or expect that Malta is going to be an exception. The only thing that can be done to minimise the problem as much as possible, is to elect a government which has the interest of consumers truly at heart. Need I spell it out? Labour, of course.

Eddy Privitera
Mosta

My aim is not to conduct a post-mortem examination, but simply to make some constructive comments after the negative outcome of our national team’s last football match in the preliminary round of the European Nations Cup against Norway (1-4).
I am convinced that Dusan Fitzel from his very first days at the helm of our team, insisted on our weak points, with the ultimate aim of avoiding certain silly or even maybe genuine mistakes in crucial moments of the match. Commenting and judging from past performances, it is certainly a fact that we concede goals in the last decisive minutes of each half – maybe the technical staff, as they have certainly been making during these last matches, will instil some tricks in the players’ minds to avoid such mishaps.
Another factor that I consider that at times was detrimental to us is the way we give penalties to our opponents. It does not make sense how certain defenders always commit the same fouls in the penalty area. Most of the goals concede by our lads come from set-pieces. Maybe if more of our national team players play in international leagues, behind our shores, would certainly reflect in an improvement, on the performance and why not, on the result.
A problem that I feel the last coaches of our national team are trying to cope with is the lack of self-esteem in our players. We cannot struggle with renowned European nations but maybe with some more effort from the concerned entities, we can register more progress in this regard. The supporters here must do their part. It is true as a fact that England were involved in a do-or-die match almost at the same time of Malta’s match. But the amount of supporters has declined from previous matches.
All in all, congratulations for the credible five points obtained in the competition, though they were not enough to avoid the bottom place in the group. Maybe that such a feat will serve as a morale-booster for our forthcoming commitments. The last word of praise goes to the under-21 national team for obtaining their first win and points against Bosnia Herzegovina (2-1).

Herman Buttigieg
Fgura