I see Mixx’s point, though. There should NOT be a different fare for Gozitan and Maltese citizens. Gozitans do not only come over to Malta to work, or to visit the hospital. Most come over to enjoy themselves – visit Paceville, have a weekend break in one of our hotels, attend the horse races at the Marsa etc., Why these Gozitans should cross the ferry at a fraction of the cost of their Maltese counterparts beats me.

In cases of hardship, or in cases of bad health, visits to hospital or travelling for work purposes, then Gozitans should be asked to produce proof, and allowed to travel at special rates as a social service. Otherwise the fares should be the same for everyone.

I have to disagree with you here, Daphne. Many young people fail to see things clearly. Today’s 20-year-olds have no first-hand experience of what a Labour government means, for a start. Furthermore, I’ve found that understanding comes with age. I’ve lost the impetuousness of youth and my judgement is far better now. I’m glad to say I’m not bitter, resentful or fed up, even though I’ve been through several very traumatic events. As for over the hill, well, my footballing days are over but I’m making a determined effort to regain my fitness (largely lost by smoking, which I’ve now quit) by running again. I don’t think I’m that much of an exception either.

Mixx, the voting document is not sent to your wife’s family but to you. You live in Malta but – in order to save on the ferry ticket – have registered yourself as residing in Gozo (clearly a falsehood) thus contributing to the artificial inflation of the Gozitan electorate. The result of your action was that a village (Għajnsielem?) was going to be hived off from Gozo for the 2008 elections. This possibility was used by the MLP to blackmail the PN into accepting unsatisfactory electoral districts in return for safeguarding the integrity of Gozo as one district. Thank you for that.

The fact that your wife is Gozitan is neither here nor there.

@Maryanne

What has Louis Grech got to do with nepotism? He was always one of the best managers and the best chairmen. Much, much better than the one appointed by the government who brought about the cursed RJs. Also please note that during its first decade Air Malta was the backbone of Malta’s economy and the employees strove to make the airline which was quoted by you as ‘ghasfur tac-comb’ really soar. And it did.

Yes, amazing, isn’t it? People who can afford thousands for a second home (or should I say a first, because most probably actually live in property which is not theirs, anyway?) then tend to be “qammellin” when it comes to paying their ferry fare.

(The funny thing is that they are then probably paying more for their water and electricity, because the consumption on the second place is probably less that their normal place of residence, hence less subsidies.)

@Antoine: I’m one of the “cunning” ones who decided I needed to marry a Gozitan so that I get “free” weekend breaks. And “cheaper” ferry tickets too. Smart, eh?

@ Chris ll: I can’t blame you for not understanding. Really, I’m serious. You can’t see the full picture and I’m not in a position to say more. Suffice it to say that (1) we’re talking about EP elections here, so there’s no case of influencing who’s “governs”, as you say; (2) had I wanted to vote for some Labour candidate in these elections and not wanted anyone to know about it, I’d have done just that and not have stuck my neck out and not used my vote, for all to see; if on the other hand I had wanted to blackmail…..not my style at all. Besides, as Daphne very shrewdly points out in her article, I’m one of those who are too proud anyway to resort to such a cowardly act….. I would have sent my voting doc to Stamperija for them to call me back (ovvja!); and (3) I was brought up fighting (literally!) tooth and nail for Eddie’s “djalogu” to reign supreme. Where is that now?

You really don’t know what you are saying about Air Malta. Go and ask your Zejtun ex-minister to see who the ‘privileged’ ones were. And don’t focus only on the employees – so Louis Grech was ‘privileged’ as well.

Nepotism goes beyond the 80s, it goes into the 90s and continues in 2000s. That is why Air Malta and other state-owned groups nowadays are in trouble. On one hand the companies are paying out their employees to leave their place of work and on the other they are still recruiting ”privileged’ people in.