Readers Letter – “Much has been done recently to challenge and overturn Malta’s discriminatory practices against foreign nationals. Notable successes have been the recent abolition of the two fare system operated on Maltese buses.
The biggest success has of course been the eventual acceptance by the Energy Minister and ARMS, that all consumers should be charged the residential rate for a primary property.
Why have these changes happened?
Well we know the answer, for one reason and one reason only because of people power. The powers that be who are generally intransigent and resistant to change as is the way here, have eventually had to bow to the excellent campaign ran by the Class Action against ARMS Group and EU pressure.
The campaign has highlighted a number of injustices and been a powerful voice for change. However as the campaign spokesperson Patricia Graham says “much remains to be done.”
The campaign continues and the redoubtable Patricia Graham and her colleagues continue to represent all those affected by continuing injustice. This is not just the foreign community, but all tenants who are unfortunately still paying the domestic rate for rented property. This concerns ordinary Maltese citizens, as well as the foreign community.
The longer term aim is of course to force the abolition of the illegal two tier pricing system. However, while it remains, focus transfers to those intransigent and unscrupulous landlords who overcharge their tenants at the residential rate because it suits them and are actually aided and abetted by the system and the impotence of the Authorities, ARMS, Estate Agents etc. This invariably effects those at the lowest end of the housing ladder and the people who can least afford it.
It is imperative that all those tenants affected by this injustice, be they Maltese or other, support the ongoing campaign.
The first legal step towards this is the Constitutional Hearing 9 am on 16 January at the Courts of Valletta, where the illegal discrimination enshrined in Maltese law will hopefully be consigned to the dustbin.
To all those it affects please attend the hearing and support those people who are fighting for change on your behalf.”
Paul Dixon,
St Paul’s Bay.