Malta doesn't hit the international headlines very often, but one or two stories have flitted across my consciousness from across the globe.
The Great Passport Sale was of course a pretty notable one. About 15 years ago there was a 'Cash for Passports' scandal in the UK which caused quite a fuss and cost some politicians their jobs. So Malta deciding to offer citizenship for a million euro (and change) to someone who doesn't even need to live in the country, does not exactly sit right. What's next? 'Need a liver transplant? Well you can apply like everyone else and take your chances, or just give us €75,000 to skip the queue'. On the other hand, there were already visa exemptions available for people willing to invest money in Malta or start a business over here. So maybe it's just the bare-bones, unadorned demand for €1.15 million in return for an EU passport that has annoyed everybody else in Europe so much. I'm pretty sure a million euro will ease the path to citizenship in a lot of European countries, after all.
However, inviting millionaires to become 'Maltese' regardless of where those millions came from, and whether they have even heard of Malta before just does not sound too good, does it? Especially when you contrast with the boatloads of desperate African refugees washing up on these shores to a rather less effusive greeting than those arriving from China in private jets. Yes, I understand the impossible pressures put upon Malta by it's geographical location and the influx of illegal immigrants. But the fact is, Malta is now saying to the world: I don't care who you are or where you come from - I care about how much money you give me. However, while I know the reaction from outside Malta has been generally disapproving, I'm not sure how people here feel about it.
The other big story (although one which provokes more sniggers) has been about the end of the disasterous relationship between Malta and the Arriva bus operators. Buses spontaneously combusting is pretty amusing - as long as no-one gets hurt - but also raises some pretty blatant questions about the suitability of said vehicles to operate in Europe's hottest country. Hopefully the next company encharged with ferrying a large number of people around a small country will do a better job. Hopefully they won't be asked to do that job hampered by inappropriate buses, striking drivers, public resistance to change and a handover right in the middle of tourist season. Hopefully.
But hey, it's good to be back in Malta. It's a little chilly, but it's good to be back and here's hoping that 2014 is going to be a great year!
However, inviting millionaires to become 'Maltese' regardless of where those millions came from, and whether they have even heard of Malta before just does not sound too good, does it? Especially when you contrast with the boatloads of desperate African refugees washing up on these shores to a rather less effusive greeting than those arriving from China in private jets. Yes, I understand the impossible pressures put upon Malta by it's geographical location and the influx of illegal immigrants. But the fact is, Malta is now saying to the world: I don't care who you are or where you come from - I care about how much money you give me. However, while I know the reaction from outside Malta has been generally disapproving, I'm not sure how people here feel about it.
The other big story (although one which provokes more sniggers) has been about the end of the disasterous relationship between Malta and the Arriva bus operators. Buses spontaneously combusting is pretty amusing - as long as no-one gets hurt - but also raises some pretty blatant questions about the suitability of said vehicles to operate in Europe's hottest country. Hopefully the next company encharged with ferrying a large number of people around a small country will do a better job. Hopefully they won't be asked to do that job hampered by inappropriate buses, striking drivers, public resistance to change and a handover right in the middle of tourist season. Hopefully.
But hey, it's good to be back in Malta. It's a little chilly, but it's good to be back and here's hoping that 2014 is going to be a great year!
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