Originally published: August 2017
Note: I wrote another article about Malta in 2022, sharing my latest views and feelings about the situation there.
A few years ago I decided to leave my home country and try my luck abroad. This wasn’t a spontaneous decision at all, rather it was the result of many years during which my disillusion and frustration with Malta had been growing and growing until I felt I had to take action or I would fall into a very negative perpetual state of mind.
Of course, I have many friends and dear family back in Malta, but honestly, I don’t miss living there. I make it a point to visit at least once a year and I usually have a good time catching up with friends and spending time with my family, but I don’t feel like I would like to go back and live there.
As you can imagine, several friends and family members ask me why this is so. I’ve finally found some time to really list the reasons for my moving away from Malta and why I don’t feel as comfortable living there as I do in other places.
While this post will be very honest, I’m afraid that some readers will find it too negative or downright offensive. Please keep in mind that is an honest outpouring of my thoughts and feelings and is no way meant to attack anyone or show any lack of appreciation. I did grow up in Malta and received many good things, I was blessed with a great family and a good education and also had lots of great experiences. However, as I grew older I started to feel that this was not the place where I wanted to spend the rest of my life in, and this is an attempt to describe why.
Malta is described in propaganda as being an idyllic “paradise on earth” island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Surely life is incredibly good over there! Not to mention it’s a tax haven!
First of all, Malta is no tax haven if you’re Maltese. There are a few schemes designed to attract business and executives from abroad. These schemes have been widely used and abused, and that’s where the reputation for being a tax haven is coming from. The island is also famous for housing a great number of online gambling companies. These companies came to Malta due to the fiscal and regulatory incentives and they are by and large doing extremely well.
Online gambling is not something that interests me and in general, I don’t like the vibe that they have about them. I’m sure many Maltese will disagree with me on this, but this is my view on the topic. The gambling companies pay very well and usually provide attractive offices and perks to their employees. Due to them, property prices in the Sliema and St Julian’s area have risen to incredible levels (many would agree that it’s bubble stage already). A whole financial services industry has grown to support these companies.
The downside? Apart from the moral doubts of working at these companies or even incentivizing them to move to Malta, I see a lot of dependence on them. If another country were to offer better regulations and tax incentives, it is likely that many of these companies would leave, as they don’t have any significant ties with Malta. They are merely using the country. In the eventuality of them leaving, we will see serious repercussions on property prices and the financial services industry. Whether this situation ever plays out is anyone’s guess, but it’s definitely something that has always bothered me.
Now I don’t mean to turn this into an attack on gambling companies. They do well to seek out the best environment for them to operate so I don’t blame them for anything. I certainly didn’t leave Malta because of this, so let’s explore some other more important reasons for me leaving.
If I were to describe Malta in one word, it would be frustrating. There is no doubt that islands are (were?) blessed with natural beauty, great weather and beautiful sea. I think the small size of the islands is, however, a big problem for people like me. It is clear that you can find idiots in every country, but in bigger countries, you can mostly keep away from them. You can frequent different places, live in different areas, and generally live amongst people that you like. Not so in Malta, every time you step outside of your door you are bound to experience some kind of ignorance, be it illegal construction, irresponsible driving, and unprofessional behavior. There is no deeply ingrained culture of doing things the right way. Rather it’s more of a “whatever, if it barely works then it’s good enough”.
I acknowledge that I have trouble really describing what it is that frustrates me and pains me so much about living in Malta. I also know that most Maltese genuinely love living in Malta, and whenever I have tried to speak out against the way things are done, the usual reaction is to try and shut me up and tell me that things aren’t so bad.
I inevitably realized that there was no way I’m going to change the culture of a country. One of the best pieces of advice was given to me by a Bulgarian builder in Malta. In one of my moments of frustration, the builder, who was fixing some stuff in our office, overheard me complain about things in Malta. He calmly came up to me and told me “my friend, if you don’t like the menu, change the restaurant”. It was a seemingly joking and simple comment, but it rang so true for me that that was the moment that I decided to leave for good, and sure enough, two months later I left.
Living in Malta, at least as a local, involves sustaining yourself (whether you want it or not) on a constant stream of local news. You can’t escape the latest political mess, and the smallest incidence can make front-page news. It is really an environment that discourages you to think big and expand your mental horizons. For many years I found it very stifling and I harbored a lot of internal anxiety, frustration, and anger due to this situation over which I had little control.
Since moving abroad, all these effects instantly disappeared and I finally felt free to be what I really want to be and rapidly increase my knowledge in the areas that interest me, such as investing.
They say that a person is the sum of the other people that are closest to him. In Malta, I always struggled to surround myself with people who would constantly inspire me and drive me to become a better person. Due to the small island mentality, there seems to be a lot of jealousy and people try to keep you in line. You’re best just being an average Joe behaving like everyone else if you want to live a good life there. Do something significantly different than the rest and you’re going to have a very difficult time indeed.
But come on Jean, you might say, what about the lovely “best in the world” weather that Malta is blessed with? Well yes, Malta does indeed have very hot summers and mild wet winters. The problem is that the vast majority of houses have zero insulation and in the winter months you can feel really uncomfortable due to the insane levels of humidity and cold inside. Although I always felt bad during the winters, reality really struck during my first experience of winter in the UK, when I realized that I was much happier in winter there than I had ever been in Malta. Like many other countries, buildings there are well insulated and have good heating, so you can stay in your flip-flops and shorts inside in winter. In Malta, I would be wearing jackets, long johns and a beanie and I’d still be uncomfortably cold.
One other big pain point: the roads. Malta’s road surfaces are among the worst in Europe and are more befitting of a third-world country than a country that presents itself as being a hub of innovation and being on par with its European counterparts. I once tried taking my Brompton bike to Malta to cycle around during our holiday but ended up walking back home after 200 meters. There are way too many potholes, bumps, and uneven road surfaces to be able to ride a bike like that comfortably without damaging it. Not to mention the challenge of staying alive when riding a bike in Malta.
Some of my friends have been severely injured due to irresponsible driving or bad road surfaces, and one of them even died by the roadside after being run over by a youngster driving without a license. I won’t even get started on the Maltese judiciary, but I’ll just mention that after eight years this man has not been sentenced yet. See here and here for more great examples of Maltese incompetency where justice is concerned.
A related aspect is the lack of good pavements. Unfortunately, Malta is not a walkable place at all. We grow up getting accustomed to getting out of our houses and into the car to get whisked to wherever we need to be. This leads to people exercising less and the resulting obesity issues. Malta has the highest child obesity rate in Europe, and Maltese adults are the second most obese in Europe. This fact is evident to me whenever I land in Malta and have a look around. I believe the walkability issue is a significant contributor to the problem. Owning a car is almost a necessity and gives you the independence to go wherever you want, while public transport is of average quality and mostly consists of buses and taxes (an underground metro system would be a game changer). Of course, we can all see with our own eyes that traffic has increased exponentially during the past twenty years, to the point that you are now guaranteed to get stuck in a traffic jam every time you go for a drive, at any time except during the night. Given that in general people tend to keep their cars far longer than the European average, we have a lot of pollution from vehicles and that affects everyone’s health.
Moreover, Maltese people in general tend to overeat, with typically huge portions being served in families, while fast food has gained in popularity. The famous mediterranean diet is not really present in Malta, instead people tend to consume large quantities of bread, junk food and pasta. Kids are given sweets abundantly. This is coupled with a sedentary lifestyle and other bad habits like smoking and alcohol consumption, and you get the resulting obesity situation. A visit to the country’s main hospital will also give a clear indication to where all this is leading to, with crowded waiting rooms filled with people who could clearly used a better diet instead of being given more pills.
Back to the lack of paving. In other countries, I got used to walking a lot, but in Malta it’s impossible to run any errands on foot except if you’re going around the corner from your house. Pavements seem to be an afterthought and come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tiled, some have rough surfaces, some are super narrow etc. What this also means is that we have a big problem with accessibility. One of the main highlights of my trips to Malta is spending time with my 93-year-old grandma, and I would love to be able to take her out for a walk while we chat about our lives. Alas, it’s pretty much impossible given the state of the pavements and the very close proximity of cars and trucks belching out fumes.
Lastly, let’s come back to the idyllic island thing one more time. During the past thirty years, there has been way too much indiscriminate development. Many ugly buildings were built and a good part of them were built in areas that were meant to remain in their natural state. The result is an overexploited island where very few green areas remain. As a kid, I used to go out and play soccer with my friends in the fields nearby. This was commonplace wherever you lived in Malta. Nowadays there is no chance that kids would be able to do that.
A Times of Malta showing illustrating over development in Sliema and St. Julian’s.
Everything’s been built up, and as I said, it’s been one huge land rush with developers making big money while they exploited every inch of the island. Of course, this constant development has also brought with it a lot of air and noise pollution, apart from visual eyesores. We are now seeing an increasingly high rate of respiratory diseases, and frequent complaints about noise due to construction. Gozo, the other island, is currently at a very nice balance between nature and man-made buildings, but I’m afraid that the developers will turn their greedy eyes there next.
Over exploitation (umbrella rentals) of one Malta’s iconic spots – Blue Lagoon
How about the famous Smart City? Rather than attracting all the big IT companies and making Malta another silicon valley, as was originally promised, it’s been sitting there mostly empty. Moreover, it seems likely that it will soon be turned into another luxury apartment complex. This land had been given to the Smart City developers on the condition that it will be used for ICT purposes, but it seems that the new fashion is to completely disregard such contracts. Real estate agents are already selling apartments on plan even though it is still technically an IT office center and there are absolutely no building plans in place to turn it into an apartment complex. Something similar happened just last year with the former ITS complex in Pembroke. Such free-for-all practices are very common when it comes to building and development.
It’s not only big developers who are the problem though. Many individuals have also constructed illegally while the authorities have turned a blind eye. There is a whole village of illegal properties in Armier bay, and no political party has done anything to remove them over many years.
Armier bay illegal construction.
To make matters worse, much of the remaining countryside is taken up by hunters who occupy whole swaths of land. Yes, in Malta bird hunting is a very popular pastime, and incredibly just a few years ago a referendum to ban this barbaric practice in spring failed to get a majority backing. Any walk in the countryside is sure to be accompanied by the sounds of guns as the hunters try their best to blast every bird out of the sky.
A protected bird illegally shot down in Malta.
No wonder you will hardly see any birds in Malta. Illegal hunting is a widespread and serious problem, with poachers specifically targeting raptors (birds of prey) and Herons as well as rare migratory birds such as the Greater Flamingo, Black Stork and Eurasian Spoonbill, among others. Moreover, as I mentioned, hunters occupy a lot of public lands and block off access to hikers, mountain bikers and the regular folk who are out to enjoy a bit of countryside.
In line with the selfish nature so prevalent in Malta (a so-called Catholic country), we find the issue of smoking. Smoking was banned in enclosed public places and workplaces in Malta on July 1, 2004, with the implementation of the “Protection of Non-Smokers Health Regulations.” This ban was extended to include bars and restaurants in 2005, and in 2018, Malta introduced a comprehensive smoking ban that prohibited smoking in all public places, including outdoor areas like beaches and parks. The ban also prohibited smoking in private vehicles when children under the age of 18 are present. The implementation of the smoking ban in Malta has been enforced in restaurants and offices, which arguably already had arrangements for smokers before the ban, but it is a miserable failure when it comes to clubs and many bars. If you don’t believe me, go have a look for yourself, pick any club and you will most likely see the bouncers, DJ and other people in management smoking, so it is little wonder that patrons also feel at liberty to smoke. The ban in outdoor areas is another complete joke, again just visit any park and beach and see for yourself. As a health-conscious non-smoker, I find this to be another prime example of the selfishness and short-term thinking of the Maltese.
Sometimes people will challenge me by posing the question: “If Malta is so bad, why do so many foreigners fall in love with Malta and want to live here?”. I think that’s a very interesting question that merits delving into.
First of all, Malta is a very very unique place, for many reasons. It has a rich and varied history having been under the rule of several nations and cultures. Its size and geography is also unique, as is the fact that Maltese people have their own language. I can definitely see how these exotic qualities can be such a strong attraction for foreigners.
They would have never have experienced such an environment before, especially if they come from a big city/country where things are much more impersonal. Landing in Malta you tend to feel very welcome as people are very friendly and ready to help out, it feels like everybody treats you like family. This leads to foreigners saying hey, this is an awesome place to live in. Back home I’m just a number and nobody cares about anyone, but here everybody is so involved in each other’s lives, this is something special! I totally see why a foreigner would feel like this. I myself sometimes wish I were a foreigner so I could feel that way. If you don’t speak Maltese there is a better chance of insulating yourself from the daily gossip and mannerisms that end up getting on one’s nerves.
Here’s the thing though. While I acknowledge that some foreigners do move to Malta, love it and enjoy living there for many years, many others try the experience and leave after 3-4 years because they just can’t take the way things are done there. It’s one thing living a life of work-beach-party (Malta is the best place for that) and quite another when you decide to settle down, start dealing with the authorities, buy a house and try to get contractors to deliver quality work, etc etc.
People who are used to not having to struggle to get simple things done will start to get pissed off at how much time they’re spending dealing with seemingly innocuous tasks, and eventually end up leaving the island. Of course, the passage of time also amplifies the feeling of living in a very small place that acts like an echo chamber and innovation is stifled by the local way of life and culture, and that can also lead to one deciding to leave and live in a more open environment.
I guess I’ve written more than I meant to, the reality is that I really struggle to put my feelings into words, and that is why I don’t frequently share my thoughts on the subject. I prefer to focus on the positive things I have in my life rather than acting all pessimistic. My feelings about Malta at the end of the day are genuine sadness for what was once really an idyllic place that has been destroyed over the years. I would love to say that I hope to one day return, but I really can’t see how the culture can change and the harm due to construction undone.
P.S. While in this post I focused on the negative things about Malta that led me to leave, there is, of course, the flip side. There are many great things about Malta, and I do still think that it is a very good place for digital nomads to spend some time in.
2019 Update
It’s been more than two years since I wrote this post, and I’ve interacted with many people about the subject both in the comments section as well as over email exchanges. Unfortunately, not only has the situation in Malta not become any better since I wrote this, but things took a nasty turn for the worse.
The obvious big news item was the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2018, followed by several scandals in the political scene. During the last few months of 2019 we’ve seen Malta in the worldwide news for all the wrong reasons, with several top members of the governing party being forced to resign due to their misdeeds and connections to the murder.
As we close off the year, prime minister Joseph Muscat has been named ‘Person of the Year’ for organised crime and corruption by a consortium of investigative journalists.
It was a busy 12 months in the world of organized crime and corruption. But without further ado, here is our 2019 Person of the Year: https://t.co/oDVXs9EZYI#occrpaward #CorruptActor2019
— Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (@OCCRP) December 27, 2019
Dr Muscat joins a list of previous winners of the OCCPR’s yearly prize that includes strongmen such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijan’s Ilhan Aliyev, Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte.
“Under Muscat’s leadership, criminality and corruption have flourished — and in many cases gone unpunished,” the OCCPR said.
The organisation highlighted the way Dr Muscat had acted throughout the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
I had intentionally avoided politicising things with my original post, as I don’t consider myself a supporter of a particular party in Malta, but things have really gone to new extremes with the Labour party in government led by Dr Muscat in recent years.
Not only have things become worse in Malta, but the country’s reputation overseas is at an all-time low due to this government’s shenanigans.
What is quite impressive to me is that the Maltese population by and large has been quite passive during this whole debacle. Not to mention that probably around half of the population still doesn’t think that anything irregular has taken place in the past few years, as you can witness if you open any article on local newspapers reporting cases of corruption. The kind of brainwashing on display is at least on par with what you would expect from people in communist countries with no access to outside information. To see people defending the prime minister and his cronies while hurling abuse at any detractors, Maltese or foreign, is just sad.
One would hope that the Maltese will choose better people in leadership, independently of which party they’re from, and avoid further damage to the country. It’s worth keeping in mind that right now, the Maltese economy seems to be doing very well, however I am of the opinion that this boom has not been very organic nor is it built on solid ground.
If we take an honest look at the last 15 years of growth in the Maltese economy, we would find that the big driver has been an artificially favorable tax system designed to attract foreign companies to relocate their business in Malta and thus gain huge tax benefits. That drove an influx of foreigners needed to staff the relocated companies (most of them online gaming companies), which in turn drove up property prices and helped build an impressive financial industry to service these aforementioned companies. If one of these pillars were to be affected by the scandals rocking the political scene, all the pieces will fall like dominoes causing a serious crisis in Malta.
Taking the Decision
Over the years since I’ve written this post, I’ve received many emails from (mostly young) people who identify with my feelings and are struggling with taking the decision.
I want to make it clear that while we live in an era where travel is very easy and affordable, uprooting yourself and moving to another country is still a significant psychological and logistical challenge for most people.
Here’s a copy of an email reply I sent to a person who reached out to ask for advice on how to approach the decision. I hope it can be of help to others in the same stage of their lives.
Every person who decides to leave their home country will have the fears and worries that you mention, that is perfectly normal.I had the same concerns myself when I was in the same situation. What I did was to sit down in a quiet place for an hour or so, take a pen and two sheets of paper. On one list the pros and the other the cons about moving. Take your time and let your heart and mind both outpour onto those two pages. When you’re done, you should have a clearer picture of what you should do. If it’s still not clear, assign a rating of 1-5 or 1-10 next to each point that you list, with 1 being of least importance and 10 being essential for you. Then add the scores up and hopefully one should be significantly higher than the other.Know that you can’t control what you’ll find on the other side, but you owe it to yourself to at least seek a betterment of your situation if that’s what you need to do.I have yet to come across anyone who regretted leaving a negative environment that bothered them (job, country, etc) but I have met plenty of older people who have significant regrets about not taking a chance on a better future when they were younger.
Further Reading
- Bloomberg – Why the EU is furious with Malta – covers problems that I mentioned in the post and other big issues that surfaced in the past year since I’ve written this post.
- Only in Malta – Facebook group showcasing daily unbelievable occurrences in Malta
- Malta New Reality – More shenanigans in Malta
- The Shift – Daily updates on scandals and corruption in Malta
- 70% of Malta’s young people wish to leave.
Thank you, Jean. So true, ugly truth.
I left Malta this May after 5 years of living. I truly love this island, have so many friends there, so many memories, amazed by so many cool spots and places there… However, I was so annoyed by bureaucracy and mess there when you need to wait over 3 months to just receive an invitation for an interview to change your visa status. My own visa expired while I was waiting for a meeting, and when my bf came to speak with officers (every single week during 3 months time) we got the same answer over and over again: “This is election time, nobody cares until it will be done”.
You’re welcome Dasha. May I ask where you moved to?
Have few options at the moment. Want to travel right now and have a fresh inspiration.
Every time I spoke out about all these issues in the same way, I sometimes could feel the instant dislike towards me from many. It’s constructive criticism in my opinion, but reality is hard to face up to at times, even on personal terms. That is how one can improve however and maybe that is why all you have mentioned has remained and probably got worse.
If you give an opinion, you will be defined to one side or the other. As in politics too, or you could be called a traitor, an outsider, an old bore and probably told to go back home if you are a foreigner. But then we are the kindest people on earth in our minds, not to mention the most generous, the most etc…..It bewilders me sometimes.
Your lucky you have a choice and can get away 🙂 Good on you and all the best!
We must also say that all is true to a point however, depending on wherever to go and live in a lot more places too. As you have said, it depends on who and what one is surrounded with and which opportunities one can take.
Thank you for your honesty, we need more of the same from all.
Thanks for your appreciation Jason. Every place has its pros and cons, and if you have a choice it’s good to think about whether you’d be happier living somewhere else. It’s a personal decision for everyone to make as you point out.
Jean,
I’ve aborad most of it in the UK and from my perspective I when all the pluses and minuses are totaled … I prefer Malta big time.
I do however identify with many of your points and frustrations… I won’t share my thoughts on all but a few.
The over development…. In that I wholeheartedly agree and as a local it hurts me to see so much of the island abused without respect for responsible and sustainable development… It’s tragic and sad and i’m sure will back fire as it ruins a lot of what makes (made) Malta pretty and quaint.
The stifling mentality and working here…. Well that’s one of the things that had really got to me… And why I left for a number of years … I used to work at MDH… I would rather work as a grabage collector than go back but I got lucky.
In England I made money ey enough to invest in some old properties in Valletta and the 3 cities and create a new stream of income… My profession and skills (anaesthesia) has allowed create a job for my self and now I only surround myself with friends and people that I find constructive.
As for my social circle …. It has always been wide and I’m proud of the varied and atypically open minded people I surround myself with….
As for negativity and jealousy… Yes there is a lot of that but I’m happy to say I completely ignore it… I don’t even ask people’s opnion anymore… I’ve been called mad and also accused of throwing away years of my career but I find that encouraging now …. Most of it comes from a place of cowardice, close mindedness and tradition from their part…
I’m also apolitical….
I’m not saying politics is not important…. Its not important for me cause I just adapt to whatever comes my way..
I admit it was not easy to reach this mindset … But thanks to it Malta is just fun for me.. a place I can meet so many people from all over the world … A place I can get things done without too much red tape and protocol (something that bugged me a lot in the uk)…..
There history everywhere … Friends and family are close and I don’t need to plan events well in advance… There is ways something going on.
I love the sea and swim all year round … There leads to explore and appreciate if one only looks.
Traffic has become tragic its true but I got a motorcycle and I use my car when others don’t…
So in summary I love Malta but I’m lucky…now I don’t have to do things cause I have to anymore… I don’t have to wake up to rush hours or listen to superiors who are negative… I managed to mitigate most of what frustrated me and just expose myself to what is positive for me…
It was not always like that … And I did actually leave twice in the past! So I do feel you on many levels.
Anyway it’s a pity the local frustrations have driven another person such as yourself away but as I say and feel the world is big and it’s all home …. Good luck and I hope you let go of the frustration little Malta causes and see the good stuff on your short visits… like that you get the best of all environments. Take care
Dr Gauci, your experience is a real pleasure to read. I can see how you’ve managed to carve out that perfect niche of existence in Malta. You seized your opportunities and did things differently and I commend you for that. Now you can enjoy reaping the dividends of your work while enjoying the positive aspects of Malta. Bravo.
Thank you and yes, I do enjoy the short visits during which the focus is on enjoying time with family and friends together while also enjoying some of the remaining natural gems of the islands.
Great article, you expressed my same feelings about Malta. It’s a pity we ruined such a beautiful island over the years. If only more Maltese lived by the Golden Rule, Malta would be a much better place to live in.
Thanks Matthew. Fully in agreement with that statement, here’s a link to an article about the Golden Rule in case other readers are wondering what that is.
The moment I read your article, I thought you were me; time traveled here from the future. Because this article is an out pour of what has been going on inside my head for the past couple of years, except much more formalized and less savage. Good luck with your ventures, I am happy to know that another like-minded person decided to stop wasting his talents here.
Thanks Shawn, I hear you.
Very well written Jean, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I think it resonated with alot of people. It is a pity that Malta has become this because I do have fond memories growing up in a small village, playing outside with friends. The thing that not all people understand is that this critisism comes from pain/sadness because (speaking for myself here) there is so much potential but it is all being thrown out of the window by treating the population like a small brat without the need to respect rules…what do you want to shut up and be good aka what do you want to shut up and vote for me… it’s ok if you break the rules or rather kind of cool to manage to get away with it, etc etc.
We are living life as if there is no tomorrow or no repercussions unfortunately. And yes I fully agree that big picture thinking is rather (dare I say almost) frowned up, and this stifles a lot of ideas.
To conclude I feel that a lot of people share your opinion and the current system overlooks this because they are not the majority, so their option is to leave the country…kind of what comes first the chicken or the egg…
Thanks Amy-Jo for your comments. You nailed it when you said that “this criticism comes from pain/sadness”. I’ve said this earlier but it’s worth repeating again that I didn’t write this with a happy face, nor with any kind of spirit of revenge or maliciousness. I simply sat down for a painful few hours to let the truth come out about my experience.
I’m honestly overwhelmed by the response that this post is getting, and it’s been very interesting to go through each and every comment and get an insight into everyone’s feelings on this subject.
I also worry that the issue of brain drain is not getting any attention. If people with a wish to change the status quo get shunned and attacked, they will have no choice but to leave to other countries, especially now that there is full freedom of movement in Europe.
Feel the same way, hence why i’m moving out. It is a shame though. Gambling brought a lot of income to Malta though, but agreed.
Hi Jean,
First of all I hope that you are safe after today’s horrific attacks in Barcelona. I remember with fondness walking down Las Ramblas, nowhere is safe anymore.
Secondly, your post resonated a lot with how I felt and still feel about living in Malta. Having migrated to Australia some 5 years ago I can say that all the frustrations you’ve experienced I used to feel daily too. I felt like my family’s quality of life was starting to suffer and this in turn made me very short tempered as I felt that we couldn’t do the basic things. Simple things like going out with young kids was so hard due to the constant traffic congestion, loud noise and lack of parking. In summer it proved next to impossible to go to the beach unless you go there very early or late in the evening.
I also wanted to point out that most people lack discipline and greed has overtaken pride for their country. People do not want to do what is right for their community, just what’s good for their families. This manifests itself in daily things like they way we drive, littering and simple things like queueing in a line. Not to mention the lack of manners you come across daily.
I hate making comparisons but over here in Australia, people are very well mannered, staff at the supermarket counters always ask about your day and they genuinely engage with you in conversations. I remember it took me a few weeks to get used to such friendliness. Go figure! Also since the basic things that would expect from a developed country such as institutions, authorities etc work to help people you feel at ease and as a result I’m a lot more relaxed now then I ever was living in Malta.
It pains me to no end that my young family is so far away from our family and friends but every time we visit I realise the contrasts that exist and a reaffirmation of the step we took to move away from Malta’s shores. We recently visited Gozo and I really do hope that the developers stay away from it because it is a fantastic gem that should be preserved, it would be a big shame if it met a similar fate of it’s bigger sister.
Regarding criticism, you have to thread carefully as people are over sensitive and unfortunately do not take feedback very well.
Stay safe!
Hi Daniel, thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. The attacks on Barcelona indeed horrific and I’m saddened by the loss of lives and injuries sustained by innocent people. Unfortunately, no place is safe anymore, especially high density and touristic areas.
I’ve had the same experience you describe in Malta, and while it’s not fair to compare countries, I do think it is important to evaluate whether one is happier living elsewhere. I know that in Australia things work very differently when compared to Malta; that is a fact that nobody can deny. There are many other locations with similar ways of life, and if one is happier there why not be free to move there and share the experience?
Thanks again for sharing.
Hi Jean. I moved away from Malta three months ago and I totally agree with you. One of the reasons I moved to Germany hopefully for good is the poisonous mentality in Malta ..and politics. Well done for this article. You were right on the mark.
Thanks Rosanne.
I couldn’t agree more with what you’ve written and at the same time I’m sad. I wanted to leave too and the two years I spent abroad were bliss, but some things keep me stuck here. This country is frustrating and stifling, and some of it’s people are narrow minded. Try working in the public sector and you’ll see what I mean: people that sabotage and badmouth you if you speak about change, progress and doing things right… not to mention being surrounded by people who get stuck in a cycle of bureaucracy.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Lewis. I can imagine how difficult it is to work in the public sector, thank you for your service and for trying to voice a different opinion.
Great article Jean.
A few years ago I had enough and I thought I could make a difference by really being involved in voluntary work. I dedicated most of my spare time to various causes, including fighting the Zonqor university project tooth and nail, meeting politicians, and I even led Malta’s environmental NGO platform on my own steam (basically) for 2 years.
I have grown cynical, and tired. Our politicians don’t care frankly. And many people are idiots and selfish to a degree where their only argument is “u int fejn kont meta….”… As if all of us lived in the 70s.
I am now abroad. I miss Europe, and some things in Malta, but it is clearer say by day what a delusion we live in, thinking that an overcrowded dying island is the centre of the universe. Our politicians are frauds, corruption is rank and we have an ethical vacuum in Malta that has no cure, it seems. Greed has won the day.
I still long for the restoration of Malta. But I’ve fought the fight and lost the battle. Thankfully I can move elsewhere in time. Unfortunately many cannot.
Thank you for summing this up Jean. Can we share this with politicians? To see why they have a brain drain?
You’re welcome John, thanks for trying your best to improve things. I am full of admiration for people who work with environmental NGOs in Malta, it must be an incredibly straining role.
I’m glad you found a place where you feel happy, and like you, I long for the restoration of Malta.
I think the politicians know perfectly well what the situation is and what the future looks like, they don’t really need me to explain things.
A very fair article that shines a light on some difficult truths about the islands. Thank you for sharing these insights Jean.
Thanks Sam.
Being Maltese living abroad, I can immediately relate and agree to all the sentiments with this article. The laissez-faire attitude and lack of standards in the end get to me too – not that these things are not found abroad, but in Malta they are far too visible, far too frequent.
I visit Malta frequently (at least once a month) and although I miss my family and friends, the climate, the sea and my usual haunts, I do not miss the island mentality, the political polarisation, the overcrowding, the parking, the excessive heat in the summer months and the cold houses in winter, the simple act of forming a queue, or the many times people try to cheat on even the smallest opportunity, makes my return from Malta to where I currently reside freshening.
I still love coming back to Malta but luckily I can do it in small frequent doses which are more like having a quick holiday. Still hoping that in time, the more Maltese travel overseas, the more they appreciate what is good and what is bad in Malta, making amends and raising their own standards. Great article Jean!
Thanks for sharing your experience Chris. I think that if Maltese travel more abroad and are keen to learn from how other countries manage certain things, Malta will definitely improve. It’s good to see that Maltese youth is traveling much more than the previous generations, and that will lead to more open attitudes and opinions.
Gaming companies are not here for fiscal reasons only !! This is a misconception created from other jealous European Countries. They are here because we were the first country to create a decent and practical gaming guidelines by being in the forefront for having a Gaming Authority. They are here because logistically it makes absolute sense. Skilled Workforce is abundant and the attributes that characterises our Island make it ideal for foreigners to work here as well.
Morality has nothing to do either Jean when working in a gaming company. If you have an opinion and moral issues towards gaming, then you should work with one. Be that person who offers support to players, be that person who sets limits for them to safeguard them. Work in gaming and do well by your morals.These companies provide a service, they care about their clients and protect them as well, not only taking their money. These companies offer decent income for employees and their families, offer a nice environment at their workplace, they offer careers in all areas: Legal , financial , IT, design , marketing – you name it.
It is obvious I work in gaming and it hurts me that people who do not understand the work we do try to put morality in the middle as we are all monsters.
On other aspects about Malta, I have worked and lived abroad for many years, one of my kids was even born abroad. Malta has moved on like other countries. Most of the things you mention are either changed with progress or simply time. There are many things I’m sure we all wish were like 20/30 years ago, but it’s not going to happen. All countries have ups and downs but looking at the world today, especially Europe , I would put Malta first in safety , I would put Malta first in offering my kids a decent education for free , a decent medical service for free , a nice lifestyle for decent money. Being a family man, these are the things that matter most for me!
Maybe if I were single and 30 years younger I would travel and work and live else where , like I already did but I would not rubbish my country and pick on the shitty stuff all other countries share with us as well.
Thanks for sharing your opinions here Danny. Keep in mind that this is a personal post about what bothered me in Malta, it was not written with any intention to rubbish the country or compare it with other countries.
With regards to the gambling companies, it’s true that they offer careers in all areas, and I’m sure that one could do well and serve customers within his role. I care not only about my personal role but about the company I’m working with and how the industry I work in is impacting the world. Hence personally it’s not a sector that I’m very excited about or willing to work in.
I would have wished that Malta would have worked hard to not only bring gambling companies to Malta but also other IT companies. As it stands if you’re an IT person and you want to have a good career and get paid well, there are too few choices apart from working in gambling companies.
When I was still studying I clearly remember that the aim was to have many big software companies come to Malta (hence Smart City and the proliferation of IT courses). In the end though the vast majority of companies which came turned out to be gambling companies. Malta did that through fiscal incentives and by creating the legal framework for them to operate, as you rightly point out. I suspect that most big European countries were unwilling to invite these companies in and that is why Malta stepped in.
Hello, Everybody!!!
I’m Brazilian and very curious about Malta.
ALL these problems that I saw in this Blog, I see deeply in Brazil. Obviously, we can’t compare South America to Europe, but I knew some places in Europe and I think Europe is the better continent in the world. Any country in Europe is the better place in the world even with all the difficulties.
Please, don’t complain and give thankful to be an European’s Citizen.
With Love,
Ana Cristina.
Hi Ana Cristina,
I am well aware of the problems in Brazil, and I’ve also visited and enjoyed some of the most spectacular places on earth and friendliest people. I am grateful to be a European citizen as it allows me travel freely within Europe and also live in any of the member countries. It’s amazing to be able to choose between so many different climates, cultures, etc and also to be able to travel so easily from one country to another.
However, I would never hesitate to criticize any aspect that I think could be improved, and I encourage everyone to do the same. Only by being able to see current problems and envision a better future can one create change, whether it’s in business, in politics, or any other area including self-development. That’s a rule I live by and it has served me well so far.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your opinion Ana Cristina.
Couldn’t agree more. malta has become a shithole. while your bulgarian friend has made a point about changing the restaurant, revolutions happened in history to change the “menu”. Now metaphorically that is impossible and I’m not talking about any violent revolutions. The moment Maltese start thinking outside the two main political parties, is the moment things would improve. Maltese need to start thinking about their lack of open spaces, high-density population and that the economy sky rocketing at the expense of ODZ land and even more urbanisation is not all that matters. Until then we will remain like the “Bangladesh of Europe”.
Ronald, I long for that moment when the majority of the population wakes up and starts fighting for what ultimately is their right to live in a country were many of the problems you speak about are not tolerated.
Interesting read, especially because after 12 years in the UK, I am considering returning back to Malta myself. I pretty much agree with eveything you said, but after living in another country for 12 years I think I could write a similar piece about the UK. You are right however, abroad you can live in a bubble and for the most part stay away from idiots.
Thanks for your comment.
Yup, after a year in Malta, I can recognize the truth of all the points you’ve made here.
I am a Bulgarian and now I am living in Malta for the last one year. I am working in a Financial services and on a daily basis I am saying your words.Malta is not a tax heaven definitely in Ireland I was earning more than here and paying lower tax than Malta. I can’t believe how malteese people become so hungry for money and they dont see the real situation I was in malta in 2011 and the rent was 300 eur now 1300 ev for the same old flats and salary averages in 1000-1200 a month , than how to pay this rent? A lot of my friends left Malta becouse of the increase in expenses and lower salaries.Only gaming companies pays well but if you dont want to work for them? Your article absolutely match with my opinion.
Thanks for sharing your experience Pavlina, what you say about rent is very true.
Jean I agree with you 💯%. Good on you for moving and good luck for the future xx
Thanks Victoria, appreciate that.
Totally agree with you, but once on a motorcycle fan page on facebook, i pointed out that Malta is not a motorbike user friendly place, then the feedbacki got was “go back to your country”, there are a lot Maltese can’t stand any comment against Malta, especially from foreigners.
Thanks for commenting, I definitely agree that Malta is not a motorbike or scooter friendly place. And yes, that kind of reaction is pretty common unfortunately.
You write so well Jean! And made some very good points!! We left Malta for personal reasons that had nothing to do with the country but I can see how we might have ended up leaving anyway!
Thanks Caterina.
well, I wouldn’t live anywhere else. At least Malta is safe.
What makes it safe, and safer than anywhere else? Was that just a dig at the attacks in Barcelona earlier today, or do you genuinely have experiences of it being safer than other countries you’ve lived in?
Even Peru is safe.
Excellent! Spot on!
Good to see there are more digital nomads out there 🙂 I’m completely with you… same reasons drove me out of the rock and into Switzerland. Best decision I ever made for myself…
Nice! I think you couldn’t have chosen a more different place than Malta. I only spent a few days in Switzerland but it felt great to be in a place where things are done seriously and people are passionate about their jobs.
You couldn’t have explained life in Malta better.
Hallejtni bla kliem ghax dak kollu li ktiebt int, ilni nghidu ghal dawn l-ahhar snin.
It’s a shame
Grazzi Elkjer.
I am a foreigner and I have lived in Malta for many years, and left and then come back but now I think I finally managed to leave for good. I can relate to everything you say. At first Malta indeed seems nice, people “seem” nice, weather seems nice and it takes a few years before your rose tinted sun glasses will come off and you realize for what it really is.
For me the most shocking and truly traumatizing experience has been with the Maltese landlords. I have lived in several countries before and I had never any issues with landlords abroad. However in Malta landlords have failed to pay me back my deposit, they have bullied me, they have come in with their own keys, they have failed to do repairs, they have refused to leave to the point when I have had to call the police, and in the meanwhile getting a lot of money cash in hand in rent.
I think the final point was when a landlord refused to give me his account number so that I could pay rent and instead garnished my account for the amount AND garnished another 3000 on top of that for “legal fees etc”. I eventually left Malta, and the court case continued to couple of years. In the meanwhile, over 3000eur of my money being blocked without a court order. My lawyer, that I had hired to prove my innocense and show my evidence, failed to appear in court, so I lost the case. I have a feeling this was some sort of agreement between them, so that I would lose automatically. These type of things happen all the time. The justice system is completely corrupt also and if you are a foreigner you will lose in 99% of the case even if it would be a clear win win situation in any other civilized country.
I have also heard of Maltese landlords garnishing former tenant’s wages, or bank accounts, for something like 5000eur for a “water and electricity bill” (which they have probably never paid), because they think that foreigners would rather pay up and leave than stay and fight.
I get messages all the time from other foreigners about their bullying landlords who treathen them with the craziest things, and even fraudulently take money and kick them out without a proper notice. IT is a wild west, complete wild west there.
I still have nightmares about Malta, it has been now a year I lived abroad. I now love the greenery, people who are polite and not aggressive, and you know that you can have trust in the justice system if anything was to go wrong. Maybe for some Malta is “a paradise”, for me it became a hell. And I know many foreigners who have experienced the same and left. I feel I am finally safe.
Hi Laura, I’m appalled when I read such stories. As you mention, this is not a one off and I’ve heard similar tales before. I can imagine what a terrible experience that was. I apologize for the behavior of these Maltese people. I’m glad you found a nice place to call home. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hiya Laura, I left Malta when I was 16 and have lived in the uk since 2001, thank you for sharing you experience but I feel it is unfair to attribute your experience as a Maltese problem. I have had to deal with some horrendous landlords at university and can confirm they’re just as bad in the uk
Like always spot on! Great article! We need to catch up mud! Hasta luego 😉
Always a pleasure catching up with you David, hasta luego!
Spot on. I lived abroad for 8 years and came back due to family circumstances and because we wanted to bring up our kids here. Now we’re here we would up and leave again were it not for said circumstances but the mentality here is poisonous. We are lucky to have lovely loving families. As you said, abroad you can go away from idiots. Here you are stuck. Ofcourse living broad is not all roses and we have had our fair share of troubles. But the sad thing is that when you are overseas you are a foreigner but when you come back you are a foreigner in your own country. And we never managed to shake that feeling off. And neither do our children. Cutthroat competition,back stabbing, jealousy, disorganisation, and dare I say it, no breathing space. However, although in
our forties, our kids are still young and as adventurous as they were abroad and we still do not rule out moving away again.
Exact same situation! Hard to settle back when you’ve known a better quality of life!
Thanks for sharing your experience Amy.
Great post. Couldn’t have expressed my feelings as to why I left Malta any better.
Marcel, you were one of the people who inspired me to make the move. Thanks for your help and encouragement.
Reading this piece breaks my heart. Firstly i do not see any reason why you should be apologetic in any of your thoughts and opinions. Deep down in the hearts of many of those who love Malta & Gozo feel the same as you do.
Thanks for your comment Steve, it was indeed a very difficult post to write. The fact that it’s taken me several years since I left to finally get to it says something.
I also think that many of us who really love Malta & Gozo feel pained to see the direction that we’re taking.