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 noĀ 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”Ā 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, itĀ 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.Ā 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 āPerson of the Yearā 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 OCCPRās yearly prize that includes strongmen such as Russiaās Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijanās Ilhan Aliyev, Venezuelaās Nicolas Maduro and the Philippinesā Rodrigo Duterte.
āUnder Muscatās leadership, criminality and corruption have flourished ā and in many cases gone unpunished,ā 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 MaltaĀ – 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.
Malta is becoming one big city, not to mention the suffocating climate! My husband and 3 young children are seriously considering on moving to Ireland! The only thing that is giving me second thoughts is leaving my family….. But for the sake of my kids, I think it’s the best choice…..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Liliana. The good thing is that flights from Ireland are quite decently priced, so you’re never really that far away.
For the sake of your children, it is the best choice
Fair to say that I relate to what you wrote but still blow hot and cold! My guess is that you moved without kids and at a relatively young age which makes it a lot easier! Without appearing to be defensive about Malta I feel that both your perspective and priorities change as you get older and maybe raising a family were there are a good number of plus points we take for granted! cheers.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Yes i agreed with jaybeegee i lived in london and toronto when i was 1 till 26
then i got married and belive me it was much easier to bring up children in the republic lol in the republic we has the summers to relax and go the beach and some peoples come to the republic for 2 weeks of sun so old chinese proverb , man who posts review has a pole up his ass
Thank you for articulating my feelings about leaving Malta so well! Greetings from Denmark.
You’re welcome Claire.
Thank you Jean. 100% true from my side too!
Welcome Aleksandar.
Hi Jean
Yesterday I was reading your article and what you mentioned is exactly what my husband and myself grumble about all the time. Most of it is true and we feel helpless about it.
Then this morning at 9am we came to sliema for a swim at one of our favourite spots. Now we’re having a coffee watching the sailing boats sail by and listening to good music . This just reminded me why we did not leave Malta. Our lifestyle.
We go abroad twice a year and have travelled extensively because I feel claustrophobic in Malta after a few months not travelling. This is possible only because in Malta we don’t need to worry about having to pay college/university for our two kids nor do we need to worry about hospital fees.
I’m sorry that you mentioned how the Maltese are jealous or they backstab you. I am over forty and although I met those kind of people I can assure you that we have friends who have stood by our side and we have stood by their side through the good times and the bad times that life has thrown at us.
Moreover seeing the good life our two teenage kids are having we feel blessed we live in Malta.
Finally I repeat I agree with all the negatives you mentioned about living in Malta but for us the positives out way the negatives.
Thanks for sharing your experience Maria, I can relate to it too. I’m glad that the positives outweighed the negatives in your case. It’s worth repeating that where one decides to live is a very personal choice that depends on many factors such as personality, age, hobbies, having children or not, being married or not, etc etc.
Hi Jean,
Well said.
My opinion on the issue can be summarised into two statements
1. I’m ok, fuck you Jack
2. Fake patriotism
While everyone is proud to be Maltese and love their country, very few people would do anything to protect it, words come for free, but how many people try car sharing to reduce traffic congestion, how many people are ready to do their part to discard waste properly, how many people refrain from eating pastizzi and smoking to reduce the burden of the free national healthcare system, how many people/developers are ready to do sustainable development?
I mean in Malta, culture is not about survival of the fittest, but rather of the “haxxej”.
It’s only natural to follow the successful, even if it means bending “a bit” the rules.
Thanks for sharing your opinion Mark, that’s a sad thing about how things are done in Malta. You either row against the current all your life, with the strain and hardship that comes with that, or you join the club and bend the rules to your advantage.
You nailed it. Can’t agree more. As for the argument – why foreigners come here .. they would not come if they get the same treatment as Maltese.
So much for being european when we insists on treating Maltese as second class citizens. I wonder if they would come if they had to pay 7 times the tax rate pf Maltese ?!?
Thanks for sharing your comment Duncan, you hit an important point. Why give such preferential treatment to foreigners who relocate to Malta, when there is a brain drain problem with many talented Maltese giving up and relocating abroad? Shouldn’t more effort be done to keep the Maltese in Malta by providing the right environment and equal if not same tax treatment? I’m all for incentivising and attracting foreigners to Malta because I think they are essential for Maltese culture to change and evolve, but your point is very valid.
On the other hand, due to the same cultural practices at work, I think that apart from the tax advantages, foreigners have it harder than the Maltese in living their daily life and navigating the various bureaucracies. There are plenty of comments here testifying to that aspect.
I love u!!! My God…u just wrote in a perfect way what I always think. I’m a foreignerand I’m so sad for what they are doing of Malta! I hope too move also soon š
Thanks for the love Elena. I’m glad the post echoes your views. Good luck with the move!
Hi Jean, all.
I agree with the vast majority of your article. As an expat living Malta for nearly 10 years I will describe a few of the things that really tick me off about Malta.
I own several Companies in Malta. I provide jobs for local people as well as foreigners. We are basically an equal opportunity employer. Although I do take advantage of certain tax incentives for having relocated my business activities to Malta, I do still generate and pay hundreds of thousands of euros annually in tax for the country. I import alcoholic products in one business and pay hundreds of thousands of euros in Excise Duty alone!
One of the things that ticks me off the most about Malta is the way that the Maltese people treat you and everyone around them irrespective of race, religion etc. This opinion is also largely shared by my Maltese staff.
My staff are endlessly coming to me in a state of absolute contempt due to the way they are treated on a day to day basis whilst just simply attempting to undertake their duties. They receive threats, harassment and encounter indescribable ignorance and arrogance on a daily basis. The local attitude of people is Arabic in nature.
One of my delivery drivers arrived at a clients establishment today in order to deliver his order and got told to simply f’ off and come back later. The said client also purposely got into his fork lifter and started to intimidate my sales rep’ by edging towards his Company vehicle making him believe he was going to drive it into the side of our vehicle.
Punctuality! No one turns up on time for literally anything. I find it intolerable to endlessly have to deal with people who don’t have even the slightest shred of decency in them to turn up on time to a meeting. We’re not talking being five minutes late. Half an hour or even an hour or more! Sometimes they don’t turn up at all! This particularly ticks me off when I’ve literally just spent half an hour in a traffic jam to get to my appointment.
The greed. Never in my life have I ever come across such a pure unrelenting level of selfish greed as I have in Malta. Quite literally every cent counts! The sheer quantity of people who are willing to screw you over to make a quick buck is frightening!
Idleness. I saw a survey made a few years ago by a credible international firm rating Malta as the most idle nation on the planet. Although I did laugh at the article in my opinion it is true. No one turns up to work on time, when they do they play on Facebook all day, undertake their daily activities with the most typical Mediterranean styled approach and they typically bring their breakfast with them. Finding people with a good work ethic is practically mission impossible. The labour market is very poor and as recently announced by the Times of Malta – most firms are finding it difficult to find staff due to the above problems.
Banking. Upon applying for any kind of overdraft, mortgage, loan etc you will immediately realise that you are at a complete disadvantage when compared to your local Maltese. For example, when buying a house, Maltese are typically required to put down a 10% down payment on a home when compared to a foreigner who has to put down in the region of 30 – 40%. Legislation has supposedly “changed” some of these banking practices, however, nothing has really changed. Naturally, there are exceptions to the rule!
Garnishee orders. You only have to look at someone the wrong way in Malta to end up having a Garnishee order placed on your account. In Malta you are not innocent until proven guilty. You are simply just guilty! Garnishee orders are typically placed on people’s accounts for even the most trivial disagreements before any kind of court case or judgement has been made.
In relation to Garnishee orders etc, the judicial system in this country is a complete and utter joke! Court cases are still going that have been active for over a century! The court house in Valletta is the busiest building in Malta. The lawyers in Malta purposely ill advise you (off the record) in order to manipulate you into court so they can make a killing from you. And don’t dare get into a legal battle with the wrong person. He will have paid everyone off and the odds will be truly stacked against you regardless of the strength of your case. And don’t dare think about taking another lawyer to court in Malta who has done wrong by you – you will find that practically no lawyers exist in Malta who are willing to take other lawyers to court in order to acquire any kind of justice.
The roads. The roads are beyond pathetic. As rightly said Jean, they are comparable to that or a third world country. In fact, I’ve ventured into the deepest, darkest depths of Africa and seen better! We only seem to get a road re-surfaced whenever it is election time. A good tool to win over a few votes. Of course you will get your road re-surfaced providing a Minister lives on your street or if the Pope/Queen or any other self righteous moron plans to pass by your house that day!
Road Tax. The rates charged for road tax in Malta are beyond a joke providing you have a car with an engine capacity larger than a scooter (slight exaggeration). Whilst in many parts of the EU, road tax is expensive for vehicles with larger engines, in Malta it is a whole other level. The system put together by the all knowing and all wise Transport Malta and Co only serves to keep old rubbish on the road thus unnecessarily polluting the “air” we breath!
I could go into great detail for the above comments, however, I would need to start my own blog, but the above is the tip of the iceberg.
To summarise. In my opinion, Malta is just about beyond repair. And if repair is at al possible, it will take centuries to put right.
I am selling my businesses, cutting ties and leaving. I’ve had just about enough of this place.
I really rushed my comment as it is nearly mid-night. I can quite literally go into such an enormous amount of detail that I think anyone would find it difficult to counter my comments. However, the summary above will suffice.
Good night.
Martin, I don’t think there’s anything else I can say but thank you for clearly stating some of the issues one has to deal with on a daily basis while living in Malta. Yours is a sad story to hear, because Malta sorely needs forward-thinking expats like you to drive the Maltese economy forward and introduce different practices. Just as I suspected, however, it’s still a very hard task and I’m sure you’re not the only one who tried his luck here only for his patience and energy to eventually run out.
Good luck with your move, and if you do start a blog, you can count on me as your first subscriber.
Hi! I really took my time to read this and can honestly relate very heavily to the points that you have made! I am a 17 year old (turning 18 this November 2K17) currently living in Oxford,England.
I spent my childhood and two years of my adolescence in Malta before moving to the UK at the age of 12. Being able to read all the issues I felt I had, living in the country, being spoken about in a very bold manner has helped me feel so much more comfortable as a person because I feel I am no longer standing alone and that someone finally hears what so few wish to say. The most persistent thing I have been through throughout the years I spent there was being called ‘iswedi’ (to those who don’t understand – it means blacky!) during my secondary school years at Maria Regina Secondary… and at such a young age I did not even realise some of the discrimination I was facing.
Thank you for using the power you own as a blogger to help spread some of the pains and struggle I faced.
Hi Zak! Being able to help people feel a bit better is one of the biggest rewards of blogging. Thanks for choosing to comment and relate your experiences. It is good to always keep in mind that whatever you feel, you are never alone in feeling that way.
You are still very young and Oxford is a beautiful place. I visited the city around ten years ago when I was studying in the UK. Wherever you decide to make your home, I wish you best of luck for your future, may you achieve all your dreams.
I finally managed to leave Malta just over a year ago and now literally living the dream in the Philippines. It’s a big place, sparsely populated, close to nature. The friendliness of the people reminds me of how Malta used to be,I have rediscovered the joy of simple things. Life proceeds at a slower pace, with less stress.
I miss my family, it’s too far to visit with any regularity, and I miss the health care safety net that Malta provides but I really do not miss anything else about Malta.
Hi David, thanks for sharing your experience. Glad you found your ideal way of life in the Philippines, it surely is a beautiful place if you love nature (especially if you consider how little there of that left in Malta).
My name is Jude Azzopardi and I am voicing my opinion on Mr. Martin Stanmore’s page. I am currently a Maltese native living in San Francisco California
I’ll second George Talbot’s reply to your article.
First things first we need to do our part continuing to beautify this beautiful gem before we do any bashing and not give up educating others and mindfully express our concern to others Maltese too especially tourists and foreign individuals. I for one have returned back in the fourty six years absence living in both in Canada and the United States. Now I am planning to come back for the final time. The difference from before is that this time I’m returning back with an open mind and since I had the opportunity to come visit at least each year for the past 9 years I choose to recognise the improvement that the island has accomplished under both governments instead of searching on what is wrong. You know! The glass half full theory.
So dear Jean I feel you and I hear you loud and clear and please allow me to remind you that being it that I am now over sixty I have a different perspective about life and about choosing on where and how I wish to spend the rest of my life. I am not certain of how old you are but from what I can sense you’re much younger and I will predict that ones you reach my age your frame of mind will change because by then you will realize that yes England, Canada, America and many other large countries will remain to be beautiful to the naked eye meanwhile what you must not ignore is that the fact these country’s population is also growing rapidly so is the crime, the jails are all over flowing you work until you die, women and children are not safe walking alone and weather it’s Trump, Clinton, Theresa May they all live off of your high taxes and keep in mind that your pension/social security is at stake and one day soon it will dry out and worst of all God forbid you come in need of a medical emergency and you’re not covered out of pocket, get ready to sell all your belongings in order for you to survive and maybe be cured.
Jean, I am speaking from experience. I wish you happiness and prosperity living away from this beautiful little gem.
Peace and Love brother and don’t hold back please do come and visit us and remember deep beneath the frustration these natives of Malta all share at the end of the day if you fall they all will rush to lift you up.
Thanks for sharing your views and perspective, Jude. I appreciate you taking the time.
I wouldn’t generalise with regards to the big countries, but I do agree with you that preferences can and do change depending on our age, hobbies, needs etc.
I wish you best of luck settling back in Malta, and rest assured that I will still be visiting from time to time because there are still people that are very dear to me living there as well as unspoilt areas that I enjoy.
Jean ! I can say I totally get you on this and cannot deny any of it, but than again my view is totally different
Malta still has my full positive view. I am home, I have my family, I have my friends, maximum an hour away. Then again I work, hangout, meet randomly with foreign people easily on a daily bases from all different parts of the world, from all different aspects, cultures, religion, the least to say. I feed on this knowledge, grow…and create wisdom. Yet again, all given to me freely, at my own home!
Home where poverty is minimal, terror which is still in the stories, serenity with all the natural beauty which so far we can still receive, weather, safe seas. I simply live my life and let live.
Up till now its a good balance, and saying this is where I get to totally understand your point. We where far way old fashioned, easily pointing and creating taboos, we where a tiny rock with a pea sized mind. The growth was definitely needed but than again everything is controlled by politics, of which we all now this includes corruption, greed of money and power, and yes sadness fills in. The fast pace growth we are heading on, is undeniably scary and we all now that due to the same greed mentioned above, the idea to find the balance and stop is never an option. The reality is that this will keep on going endlessly and soon enough OUR lovely home is gonna be literally stolen from us and practically sold to who ever may fit best.
It is the world evolving to a bad course Jean, not Malta. Its evil reigning over good and higher statuses getting stronger and stronger. That is the brutal reality. Take another good look at the world and tell me if Malta is not one of the FEW places remaining where peace and safety still fills our hearts and streets.
Thanks for pointing the awareness, more locals should wake up to this reality and guard their home as long as possible.
May we all manage to keep our mind and soul as healthy enough to say we lived rather than just exist. That is the challenge in this cruel becoming world. No matter where you are, no matter where you put your grounds.
Thanks for your thoughts Charlene. I’m glad you have found a good balance in Malta. I think there’s been plenty of evil throughout history and I don’t necessarily share the opinion that the whole world is evolving on a bad course.
Malta is a relatively safe place so far, violent crime is minimal although petty theft and pickpocketing are increasingly common. There are plenty of places around the world that are as safe or safer than Malta, so safety wasn’t a primary driving force for me when deciding whether to stay or leave.
I appreciate you taking the time to share your views, you are spreading the right message about being a good person and living life to the full rather than just existing.
Well said, Jean! Agree with all the points in your article. I was also born in Malta, but would never go to live there, again! I still go on hols there to see all my relatives, again. Good luck in your future adventures.xx
Thanks Joan!
Every year, some old Irish and Dutch friends of mine, now living all over the world, have what we call a “lads weekend” – we pick a destination and, leaving our wives and girlfriends behind, we spend a weekend remembering what freedom was like.
After long discussions and many arguments, we have settled on Malta for next year’s lads weekend, partly because there are plenty of direct flights, partly because someone mentioned that it is being “the next Ibiza”, and the one member of our group who has been there before said “… it certainly isn’t sedate … reminded me of the nightlife in Prague.”
My understanding is that we will also be allowed to shoot birds from the balcony of our hotel.
Enjoy your lads’ weekend Donnacha, I’m sure you’ll have a blast and Malta will be a sure hit with all your friends.
As so many others before me have already mentioned, but it’s as if you’ve written this article off my own thoughts, Jean. Brilliant piece and well written.
I am an expat, but I consider Malta my home now and care deeply about what happens here. It saddens me to see the best parts of it fading and the worst thriving. People don’t seem to understand or take responsibility for their actions, which can have grave, long term negative consequences. As you pointed out as well, anyone trying to do better or deviating from the norm is shunned. Let alone an expat daring to speak up and attempt improvements. It’s never “good for you, seeing a problem and contributing to solve it”, but rather “if you don’t like it, just leave”.
I agree that so many expats realise after about 3-4 years that they are no longer willing to deal with all of the frustration. I’ve seen too many friends pack their bags and leave, and it’s almost the same reasoning every time. For now, I’m here to stay, and have even gotten through a home purchase and refurbishment. For my sake as well as the whole country’s, I genuinely hope Malta’s priorities will change and it will once again become the Mediterranean Paradise it is advertised as.
Thanks for sharing your experience Lilian. I hope you make things work in Malta, we need more expats that integrate and bring a positive change.
Do I need to say that I agree 100%? Well, actually it is a 200%.
Kif qrajt l-ewwel paragrafu hassejt pessimizmu qawwi.
Komplejt naqra u, ma stajtx ma naqbilx mieghek dwar il-frustrazzjonijiet li semmejt li hawn f’dina l-Gzira Unika bl-isem ta’ MALTA. Irreferejt kwazi ghal dak kollu li dejqek u li gieghlek titlaq minn MALTA.
Madankollu ma nizlitlhiex tajjeb li kellu jkun Kuntrattur Bulgaru li lluminak b’li jekk ma jghogbokx il-menu ibdel ir-ristorant’.
F’liema post fid-dinja ma ssibx lil min jilhaqlek salibek? Lil min jghir? Lil min jabbuza? Lil min jikkorrompi? …………?
Ovvju, hassejt li kellek titlaq ghal hajja ahjar u jalla li qieghed ahjar.
Jien inhobb hafna s-sajf u jahqarni naqra. Ix-xitwa hija bzonnjuza imma, ma niehux gost biha u, mhux ghax inhoss il-bard.
Waqghet it-tieqa tad-Dwejra, f’Ghawdex izda, ma waqghetx id-dinja. Hawn izjed twieqi.
Jiena nhobb inzur pajjizi ohra izda, kif jghaddu xi jiem inhoss li ghandi mmur lura MALTA.
L-istess, jien idejquni hafna affarijiet li nhoss li huma hziena imma, ma nirrabbjax ghal MALTA izda, ghal xi Maltin.
Sal-lum, hekk nahsibha.
‘Gostibus non disputandum’.
Thanks for your comment Horace.
Couldn’t have said it any better myself…excellent article!
I was living in Germany for around a year and the difference is extraordinary. Yes life in Summer in Malta is great but not when you need to get stuff done. I am now in Malta for some time, but I plan on going back!
Thanks Jean, good luck with moving back to Germany, it’s definitely one of the best places for working efficiently and getting things done.
Amazing! I also rly luv the way your every reply is considerate and full of well-informed, heartfelt respect. Like tailor-cut to the person. I think this attitude must somehow irradiate into all of these nice comments (just read hundreds of them), that are out-spoken, but all still in the amiable and communicative spectrum.
Shine on, Maltesian cosmopolitan Gem, because the way you and many with you raise awareness I hope e.g. Maltesian & everywhere mountainbikers, nature lovers and birds can breath some more freely soon again! It also seems to start get detrimental to tourism and for attractivity to highly qualified employees and entrepreneurs, so that seems to be an argument that should also play straight into the pockets of those not convinced by more sensitive approaches.
I also firmly believe that things have to be called by their names first, as the first necessary step towards solutions everywhere, beginning with myself, e.g. not producing & disposing of waste uncontrolledly, living somewhat simpler voluntarily etc etc., but as this e.g. blog and comment section has shown me again, really many people share these feelings in one way or the other, which gives me hope.
(I don’t know where I’ve replied to, this wasn’t meant in continuation to any specific comment, just my 240 grani.)
Thanks for your appreciation Alexander.
Dear Jean, you have really good arguments. I too, feel that you have voiced my thoughts. Living in Malta I always felt as we say in Maltese “a fish out of water.” No wonder when I got the opportunity I left this island. It’s a pity because it’s a really nice place and though I don’t admit it I guess I love this place in one way or another. But like you I cannot go back now, no, not 10 years after I departed.
When I go back on holiday to visit family and friends I see a lot of changes in the country which I don’t totally agree with or like but you cannot stop development I suppose or what it is?! I’ve been living abroad for 10 years now and I cannot even bear the thought of coming back to live in Malta even though my loved ones are still there. Thank you for your article it’s really an eye opener and good luck for your future abroad!!
You’re welcome Daniel, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
I’m not the type to comment, but this really hit home!
A very valid reflection of Malta today. The contrast between other civilized countries and Malta is greatest when I land back from a holiday and keep telling myself I can’t stand the culture here, this seems to wear off after a few months, which is probably why I never end up leaving. However I can totally relate to the level of ignorance in Malta, I cannot cross the road safely as somebody is driving and texting, I cannot drive safely because somebody runs the stop signs. I have given up cycling after being run over (even though I was wearing high visibility clothing and observing all highway codes). I cannot spearfish (using a divers buoy) without some idiot speeding right past me (Law states minimum 100m distance). Cannot walk in my field without getting shot at during the hunting season. I could go on and on.
As you probably noticed, I like many others are ready to complain but never leave, but who knows… never say never.
All cases we can relate to unfortunately Andrew. Thanks for your comment.
You have spoken for me too. My feelings were and are just the same… that’s why I live in Spain now for the past two years. Well done!
Thanks Gabriel, Spain is a great place to live in, whereabouts are you?
Very nicely written. And I think it’s really important to also have this kind of honesty in conversations — especially from someone that grew up here — instead of only the “Malta voted best place to live…” type of articles that barely brush the surface of reality.
Agreed Amanda, thanks for your comment.
I concur with you. There are some things I miss from Malta – especially the food.
There are other things I miss, but I realise those things are no longer available in Malta. Many things have been ruined.
I have lived in the UK, Japan and Germany. No place is perfect, but I wish Malta could be a little bit less island minded about it.
I definitely have my nostalgic moments, but like you when I go back I realise that the things I miss are already gone. Not all of them, but some of the most important ones for me.
No place is perfect, that’s for sure. I’m curious, any dishes in particular that you miss?
Same same my brother left in 2000 been back three times never looked back
Ha! I miss hearing that phrase š
Well written Jean!
I am 50 years old and have lived in Malta all my life. I am confused as to whether I should be pleased or saddened to know that there are people out there who share my exact same thoughts… š
Thanks Marguerite. That’s a good question indeed. I think it’s probably a positive thing that there are a good number of people who feel the same way. It means that there is the willingness to make a break from the practices that we see around us. Perhaps the sad part is that it still seems like the majority remains intent on shutting up any criticism and maintaining the status quo. Only time will tell.
You mentioned a lot of points ,but what about the problem of all these foreign illegals that come here from all over,doesn’t that bother you ?
That didn’t influence my decision in any way Colin, so I didn’t mention it. Migration is definitely a serious issue worldwide that needs to be tackled by politicians and requires a lot of international collaboration. It’s a very intricate matter spanning the relationships and histories of many countries and I don’t feel in the least qualified to comment on the topic.
Sadly this person’s last comment about “illegals” reflects a certain sector of the Maltese who see it only as an impingement on Maltese soil. The humane term is ‘refugees’, as most of them risk a great deal to escape the hardships in their original countries. We indeed should be bothered, that no viable humane solution has been found, yet. I am often proved wrong when trying to order in a restaurant where waiters do not speak or understand Maltese! Thus, the other side of the coin.
Well said Dwardu, I’m well aware of how tricky this subject is, especially in Malta and other locations that have been directly affected.
Spot on dear. If I choose to leave ( which am not) would be because of illegals. The only thing that am bothered with. Good day.š
Verba volant, scripta manent.
I believe releasing frustration in written form is never a good idea. I am sure you are aware that whatever you wrote is quite relative to so many variables starting from your current mood. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relativism
You got fed up of the small Mediterranean insular mentality. Fair enough. You have a whole world to choose from to change a bit air. You will discover that eventually you get fed up of your new reality as well.
While I do understand your frustration, I believe a blog post wasn’t really the right way to express it. While it generated a lot of interest, it has really no concrete value. Plus you might regret it in retro-spective.
Ai posteri l’ardua sentenza.
Hi Marco, thanks for your opinion.
I respectfully disagree with your statement. I have been blogging for many years and Iāve found it to be an excellent way of clearing my thoughts, sharing the lessons learned and connecting with others. This post was not a careless and spontaneous release of frustration and the result of me having a bad day. These thoughts and feelings have been in me for many years, itās just that I happened to have some time to think and I wrote about this, as I write about many other topics.
Iām sorry you found no value in my post, I didnāt write this post with the aim of generating a lot of interest, attacking anyone of making a statement. Itās just another post about one of my experiences in life. This is a personal blog with no particular objectives except to act as a kind of journal for me as I navigate my way through life.
Nevertheless, I appreciate you taking the time to comment and offer your advice.
Negative or positive, people have the right and obligation to write about.
I think that is the point that you just missed, not sharing negative observations/feelings/frustrations prevents a momentum to be formed.
There is no need to share pseudo-wisdom by linking to a page on Wikipedia about relativism. There are for sure many relative descriptors and many subjective comments made by Jean, but it is his right to be subjective because he is an individual with 1 subjective life – his own.
Anyway – Jean, first time for me to read your blog, and I am glad to have found it.
I believe releasing frustration in written form is a good idea. I do not believe writing a post because you got angry one time is a good idea. The latter is not the case with this post, that’s clear from just reading it.
Just curious, what other way would you express this frustration? What would be regrettable in the future from publishing an honest post like the one above? I’m asking as someone who would not have done anything differently, so I’d love to know how the thought process goes from the opposite perspective, not just the end result.
Although I havenāt considered moving myself, I have to admit that I have never experienced this level of frustration.
Thereās an attitude where making a quick buck is more important than anything else. Itās like nobody realises that all of this comes at a cost which we all need to pay at some point or another, whether it is an environmental cost or a financial one. The construction industry has shot up property pricesāwhen a huge percentage of property is still unoccupied.
Overpopulation (which nobody seems to be talking about) is having an impact on the environment, water shortage, traffic management, waste management, parking issues, cost of living and so on.
Yes, there isnāt a day when I leave the apartment that I donāt notice a stupidity. Just come to St Paulās Bay area and youāll immediately understand what I mean.
From the bar owner who decided to organise a BBQ on the pavement in front of their bar and across the street taking up 3 parking bays and a traffic island, and of course playing loud music.
The scuba diving shop who has no shame in parking his pick up truck in between 2 parking spots so that they can easily load and unload equipment, while their other truck is parked on a double yellow line on a daily basis. Stating that theyāre ātoo busy to move the carā for me to park.
To the driver blocking my garage entryāa complex of 35 to 40 garagesāfor more than an hour causing a line of 4 cars in the middle of the street because nobody could access their garage. And the police couldnāt do anything because “the words Garage no Parking faded and only in use 24hr a day, tow zone are visible”.
To all the cars parked on double yellow lines, pavements, even traffic islands and cars coming up in the wrong direction. 8 offences in a walk of 5 mins between my garage and the apartment, almost on a daily basis.
Many blame Maltese culture and mentality but the problem is the lack of law enforcement. The bar owner is British, the scuba diving shop owner is French. Unless they have already adapted to Maltese mentality I donāt think we can blame the Maltese people and their culture. Cultures are mouldable if thereās control and discipline.
And although I didnāt join any pressure groups, I do report to the police when I canāt access my garage or I canāt park in my street because somebody selfishly decided to block 2 parking spots. Does this change anything? Not at all.
Well said, Clint. Having to experience that on a daily basis is incredibly frustrating. Since I know you personally I can vouch for your attitude of doing things the right way, and this clashes jarringly with your immediate environment, so it’s no wonder that you end up feeling that way.
Great point with regard to the nationality of the people you mention. That just proves that culture is infectious. If a foreigner comes to Malta and decides to stay, most likely he would have adopted most of the bad habits of Maltese culture. On the other hand, those that are appalled by this behavior get attacked in several ways and it’s made clear to them that they are not welcome, which results in them leaving.
While I do agree with trying to do one’s part, in my experience the force of the majority is too strong. Most efforts don’t lead to any lasting change and are more likely to have negative consequences on the person trying to instilll the change. Personal threats, verbal abuse, alienation etc are the order of the day, and in the end we have to live in fear of reporting illegalities or speaking out because of what people will say about us and how they will take vengeance.
I completely agree with you 100%.
The level of frustration and stress I m feeling every day it’s really not worthed anymore.
Moving in 10 months, just counting the days š š š
Good luck with your move Martina, where are you off to?
I ‘ll go back to my country, Italy, and give it a try. The economy is better now, we really reached a low point few years ago, but I see improvements.
My boyfriend ( he is Maltese) and I are both freelancers so we ‘ll be working from home and keep having our international contacts.
The rents in Florence countryside are so low right now, can’t wait to wake up in the morning, go for a walk in the woods and finally breath.
I LOVE Malta, don t get me wrong, but it s time to move, discover new things and challenge myself.
Good luck dear, your stream of thoughts was amazing š
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Martina. Being freelancers gives you the opportunity to travel and live wherever you want. I’m sure you’ll have a great time in Florence.