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.
I came from uk to work in malta and try to get a life here but the maltese are ALL arseholes to work for ,the wages are crap they expect you to work a 60 hour week and want you to be desperate.
I thought they were decent people but they have arab mentality ie as much as they can gain for as little cash outlay as possible.
Please heed my words and dont fall into the trap thinking you will be able to be happy working here.
I am going back to uk next year and cant wait.
Malta is ok to retire to if you have a pension but dont even consider a job here they treat people like shit its a primative culture once you see it in reality no health and safety either.
I was considering moving from Scotland to Malta for work in winters. Can you get short term work contracts? I don’t like the cold winters in Scotland, so thought this may be better. Scotlands winter is generally September/ October till end of March/April. Even in summer it’s not really warm but this year was a first was beautiful. I would be looking for Corporate Insurance/Accountancy or Counselling/Support work. This post and comments has been positive for me as its good not to always have a romantised image of a place and have some reality of the issues.
As a visitor from the UK I fully understand your views about your country and it sounds like your also proud but frustrated to be Maltese.
I’m disabled and find it virtually impossible to get around Malta and costing me a small fortune in taxis. I’ve already had several falls and unable to access shops or restaurants because of steps this country is not doing itself any favours.
I’ve complained about the state of our roads but will be grateful now ive seen the state your infrastructure. Good luck in the UK and enjoy our county and hospitality.
Your article is just so true! After 6 months in Malta, I wish I had never have left the UK. I thought that Maltese people were lovely little flowers… Well, I was clearly wrong! Not to mention the insane and disrespectful drivers… awful…!
I am foreign born but my parents were Maltese and I am going through those house issues as we speak so I totally agree with you.
Nail on the head Jean! I don’t know you but I am glad to see you’re enjoying your new location.
Having been told to “piss of home” enough times, I’m doing just that, taking my knowledge, work ethic and tax with me after 2 years.
Take care.
Thanks and best of luck with the move Ian.
What you have said is all true and exactly my sentiments. But I suspect these are “first world problems”….problems affecting those living in developed countries. A refugee from Africa may be happy with his or her lot in Malta
Australia is considered one of the best countries in the world. However living there you would’nt think so for all the complaining by people about all aspects of life and politicians in opposition attacking the government how things could be improved.
So everything should be seen in perspective.
May I suggest you google ‘Why I Left …….”.You would be surprised what countries make the list.
Malta is one of many.
Good luck
I would agree with you Paul on that. There is no doubt that objectively people in Malta are better off than many other countries in the world.
However, it is also true that first world problems can still debilitate people and even destroy them psychologically. I think this is precisely one of the mistakes that people in Malta make. By comparing Malta to African nations there is a feel good factor which leads to overlooking real problems. Each individual human being is also different and more adept at adapting to different circumstances. Thus in my case Malta had many elements that go against my way of thinking and my nature, so I was able to find better conditions elsewhere. For this reason I also think that independently of the problems in Malta, there will still be people for whom Malta is genuinely the best place and thus they have no reason to leave.
I wasn’t going to leave a comment but now I have too.
As I read this, I am looking out my balcony doors and in 1 direction I see the beautiful ocean, in the other I see dried up countryside. I look opposite and I see 6 trees, but 8 cranes surrounded by ugly poorly built apartments ( I live in Salina, looking at Qwara) and litter on the footpath and road.
At this precise moment, the bin men came to empty the communal bin (yes we actually have bins here to put our rubbish in instead of leaving bin bags on the side of the road, unlike the rest of Malta) left the rubbish they dropped on the road, then stopped the truck in the middle of the road so no one can get passed to go to the shop!!! An everyday example of Malta.
I too am a expat looking to leave after been here a year because of all the reasons mentioned. Shit footpaths, if any at all, horrendous roads and even worse drivers, construction on every street leaving behind an ugly mess that never gets cleaned up.
I love the weather and the fact I get paid better here than I did in the UK (igaming), but that’s about it.
Yes traffic is shit in every city in the world, but at least in most the roads are well maintained (not in Malta).
There are horrible, ignorant, lazy people all over the world, but the experiance of this is highlighted far more in Malta.
By the way my landlords here have been good, far better than my last one in the UK who stole £3000 from my house) and I have managed to find nice properties for 750pm in both Salina and Naxxar, so it can be done, but makes it a nightmare to get to work as most decent paid jobs are in Sliema area.
Igaming is a big part of the reason why Malta is becoming more expensive, but is not the reason for the ignorant, lazy people. Unfortunately that is because of the general Maltese mentality. (But the whole world has horrible and nice people and I have met really nice Maltese people too and most of which want to leave, which says it all).
Malta could really be a paradise but sadly is not and will not be.
It is a dry, hummid concrete jungle.
Time for the foreigner to fuck off.
i Totally feel you, im 15 Years Old and i hate this Country.. and im Happy that im Talking with you cause you Understand me and not Be Ignorant and Criticize me, That’s only what they do when i talk with Someone who’s Maltese.. ”Malta is the Greatest!” or.. ”Hahaha” just Laughs at me.. or say im an Idiot or Stupid or whatever, but i will Leave and Stay on my Word, and if that won’t happen, Either Try to live it out or Welp.. i could just End it, Honestly i hate this Country and im not Proud at all that i have Maltese Blood.. im Proud that i have some British Blood more then anything.. im Living in Poverty with my Family who doesn’t Help me at all Mentally, the Kids or Teens here are so Bad.. Oh my God.. don’t even Ask.. all of my Real Friends are Foreigners and from Online, and Thanks to them i am Were i am now, Still Living, i just Need to say One Thing.. Grow up Maltese People, stop being Ignorant, Closed-Minded and Selfish and ect and Start Growing Up, the Goverment is already Bad, What’s Next? just 3 more Years until il Leave, also Where would you Suggest me to go live? in Europe! i was Thinking Between Germany and the UK but i don’t know
Hi Kenneth, you’ve got many years ahead of you so right now I would suggest that you study and think about what you want to do abroad. No place is perfect and the most important thing is to be well prepared for life and work and then go pursue your dreams. It’s impossible for me to suggest a country but I do suggest that you travel and find the place that feels right in your heart. Best of luck Kenneth, I’m sure you have a great future wherever you decide to settle.
Hello Jean,
I read your article and I totally agree with what you have wrote. Recently I went with a friend who owns a glider and we flown around Malta. I was amazed at the horrible state of this island turned to. The amount of tower cranes was unbelievable and the amount of cars from above where just like ants running around searching for food. Another point I would like to mention is the attitude of the people changed a lot for the worst. My job reflects meeting with different people and in these 22 years I saw a big change in the way how they communicate and talk. Nowadays people are more aggressive and nervous. The way of life is very hectic and very fast and not to mention that the amount of people suffering from depression increased drastically infact I am one of those that suffer from depression and in this environment that this country turned to it will not help me at all. In the near future I am planning to move abroad but my plans are in Australia or in a Asian country.
Regards
Tony
Hi Tony, what you speak of are real, negative changes that have unfortunately happened during the past 20 years. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hi jean…i will say nothing except that in your words I feel mtself speaking and my emotions…
Hi Jean
I love reading your article! You are spot on.
But what advice can you give on Alicante and particular regions in that area?
I appreciate you live in Barcelona but I would love to hear your opinion.
Hi Jason,
I think that Alicante is a very nice town with a beautiful promenade, but it’s too touristy for my likes in the summer. Kind of what you get in St.
Julian’s in Malta. I do like Valencia a lot though, and friends tell me that Javea is also a hotspot for expats.
Jean, I am 60 years old and I was born in St. Julian. You are much younger than I am so you don’t remember this sleepy small fishing village and the peace that reigned supreme way back in the 50s when I was born.
The area then was basically a place where most of the residents had their holiday houses which they visited every summer. The house where I was born and lived for 30 years was two houses down from Il Peppino Restaurant, bang inthe middle of St. George’s Road overlooking Spinola Bay. I remember as a child and a young by my dad and the rest of the family eating dinner on the front porch al fresco as the light cool evening sea breeze tickled my hair as I was sitting on a deckchair awaiting dinner to be served.
But as you rightly said this all came to an end after the rape of Sliema when those magnificent houses were torn down to be replaced by the current jungle of concrete that makes me cringe every time I pass by and look at them. Those houses which should have been protected to form part of our national heritage and their destruction was the beginning of the building development mania that saw the total obliteration of my beloved fishing village. Then this destruction continued to spread relentlessly throughout the rest of the island and despite that the area where I live in Old Railway Road used to be called a villa area in Balzan, and all sales of properties there carried with them a letter saying that no high-rise building or apartments could be built there, today, I am witnessing the rape of Balzan as developers are relentlessly demolishing all the villas there and replacing with buildings that not only are an eye-sore and an insult to the beautiful villas that remain still standing, but that cost almost half a million Euros.
These apartment are not more than match-box sized, literally doll houses that you will likely bump your head and wouldn’t be able to stand up straight if you are over 6 feet tall and if you open your arms you will hit the width of the walls on both sides. They are nothing more than claustrophobic concrete boxes that I wouldn’t even live in if they were being offered for free. A ground floor apartment is being advertised for Euros 450,000! The point is these apartments are selling like hot cakes and this is when I have to question the IQ of the Maltese.
A very important point you made that these exorbitant prices are nothing but a bubble that will soon burst and when that happens there will be severe repercussions for people who have invested millions in properties that will not even be worth a quarter of the price they paid for. Actually property agents are predicting that it will be the few surviving houses of characters, villas, bungalows and terraced houses that will eventually be in demand, but because so few would be available their prices would double and even triple!
Like you at a very young age, I had booked a one way ticket to the UK. My sister was already living there and since my dream was to become a journalist and a writer, when in Malta neither of these fields were considered a profession in the 70s, I thought I would stand a better chance to succeed by living in England. But I was the youngest of two children and when my father had a heart attack, despite my parents never asked me to return, I did. I don’t regret it but now they are both deceased and I have no family left here. I survived cancer and a stroke in 2004 and my health is no longer what it used to be. So, yes I might as well say it: I missed the bus! Too late now to move away from as a journalist in the 70s and 80s with The Times of Malta I went through a real tough roller coaster ride I am not likely to forget.
To all young people, my advice is – if you are unhappy like Jean and myself LEAVE NOW! Don’t drag your feet. This country’s future is very bleak and politics is at the route of all the mess we are now in. Corruption is rife, politicians are all mercenaries and there isn’t much of a choice between the two main parties. Building developers sponsor the election campaigns of these same politicians and hence why we are seeing the type of scenery Jean showed us in that photo taken by a staff photographer of The Times of Malta.
If you want your children to grow in a healthy environment take the opportunity NOW when you are still young, full of energy and have no ties. Seek your future elsewhere. I a few years when thank God I won’t be here, this small island will collapse in total anarchy and no one and nothing will be safe any more.
I have always hoped that among the money who contest the elections at some point a statesman, typical of the old school would appear, grab Malta by the scruff of the neck and save it from the self-destructive path that it seems to have chosen. But when money takes the place of God, values and principles, any hope of such a miracle is likely to remain a very far fetched dream.
Jean, this article is worthy to be published in a newspaper, but I would be extremely surprised if any of the current papers would actually take up the offer for obvious reasons.
I wish you all the very best on your journey and thank you most heartily for your contribution towards a clear and truthful assessment of our beloved island at a time when most people have dug their heads in the ground purposely so as not to see what’s going on around them.
Thanks for sharing your experience Dr Fenech, the childhood memories you have are indeed idyllic. Unfortunately, today’s kids have been robbed of having those kinds of experiences anywhere on the island.
With regard to publishing in newspapers, I had in fact been contacted by a few news outlets to republish the article, but I turned them all down. I write on my blog as a way of making sense of my thoughts and sometimes as a means of therapy to the negative feelings that these situations and experiences conjure. Therefore it wasn’t my intention for this to be a very public and popular article. I’m happy others found solace in my words and have found my description of things helpful, but I don’t have any wish to be on Maltese media in any shape or form.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Dear Dr.French.
I read your article with great interest in tears and with my heart pounding. You are so very right in everything you said. Please be brave and publish this article somehow. Our youngsters and young parents need to see this as I’m certain that they will wake up to the reality of what’s going on right now and hopefully find the courage to make the decision to pack up and leave, they owe it to themselves and their offspring to get out of this mess and build a new life in a place where you can actually breath clean air to say the least. What you said in every word hits the nail right on the head. You are a wise and humble man and you wrote this from the bottom of your heart. Please be inspiring to so many people who are either oblivious to what is really going on around them or just with their heads in the sand. Be brave and make your voice be heard across the four winds of this island. I fear, as you do that the worst is yet to come.
I thank Jean for kick starting this discussion and I am overwhelmed by the comments of so many people who share the same views. I’m sure there are hundreds more who can relate to this topic. Time is running out.
May God have mercy on those who refuse to see the truth.
Hi Jean, I read your post and the described situations can be applied to Mallorca (the place where I am from) or Ibiza as well, specially the point about idiots that its harder to avoid them since its a small place, the lack of decent public transport, and sky high rental prices.
Living here has also a downside that has not been posted in your blog: we have too many tourists and seems they have more rights and treated much better than local people, if in any other place they behave or display the attitude they do here (specially germans), they would be right punched in their faces. for instance locals are fined with 400 euros if they bring their dogs to the beach, but tourists we receive, get drunk, act as if everything was theirs, they park where they want with the rental cars without respecting signals and authorities do NOTHING at all.
Also a paradise on Earth as Malta, but you have to be rich, ,german or both things, for middle class locals there are very few options left.
Greetings from Mallorca and enjoyed reading your post
Hi Dave, I spent half a year in Mallorca; it’s a lovely island and I have many happy memories, however, I can relate to the problems you mentioned. It is in many ways similar to Malta, with the main difference being that the Germans and British seem to be the ones who are running the place rather than the locals. My feeling there was that the locals at some point realized that they could make a lot of money from tourism, but ended up selling their souls in the process, and now it’s too late to turn back time.
A much too large proportion of the world is in the thrall of Lucifer, due to indoctrination from a very young age.
How much money is enough? To some people it is never enough and they don’t mind committing atrocious crimes to amass personal wealth, and screw the consequences.
It must be tough being born into a paradise only to see it being turned to crap by greedy ‘go-getters’ who have local governance in their pockets.
I was lucky enough to be born into a craphole, which, if anything, seems to be marginally improving, apart from the recent flood of mass immigration by societally incompatible people from the war torn MENA region, and the impossibly huge national debt, which I have neither contributed to, nor paid any interest on.
People need to find God again… and those who choose to work against him must be brought to book…. (and hung! :))
Hi Jean,
I currently live in Sliema and I have to say I agree with the points you made. I hate criticising Malta as my grandma was Maltese so coming here was like re-connecting with my grandma and my roots. But I have to be honest and I know Malta isn’t what it used to be. Even in 4 years since the last time I was here, it seemed to have become over-crowded, over-populated and lost a lot of its charm.
As another Maltese person told me, the island wasn’t meant to be inhabited by so many people and it seems like a lot of Maltese are leaving. It’s so sad knowing a lot of beautiful old buildings have been destroyed to make way for ugly apartment buildings (especially on Tower Road, Sliema). I don’t think the size of the island would be such a problem if there were less people, less apartment buildings, more greenery and less urbanisation.
Perhaps if/when this economic bubbles bursts, it will be good for Malta in the long-term.
Agreed with your thoughts Mark, thanks for sharing.
On Point 100% Im planning on selling my house and retire in Sicily. I know Sicily has Its downfalls aswell but hey I get to live in A huge piece of Land in A Villa surrounded By cliffs and not having to work because of rental investments being so damn cheap in Taormina and turn out A Huge Profit. I feel your every Word you wrote and trust me A lot of people I know Are moving oit of the Country because its become so hectic to live here and A small errand ends up taking hours. You Mentioned traffic at Night is Slow but now its Traffic till 11pm near enough everyday at least where I live. Many People are moving out because the Mentailty thats been implimented in the Minds of people here. Malta was in my Opinion the Best place in the world and the safest. Well that changed and the lost nearly all its Culture of doing Stuff. It might not be A Silicone Valley but It certainly thinks like One. Yes A lot of Maltese are moving Out despite the locals say its not true I know of 6 couples that moves out of the country thats 12 people and. I Know many more thats are going to. The problem here is If you Complain about something they just stick the old Ara ma tahsibx li….. Eeeee… Billi barra ikbar… That kills me every time. Truth is people who bought properties on the Cheap side 5 years ago are selling for huge profits and retiring in Places where Rental Investments are Cheap and turn high profits like Portugal, Sicily and the Lot and basically retire at A young Age….. Sorry for the Long Post 😁 And Good Luck
Agreed and thanks, investing in Sicily is interesting, I will look into it. Portugal is definitely a hot market and I have written a guide on how to invest in Portuguese real estate on this very blog.
YOU FORGOT TO add people vet you from top to bottom in eg .what car u drive to which part of the rock u live and even what one is wearing and not only that but speak it out .Many of these people are below you but still want to point things out.In d uk mostly no one cares who you are ,Who u know and what you were.On d other hand Malta has changed for the good in many categories,But after 7years back here I still feel the need to escape
I agree 100% jean and more,i have lived here for 20 years now coming from uk,my parents retired here,my mother being half maltese that was the connection with malta……..after 2 years i felt oh! my goddess what have i done,but got stuck,5 years ago i had enough and was about to leave when my father got cancer…..
Ok…nowhere is perfect but Everything you mentioned and more you come across every day here…the list just keeps growing..rubbish in the streets and countryside,two faced attitudes etc etc, when i go running in what little countryside there is near my house,you would not believe the rubbish and what people dump………i have heard some say malta is the jewel in the med,somehow i think that is a big myth or referring to a distant memory of what malta may have been…..maybe a jewel for everything that is chaos and wrong.
I wish you all the best jean and hope one day i will be able to write “Why i left Malta”
Thanks Jason and good luck!
Thanks for this article, Jean.
I’ve been learning how to accept the whole situation and what happened with Malta in the past decade because I thought, I was the only one thinking this way.
Now, when I have found your post and other people’s comments, I am back to square one. :))
That’s funny Lucie but also a bit sad because I know many people feel like that. It’s not right to just accept the situation as if it couldn’t be any different.
couldnt agree more with all you said, except the part about locals treating foreigners like family (that’s what Maltese like to say about themselves – we’re kind hearted etc b/s …I was a foreigner in Malta, and was never treated like family). I have been moving places all my life, and came to malta without properly researching the place, thinking “every place has its pros & cons”, no need to research. On the very first day I arrived, on my way from the airport, I realized something was off. The next day, I went to my office for the very first time, and thought I was in a giant car park. I felt suffocated with no way to escape. The worst part for me was I used to go to Sicily every weekend to escape the place, and each sunday evening, when I came back, having breathed fresh air in Sicily, I would smell the mixture of fumes, dust, & greasy food pervasive in all urban areas in Malta, it was making me nauseous to sickness. Over the next 3 years, there is not a single thing I have come to like about Malta. And the fact the only person I found sane in the place was then murdered to international headlines did not improve my perception. Needless to say, I have now left the country, and am advising anyone who consider to go : only if you re forced to, only for 2 days in a row max, and only for the experience of a throwback to the 70s.
A very good article Jean and I agree –
I have been visiting Malta on and off for 40 years and have seen changes that, to my mind are destroying the island and its culture. In a recent article in the Malta Times it asked “Were the Maltese losing their identity”? In all honesty, I think so..The island is over developed now but building still goes on unabated with the rule of 4 + 1 stories (Height) being widely ignored. There are some 250,000 vehicles on the island and traffic jams are now the norm. There are visiting cruise ships in Grand Harbour that pump out high levels of toxins which when combined with vehicular exhausts result in very poor air quality and increasing respiratory illnesses. For many years I harboured the desire to live in Malta but after this last visit, No. There was litter everywhere, it’s dirty and unappealing, rents are a rip off with rises of 25% per year. That’s greed!! There are far better properties and opportunities for less in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus etc. ..
Hate to be negative but I’ve had my last trip to Malta….
Regards to you Jean
Hi Jean I found your story very interesting ,my husband and myself bought a property in qawra 15 years ago and spend approx 4 months every year there at different times of the year, ok we go mainly for the weather,but a bonus is no community tax to pay( as yet) and we have enjoyed our time there. However I totally agree with nearly all your comments mepa is a disgrace , the only way to improve buggibba is to bulldoze the whole lot down and start again. The energy company “arms” operate a two tier system on tariffs . Foreigners like ourselves paying a higher price per unit ,I’m not aware of any other country operating a system like this. Malta have received a substantial amount of EU funding over the years and still as you say the pavements are appalling. The list really goes on!!! Originally we intended spending a lot of time there in the winter months but it’s not materialised due to being just too cold indoors. (It’s warmer outside) no Malta has changed over the years it’s all about greed now , the property prices have rocketed( which is great for us ) so not complaining about that ,but the downsize is the rent increases which have virtually doubled in the last two years ,forcing tenants to take on extra work or move out, where Jean will it all end? As you say the bubble is expanding, I hope you are enjoying life where ever you may be kind regards doris
Jean, your blog is bang on and I applaud you for sharing. The struggles continue and I believe will always be there until the Maltese people embrace change and move away from the small island mentality. Hawaii was successful and is a world class destination that once you go there, you do not want to leave. That is not because of the climate, topography or government. It is because of the people and their love for the island which they do not mind sharing and want all to enjoy it. I have been in Malta for almost two years now after spending my life in Canada and see the struggles but have time to put towards seeing change happen. Pray for this change to happen. Take care
Jean,
I totally agree with all that you said in your article.
I was living in Ireland for 10 years and due to unforeseen circumstances I had to move back to Malta earlier this year. The frustration I feel about moving back here is unbelievable. Apart from all the points you mentioned here the internet service is a rip off. I don’t use my internet all day but still in a week my measley
1GB that comes with the monthly plan got swallowed up.
I used to get 15GB for just a couple of Euros more in Ireland.
I am hoping that when my son is older (as he is only 7 now) I will be able to move back there, but for the time being I have to grin and bear it 😬
Well said Jean… All you said is so true.. As i felt absolutely the same… Left long ago and never wish to return… Sad but true…
I am a retired Banker worked and lived over 40years in Germany (Frankfurt am Main), where presently, I am now also enjoying my retirement. I have never had any regrets in leaving Malta. A long, long time ago I had the idea, that on retirement, I would buy an apartment and return to Malta. Later, I changed my plans, and was of the opinion that a summer holiday long-let would do just as well. As time went by, it was sufficient for me to spend 2 or 3 weeks in Malta, occasionally, and return home. I prefer travelling to other countries like France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and spending my time there. And why you might ask.
In my opinion, Malta is in a process of moral degradation. way back it started gradually in small ripples, but through decades it is turning to a tsunami. Corruption, assassinations, money laundering, Bank scandals, other scandals an almost non-existent rule of law, and let’s not forget racism, no regard to the environment whatsoever and, and, and. Choosing a government, from the 2 major political parties is like having a choice between the Pest or Cholera. And last, somehow, you cannot have a regular normal discussion with grown- up persons, whatever the theme is. Forget it, it´s either, yes but you don´t live here, you have no idea, you don´t understand or like oh, you don´t like Malta.
So be it, the people of Malta, it seems, have chosen their future course. And I will go mine.
So true I feel the same about malta. I love malta but I dont think I can make it to stay here any longer. I have a life and I need to go to a healthier environment and nature.
I loved your piece on Malta. I myself I am a native islander from Mallorca and could underwrite almost everything you said of your experience in Malta and make it mine relating it to Mallorca. The roads are better in Mallorca but everything else you describe sounds very familiar.
That’s interesting Francesc. I actually left Malta to go live in Mallorca for a while, although I don’t live there anymore. I have good memories of the island, and the roads are certainly much better than Malta. I don’t think you have problems with hunting either. On the other hand I did have the feeling of the island selling its soul to the British and the Germans.
Having just returned to Australia after a short visit to Malta I have to agree wholeheartedly with this article.
What a shame it was to witness and experience exactly what this article describes. It certainly left me with sadness as it was not the Malta I expected to see. It used to be ” nice place to visit but not live there” now I don’t think I want to visit again.
I have been in Malta for a few days as a tourist to see almost all of it (no judicial experience yet) is sadly true.
The attitue is not “Hakuna matata” but rather “I don’t care”.
Young men look like a members of a cloned flock – how young wemen see any difference?
What nature? There is no nature. Architecture is like in bombed Syria.
how true -i visited twice from the UK and both times was shocked at the amount of ugly concrete buildings, poor roads, waste dumped everywhere and dirty beaches. There was almost nowhere to walk without being on a busy road. It was difficult to find any natural habitation /village and anywhere that served ‘natural’ food. This was in 2014.