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The Maltese Herald

Back to the 1960s

—

by

Mark Camilleri
in

Despite the delusions of Prime Minister Robert Abela on Malta’s economic situation, we are witnessing and experiencing events and conditions that haven’t been experienced since the late 1960s. It was in the late 1960s when young people were priced out of the property market, only precarious jobs were created and living conditions were very tough.

Malta hasn’t had scenes like these for many years. The only people who used to do dumpster diving used to be junkies who could not be saved. This is a scene reminiscent of the 1960s.

The photo was taken in front of Savoy in Valletta.

Comments

  1. Caroline Sammut avatar
    Caroline Sammut

    Several people like to search for empty plastic bottles in trash cans for BCRS. The picture featured in this article clearly shows that plastic bottles are being collected. You just cannot assume that these people are poor and homeless. Mark, if your articles are based on assumptions like this, I would not waste my time to read them.

    Reply
    1. camillerimark avatar
      camillerimark

      Yes, because dumpster diving for plastic bottles is something we all do in our free time.

      Reply
    2. John Cordina aka Benny avatar
      John Cordina aka Benny

      There is no assumption here. In a anormal country the public in general wuld be made aware of the state of the working poor.

      Its not enough to have job. That job needs to pay one a living wage. Once upon a time that principle used to be the main goal of a socialist party.

      Reply
  2. Aggs avatar
    Aggs

    Maybe the council should give him and others a job emptying the rubbish receptacles on a specific route, the bins would then be emptied on a daily basis and if they find recycling items, it’s a bonus for them.

    Reply
  3. Joseph Brincau avatar
    Joseph Brincau

    I am not sure what is the subject of this photo especially when politics is being blamed for this person’s action.I quite agree that this person in all probability is collecting plastic bottles to get refund, so I believe he is helping to keep Malta clean. I have been around in a lot of foreign countries and believe me I saw similar controversies irrespective of laws or governments. People are what they are . You can lead a horse to a trough but you cannot force it to drink

    Reply
  4. Jiggy Marley avatar
    Jiggy Marley

    I don’t quite agree with the sentiment of this article. Are we now saying that Malta didn’t have problems relating to socio-economics prior to plastic bottles becoming refundable? Cause I’ll tell you what, I respect this man a heck of a lot more than the hundreds of Maltese begging in the streets of Valletta, St Julian’s or any other public place with lots of foot traffic. They begged before and they beg now still, while men like the one pictured doesn’t beg, doesn’t speak, doesn’t bother anyone, he doesn’t break anything, he just collects the bottles that others throw away. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

    We can see it now because it’s very obvious when someone is carrying sacks of plastic bottles, as opposed to jingling a few coins while begging for more. Not to forget how easy uploading to the internet has become in recent years and the large number of incentives online posters have to just post the viral stuff and ignore the rest. It doesn’t surprise me that we don’t have an iphone photo of people begging in the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and even beyond. It doesn’t even surprise me that we don’t have many photos and videos of people begging in 2024, because taking a video of a man begging isn’t viral material but seeing a photo of a silent man who collects bottles as if a ghost, THAT is definitely going to get plenty of “morality” clicks.

    I’m not at all a fan of Labour and it’s approach in the last 10 years. However I also remember how bad things were economically during the last few years under Gonzi. I am under no illusions as to the realities of modern politics but I am not putting on rose tinted glasses to feel different about the past either.

    Reply

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