I will reserve my professional opinion on the book industry at the right time and the right place, but what I will say for now about the recent article published by the Times of Malta on the ongoing collapse of the local book industry, is that the Ministry of Education replied to the Times of Malta by referring to measures that were initiated under my tenure at the National Book Council more than four years ago.
The Ministry of Education was also informed about the systemic risks in the industry more than a year ago, when I met the Minister specifically for this reason. The situation is much worse than what publishers have described to the press, although I obviously cannot disclose commercial details.
The Minister of Education Clifton Grima has decided to play politics with the book industry, causing damage in the process and dividing the industry. Most of the dysfunction that is taking place at the relevant public entities is by design and this is why the situation will not change in the near future.
Website Editor
Historian and Publisher
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