ARMS managers say there’s no eco-reduction of 25%

On 21 October, 2016, I was listening to RTK’s ‘Il-Polz tac-Cittadin’. The guests were two members of the top management at ARMS Ltd, senior manager Nikita Zammit Alamango and the company’s financial controller, Lawrence Cauchi.

A listener phoned in, querying the method ARMS used in calculating the eco-reduction a consumer may be entitled to.

At one point, as he was about to say how he knew that “the 25% eco-reduction was calculated” on the amount allocated as a quota to the particular consumer, Zammit Alamango intervened before the caller could go further, to explain that the 25% reduction had nothing to do with an eco-reduction, and that this figure was a pre-2013 electoral promise made good.

She continued, with the financial controller reinforcing her comments, that there was no such thing as an “eco-reduction of 25%”.

Both guests continued with this line for a minute or so, until the caller in exasperation ended the call by saying: “I just don’t believe what I’m hearing”.

I too, unsuccessfully, from the very beginning of the programme had tried to phone-in on a different matter. So I had my last utility bill from ARMS Ltd, and there before me, stood on the invoice entitled “Your consumption in more detail”, under “Applicable Rates” for electricity: “Less eco-reduction: @ 25% on first 233.000 units, @ 15% on next 0.000 units.”

Can ARMS Ltd explain what these senior management members kept on asserting, at times in unison, for some two minutes in the programme; and doesn’t this run counter to what the same company’s bills claim on the eco-reduction?

Joe Genovese, Birkirkara

A serious humorous fantasy

The exploits of Suami Sivananda (120 years) and the athletic prowess of Sister Madonna Buder (86 years) spur me to rectify some illusions J. Guillaumier peppers regularly in all English language newspapers, like when he refers to apparitions as hallucinations. The latest tirade was his over-zeal to pinpoint a holy gaffe about Mother Teresa’s canonization process. (Letter, Mother Teresa’s dubious miracles, 25.09.2016).

The nun still runs the triathlon and trains spiritually and regularly in mind, body and soul.

In my limited physical qualities (unlike the nun), I have to take the late train to enter into the melting pot again.

I am compelled to point out that it is indeed unimaginative that two witnesses could hoodwink the monumental researches and severe scrutiny of such honest and competent judges.

The information I have portrays quite a different story. Suffice to say that in two years 117 witnesses were interrogated and 263 questions about episodes in her life and the heroic virtues were asked. If I had to compile all the details, it would certainly become (muddled statistics) and boring reading.

That would be the remotest augury for your readers. Instead I would like to present them with a far more pleasant, lighter vein.

Time magazine was wrong in asserting that Mother Teresa had her own doubts about the existence of God. On the contrary, though having doubts in faith, she really did believe in the certainty that God would help her in her doubts. This was a fabrication by a tabloid publication which can never understand and fathom the experience all mystics go through when faith collides with the ‘dark night’ as a preamble to their ‘radiant glorious dawn’.

This deceptive reporting reminds me of a witty joke:

A boy asked his father ‘Why does the cock crow at 8pm?’ The father’s quick reply was that it was the time when Judas betrayed Jesus.

The boy had another question for his father  ‘But the cock sometimes crows at 2a.m. as well.’

His father quipped ‘That’s the time when the newspapers go to press’. 

No offence intended, it’s just fantasy!

John Azzopardi, Zabbar

Research on Baroque sketches in Malta

As a progression of my studies from my first degree, I have undertaken a postgraduate degree centred on baroque sketches, under the tutorship of Prof. K. Sciberras. The artists mostly significant to this study range from Mattia Preti to Antoine Favray, inclusive of Francesco Zahra, Alessandro Erardi, Stefano Erardi, and so on. Any knowledge regarding private collections would be truly appreciated. Strict confidentiality will be observed and extended to all parties. I can be contacted on 79775797 or [email protected]

Alexandra Camilleri, via email

A curiosity

At Victoria bus terminus they have a lovely patch of lush green grass, benches where strollers can stretch out or sit down to rest, and large ficus trees (pictured) to provide much needed shade in summer.

There is quite a snag to the attractive scene, however. A ribbon is stretched almost right round the large square patch, and signs tell visitors to “keep off the grass”.

Does this make sense? Visitors cannot access the benches without going across the grass. Are the benches meant to be part of the attraction, or to be used?

And a fairly considerable patch in the corner of the terminus has been having its soil conditioned since the beginning of summer, almost. At the beginning of July the flowers which had dried out were removed and a sign put up that the soil was being conditioned and that new flowering plants would be planted “soon”.

But the soil is still being conditioned and there is nothing growing in the patch yet.

George Mifsud, Victoria