Letters to the editor – June 23, 2026

Incredible cabinet record

Anthony Saliba of St Paul’s Bay writes:

An outstanding cabinet of 23 persons and the prime minister, plus other members, form the Labour government for the next five years.

Malta has the largest and most expensive cabinet in its history. Photo: DOI

This is an incredible record of cabinet members for a population of just over half a million. Other European nations, much more populated than us, enjoy smaller ministerial cabinets. A random search on the internet proves the above statement. Prime ministers and parliamentary secretaries are included in the total number of ministers. The list may vary here and there but, all in all, it gives a picture of our ridiculous government decision.

What is missing is a minister for tables and chairs that ruin the pedestrians’ right of way on our pavements!

Now tell me who is bluffing his way out of Malta’s coffers. The opposition party will be responsible if it joins this charade of a government. It should pressure the government, threatening that, unless it halves the number of cabinet members, the Nationalist Party would boycott parliament.

Doubling taxi fares

Christopher John Linskill of Ħamrun writes:

I must ask if anyone can explain to me why taxi fares have, on average, doubled. A trip from Żabbar to Sliema used to cost €12 but, now, you have to pay €24. I cannot understand why such a general increase by all taxi firms, large and small.

The result could easily be halving the number of clients, thus significantly increasing personal car use,even if, at one time, the government believed more use of taxis would be beneficial in reducing the number of cars on the road.

Of course, we appreciate that operating costs can increase for many businesses but I have neve seen anything like this.

If the situation persists, tourists and Maltese residents alike will increasingly shun taxi use, with the obvious consequences this will have on our roads.