Passing the parcel

Maltapost is reported to be bewildered (March 2) by the recent arrival from Australia of a wet mailbag that should have arrived on Air Malta flight KM101 on December 18. It is also stated that Maltapost is "now awaiting a reply from Air Malta".

If Air Malta were to admit to some error on its part, Maltapost would have to be congratulated for having "passed on the parcel" successfully for the first time.

In the meantime, however, I am concerned on account of having received a letter on March 4 which was postmarked in London on February 2. Needless to say, there was no local postmark on the envelope (try explaining that, Air Malta). This letter concerned a request for a reference on behalf of a former university student of mine. My reply should have reached the sender before March 2.

While on this subject, perhaps Tony Barbaro Sant may care to ask Air Malta to explain why a significant fraction of the mail placed in my letterbox during Christmas time was clearly addressed to other people residing elsewhere. This has been happening for the past couple of years but never to this extent.