The <i>Doulos</i> controversy

After reading your article on June 8 referring to the Doulos controversy, I wish to share my experience regarding two bookshops in Malta.

Last April, I was obliged to buy Roget's Thesaurus, The Oxford Concise Dictionary, and the Oxford Concise Dictionary of Quotations because the ones I had were stolen and I desperately needed these books for my studies. I ordered these books online from a well known bookshop in Valletta and I was amazed to note that the cost of these three books came to Lm32.

On May 31, I visited my favourite toyshop and stationery in Birkirkara "The Toy Box". I was shocked when the owner told me the prices of these same books because the total amounted to almost half the price I had paid. Since I was more than appalled, I asked the owner whether there was a mistake in his prices but he assured me that there was no mistake.

Since I have been a regular customer at this particular shop for the past 30 years or so, I believed what this very nice man was saying, more so because he is a very trustworthy person. He claimed that his prices were fair because he did not like taking extra money from any of his customers and thus, the prices he offers on all the books are extremely reasonable.

From now on, I will certainly be buying all my books from his shop, which stocks books ranging from Art and Maltese History to children's books. Those who do not wish to buy their books from amazon.com, which does offer a vast range of books at reasonable prices, can do so from a local shop. This will also increase trade in Malta. Like the Doulos, whose work is based on Christian principles, the owner of this particular shop is a very benevolent, true Christian, who has the public's interest at heart rather than the profit he makes.

In addition, as Mr Muscat Inglott rightly claimed, we are in the process of embracing EU principles, which encourage a liberalised market. Once more, the Maltese authorities who refused to grant the Doulos a licence have smeared our name worldwide! (Nadia O'Flaherty, LL.D.)

I thank Dr O'Flaherty for her comments with which I totally agree. We really ought to share such information about local bookshops who offer books at Doulos prices.