When life stands still Why is it that when the world around us is progressing in leaps and bounds, Malta still exists in a quagmire of antiquated, irrelevant and non-sensical rules and regulations, accompanied by excessive bureaucracy that sets the island back to the Dark Ages? I left the island 52 years ago and visit regularly – nothing’s changed! I own a summer residence that my parents used until they passed away, my dad most recently in 2019. The TV cable connection is still in his name. I live in the UK. Every time I try to change it and tell Melita he’s dead, Melita ask for a form signed by a notary. In the UK (and, probably everywhere else in the universe) it takes less than a five-minute phone call. They have now asked for the death certificate. I have stopped paying the bills so I assume they will now send a bailiff to grave no 85 at the Addolorata Cemetery and serve dad’s corpse with a summons! It’s the same with electricity and water. I was asked to produce my mum and dad’s wills, death certificate, reams of forms, and can’t even remember what else. Over here I pick the phone up and call the electricity company that I wish to move to, and they’ll do it all without me...