Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1481355
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 OCTOBER 2022 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Pro-rata annual licence for pensioners NOT all car owners drive their private car every day, including weekends, during the year. This applies even more so to pen- sioners. Some pensioners drive very little during the year, mainly to go to medical appointments and some other particular errands. These pensioners are certainly not contributing to traffic congestion, and in particular during the rush hour! It is suggested that the authorities consider the introduction of a system where a certain mileage, or number of kilometres, is assigned to the annual circulation licence fee. Different bands could be set up, including a minimum fee. In those cases where the annual circulation licence fee is currently very low, a change in the system might not make a lot of difference. But in those cases where the annual circulation licence fee is very high, say more than €760 per year, the differ- ence could be substantial. Pensioners may be requested to visit a VRT station every year when the annual circulation licence fee is due for renew- al. The mileage or number of kilometres on the clock is registered during the VRT test, and the annual circulation licence fee is charged accordingly. The odometer could be sealed by the authorities to avoid any abuses. Local associations of pensioners may wish to discuss such a proposal. The ministers for transport, energy, fi- nance, and active ageing could discuss the introduction of such a system for pensioners. Eventually, over time, the system could be introduced for different age brackets of car owners. This could be used as a measure to reduce traffic congestion. Alfred A. Farrugia Attard An accident that united two countries IN a moving ceremony in September, finance minister Clyde Caruana and the Chinese Ambassador to Malta H.E. Yu Dun Hai laid wreaths on the tomb of two Chinese engineers Xu Hui Zhong and Gu Yan Hao. They both died in Malta during the construction the Red China Dock. This month China is celebrating Martyrs Day. Xu died in an accident struck by a falling crane, while Gu died of lung cancer. Though still poor, Chi- na helped Malta build the 300,000-ton drydock which still remains the largest ship-repair facility in the Mediterra- nean region. More than 800 Chinese experts and technicians answered the call to help Malta, including Gu from Dalian, and Xu from Shanghai. In 1979 Prime Minister Dom Mintoff sent me to China to present the medal of the Republic to the widow of Xu Hui Zhong in Shanghai. This was the first time this medal was awarded posthu- mously. The other was former Prime Minister Aldo Moro who was brutally murdered by the Red Brigades in Italy. In a short speech during the ceremo- ny, Caruana and Ambassador Yu Dun Hai emphasized that relations between Malta and China were still strong. Nazzareno Calleja Malta China Friendship Society