Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/997322
19 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 JUNE 2018 HSBC must respond OUR initial registered letter dated 28 February followed by chasers dated 11 April and 1 June 2018, addressed to HSBC's local chief executive of- ficer, as well as our emails dated 7, 8 March and 3 April 2018, addressed to his executive assistant, regard- ing a number of issues; including an enquiry as to when we could expect release of our collateral, covering a standby facility (which we have not actually used for well over a year and no longer require), remain unan- swered for almost four months. We have clearly exercised consider- able prudence and patience to date, but HSBC's repetitive non-response attitude and unjustified withholding of this security remain incompre- hensible (considering that the bank's own service standards normally war- rant sending a full reply to custom- ers within 15 working days) and has constrained us to seek HSBC's public assurance that the provision of the requested run-of-the-mill informa- tion and release of our collateral will not be delayed any further. For the purposes of GDPR, we hereby authorise HSBC to publicly respond to this letter and take this opportunity to wish its recently launched Flagship Corporate Banking Centre's operation, promoted as "part of the bank's strategy to offer excep- tional customer experience" every success, in the hope that this will improve the bank's efficiency. Jean-Pierre Azzopardi Managing Director Universal Publicity Services Ltd Disability organisations' federation celebrates milestone 48 years ago, the voluntary umbrella organisation for the disability sec- tor started its uphill climb towards what is now the Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability – MFOPD. MFOPD is the national umbrella organisation, which to date boasts 30 member organisations together with a few individual members, whose aim and mission is to seek and achieve the rights of persons with disability. It offers support and collaboration to its member organisations and calls all concerned to bring to the attention of authorities and the public in every sphere, our magazine One Voice, which focuses on persons with dis- ability, with their needs and rights, and their family. The Federation "strives to strength- en and develop the measures and services which improve the life of persons with disability and their family." These words come from the President of the Federation, Marthese Mugliette, as she introduces the first issue of the magazine published by the Federation. The title of the magazine, One Voice, is in itself an eloquent message to one and all, demonstrating the vi- sion of the Federation which strives to be the voice of all organisations in the sector since "we count more when we speak with a strong united voice. Under this umbrella organisation, we NGOs, become a single entity [with] a single unified public message, espe- cially in our sensitive sector." For so many years, the incorrect impression that "persons with dis- ability, their families and NGOs are a fragmented sector" has prevailed. This is because the many needs and demands of this sector have falsely been viewed as a non-united civil society representation dispersed into too many tangents. When all specific organisations conferred their de- mands around one table, from which emerged One Voice, addressing the authorities concerned, results were forthcoming. There is still a long way ahead, and the Federation is adamant on its endeavours to have all aspects of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Dis- abilities fulfilled. Mugliette reiterates her message: "To all of you out there who believe in our sector and want to make a difference, unite with us and become a member of MFOPD. There is strength in numbers and only strong, clear, consistent voices have a real chance to be heard." One Voice is the voice of MFOPD published in order to reach out to society, making all aware that persons with disability are not so much a vul- nerable sector as much as a nucleus in society, offering new horizons to all of us who can envisage innovative challenges beyond the norm. Maria Pia Gauci PRO, MFOPD Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications