Many of us, I am certain, feel frustrated at the lack of value for money which we all receive – whether we are using means of transportation or whether we are seeking a service from any shop, eatery or hotel. I know, we cannot generalise here but it does make me cross when I have to contend with these levels of mediocrity at a time when we are boasting of “Global Villages” and “Sustainable Resources”!
Where do I start?:
I am all in favour of controlling traffic in the village cores and town centres, especially when drivers have perfectly good alternatives such as by-passes or roads, but what I find so frustrating is the fact that some localities will insist on changing traffic flows from one day to the next without warning, and then usually to confuse the driver by sending him off round the houses (with the consequence that there is also a fair chance he or she will add to the emissions of CO2 during his “escape” from this situation!). I cannot say that this style of management gives one a good impression of the capabilities of those members of the Council hierarchy who came up with the idea. I particularly found this in Msida – perhaps one of the most used localities as far as accessibility is concerned.
Try asking someone in a shop, a bank or some other outlet for information….many a time you will get a very good (and almost clinical!) service which may lack the social interaction that adds value to the service, but on other occasions you could get the rather cold and disinterested look that tells you, you are trespassing on their private thoughts! I tell you it takes an awful lot of will power to overcome those moments of truth! If you manage to keep your cool and avoid any GBH then you may just manage to get some semblance of an answer..if only this includes a deciphering of the guttural grunts and gesticulations!
There is also the situation of erratic parking styles…..usually these include the kerbs (most times this is the kerb you are trying to negotiate to get round a corner!); then there are the people who will insist on double parking and using the inside lane of a rather narrow dual carriageway and of course we have the driver who insists that his right is to take up the parking space of two cars.
Perhaps the most tangible aspect of value for money is when one decides to eat or drink in some bar or restaurant and you get the impression that once again, as we may have experienced in the shop or office, we are met with such disinterest and apathy you wonder whether you should actually be apologizing for intruding on their privacy! When you pick up the menu or bar list you may also wonder whether your contribution to the bottom line of the establishment may also be subsidizing any negative impacts the host may be experiencing from outside cost increases.
I have just highlighted four of those little crosses that we may need to bear when we consider the civic responsibilities and duties of others (or even our own duties and responsibilities) to ensure that we are all given a fair chance of the value for money experience we, and our visitors, expect within our community. I could list many more examples of tangible and intangible services when that value is certainly lacking or tarnished by negative behaviour or practice. If we are to make these islands a haven of competitiveness and enhance the value for money aspect when it comes to tourism we need to be aware of our own civic duties to ensure that through our behaviour and work ethics we play a part in this success.
